Des

Thanks for that , have ordered what I needed in yellow.

Via Ali Express (Resin Model Store) 2 x 4D Models 1/6 AK-47 Assault Rifle kits , from a range of 1/6 ‘click together’ plastic gun kits as a low cost source of 40mm’ish gun barrels for a 1/35 ‘what-if’ project. From Hannants Flying Leathernecks FL35-5009 1/35 XM158A1 Rocket Launchers 3D -Printed , 2 x packs of 2 , again for a future ‘what-if’ project.

Airfix Club for 2024 with the new kit has gone live today - https://uk.airfix.com/community/airfix-club - because of the slight delay in organising this year's release Airfix are e-mailing a 10% discount code to those whose membership had lapsed in the interim.

Was wondering if anyone knows of a manufacturer who produces a generic decal sheet of US Army and USMC titles along with letters/numbers in white/black/yellow 1/35 or other scales. Had a general Google search as well as specific sites such as Hannants and eBay etc. but the closest I can find is a 1/56 Rubicon Models sheet which is in white only.

From The Aviation Bookshop Tunbridge Wells Republic Aviation F-84F & RF-84F Thunderstreak and Thunderflash book , by Samuel Prétat , published late 2023 by Minimonde 76 , upgraded and expanded 128 page A5 English language edition of the 56 page A4 dual French/English title which was released in 2007 as part of a bundle from Redux along with a pair of 1/48 Revell/Monogram F-84F kits , twin decal sheets by Hi-Decal and masks. Via eBay (Rarewaves-United) Single No. 25 Lockheed F-104G Starfighter book , by Dariusz Karnas and Leuwe de Vries , published 2021 by MMP Books , new from the US for just over £9 with free shipping which worked out cheaper than buying in the UK , usual format with 1/72 plans , Tech Manual excerpts , black & white / colour images including close-up detail , one three-view colour profile. From The Aviation Historian Subscription copy of The Aviation Historian Issue No.46 journal , usual mix of well researched and well written articles covering a wide range of time periods and subjects , including – V Bomber rear crew ejection seat projects , HMS Vindictive carrier operations in the Baltic during 1919 , Curtiss Hawk biplanes (and float-planes) in Peru , US Helicopter Airlines in the 1940s and 50s , Commonwealth CA-23 post-war jet fighter project , Miles Aerovan to Shorts Skyvan and much more. From Hannants Begemot 48019 Sukhoi Su-24 Fencer Family decals , four sheet set covering 55 aircraft with multiple variants from - Russia , Ukraine , RuAF , USSR , Belarus , Algeria , Syria , Iraq ,Iran , Libya, Azerbaijan, Sukhoi Test Bureau. Begemot 48020 1/48 Sukhoi Su-24 Family Full Stencils decals , four sheet set with multiple variant options as well as pylons/stores/weapons decals . . . . . the stuff of nightmares with what looks to be many ,many hundreds of tiny , tiny little stencils. Via Ali Express (Wyrd Resin Figures Planet Store) 1/35 USMC Tank Crew (In Vietnam War) resin figures , ( Valkyrie Miniatures USMC Tank Crew In Vietnam War set lookalike but far cheaper) with two full figures and one half-figure along with separate cast microphone booms. (Figure Factory Store) 1/35 Scale U.S Tank Crew 3 People resin figures , (Bravo-6 USMC Tank Crew In Vietnam War set lookalike but again far cheaper) with two full figures and one half figure but without the etch microphone booms of the original.

Might go for the re-released Chipmunk if it includes alternative parts as has been suggested but other than that probably only if they come up with some sneaky surprise that takes my fancy. Nice to see the 1/72 Swift coming back , thought that the moulds had been damaged first time round which curtailed production . . . . . now only if it was in 1/48 !!

Asked Clear Prop a few weeks ago about the 1/48 production version and got a reply this afternoon that they are planning to release it at the end of February.

From Phoenix Publications The McDonnell Douglas Phantom Volume 3 - F-4C/F-4E/F-4F/RF-4C/RF-4E European Operators book , by Andy Evans , latest release by Phoenix as No.4 in their Real to Replica White Series , covers German, Greek , Turkish and to a lesser extent Spanish Phantoms along with kit builds in 1/48 and 1/32 scale for the first three operators listed. From Books etc. Single No. 48 Fairey Gannet AS.1 book , by Dariusz Karnas and Artur Juszczak , published 2023 by MMP Books , well priced at £7 with free shipping , mix of 1/72 plans , black & white / colour images including close-up detail , one three-view colour profile. From Airfix Airfix A12014 1/48 Buccaneer S.2B (With Commemorative Coin) kit , last of my 2023 pre-orders (paid for 19th. December but arrived 4th. January after preferring to spend the holidays in the Airfix Warehouse) , £65 and a few pennies with Club Discount and free shipping. From Fields Of Glory Models Via Amazon AK Acrylics AK11874 USMC Field Green FS 34095 paint. AK Acrylics AK11659 Vietnam Camouflage Colours for Jungle Armour paint set , (AK11157 US Army Olive Drab , AK11345 APC Interior Light Green , AK11153 USMC Forest Green).

