Simon Cornes

Was the Grand Slam part of WNW's programme? I was aware of the Dambuster of course but then Iconicair do a Tallboy and bulged bomb doors so thats an option which I expect would fit a standard B.I/III. You might well be right though. I think I'll stick with my 'bog standard' machine!!

Maybe it’s Jadlam’s second batch? But there’s obviously life left in the moulds if they’re doing a nose job!

That’s a great result - gives us all hope!! Mmmm, the 311 Sqdn RAF markings might be interesting but I do like the colour scheme for yours. Is that Ocean Grey and Dark Green or is it a Slate Grey with OG? Hard to tell with the colour print.

I've just looked on the CWS studios website and the turrets are still unavailable. Maybe I've missed my chances for 2 tail and 1 nose? I've messaged them but the message box seems to allow only a line and a bit of text and so I've messaged them on their FB page. Maybe they are just too difficult to consistently get right?

That is superb Carl. Are those markings out of the spares box or aftermarket? Simon

Bear in mind that the tyres are too big - you try fitting one into the cutout in the wing! Resin replacements are a must!

I have seen 5 amp fuse wire used - much easier to superglue to something!

Thank you Al and attach. So Eduard might well be the way to go then? Thank you for your opinion

I need to buy some RBF tags in 1/48 for a couple of Harrier builds. In your opinion, which are the best RBF tags available? I see Hannants have some very cheap Airwaves ones and then there is Eduard colour etch - but is it coloured on both sides? i need to get hold of some so would appreciate your opinion please! Thank

I'd guess about 50% more expensive, based on the price differential for the full kits?

That's interesting. In Wingnut Days they brought loads of stuff but as Kotare only have one product they may bring a large pile! Could be a very good opportunity to pick one up at a show price. I will be very interested to see what that turns out to be by the time the dollar/pound shenanigans have played out, at least to that date! It will be good to see Richard Alexander again.

Well the moulds must be standing up well to the usage. I wonder how many full kits Border have made and sold out the suggested 500? We know that a Dambuster was intended by Wingnut so maybe that will be next?

Am I right in thinking that you don’t get taxed on an import like this? I recall someone saying that construction kits are classified as ‘toys’ in the US and are therefore tax free?

You could be right but if Hannants are going to charge £110 then that’s that. The question is whether anyone will sell it for significantly less than that and will the price actually be more than £110 shortly after Hannants stock arrives? The usual guessing game! I’ll buy one but then see what happens before I buy another. Hannants maybe right, they might be £125 by Christmas!!

I think Kotare - like Wingnut before them - priced in US dollars

I emailed Hannants last night and Nigel Hannant has now replied. Basically 1) The dollar/pound value has dropped 30% so no chance of a 10% pre-order discount 2) He thinks the £109.99 price is locked for preorders but is likely to significantly higher when the kit actually arrives From the horses mouth !

I’ve heard this before with FLY kits for example but FLY are in the £60-79 price bracket. Wingnut kits were normally available with 10% off rrp but they aren’t Kotare of course.

That's my thought and emodels are a 10 minute drive away for me! I might email them to see what their plans are? I don't recall seeing 15% off but you never know!

Agreed about the discount. I have a pre-order with Hannants so I'm expecting a 10% discount otherwise what is the point of a pre-order? So we're talking maybe £99 but then it makes sense to but 'something else useful' at the same time to benefit from free postage! I will buy one but I'm not sure about a second as its certainly not cheap compared to Revell, et al but then we don't expect Revell quality (no offence to them, they are perfectly good). It's certainly not at the "I'll buy 5' price point but, in this day and age, maybe it's a realistic price?

I suppose they apply the price appropriate for the series number? That kit paid for itself almost a lifetime ago but it’s a lot of plastic!!

Interesting, $109. Back in Wingnut days that would have translated to £109 , but if it’s going to be £95 then the usual 10% preorder discount equals about £85 which is about 10% more than I paid for Wingnut single seaters when they were last available for retail. It’s not cheap but it shouldn’t require any aftermarket- unless you want to buy it - but I agree that the Airfix price pointing does seem odd with £95 for the big Spit - bit that is exceptional value - and £70 for the Bucc , and the Victor to so I’m glad I bought mine when they first came out at around £45!! I’m afraid the kit prices in the U.K. have gone a bit mad but I suppose actually demand will show how much a retailer can actually sell them for.

