Fastcat

Hi Ross Thanks for the extra input. I'm not sure about the black, red and gold scheme, however. The Aeroplane supports this scheme but I think it records it at a later date and that it was in this livery when it was destroyed during the war, obviously after 1938 and during WW2. I'm writing this from memory as I don't have access to my cuttings - I'm still up in the air after a recent house move so I apologise if I'm wrong on this. Gardner's aircraft is often forgotten but arguably he was the most successful owner of -EKL. Gardner had a black race number 4 on his 193

I've followed this post with great interest as the little Mew Gull is one of my favourite aircraft. I believe the article by John Silvester was published in the Aeroplane. While it's certainly true that -EKL was dark red and gold when owned and raced by Giles Guthrie in 1938, it was previously raced by Charles Gardner in 1937, in fact he won the 1937 King's Cup in it. Under this ownership it is variously described as blue. I haven't been able to verify the trim colour but I think that it was light blue although there remains a slight possibility that it could have been silver. Therefore the ow

Hi Major, You should look at slot cars for an appropriate size. Try Pendle Slot Racing for a start and go from there. They aren't cheap but rims are alloy and machined, spokes are etched. They're better than anything in a plastic kit. Hope this helps. Dave

Hi Andrew, Interesting subject. Geoff Goodall's Aviation site reckons that the standard Monospar finish was black and yellow - see here: link If he's right, it's certainly eye-catching. Can't verify it but it's a start. Dave

Hi Jered, There are drawings out there but no idea of accuracy. Google Peugeot 905 Evo 1 drawings and look in images. The old Heller/Airfix model is appalling - like it was made in a different era. I think that they tried to do it on the cheap and didn't get far before the money ran out. Hard to believe that a French company could make such a poor model of a French subject. I've seen a couple of decent builds in spite of the kit..................but should it be so difficult? Dave PS. Profil kitted a 905 but it's listed as "sold out

Hi Simon, Another factor that made it look imposing was the exposed radial engine. Few light aircraft in the UK were so equipped. As for the blue, I forgot the Titanine range. I think that KayFranz got the right colour and it's not far from Britain's colour either. It certainly has the right appearance for aircraft of this period so that's the one I'd go for. Dave

Hi Bill, Zoom's not too bad. Better than nothing but not a bit like a proper meeting where modelling's concerned. I've still got a good few kits to finish despite getting rid of a lot before we moved so I'll have to dig some of the "almost done" stuff out and see how I get on. I've found that placement isn't so good - it takes several goes to locate a screwdriver in a screw head for instance whereas before it was easy. Doesn't help with making models. Doesn't help with screwing things together if it comes to that. Dave

Hi Bill, 'Fraid so Bill in answer to the first question. I'm living at Shipston on Stour now so it's too far to attend our club meetings. Haven't touched a model in months due to the move but I'm not sure if I'll do any more modelling in future. My illness is affecting hand-eye coordination and balance so I may have to call it a day. Not even sure if I'll get to any shows but if I can, I will. Maybe attend our virtual meetings now I've got an internet again. Meanwhile I'll follow threads like this. Can't be bad! Dave

Hi Bill, Lost track of this one a bit as I've been without proper internet since mid December following a move of house. Lovely thread and I'm glad you use the word properly pronounced as "buzz"! My old boss used to take the pee good and proper at my pronunciation. She called it a buss, heaven forbid! Some nice scratch building here and a great subject. Dave

Hi Pete, Yes, it all depends on how they process the photograph and the quality of the negative and it helps if there is a known white next to the subject. Some time back, I was looking at Sir Francis Chichester's Moth, Mme Elijah. I thought it was all in white but a good shot showing the wings clearly proved that the flying surfaces and tail were silver while the fuselage and floats appear white. It was only when the two finishes were adjacent that a difference was obvious. And once you know............................. Back in those days, very few folks thoug

Hi Simon, Nice to see someone with a connection to CUU. I'm inclined to think that the cheatline and reg are both silver but it's very hard to interpret colours from monochrome photos so I could never be certain. This picture shows some of the warning markings and is from 1951, pilot G. S. Baker at Rearsby Airshow : Link Dave

Hi Panda, Looks like a Latecoere 28 or something in that series. SBS have a model in their range. Dave

Hi Chris, If you have no luck with the DGA-5, the DGA-4 was reckoned to be a similar aircraft, the main difference being the undercarriage. There's some useful stuff here: Link and here: lisms-ipms.org You want their Newsletter Vol.22, No3. These are for the DGA-4 but may be better than nothing. Dave

Croco kitted it in 1/72 and resin, also Dujin. I don't know of any others. Maybe some flying models but I'm unfamiliar with those. Dave

Ah, Halfpenny Green or Bobbington as it was also known. No, it's not too far from Birmingham, I cycled there a couple of times. From memory, amongst others I saw a Brantly Helicopter and the tiny Cosmic Wind "Ballerina" a lovely little aircraft. Regarding the Gemini, it's possible as the Gemini was based at Coventry (Baginton) and was a familiar sight in the Midlands. I managed a couple of flights out of Birmingham, one of them in a Bristol Britannia. By 1966, I had a motor bike and had left school and didn't visit Elmdon as often. Dave