colin ritchie

Its funny i was thinking about this earlier to-day, Ok confession time , I'm a 32nd scale only modeller , and much as I want the Tamiya Spits and the Mustang , I'm passing on them , partly because of the price, (these days much over £25 causes much soul searching) , and partly becuase I really don't want a fully detailed engine or gun bays , give me a resonablly accurate shape, a cockpit I can work with, and I'm happy Before Tamiya produced their spit , I'd built in a 2 year period , 2 spit XI's (One paragon conversion , one PCM), an XIV, (PCM + Radu conversion), and a XVI , (PCM/Cammet conversion), so 3 weeks after the XIV was done the Tamiya IX was announced at over £100 , there was a big "so What" from me - Spitfire itch scratched , who needs that expense to repeat myself I now have 2 P-51d's complete , both Dragon , both kits I had a ball with , (I Like sanding!) , and Lo I now have the option of spending anothe £80, £90 or what ever to repeat myself , at the end of the day it's still be just another completed P-51 on a shelf, and only an annorak will care who produced the original kit Personally i'm waiting for the PCM 32nd Mk XIv , That will be turned into a PR XIX, and it'll still cost a damm site less than Mt T's latest Wunderkit! I think the Tamiya 32nd kits really are aimed at the non 32nd modeller , as a way of saying , "here this is what we can do in 32nd " , for those of us working in this scale on a regular basis , we know what's possible in larger scales and we really don't need to be won over with fancy doo dads like magnetic cowlings, movable hinges etc , if i wanted these features , I look for some of the corgi 32nd diecasts Long live 32nd , but not all of us want what Tamiya offer ... (if however they produce a 32nd F4U , all bets are off!!!)

Saw this on the Cybermodeler site Let the rejoycing begin HMS Dreadnought kit details

Put me down for a set as well , my wife is funding my GR7 as my Xmas present this year ,, so I just have to pay for the extras... not a bad deal I think!

Don't think so , yet , bet bet might to be nice to someome with the black Knights boxing of the Tamiya F-14, that had BOL rails in it , and I Think , stress think, that there were 4 in a box , when you only needed two ... As for the rest of the resin tweakes, I'm patiently waiting for Aires to get started !

What he said x10 + FA.2 as well!!!!!!!

Yup , Zotz are working on some , Read all about it here

I've been doing a little digging around , and I'm beginning to suspect that the Pylon used for the Lightning is the same one used on A-10C, The first one outboad of the gear counting from the fusalage centre line , either that or the outmost one used to carry Jammers on the twin sidewinder rails, I'll do some more digging , but I think one of my Trump A-10's is going to be giving up a pylon soon!

bobski , thanks for that link to the eurofighter site , that was just what I was looing for , looks like a bit of scratch building is called for , unless I can adapt something else ..

i've started work on a Revell 32nd Eurofighter , with plans to build it as an aircraft in operation over Libya, I have the Lightning Pod for the centre line , however I not sure about its pylon , does it use its own dedicated one , or is if the same as the one used with the Fuel tank , any help much appreciated PC The Aires cockpit set fits a treat , and look wonderful!

There was a very stong feeling at KSC that there was NO way that S1B was ever going to fly a manned mission after Apollo 1 I've been following this tread with intrest , I'm a huge apollo nut , and these enhanements , and the re-issues mean I really am going to have to lay in a BIG store of white paint!- so amy options .. But I just wish someone would product a decent 32nd LM... pretty please to anyone out there!!!!!

Well since i have a 32nd tornado F-3 aleready , it really would have to be the Phantom i was one of the mugs who paid £250+ for a CE FRG1/2 conversion 2 and a bit years ago , and never received it , (yup I got my money back) ,and I have on occasion seen the set for £700+ on e-bay and thought . Hmmm .. I've got that much available on my credit card, fortunatly my wife was on hand with a large dose of reality ,(more like a clip round the ear ) and I passed on it ! so i'm very much in the market for 2-3 BritPhantom kits , assuming they ever turn up!

Arn't the RAF specific pylons on the sprue with the GR7 cockpit parts ?

Well that’s a depressing list .. ah well never mind.. what’s another £30-50 on top of a £99 kit…! At least the basic shape is within spitting distance of a harrier , Seems what we have are sins for omission for a change - still its easier to add bits to a kit, rather than hack styrene which seems the more usual outcome for a Trumpeter kit. The whole question of accurate weapons is something that bedevils modellers of RAF equipment in most scales, but particularly in 32nd , buy any Academy Hornet , and you have enough accurate weapons to equip most of an air group up until mid 2000s . The best we , on this side of the pond, can do is either head to Flightpath , or rob some LGBs from a Revell GR1 tornado, (good lucking finding one!) or steal some Air to Airs from a Typhoon kit .. pretty poor show… At least Sniper XS pods are available in 32nd , as well as Lightning IIs , Oh for a re-issued Revell Gr1 , with accurate modern weapons, and the option to build it as a GR4 .. we can all dream!!!

