Simon Cornes

That’s quite a chemistry lesson Troy! I haven’t thought about organic chemistry for over 40 years so it was very interesting to read. Given that the ethanol content of modern fuel has a negative effect on rubbers and plastics then you would think that the automotive industry would be demanding unceasingly resistant seals designed to cope. On a more cynical angle they might ask why bother if we’re all going to be driving around in electric cars in the not to distant future. Well, those who can afford or who have a company car will anyway. I’m thinking one of these new electric bikes/scooters, possibly with stabilisers for later years or maybe a side car (read perch) might be my future , at least for short range stuff but of course you’d need all over body protection (if you recall the Goodies episode?) or helmet, elbow and knee pads!!

I just had a little Google which confirms everything that you say and that the likes of BP and Esso add 'Additives' but don't claim any benefits from these additives because then they would have to prove it - but obviously your experience suggests that there is something added to the brew that gives you more power per cc of petrol !

Thats interesting and quite amazing to get the extra range. My cars are all petrol fuelled but I'm not sure who supplies Asda's fuel! I use Morrisons fuel for my MG as they still sell E5 but I don't know who they get it from either! Is that sort of information publicly available ?

This is all very interesting. I tend to always use supermarket fuel - as do the majority I suspect - but in terms of mpg I wonder if the extra cost of BP or Shell or whoever balances with extra range ? And additives, it hadn't occurred to me that the likes of Shell or BP might include something as a lead replacement and something else to counter the effects of ethanol? I don't suppose these manufacturers actually tell you what their fuel includes ? Wonder if there's something like a Which Guide? As for fuel and motorbike tanks, I have a mate who runs several bikes including Triumphs and the surface of the tanks blister - a sort of osmosis effect. I assume they're metal tanks with plastic or some sort of composite outer to give the shape?

Thats another good idea. I used to be a member of the MG owners club and there's also the MG Car Club. I have emailed Duckhams so I'll see what they say. Often manufacturers are a bit cagey about saying what will happen if you are using their product after a run with someone else's but in the other hand it is in their interests to make me a satisfied customer so they should tell me - honestly - if its fine or not! We will see!!

That’s a very good idea. Nothing to be lost in asking - thank you!!

Well that’s a fair point of view although others exist!! I’m still interested to know if I can mix Duckhams with Castrol fuel additives?

Thanks Julien. That’s a very interesting observation so clearly ethanol is not really a proper substitute for petroleum. In my case, the car in question is a 1969 MG and the problem is that ethanol wreaks havoc with any rubber pipes or seals through which it flows. The more ethanol, the worse it gets. A year ago the answer was E5 petrol plus an additive and E5 is not that much more expensive than E10, especially when it’s not being used in your main car so that it lasts longer. Now it seems as though the additives may be adequate to protect if using just E10 but years ago it was said that if you started by using Product A then you couldn’t later switch to Product B and I don’t know if that’s still the case! I’d be interested to know what other operators of classic cars on Britmodeller think about the matter.

Does anyone know if it is okay to mix Castrol Valvemaster and the Duckhams equivalent? Years ago when these became available to compensate for lack of lead in petrol it was said that if you chose one product you couldn’t put a different one in your tank later! I have been using expensive E5 petrol at Morrisons plus Valvemaster and I have recently been told that you can use these with E10 fuel as well. The ‘Classic’ variety though.

Thank you. I started to look at the MFS site earlier but as it goes on for 5 or 7 pages I haven’t looked at it all but I see they have sold out of some items so I wonder what arrangements Alec has made to have new stock produced. Correct me if I’m wrong but Alex doesn’t actually make anything, it’s all subbed out with maybe Alex folding and filling the boxes and attaching the labels? But I’m not sure how his health these days affects his ability to do that? It’s sad for everyone involved but at least the existing catalogue seems to be included.

Didn’t know that - thank you!

Has Alec stopped trading? Or has he stopped having stuff manufactured? I googled his website and got a link to Facebook but nothing new seems to have happened there for a year or so. I was actually looking for his 1/32 Harvard and Arado 196 clear canopies.

I’m glad that I’ve got mine! As for future boxings, well I imagine Border will make them for as long as the moulds hold out. This reference to ‘new glazing’ is interesting given that you would expect the standard B.I/III sprues to be included and the problem was injecting the plastic fast enough to produce very thin glazing. Maybe they are using a different plastic mix? It will be interesting to hear what people say when the kit is out. I won’t buy one, one Lancaster at that scale is enough for me!!

I contacted Hannants about preorder discounts and was told they wouldn’t because there’s wasn’t enough profit in the price but then I think they did allow 10%. I suspect that Hannants will leave the price where it is but we’ll see.

Possibly but having ordered and paid in advance then I think they are probably bound to sell the kit at their website price so it’s a good idea to buy now I’d say.

Ha ha!! You sometimes see Wingnut pilot figures for sale on eBay! Typically for around £10 so you can always sell your creepy figure when you’ve built the kit!!

Reduced marking options - 1 option only I expect but then you get a figure which normally adds 10 dollars/euros/pounds to the price but I don’t understand why it’s that much cheaper- but I’ve ordered one so that’s what it expect it will cost! Got to wait until July though.

Yes, indeed and in fact I got a fiver off this once. I have ditched my two on order at Hannants and ordered one from SMS as well so that’s saved about £27 overall and I still have the full set of marking options to use on either kit. If I was only buying one then I’d probably buy the limited edition one from Jadlam and then an Xtradecal sheet because you can be sure that they will have at least one decal sheet lined up for this spec of Spit. They would no doubt cost around £12 so you would still save a fiver against Hannants backorder price. I really do think that Kotare will milk these moulds for every early Spit they can think of. A IIa will only need a teardrop blister for the starboard cowl and I know they have a Va slated already. Good for Kotare!!

Thanks for that. I may place an order with them to then. A tenner is a tenner when all is said and done!!

Do they charge postage do you know?

Order with Jadlam placed!! I have one on order from Hannants to so I am getting still two kits but the full range of marking options and a bit cheaper. It's probably still cheaper to buy the 'limited' kit from Jadlam and then buy an Xtradecal after market sheet?

And Hannants are listing on their weekly email that it will be about £110, which would be a typical Wingnut price differential for a kit with a figure. Looks like Jadlam are offering a really good price! I think I will order one and reduce my Hannant's order accordingly!

That’s rather the point - only one set of markings. MIt’s funny because Wingnut released 4 boxings of previously released kits but included a figure of the associated ace and just markings for his aircraft- although in the case of Richthofen there were several aircraft- but Wingnut charged about £10 extra!!

This is interesting, £18 cheaper at Jadlam if you pre-order. I guess it’s because there is only one set of markings but you get a figure and I’m sure an aftermarket decal set would still give you a lovely Spitfire for less than the cost of the first boxing.

That is very interesting and I can’t fault your logic. Makes considering an import from one of those Far Eastern suppliers an alternative thought? I’ve not bought from Artscale - do they add VAT at point of sale? Research required I think!!