Old Mull

Chris, little brain cells sorta working! I’ve made a few decals, printed on clear or white decal sheet, ok if the body colour is white. Sealed with Halfords clear lacquer, gloss or matt as required and carefully cut out ( which I expect you will have to do anyway. Never thought of trying it on my kit decals though they are well past recovery. Never had any problems over coating other previously applied decals with Halfords, just an idea. Also consider scanning what’s left of those you’ve shown on the photo before trying them, small stuff in black is standard, but it would be possible to have the swap shop logos traced in cad and printed on clear decal sheet. If Mr. Hobby clear doesn’t work I might be able to help with the cad stuff. Let me know how you get on. Dave

Well, typical BM immediate responses, what a great club to be a member of! Thanks Chris, Trevor, Dave and Sabrejet, I just have to be nice to Mrs. Old Mull, see if I can have an advance on me pocket money and get an order off! Chris, I’ve got kits from Starter, Provence Moulage, Automodelli, and GPM, last count about 18 still to build/repair/refurbish, not counting the Heller kits not even opened. I agree with your comments about Cartograph and Starter kit decals as I have recently completed a couple of Porsche 935s using Robustelli transkits on Solido diecasts. The Cartograph decals in the transkits performed faultlessly but those in a couple of Starter kits have disintegrated (which is why I need replacements!) BTW, like your Porsche, Trevor, Dave

Hi folks, anyone out there had any experience of dealing with this company, particularly decals? Quality, delivery, delivery charges, duty etc? I’ve been delving into my old (very old!) stash of started but not completed 1/43 models in the hope of actually completing some of them before my last flight is called! As usual, the kit decals are past it, found some replacements on the above site but some intel would be handy before committing the readies. Been there before with other offshore companies, item price fine, horrendous delivery costs! All help gratefully accepted. Dave

Better late than never! Unfortunately the Norton had to be shelved due to family illness and a bereavement but things are looking up, thanks to you all for the input and enlightenment, the kit now unearthed again and n. s. wire on order, I will update when I manage (or not!) to do the re-spooking. All that’s needed now it to check the spoking pattern. Thanks again chaps! Dave

Thanks Dave, I’ve already been there (that’s where I got the idea to rebuild them) but before I commit £30+, I was hoping someone might have done a w.I.p. to see how they handled the hubs, offsets, spoking pattern etc. Cheers, Dave

Has anyone found or can recommend an aftermarket chain set to replace the original PVC kit items which, quite frankly, are just blobs of unusable plastic? I have an original kit but wonder if the Italeri re-release addresses the problem (or not!) In the same vain, has anyone rebuilt the wheels with aftermarket spoke sets and printed rims? Dave

Hi Richie, As Hendie said, there comes a point when you have to move on, the lily can only take so much gilding. You did say it was fun, so stop mithering marra and push on. It is/will look great. I like the strut method, did a similar one but with 0.8 ply and balsa for a 1/24th Macchi M39, never thought about cutting the struts on the Silhouette cutter sitting on the bench! Hendie’s last quote rings a bell, yes, the teddy bear ladies on Repair Shop use it, so that’s where he is moonlighting?!! Cracking job, cheers, Dave

Hi Ruth, just noticed this thread. I have in the last few weeks, completed the very same model, started over 30 years ago! For an old kit it goes together well, mine is OOB apart from repair of bits and pieces damaged from years in the attic. I found if it’s carefully cleaned up with dry trial fitting as you proceed, it was possible to paint and decal the main components before final assembly. I rigged mine with 0.3 mm nickel silver wire attached with pva glue. Take your time with it and you can get a very nice model. Regards, Dave

In the meantime, what the hells happening to the wings ! Dave

Got one in the stash, donated by friend who started it but lost interest, built a few in the old days, not a bad kit. Nice to see one resurrected. Dave

At last, a proper balsa bodger, none of the shake the box stuff here! Lovely model, well done sir. Dave

Hi Paul (aka Bertie), it’s a extra tacky pva. ‘Original Hi-Tack all purpose VERY STICKY GLUE’ it says on the brown plastic squeezy pot! I found it in a haberdashery/crafts store and I believe it’s been formulated as a fabric adhesive. It’s made in Britain but it might be worth having a trawl in your local outlets for an antipodean equivalent, that is when you escape from your latest lockdown! Just had a look and it’s also listed on Amazon. Dave (aka Old Mull)

I will go with Paul on this one. Just finished rigging a 1/32 Hasagawa Boeing F4, (been half built in the box for 20+ years!), looked at most of what has been suggested and opted for Albion 0.33 nickel silver wire fixed with extra strong pva glue. I have in the distant past, used fuse wire but it bends too easily. Dave

Mike, had a natter with Mrs who confirms the red carpet and seats in the BU Dak. First time for her on a plane and the comfort and decor left an abiding impression! Ivor, would you like copies of the scans for your records? Dave

Hi Mike, just had a look through some old (very old!) slides and found the British United DC 3 SWIMBO and I flew on from Carlisle (Crosby) to the Isle of Man many moons ago, about 62/ 63! Our recollection was of red plush carpets with red velvet seats and we think white or cream cabin walls/ceiling. I also found a further slide of a Dan Air London DC 3 taken at Ronaldsway when we were taxying in. I will need to scan these in, see how they come out but you are welcome to copies if you want. Should be able to get them done in next couple of weeks but no guarantees the colour quality will adequate for you but they might give you a couple of leads. Just let me know if you want them. Dave