Silver Fox

There is also a talk on Staurday 4th September by Sqn Ldr Bob Iveson, the chap who ejected from his Harrier over the Falklands. These evenings are always good and the well stocked musuem model shop stays open all evening.

I've just checked that reference, thanks for the heads up. I wondered why they removed the cannon. It doesn't seem to have been the normal procedure judging by other photos in the same book. I also think the hole is to close to the fuselage, so I'm thinking that yellow 12 was machine gun armed after all.

Carbury had an interesting time after the battle, alledgedly he 'married the wrong sort of woman' and was later cashiered for passing dud cheques. A brave man and quite a shot by all accounts, he could and should have gone on to at least lead a Wing. I built his Spit using the Airfix 1/48th MkIa and cobbled together the serials and codes. Great painting, now I can build one of his victims. I wonder if Arnold machine was re-winged as the painting clearly shows the 20mm cannon or if it is a mistake by the artist?

There is plenty of evidence from RAF Intelligence reports on wrecks, that the Luftwaffe did indeed use both pink and white tactical bars. There was a great article on this in Model Aircraft Monthly a couple of years ago. I believe that A1 + BA used white markings, based on photos and illustrations, however I have been know to be wrong. I've just finish my Monogram He III as amachine of KG4.

Looks good old boy. Classic Airframes original or second issue?

Looking very nice indeed. I have a theory that the RNZAF used USN paints for the Roundels in the Solomons and locally produced BALM paints in NZ. The former being lighter than the latter. Of course I could be totally wrong.

Using the same refernces as you, I went with Grey/Green top sides and Azure blue undersurfaces on ther basis that the sky had not change colour as much as the land, so priority would be given to the top. I see no justification for the Blues scheme on the Victory decals, but who knows. From the quoted book, Mackie was a stickler for things being just right, so I also went for a cleanish airframe. There is an illustration in Ospreys Spitfire V Aces of this scheme and two photos on Page 84 which are larger versions of the cropped photos in Spitfire Leader. I built mine in 1/48th scale so used 1/72nd Medium Sea Grey decals for the codes, sorry I know that is no help.

How about Brian Carburys' Spitfire, Irving Smiths' Hurricane(s) and Mosquito, Hyphen Taylor-Cannons' Typhoon and Tempest, Ewan Mackies Spit V and Tempest, Mike Herricks, Blenhiem, Beaufighter, P-40M and Mosquito, the list is endless. I did a number of these for the IPMS(UK) NZ Aviation SIGs display a couple of years ago and have added a few since. Most are do-able from stock sheets though the Aeromaster Storms in the Sky sheets were great for 486 Squadrons machines. Good luck

To me the Tamiya kits wings are too wide at the root making the fuselage look too stubby. IMHO the Airfix looks more like a Spit, long and lean a true killing machine, but isn't as easy to build as you say the finesse that the Tamiya has in the detail parts is far superior. Nice to know the Airfix 109 is such a good kit, it's on the bench waiting to start.

Looking really good, the Pacific Islands with the coral strips really dirtied up the paint work. Even the GSB aircraft looked like they had been sanded down.

Goon, sorry but the Kiwis just resprayed the top in camouflage, it is High Speed Silver underneath.

Mine were fine as well, sorry you were unlucky but Model Alliance do Canberra Decals in both 1/72 and 1/48th

A few years ago High Planes brought out a boxing of the Academy kit with a set of RAF markings. It has the same 6-3 wing as the standard kit but with the markings it was bit of a bargain. Not sure if you will be able to find one though. Try http://www.hiplanes.com/new/1_48_kits/4805.htm

Pete, saw Francis last night at the Elsecar meeting. He's been busy being the squire of North Yorkshire. Glad you are doing well. Do you want interior photos of the Doncaster Canberra T4 as I need to arrange to get over for the photoshoot? Apparently it doesn't have the right hand seat. cheers andy

A big improvement indeed. I was very critical of the burden placed on the armed forces last year, this year there seemed more civilians involved. This Year my daughter and I set off from sunny South Yorkshire at 6:15 and even with a bacon sandwich stop were in the gate queue at 08:00 and parked on base at 08:10. I believe there were long queues later but we saw no traffic until the base gate was in sight. We went for a look round both the USAF KC-135 and C-130J and explored the static line until the flying began. I liked the line up of Austers, unusual and interesting to see the different marks together. No much heavy metal on display but the two Italian F-16s were good to see as was the Czech Grippen. I think at least one of every RAF type, heavy lifters excepted, was there as well, though it is still strange to see Tornados and Harriers in 41 squadron markings even now. A decent flying display with no long pauses unlike last year. The WWI dogfight was excellent. I was great to finally see the Vulcan flying finally. Overall, I'm glad we went, thanks to all invovled for their hard work. One other nice thing was the Airfix tent. We popped in to look at the new kits and ended up doing the make and take. My daughter chose a Spitfie and it was the new mk IX. Airfix even provided a cardboard box shaped like a hangar to take the model away in. Interestingly, as parents had to help, not only did the children get hands on, the dads did. A couple I spoke to said it was the first time they had made a kit since their childhood and enjoyed it. I saw one of them buying a couple of kits later, so great marketing from Airfix.

looking good, though I never knew the RAF had used a Whitley Mistal combination.

looking so good.

True, but it is probably the last we'll see of that generation. We had a couple of ex pilots hoping to make it to Telford, but ..... Anyhow it hasn't stopped Airfix has it.

are some manufacturers missing out on a marketing opportunity? It is the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain this year and..... In 1/48th Scale Hasegawa have deleted their Hurricane ( all models as far as I can see not just the MkIa ) and the early Stuka from there lists. Revell decided to reissue the He 111 with V-1 not the H2/6 No more Classic Airframe so no Do17Z and Ps, or Blenhiems and no enterprising Czech company has filled the breach Special Hobby brought out the BR 20 but not the BR 20M which was used by the CAI. Perhaps they are waiting for the 75th Anniversary? Any road up, come see and join in the IPMS (UK) 70th Anniversary display at Telford.

Hall 1 by the first door. I bought my Lancaster wheels from him on one of my many trips around wearing a yellow jacket. Not sure they are coming this year as he is not on the list, but he tends to book late.

Not trying to do Relish out of the deal, he is a good guy, but I have had great service from Belcher direct. However if the value of goods is more than roughly £18.00 be prepared for the Post Office and Customs to take a chunk of cash to deal with the package. he also comes to telford with a huge backpack of goodies so if you can wait.......

Nice work mate, good to see you use for the Classic B2, I'll be followingthis build avidly. I want to do a T13 eventually to go with the B2 and B(I) 12.

Pity, sorry that was no help Andy

Sorry, I should have said in my earlier post, that the best way I found to avoid the fit problems was to assemble the tops and bottoms separately and to only use the inner wing interior piece. I found this out by trial and error on my third model. Still you seem to have found a way that works for you and overcome the issues magnificently . Looking forward to seeing the next installment. Cheers Andy

Another NZ outfit called Black Robin Resinz bought some of Kiwi resins masters, you could try locating them. http://www.blackrobinresinz.co.nz/ was their address. They also do a 1/48th scale Rapide.