And arrived (with coin) 23 hours and forty minutes later albeit with a 15 day 8 hour "processing" time in between payment acknowledgement and dispatch emails.

Thought that's what it would be and the red colour reference is for that scheme Likewise , although Model Alliance decal sheet MA-729051 and MA-489051 "Royal Navy Anniversary Schemes Harrier GR.9 & Sea King HAS.5U" covers a Dark Blue-Grey coloured (no red) 771 NAS HAS.5U (which I imagine is a stripped down HAS.5) with the extra-large sized "Ace of Clubs" marking on the undersides , there are some images of the instruction sheet on-line but too blurry to read accurately but scheme seems to have been carried around 2004 and while the serial is illegible the codes were 818/18.

An email from Hornby at 1800 this evening informing me that my order has been dispatched however when cross-checking the link to DPD it would appear that they have been advised of the parcel but have yet to collect it from Hornby.

According to the instructions for the recently released Model Art Sea King sheet 48/018 the paint reference is Signal Red BS381c:537.

Hannants typically offer a 10% discount on pre-orders although they then charge postage (£6 for the S.2C/D so presumably S.2B will be the same) which works out at real saving of £1.25. Airfix Site pre-order was listed at full price although Airfix Club Members get a 10% discount and then there is free shipping for orders over £30 which can work out to an actual cost of £65.24. My savings on last years pre-orders covered the cost of Club Membership (with kit) while the Airfix Hobby Rewards earned from them will cover the cost of this years renewal (with kit) later this month.

Don't think so , or if it was it was only by a few pence , checked late last week while the Buccaneer S.2B was still showing as a Pre-Order and it was £72 and some loose change. Full 1/48 S.2C/D list price is also £72.49 although it is reduced to £50.74 in their current sale.

Wonder if they will be included with the pre-orders which were paid for as far back as two weeks ago on 19th. December and have been undergoing "processing" since?

Everything is smaller now , the rot started with Wagon Wheels.

Last for the year From Aero Research 4018 F-86 Sabre Collection PDF download , latest release with 165 images of F-86 variants and derivatives. From Amazon The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker: More Than A Tanker book , by Robert S. Hopkins III , published by Crecy 2022 as an expanded Third Edition of the 2017 Second Edition which in turn was an expanded version of the Original 1997 Aerofax publication , basically a very heavily illustrated history covering a lot of what you might ever want to know about the KC-135 and variants. From Creative Models Heller 81252 1/35 Piste Circuit diorama base , different sellers describe this item as 1/43 or 1/35 but there is neither any scale shown on the box nor specific surface detail that ties it to either , essentially a two piece injection moulding 125 x 231 x 45 mm (at its highest) of a bend in a road/flat surface (one part) with verge and embankment tapering along one long edge (second part).

I would imagine that is why the genre is sometimes referenced as Science Fiction and Fantasy.

A Battle Walker of the 3ème Escadron 1er Régiment Étranger de Cavalerie (3rd. Squadron 1st. Foreign Legion Cavalry Regiment). Built from Yufan Model WFWW-2159 1/35 No 7 Squadron Battle Walker and using decals for an AMX 10 RC of that unit from Star Decals Sheet 35-C1004 Balkan Peacekeepers Part 3 – La. Légion Étranger. The original model , cast in resin and with a 3D-Printed turret , included sideways and rear facing guns which I deleted , had a WWI style Maxim turret machine gun which I replaced with a more modern MAG58 and included a base as seen as well as diorama accessories and figures which were replaced. I felt that the turret had a rather French armoured car look about it and followed that theme using Blast Models Legionaire Figures although the uniform style chosen and machine gun did not quite overlap in service. The Work In Progress showing the original parts , detailing the choices made and the other materials used can be seen at- https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235132684-armoured-robot-battle-walker-with-a-french-accent/

Creative Models - item (not an Airfix Buccaneer) bought Saturday Afternoon delivered standard post by Royal Mail 450 miles away over the holiday period and with 'various storms' disrupting transport en-route by Thursday morning . . . . . excellent service. Airfix 'pre-order has arrived and will shortly be prepared for dispatch' 19th. December , 28th. December still sitting in their warehouse safe from the elements waiting to 'be prepared for dispatch' , so nothing to do with storms or traffic. Informing customers that the usual 'Please allow up to 5 working days for UK delivery following the day you placed your order' would not apply to this particular purchase and that delivery would be into three weeks after ordering might have been a reasonable attempt at customer service. Notice that it remains as a pre-order on their website so perhaps not even made from goods in to goods in stock within their own building yet.

