PaulR

Hallo Splinter, are your banners for general use by people in the group build? Have used the great 111 sqn F3 banner in my signature but then thought I'd better check! Will take it down straight away if I've used it improperly. Great work by the way! Regards, Paul

Dennis. that first photo is exactly what I meant! I can now build my T17 in confidence! Many thanks! Paul

Hi Simon, yeah, I've thought about the squadron flashes being too dark on the Classic Airframes kit, but having looked at a few photos I think perhaps they were darker in real life, and that the fin red was slightly lighter. The aftermarket decals I've seen for this version - Model Alliance et al - have the squadron flashes in a lighter, almost orangey red but that doesn't look right to my eyes. It would be interesting if anyone new for definite . . . Paul

Hi there! Really looking forward to this GB - was wondering if anyone had designed a banner for it? Sorry if this question has already been asked/answered. Best regards, Paul

Hi all, am wrestling the Classic Airframes T17 into submission. I am doing WD955 in hemp and red tail. The decals as supplied have large low viz roundels for the upper wing; I'm sure I've read somewhere hereabouts that they should be a lot smaller. Have tried finding a photo that shows the upper wing, but to no avail; does anyone know one way of t'other? Thanks in advance, Paul

Slight update! Got the cockpit installed and fuselage closed up. Not really fussed about cockpits, but am really pleased with the ejector seat harnesses - first time I have used photo-etch. The airframe is basically done - now working on pylons, undercarriage etc. I'm looking forward to the painting; I took good advice from a guy on this website and have got myself some Mr Color Barley grey - it's the best Barley Grey out of the tin I've seen yet!

Hi guys, just saw that there is the airfix 1/72 Spit VB is out at Hannants. Is this the old kit, or a update based on the new mould Spit mk 1? Cheers for any comments. Paul

Evening all, am thinking about building an EF-3 complete with Alarm missiles. I have pictures of 11 sqn airframe coded DG complete with Alarms, but was wondering if anyone had/knows where there might be pictures of other EF-3s actually carrying Alarm missiles. The reason I ask is that my stumbling block for this project is decals; I have the right eagle markings, and the squadron bars, but the DG code (black with yellow surround) I don't have. The decal sheet I am going to use is an old Xtradecal sheet, and this has the right style codes for DA, DH and DX; it would be very handy if these tied up to an airframe that actually carried the Alarm missiles. Faint hope but worth a try I thought! Cheers for any help. Paul

Morning all. Was wondering if anyone had seen - or has pics of- the new decal sheet?An earlier poster commented there was no 'regular' RAF squadron marks, which there were on the original sheet (5 sqn IIRC), so what are they now? Cheers for any comments, Paul

Hi Mark, they are much more detailed both in terms of raised and engraved detail. Well worth getting I should say, particularly as you get the underfuselage flare dispensers as well. Although they are not the latest pattern, they can serve as a basis for modification. Hope this helps! Paul

Cheers for the positive comments chaps! Paul

Evening all, am making slow progress on this build, but things are beginning to come together. I've been using photo etch for the first time - fiddly, but I'm pleased so far. Anyway, a few photos to show what I've been up to . . . Painted and oil washed cockpit . . . ejection seats. These are a hybrid of Aeroclub and Eduard photoetch. I've not glued the belts for ease of painting, and I've still got to add on the seat cushion and belts. This is a quick shot of the WSO's instrument coaming from the Eduard PE.. . Overview of the airframe beginning to come together. Lastly, and I'm not sure how well the camera has picked it up, is a shot of the undercarriage with PE hydraulic lines etc. More later as and when! Paul

Hi all, recently finished my latest typhoon, in this case ZK306 of 6 sqn at RAF Leuchars. Decals courtesy of Xtradecal's 6 sqn history, while the kit is the Revell 1/48th kit OOB. Any comments welcome! Regards, Paul

Will be updating with pics just as soon as I find my digital camera . . . cockpit has been sprayed and given a wash, and the left fuselage side has been attached to the rest of the fuselage. In the meantime, could anyone advise what colour the phimat pods were? The pics I have could show either a darkish grey or green, but difficult to judge because of the shadow of the wing. Cheers.Paul

Cheers for the reply! Thanks for the clarification - the extra radiator would make sense given where they were based. At the risk of pushing my luck, would you be able to post the photos of the plane concerned? Understand if not, much appreciated if you can! Best regards, Paul

Hi there, recently got the Xtradecal 6 sqn decal sheet for my Typhoon kit, and was intrigued by the Bristol F.2b on the sheet. Plunged in and bought my first biplane, the Eduard weekend edition of their Brisfit. Looking at the kit and the decal sheet leads me to think I have nearly everything in the box, including the extended exhausts, but the Xtradecal illustration shows some equipment under the nose which doesn't seem to be included in the kit. Would anyone . . . A. know what the equipment actually is; B. be able to direct me to some photos of it so I could have ago at scratcbuilding it? Sorry if these are obvious questions, but biplanes and prior to 1940 are well out of my comfort zone! Thanks in advancee, Paul