Agreed the seat is a blow , as are the LERXs, weapons , , well fairly redundant as far as Trumpter go, they never seemt to get things right in that area, however the comment that confuses me is regards shape issue, As far as I remember apart from some odd problems with the pylons, and an odd shaped nose on the later radard equipped AV-8's , I always thought that the basic shape was ok , I do recall Dave roof, over on LSP (ex USMC ) spent a fair amout of time examining the kit, Vs the real thing , and found it pretty close, (nose excepted) all this is irrelevant , my wife has ORDERED me to but the kit as soon as its available .. and she must be obeyed! Its just a shame that as usual with Trumpter its a 90% kit ... close but no cigar.. As well anyone producing a decent replacement seat .. Airies...anyone? I suppose the good news is that 95% of the upgrades available for the earlier Harries will carry over ..

As you may be aware Fisher are working on a new Two Seater 1/32nd Hunter conversion , this time RN versions , One option is the T8M, Sea Harrier Radar test bed , however they've reached a bit of a dead end as regards details of these aircraft Instrument Panels , with the Radar installed , I wondered if anyone out there in Britmodeller world might have any info that ould be of assistance to Fisher in getting this conversion completed Please note I have no connection with fisher , other than as a satsfied customer, and as someone who wants an T8M in 32nd , and is working to see it happen ... so anone out there have any info that miight be useful?

I built both the Fletcher , and the German Z Class late last year ,(while the rest of the uk was slithering in snow I was building thse two!!!) , and I have to say the Z class are much more impressive when done, Both kits build a treat , and although PE sets might enhace things upto compition winning standard , straight out of the box they are more than acceptable , Buy , build and enjoy

Hi guys , thanks for the reference and the pics Yup it'll be the flightpath Sea Eagles, i've had them in storage for years now ,however with the Aires IDS 1/32 pit now in my hot little hande , its time to get started , just as soon as the Hawk is complete , and i've finally completed my 32nd Tornado F-3 , looks like its a 32nd RAF 2011 for me ! - Bring on the Trumpter Harrier , Many thanks again for the incentive to get cracking PS if anyone is thinking about the Aires Tornado pit - , its brilliant , it fits beautifully , the casting is superb .. I can't vouch for its accuracy re RAF Pits , but its a big enough enhancement over whats in the kit to make it a no brainer for me ...

hi there quick question/request - does anyone have decent pics/info ont he two tone Gray scheme worn by the tornado fleet a few years back , i'm seriously lacking reference material I can put my hands on re this scheme - in particular the stenciling visible on the aircraft .. i'm planning a 617 SQ GR-1B in this scheme , and i'm trying to work out what decal sheets I'll have to raid to make up a convincing set of markings Many thanks

Well with the fuss over the Hawk still swirling round , I'm dusting off some of my old RAF 32nd Projects , I'll have to get my old 111Sq F-3 finished , and I've been thinking about an old project ,I had planned some years ago , a 617Sq GR1B, using the Flightpath Sea Eagles I have in storage , however what I'm intrested in are the new Aires sets that came out a couple of months ago . The engine sets looks great , the enhanced level of detail it brings makes it a no brainer , however the IDS/GR pit - is is broadly accurate for a GR1 , or should I forget it , and buy the old BB bit .. Any additional info/help re this project gladly accepted

Selwyn - thanks for that - It was just a vague hope.. since they look slightly simliar.. bummer - Thanks for the update ....

OK Its a dumb question - but are these pylons the same , or simliar to the Tornado's outer pylons? - from what I remember , they look simliar... and yes I have the 32nd Hawk bug too!

Well the last one Aberdeen has been reserved me .. pick up tomorrow afternoon, and one of the Xtradecal sheets also ordered, my first one will be the 151 SQ wrapround scheme - with Saltaires either side of the fusalage roundel - how could I not pick that one! What amazing value - way to go Revell and Argos!

It builds as well as their Spitfires, in otherwords the fit of all the major components requres work, wing/fusalage are a particular issue, might be an idea to insert a fusalage spreader piece , the resin/plastic/PE pieces for the pit go together pretty well , and look the part , the U/C bay is a nice casting , and adds a lot to the overall look of the finished model Decals are excellent , with some of the usual Hurricane suspects , Tuck/Bader and some lesser known pilots inc Archie McKellar Overall its not a shake and bake kit in any sense - but it is a decent model and a Much better alternative than working with rhe 30 odd year old Revell Hurricane!`

I am so glad to see the model went to someone who could do the kit justice - brilliant work ... One of these days I must drag my finished WEM 1941 Sheffield out from the loft and snap some pics of it !

That is a beautiful job , really superb , I've built enough of the Tamiya beasts to know what a pain they can be .. but you've tamed it like a pro .. can't wait to see it finished