TallBlondJohn

Nevil Shute? Probably not but worth a punt

If Eduard is listening I would very much like a reissue of this kit. I have two of your 1/48s - the only kits I own in that mistaken scale - but that was out of desperation.

The 1:1 scale version - that's a lot of Kabuki tape. Using pre-cast masks is just cheating by the way. Looks like they didn't like the green - got the paint/thinner mix off? At least they didn't pre-shade it 😉

Note the crewman in the engine nacelle, pedaling like mad.

Seriously you get to own some lovely kits - interesting subjects, superb box art, massive decal sheets. Trouble is that's the best part, it tends to be downhill from there... (glances nervously at extensive stash of Roden WW1).

Lovely idea - I guess you've seen some of the online cut-away images. Gets my vote!

Great build. Roden are Roden, love the kits but they don't make it easy.

Good point. Technically the Swordfish was TSR II but worth it.

Ok my question: The TSR2 went into service and it was very successful. It went to war and a VC was won in one. There's even one still flying today. Have I lost my mind?

Oooh! I know this one. Handley Page H.P.42. Though I'd also like to blame the crabs.

I'd guess the ESA Cluster spacecraft or is that far too obvious?

Matchbox were great for their time and can scrub up well. I remember building this as a kid and struggling with the rockets. Obviously the issue with things not sticking was to use more glue - the wings melted.

Fine looking model. You learn a bit more with each one.

I don't recall Minicraft doing the walkways. The Airfix kit doesn't have rivets - it has raised panel lines which was accurate as they are welds. Saved weight and kept the sea water out. Also note they were only BMF for a short time, being repainted a pale silver on acceptance - again to protect the metal. The Airfix is a fine kit. You can omit the windows and just use Krystal Klear after painting. At 1/144 all the windows are small enough for this.

Airfix have never supplied the walkway markings AFAIK. I did them with decal stripe, cut up into tiny bits to do the curves - its in RFI somewhere if you want to have a look.

Superb. I have this project to do one day - better get collecting the AM.

Twin engined fighters... EE Lightning, F4, F15, F18, Mig-29, Su-27, Typhoon... they seem to have worked out alright. OK, I know, piston engines. As Graham says once people stopped trying to dogfight twins they became very useful, mostly in the nightfighter or attack role but able to slash and dash, especially the single seaters. My personal theroy-ette is that a lot of the 1930s heavy fighter enthusiasm looked back to WW1 and in particular the Bristol Fighter. Definitely a fighter but it could dogfight and its size, 2 seats and carrying ability made it very useful in other roles - it stayed in service until 1932. So a modern equivalent seemed a great idea - but a rear gunner with one gun, requiring respect in a 1918 dogfight, won't cut it in 1940.

Here's an article on Hush-Kit detailing various aspects of the Whirlwind, including the propeller issue. IIRC it was this article that the boys at We Have Ways read and reported - I know they follow HK: https://hushkit.net/2023/07/22/top-10-advanced-features-of-the-westland-whirlwind-fighter-of-world-war-ii/ Well worth the time to read - I didn't realise that the Whirlwind was the first to try leading edge radiator intakes despite having looked at the plane so many times. The penny never dropped. Another interesting titbit is that Dowding held the Whirlwinds back in Scotland not because they were failures, but to save them for low level attacks on German landings, which makes sense. In 1940 nothing would have been able to stop them causing havoc. (The Whirlwinds or the Germans? ) Imagine a world where Sealion was attempted and Britain was saved not by the Spitfire (allegedly) but by the Whirlwind, and there is one in the BoB flight screaming around airshows to this day, powered by the rage of the ground crew that have to work on it.

Seen it and now my typographer soul is sad. Usually NAVY gets over-kerned so maybe it balances out somewhere in the universe.

Damnit, just watched Ed Nash's YT video on the Lince as well. Trying to be too clever.

Late WW2 ships needed the superstructure space for radars, radar offices etc so if York's was to be rebuilt, I doubt it would have got smaller. Given how things were going in the Med, probably slap in the new AA outfit and get her back out there. Maybe a bit more work in 1943, which is when the catapult would have been landed.

Space Shuttle? its an aircraft after all

Woah that is yellow. Very nice build

Y'know I had been looking at the rotor and thinking something wasn't right

I don't trust helicopters. But if I had to go in one I'd want it to have rivets that big - at least the body isn't going to fall apart and if I'm really lucky, it won't even get off the ground due to the extra weight. Fine progress so far. One tip - you will need a bigger airbrush for the Mini