Hallo there, Having heard rumours of a reissue (2 months after I acquired two on Ebay . . . ) Hannants now have them listed as a future release for £24.99. Given that they have taken older kits (thinking here of the Mirage F1) and added new decals and in some case news sprues with newer weapons etc, does anybody know if that is the case with this reissue? I'm going to get one anyway, but it would be cool if there were Asraams, flare dispensers, TRD etc . . . We can but live in hope! Paul

Hi Adam, cheers for the response. Could you tell me where to source Mr Colour in the UK? Also, when you say scale colour, do you mean that it is slightly lighter than the 'raw' colour? Many thanks! Paul

Hi all, am currently building an awful lot of RAF fast jets, so Barley (or light camouflage grey) grey is featuring alot. However, am still struggling to find an out of the tin barley grey that matches my mind's eye, if you know what I mean. The closest I have ever had was a tin of enamel Humbrol Barley grey (167), but subsequent tins were darker. I've looked at Xtracrylix Barley grey - way too dark, in common with alot of Xtracrylix colours - Vallejo Barley grey, which sprays beautifully but seems to be a little too blue, and Tamiya x-19 which I like but may be too light. In any case, what is the considered opinion of Britmodellers out there? What is the preferred acrylic option? Would be grateful for any comments. Regards, Paul

Hi there. It's the 1/48th Revell kit, and I have used the Xtradecal 6 sqn sheet. I'm actually using previously built kit, which I originally did as ZJ915/29 sqn. Am cheesed off because I screwed up one of the fuselage squadron bars, so am waiting for the Model Alliance RAF update 5 sheet to come out. This has two 6 squadron Typhoons, plus BoB anniversary Harriers and so on; I can't really justify buying a duplicate sheet! Paul

Hi there, you can count me in with an Italeri F3 1/48th scale - 111 boss bird colours circa 2005 I think! Paul

Very nice! I wish my paint finishes looked half as good! What paint brand did you use for the ghost greys, out of interest? Paul

Hi all, am just finishing my latest Typhoon in 6 sqn colours, but was wondering; why are some of their jets (ZK series) not fitted with PIRATE? Older tranche 1 jets - even those trainers with 29 sqn - seem to be getting it, so why the inconsistency with later jets? Incidentally (and this is really geeky) does anyone know anything on the status of ZJ915? Is it back at Warton being updated to FGR4 standard? Ta for any info. Paul

Hi, recently bought the reissued airfix Buccaneer. I recall you could get new noses, tail plane, RWR bullets etc in resin, but can't seem to find them on Hannant's website - anyone know who makes sets these currently? Cheers, Paul

Evening all! Realised I hadn't updated for a while - work doesn't half get in the way of life's really important things, such as gluing and painting plastic. Anyway, some more progress . . . Cockpit. Have used the Eduard photoetch, which to be honest is the first time I have actually used it. I'm not that bothered about a hyper-accurate cockpit, since I generally model with canopies shut, but it seemed rude not to have a bash since I had paid for it . . . Next up is a few shots of the (mostly) scratch built flare dispensers, the eduard wing seals which really are rather cool, and the paragon thrust reverser mechanism that sits between the tail pipes. The flare dispensers were built used the fairing from the Paragon dispensers. As they come, they depict the angled type that F3s used during Desert Shield. I sawed off the angled dispenser, added in rectangular plastic rod, drilled out 8 holes in each, and mounted the whole thing on very thin plasticard to depict the mounting plate. There is a really good shot of an F3 underside in the latest RAF review. I also blunted and rounded the front of the paragon dispensers to get a more accurate profile. Although the holes I drilled are not perfectly level, I am really pleased with the overall effect. I couldn't get a very good shot of the paragon thrust reversal mechanism, but you might be able to see some of it. I found it fairly difficult to get off the backing resin; I also think it's designed for the GR1 version with the slightly shorter fin base. I had to use some plastic card at the top to blend it in. I did try the Eduard photoetech mechanism first, but managed to bend it all to buggery, after which I ripped it off in frustration. I also chose to use the kit tail pipes. There is actually very little difference between the kit and paragon parts; I decided not to use them because to do so you have to ream out a reasonable amount of plastic, added to which the only set I tried to use on a GR1 build were fractionally too small. creating a step between fuselage and tailpipe. I guess this was the resin shrinking. In any case, I took the easy way out and stuck with plastic! Anyway, there it is for the time being. I am going to hit the Paragon pylons next, and do the WSO's photoetech instrument coaming and Aeroclub ejection seats so that I can get the cockpit painted and the front fuselage sealed up. As ever, grateful for any comments! Paul