Rob G

The only reason that is actually a reason : I want it. All others are excuses.

is the question. Catatonia

became governer by cheating

in an Irving Berlin

avoiding Manhattan and Berlin

and causing extreme understeer

but my Whitworth spanners

advertising rubbish superhero movies (and they're all rubbish)

have WSOs or NCOs

or Depardieu's, you choose

you fancy, when germs

the half-sucked Polo mint

Curses, I missed the

with the discarded gum

Hi Rob, great to see this one done and dusted. Looks good. I've just had a look at your link, and I see that you mention that in the magneto section you've 'never seen bolts like these', so you filled the slots. Those would be Airfix's attempt to portray locking screws, I'd say. The nut part is separate to the slotted part (which is the head of a screw), and is used to lock the screw at a certain position. Why they're used here, I haven't a clue - the ignition timing is adjusted by rotating the whole plate, which is then simply locked in place by tightening the nut. The only thing that comes to mind is that the plate also needs to move in and out for another adjustment, which would mean that the screw has a shoulder on it (behind the plate, where it can't be seen on the kit) to act as an adjustable spacer for the plate. (?) Weirder things have been done in mechanical engineering... However, there's every chance that at some point during its life the screws were replaced with bolts - the ears of the screw head tend to fatigue and break off after much use, usually due to incorrect tools and technique, so don't despair that you've made a booboo. Those locking screws are found in different areas of engines, most commonly IME on the valve lash adjusters of overhead valve engines, but I've seen them in other places too. (Trying to find a shareable photo, but they're all in places I can't share. Regardless, I'm sure you get the idea.) I must echo your sentiment about the designers lack of subject knowledge - it really does appear that they didn't know what they were doing (sadly). Still, great work, and the wee engine looks like it could just about chug to life. I haven't found one yet, but I'm still looking.

or other political parties

, last week's footy kit

stank just the same

Airfix QC issues have been ongoing for how long now? It's no secret around online forums, and even model clubs and hobby shops have the discussion whenever a new Airfix kit hits the shelves. And yet... people keep apologising for Airfix and laying down their money, and saying things like "a bit of plastic card'll fix that" or "I'll just throw some filler in there", which they wouldn't allow Tamiya, Revell or even Zvezda to get away with. I doubt that anything short of a complete collapse of their kit sales will make any difference to Hornby's upper management.

said Nick, who nicked (I actually know a copper named Nick)

and The Sweeney raced

that furry thing hanging

(82.6% of the population)

flying purple people eater (I'm sure that's how it goes...)

Honour, I weren't'n't there (For those 'of a certain age', think Bluebottle.)