Thank you for that. The Hannants entry for the decals says B.I/III so thanks for clarifying the point, I didn’t know.

Further to my post above, I've just cross referenced the Kits World decals that Hannants list today against serial blocks - note that I don't know off hand when individual airframes were built within the date range of the serial block. I've also broken them down into RAF, RAAF, RCAF and preserved airframes plus the one set they do for Guy Gibsons B.I 'Special' for completenesses sake. Were others done that are now NLA, or maybe just not stocked by Hannants? 1/32 Lancaster - Kits World decals RAF KW132052 BQ-B, EE139, ‘Phantom of the Ruhr’, 100 Sqdn (Early, 11/42-7/43) KW132053 OF-N, EE176 ‘Mickey the Moocher’, 97 Sqdn (Early, 11/42-7/43) KW132054 WS-J, W4954, ‘Still going Strong’, 9 Sqdn (Early, 9/42-6/43) KW132073 KC-A, DV385, ‘Thumper’, 617 Sqdn (Early, 5/43-12/43) KW132055 WS-Y, LM220, ‘Getting Younger Every Day’, 9 Sqdn. (B.III, Mid-Late 11/43-8/44)) KW132131 WS-L, LL845, ‘Lonesome Lola’, 9 Sqdn (Mid-Late 11/43-9/44) KW132137B WS-F, LL785, ’Fanlight Fanny’, 9 Sqdn (Mid-Late 11/43-9/44) KW132132 WS-E, LM453, ‘I’m Easy’, 9 Sqdn (B.III, Mid-Late, 10/42 - 10/44) Dambuster KW132056 B.Mk I (Special) AJ-G, ED932, 617 Sqdn Preserved KW132143 AR-L , 460 Sqdn RAAF, ‘Leader’ (Port side) / VN-T, 50 Sqdn (Stbd side) PA474, KW132138 B. Mk VII, LE-C/H / DX-C/F, NX611 ‘Just Jane’ RAAF KW132051 AR-G, W4783, RAAF (Early 9/42-6/43) RCAF KW132133 B. Mk X, VR-R, KB772 ‘Ropey’, 419 Sqdn RCAF (Canadian built) KW132136 QB-V, RF128, ‘Victorious Virgin’, 424 Sqdn RCAF (Mid/Late, 12/44-5/45) KW132135 ZL-F, NX554, ‘Fannin Fanny’, 427 Sqdn RCAF, (Mid/Late, 2/45-5/45) KW132139 SE-N, KB872, ‘No Not Know’, 431 Sqdn RCAF (Canadian built) KW132072 SE-X, KB847 ‘Devil’ , 431 Sqdn RCAF (Canadian built) KW132140 WL-N, KB840, ‘Nan’, 434 Sqdn RCAF (Canadian built) KW132137 AR-P, ME326, ‘Pistol Packin Mama’, 460 Sqdn RCAF (Mid-Late, 10/44-4/45) KW132142 B.Mk X, VR-X, VR-R, KB732/KB753, ’X-terminator (Canadian built)

Its a thought but there are over 60 clear part numbers (some multiple) over 2 sprues. If you can make a turret, canopy and bomb aimers blister set you may be very popular with some people but I can live with mine!

So having just read the latest Wingleader volume on the Lanc (volume 15) I see that the one thing that Wingnut missed on their very extensive clear sprues was a 'Rear View Cupola' which fitted under the nose directly behind the bomb aimers blister and was there so that he could presumably remove or slide back the oval glazing under the nose behind the blister and stick his head out to look backwards! Who would have thought and wouldn't a mirror have been easier??? Note not fitted to all airframes so check your references and hope your chosen airframe doesn't have one! Or else crash mould one or find a convenient teardrop canopy you can adapt! Something I've never noticed before. Next up is to check the serial blocks for the various markings that Kits World do to see whether they're late, middle, early or whatever!!. A very useful volume, this Wingleader 15!