Silver Fox

None left in Sheffield, Meadowhall, but plenty of F-105Gs and F-86D(Early)s. I'd never seen the early Dog at full retail so it was a nice suprise to get one at a bargain price.

Well, Aeromaster and Eagle Strike are basically defunct, just issuing tie-ins with Squadron Books. As they were so prolific in the past I think we got used to having things on tap and the others mentionedonly issued the odd sheet as and when. I remember eagerly awaiting the next release from Modeldecals and being disappointed for months at a time. Sorry I know this is no help

Fabulous model, you have produced a really convincing paint job. I wish mine was as good. Not intended as any form of criticism of you or your model but Airfix missed out providing the Loran 'towel rail' aerial carried by all the RNZAF B(12)s on the top of the starboard wing root. It was part of the standard fit and there from delivery onwards.

I had the same problem with the tailplane on my FB.1. Good spot, I never thought that the booms could be reversed.

Hope that is the case as I really miss them.

Either of the Hasegawa or Tamiya kits are good starting points. The Tamiya is almost a "shake the box and out comes a model" though the parts are a little less refined than the Hasegawa which has a nasty wing to fuselage rear joint. Once painted it is hard to tell them appart. Both were upgraded in the late 1990's so any new boxing will be fine.

For me,the B(I)12 is a fabulous kit much easier to build that the Classic Airframe. The only problem area is the bomb bay door, which are designed to be open and area horrible fit it you decide to close them.

ICM make a good accurate Spit Mk IX out of the box, just don't add the engine if you want the cowls closed. The Hasegawa is a fabulous piece of engineering but looks too short, the Aeroclub replacement Fuselage really makes a difference. Currently the Haswgawa kit is avialable in a Revell of Germany box with really nice markings and is much cheaper over here than the Hasegawa boxing. Hope this helps -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

These are RNZAF Venoms (circa Malaya Emergency) on hire from the RAF (60 Sqn I believe) with Kiwi markings (photo courtesy of MJ Mine) These are actually 14 Squadron RNZAF machines. They were leased and never went to NZ, remaining behind in Singapore when 75 Sqaudron RNZAF replaced them with leased Canberra B.2s. Fabulous photo, thanks for sharing.

And it looks a beauty. Plastic wings and fuselage, white metal details including rexhaust pipes and option brass etch struts. A quantum leap over their original vac form. Now all I need is a set of floats.

The difficulties start with the original kit as its multi-variant options make it a bit of a tough build. The MDC fin didn't fit very well, the locating slot was full of rubber from a perished mould and clearing it damaged the whole piece. The Engines didn't match up to the plastic wing parts at all and basically nothing fitted anything else. I overcame this through lots of time, filler, sanding and plastic card. My experience with other MDC stufff has been very positive so maybe I just got a rogue set. I think the Falcon canopy set is going to make your life a lot eaier than trying to modify the kit parts. Good luck Andy

I've got an Aeroclub one I'll not build in the foreseeable future, let me know if you want it £18 plus postage etc.

No, that is brilliant as I couldn't find the Dube/Bannister serial. Sadly it dosen't tiei-n with the serials/codes I know: FK P L6709 FK O L6734 FK N L8685 FK M L8726 Thanks very much Andy, no great rush, I'm doing the Classic Airframes kit so it will be months before I get round to painting it. Thanks very much for your kind offer.

I guess the title says it all, I'm trying to find as serial/code tie up for a 219 Squadron Blenheim Mk1f that took part in the actions of 15th August. I have 2 code/serials for the Squadron from 'Fighter Squadrons of the RAF' but no date and one clear photo of FK S/L1105 dated August 1940 but as she crashed and was written off in July 1940 when at an OTU I have discounted that one. Any help would be great. Thanks

Has anyone heard any rumours about the Classic Airframes series of Hart/Hinds. With the AZ 172nd scale kits out, I wonder if a scale up is possible? The Aeroclub kit is as the others have said a good start to the gentle art of vac-form building and is a good basis for most variants.

IIRC the Frog Javelin was nearer to a Mk8 than a Mk9 as the nose is right for the shorter and fatter US radar. Sadly the best Javelin was the Heller T3 but it was a strange mark to make as there were only 13 built. If Airfix had only converted it to a Mk4 or Mk5 fighter that would have been more sensible. As it is the mould was modified and the T3 is no more. It is time a good, injection moulded Javelin was released in 1/72nd and 1/48th

I've been using the new Humbrol acrylic matt spray in the rattle can and it is very very flat.

Ok, so we went and this is what I found. Model Shops; one small part of the ToyMaster in Sandown. A reasonably eclectic selection of old and new ( Revell Gannet )with a goodish supply of paints etc. Nothing to write home about but not bad compared with my local town. We also passed a model shop in Newport but didn't stop, as it was after 6. IOW Airport near Sandown; good viewing from the boundary road, some interesting types like a Tigher Moth, a very early Cessna and an Islander. Bembridge; Six Islanders on the parking area, two ex-Belgian Air Force. A Steerman and a Pilatus Turbo Porter on the day I was there. A Westland Scout called in later in the week. Good viewing from the flying club better still a pub with a car park overlooking the field. And the wife drove home. Result.

Fabulous piece of work Andy. It is an inspiration to help me finish mine.I agree with evrything you said about the kit.

Apparently 'A meeting at the Air Ministry on October 30th 1940 decided that all nightfighters were to be painted 'Special Night Flying Black Dope' which would appear to be RDM2A'. Source Camouflage and Markings No2 The Battle of Britain by Paul Lucas. If you take the 30th October to be the official end of the Battle of Britain then it looks unlikely. However maybe some Squadrons had already painted their aircraft in normal night (Black) paint. I just haven't seen one. Hope this is of some use

Looking really good, I'm slowly following your lead on this one and havingthe same issues. Glad you have shown me how to deal with them.

I believe that Heritage Aviation will be re-isssuing theirs shortly. I understand they held off after the AZ kit was announced but as it is such a disappointment.... I regret not buying one of the original issues. May be worth a post on their bit below?

Graham, thats right, you use the Dragon/Revell wing tips so that is why MDC kit doesn't have the shorter wing tips.

The MDC A-1 kit contains the correct blades and IIRC spinner as well. They also do an A-5 which hasn't the wing tips again IIRC. The problem with the A-5 is that a hybrid rear canopy accomodating two pintle mounted m.g.s was a fairly standard fitting and I know of no commercially available canopy. I always wondered why MDC didn't include the glassware in their kits. Hope this is of some use.

The A-1 had different engines, shorter wingtips, a different height fin and rudder and a different rear cockpit with a single gun position centrally located. MDC do a conversion that copes with the first three but unless you can either find a Dragon night fighter styler canopy or possibly a Ventura one you are a bit stuck. I did the conversion a few years ago and it was a bit of a trial as, unusally for MDC, the resin bits didn't fit the plastic bits and the plastic bits aren't the best fit in the world. I also wrecked two fighter canopies because they were too narrow for the fuselage. Be warned.