malpaso

I seem to recall reading that the similar bumps on the L/E of the Dr.I were to protect the L/E of the wings when they were stacked in the factory?

Lucky you. Some of my daughter’s primary school classmates got to sit in G-ILDA when she was built / converted at Thruxton a few years ago.

Graham, My point about the lost two years of Avros was the gap between when the Manchester should have been ramping up in service (1941 = at which point they knocked it on the head) to when the Lancaster really arrived in numbers in 1943. During that period the Halifax was available and had to take the burden (with the Stirling, Wellington and an ever-diminishing handful of Manchesters) of BC effort. But as you say, those two years of design (say 1940-42) were when real improvements were made to airframes and engines in the light of experience and expanding knowledge, to some extent across most combatant nations. Cheers Will

I think the Halifax also suffered from a bad reputation (as well as its real problems) because it had been around in Bomber Command's earlier efforts where methods and systems were less refined and less successful, whereas by the time the Lanc came along in numbers it was all more organised. Hence even now you find comments that the Halifax was more likely to be lost on a mission than a Lanc, but the crew more likely to survive as POWs. But as the Halifax was in service much, much earlier the figures would be skewed anyway. From what I have read, as well as the draggy turrets, the aircraft itself was considerably heavier than intended even when first flown, and in service mods just made that situation worse. Halifaxes just kept getting built to keep things going whereas BC effectively lost virtually two years of Avros actually being in service for the Manchester becoming the Lancaster. Cheers Will

I think I built this back in the day. It was quite an impressive beast even at 1/32. I built a few of those Matchbox cars, they were brilliant, so much better, easier and more exciting than Airfix. The JagSS100 was the first I did, also the 917 and the Surtees F1 car, though I remember that was a bit fragile and complex compared to the others! Cheers Will

Good one! The Dornier crew must be related to the F-4 crew in the classic "Calvin and Hobbs" comic strip! https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=calvin+and+hobbes+fighter+jet&oq=calvin+and+hobbes+jet&aqs=chrome.2.69i57j0l3.19971j0j7&client=tablet-android-samsung&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#imgrc=7WYgPKmBMtZXDM: Cheers Will

That's a good tip. I have one 2nd hand vac with a mist coat of grey primer on it. I thought maybe it was the manufacturer to make it look less vac-like and thus less frightening but perhaps the previous owner had a similar idea to you. C-class are lovely looking boats, I look forward to seeing yours completed. Cheers Will

I saw a Rallye 205 in Padstow in August. I think it was the twin Weber 1300cc homologation version rather than the later cooking Rallye 205. And a nice 1.9gti outside a pub the other week. You’re right that the bog standard 205s aren’t much in evidence though...

Yesterday I was driving back to the office from a meeting when I saw a youngish guy on a bike riding the other way. I don't know whether he realised it wasn't just any old "sit-up and beg" as it was a "BSA Airborne Bicycle, 2nd Pattern" aka Parabike!

Looks a good idea. May I suggest that angling the railtrack a bit should give a more dynamic composition? I look forward to seeing how the model progresses. Cheers Will

I've been aware of the Burgess-Dunne aircraft since I was 8 or so! There are three photos in Martin Caidin's "Golden Wings" a truly fantastic book to receive at that (or to be honest at any) age. The captions refer to the photos as of an AH-7 and AH-10, presumably implying the USN also had at least AH-1 to -6 and AH-8 and -9 as well? The AH-10 at least has a more cigar shaped nacelle than the plane you're modelling. Well done with the work so far, it'll be great to see the finished model. Cheers Will

Aristocraft were quite prolific in model trains, they seemed to do some of their own and some reboxed imported stuff. Maybe it was the same with their plane kits.

Cool. I like the SCCA racing look.

The dope and talc is also sold ready made in model shops (flying RC type). http://hurricanemodels.co.uk/engine/shop/product/5527860/Sanding+sealer+60ml?gclid=CjwKCAjw6ZLOBRALEiwAxzyCW_EhlbYjCd-aY7nOudHk1W_Ago_cCqguS9XIdbhWMC-PH3sSh3NxGBoCSlMQAvD_BwE or cheaper if not for modellers! https://www.wigleydiy.co.uk/cnp-cellulose-sand-seal-500ml?gclid=CjwKCAjw6ZLOBRALEiwAxzyCWwcTkSvHsx9AjHUDT8E88RXNTUY7j8Ynj80j2iNDMjpnp1v8WbJJsxoClZkQAvD_BwE The good thing about cellulose is that it can dry , be sanded and another coat in half an hour. Handy as I did six coats to get a good finish on my P-40 solid, though 2 was enough on my BE-8. Cheers Will

Extremely unlikely. It was all South coast and beer in barrels didn't travel in those days, as there was still a brewery in many towns. So far I have seen photos of Spits carrying beer from brewerys in Romsey (Strong's - my local and the owner of Hursley Park where the Supermarine drawing office relocated and some experimental Spitfires were built so seems likely to me this would be the first beer) Chichester Guildford Although bottles of beer were apparently also stashed around the planes on occasion. Cheers Will

I frequently see one round here too. It has a comedy face as well. But yesterday I saw a PT Cruiser in black and white artificial grass as a cow complete with tail!

I believe a minimum of 30 have to express an interest. There is then a vote later in 2017 as to which Group Builds will be for 2018. There is then a vote on all the GBs proposed (I think any BMer can vote). The most popular GBs get adopted, not sure how the calendar is scheduled. If adopted the GB usually gets a couple of months, in that time you are supposed to build a kit with an illustrated WIP. I've voted before but not done a GB. I think my votes didn't win, but I think anyone can join an adopted GB even if it wasn't theirs. Cheers Will

Excellent. Very convincing hair, complexion and a resolute air about her. Well done. Cheers Will

And unbelievably slow for the energy input!

And to be even fairer to the Starfighter, it's dreadful record is down to use in a role it wasn't really designed for, unlike the sainted Lightning which is the real widow maker!

And copydex is miles cheaper than proper masking fluid. Like either medium the trick is applying accurately, any brush is one use only!

I've used copydex as masking fluid with tamiya paints - absolutely no problems whatsoever.

I could be tempted, I have a couple of classics stashed. Decent box art is the clue!

That's sad news. Those two books of his are a fantastic record of his and his colleagues works.

Nice. And none of that silly lo-viz marking malarkey!