Final Touches And Additions Decals on the model itself were originally for an AMX 10 RC of the 3ème Escadron 1er Régiment Étranger de Cavalerie (3rd. Squadron 1st. Foreign Legion Cavalry Regiment) from Star Decals Sheet 35-C1004 Balkan Peacekeepers Part 3 – La Légion Étranger. Actually not quite all of the kit provided parts to be used had been used . . . . . forgot about the base. This was given a coat of Humbrol 64 , the edges and joints picked out in black. From early on in the assembly process it had become obvious that the completed model was going to be at the very least a ‘heel sitter’ if not a full blown ‘tail sitter’ so holes were drilled in the toe area of the feet and sections of heavy duty metal paper clip fitted then glued into corresponding holes in the base. As previously mentioned the replacement Legionnaire figures and MAG58 machine gun are from Blast Models and although the gun and uniform styles are did not quite overlap the more relevant AA-52 style gun does not seem to be available as a single after-market item and while provided in a Dragon weapons set second-hand prices are prohibitive. Also as previously mentioned a Modular Storage Case from Ringo Resin replaced the kit provided wooden crate. The Maintenance Ladder attached to the Storage Case was cut down from a 4X4parts2U on eBay item while the rolled camouflage net on top is from a Red Dog UK 1/35 Masking Nets and Rolls set also from eBay. In order that the latter would sit across the box rather than on top of its strengthening ridges grooves were sanded into its base and like all of the accessories added were painted in a variety of Humbrol colours. The Tarps and Packs added to the structure were from a Tamiya MM229 1/35 Allied Vehicles Accessory Set while the fire extinguishers were from Plusmodel’s Easy Line EL006 set , decals are provided for these but broke apart although I imagine that real items exposed to the elements on the engine decking of any vehicle do not fare too well. The two turret mounted whip aerials aerials were sourced as nylon bristles from an increasingly threadbare floor brush while the pennant decal mounted on very thin packaging plastic came from the decal set already mentioned. More images of the completed project can be seen in ‘Ready For Inspection’ at . . . . .

Perhaps not answered is a more accurate description of the situation in the absence of evidence that they have been read and ignored.

From Models For Sale Two pairs of Alley Cat OAO48004 1/48 Royal Navy 36 Round 2” Rocket Pods in resin and beautifully cast. From Key Publications Subscription copy of Aviation Archive No. 71 – Pan AM 1927 – 1991 bookazine , latest release in the series and follows the usual format with a mix of images , artwork and cutaway drawings (6) from period publications as well as 8 specially commissioned colour side view profiles , next issue will cover Bristol Aircraft. From GES Books On Amazon Second-hand copy of Naval Fighters No.43 Douglas A2D Skyshark book , by Gerry Markgraf , published 1997 by Speciality Press , usual format for the series with a mix of images (colour on outside covers only) and technical manual excerpts , bought in the hope that Clear Prop will one day release its promised production variant of their 1/48 kit. From Amazon S-2 Tracker / Tracer / Trader Illustrated book , by Lou Drendel , latest release in his Aviation Art Inc. series published this week by Amazon , usual format with mix of images , author’s original artwork and technical manual drawings , always wondered with so many other odd projects considered or executed for so many other different aircraft types why the US never converted the S-2 or derivatives as a platform for unusual missions over South-East Asia. From Police Mutual Insurance Annual Car Insurance and Breakdown Cover renewal although would rather have spent the money on ten 1/48 Airfix Buccaneers or thirteen Gannets or Sea Kings or any combination thereof at Club Discount prices.

Their books have been regularly arriving at UK retailers during the course of the year , latest releases - Draken and A-10 - were available about two weeks ago from the Aviation & Military Book Centre which is the UK stockist I use. Perhaps a shipping/customs issue ?

My order was also released Tuesday morning but looking back through my recent order history will be surprised to see it before mid/late next week. Last couple of orders have taken three days before dispatch which in this case would be Friday and from then another two days to deliver which would take it to Sunday however although DPD delivers 7 days a week for Amazon that does not seem to be the deal every user pays for as tracking has shown previous Airfix deliveries (in this area at least) crossing a weekend do not budge an inch between Friday afternoon and Monday morning which this week takes us to the Christmas holiday and stretches deliveries by another day or two. So would be nice to see sooner but imagine it will be later (for me at least).