Jimbo

Hi again Tony Thanks for the info on how you did the stripes - I might have to give it a go. A lot of people have a 'paint mule' for test painting, think I'll use a stripes mule! Cheers too for your thoughts on the fairings. Your mentioning possibly the age of the aircraft may have something. The two pics I've found online that show them are on VERY mucky aircraft, whereas those without look (relatively) clean. More investigation looms 😃 As you say I can easily fill my drilled holes towards the end of the build if I need to. Cheers again Best wishes Jim

Hi Tony Just wanted to say what an incredible weathering job on those stripes! The fading/wear is perfect, how long did it take? I'd also like to ask a question about this and your photo B-25. I see in this build you've left off the fairings over the (intercooler?) exits on the top of the starboard wing while the other does have them and I wondered if you knew if there was any 'rule' about when these were or were not present? At first I wondered whether it was to do with whether or not the aircraft had the smooth cowlings as opposed to the Clayton(?) type exhausts - Airfix show the fairings fitted to both their kit options and both have the Clayton exhausts but a few pics (and indeed your model) show this isn't the case. My problem isn't helped by the fact that 95% of RAF Mitchell pics seem to be taken from the port side, and most of the remainder below the wing! 😂 From the few photos I've found online the only 'pattern' (from about 4 pics!) is that aircraft without the fairings are in Invasion stripes . . . I'm hoping to build one of the options on the DK Decals sheet, and it wsn't until after I drilled the holes for the fairings I suddenly wondered why the holes were flashed over - obviously optional for different airframes. If you (or anyone else that reads this! :-)) has any guidance as to which aircraft had these, and indeed their purpose, it'd be very gratefully received. If it turns out that photos are the only guide I'll just have to toss a coin (though as the holes are now drilled it'd probably be 'on' Lol!) Many thanks, looking forward to your next B-25! Best wishes Jim

Hi Ali Just to say mine arrived today - beautifully cast! I have a fair number of items produced by yourself in the stash, each with an intent to build, but these might levitate to the top of the list :-) All the very best Jim

And me! 👍

Hi Ced Bit late joining in here, but as part of my catch up I've just seen the video of your flight - what an incredible experience! I love the 360 view on the video, especially as I could pick out landmarks! I'm from Portsmouth and my gf's just the other side of Bognor, so we often see 'your' Spitfire overhead or along the coast - it was great to be able to pick out Bognor Pier, Butlins and then the sea defences at Elmer. I thoroughly enjoyed watching it all - the 49 mins flew by (aha!). I have to agree with Biggles87 though, Battle of Britain soundtrack would be in my head too! I'm off to see what's in my piggy bank! (probably just enough for an Airfix Spitfire - 1/72 of course!) Best wishes Jim

I used to work there (IT Dept) but I was going through a model car phase and so virtually ignored the aircraft there 😭 Love the pics, brings back memories (though there was no Merlin back then).

Hi Ced I'm a bit of a lurker on your builds - enjoy them (and the associated chatter re BBQs, beer, etc!) very much, but don't often have anything to contribute. However . . . I started searching for the 6.35mm 3M tape, and found this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3M-Vinyl-Tape-471-06405-Fine-Line-Paint-Masking-Inc-Striping-6-35mm-x-32-9m-/332337380031?_trksid=p2141725.m3641.l6368 It's vinyl tape, not sure if the tape PC mentioned is too, but it's the right width. About to click 'buy' so I'll have to see what it's like. Great work on the Spit! Best wishes Jim

Hi Glad the picture has proved to be of interest. I think it's the first time in the 8 years I've been here that I've actually been able to help, rather than asking! A Very Merry Christmas to all! Jimbo

Hi I found this photo when trying find out the same thing. I think it shows a Sutton harness Jim

Stunning!

Aha, this sounds like me! The cheap Revell kit, the aftermarket goodies, the superb Aviaeology set . . . Following this with great interest! Jim

Ahhh, my very first flight was on one of those - G-AJGT, at Biggin Hill, 197 something :-)

Hi Paul Thank you for the VERY speedy response. That's great, just what I needed to know - an order will be on its way very shortly! And a special thanks for pointing out about the air cap - not many would do that, very grateful. Very best wishes Jim PS Just seen how I typed the title (qyestion!) Can't believe I didn't notice, even after previewing it before posting!

Hi Paul I hope you don't mind me posting this here, but I have a couple of questions before I order some bits for my airbrush. I thought it might help others if I ask here rather than a PM. I got my airbrush and compressor from you a couple of years ago (think it was a Southern Expo show) and I've been extremely pleased with both. I'm after a new needle set and replacement seals, but I'm a bit confused as to which bits I need. I have an H&S Infinity (model no 126543) - which seems to have been replaced by the Infinity CR Plus? I think you said on another thread (and apologies if it wasn't you! ) that the CR brushes are chrome plated rather than nickel plated. If so, does that mean the innards are the same? My brush came with the .15 needle (as well as the 0.4) but I seem to have blockage problems (oooerr!) and reading another thread it seems maybe it's a little too small for some paints. So I'd like to get the 0.2 needle set which I think is 126833. For the seal set, I'm not sure if I need: Sealing kit for H&S not Crplus or Colani (123910) or: Sealing kit for CR plus (123911) which I suppose depends on how similar the Infinity and Infinity CR Plus are? Sorry for all the questions but I want to make sure I order the right parts. Any help would be gratefully appreciated :-) Many thanks Jim

Hi Jim THREE conversions?! I thought it was probably a case of Glen having a lot of orders - I should imagine a lot if interest was generated by SMW. Having seen the quality on this thread I can see why! Best wishes Jimbo

Hi Woody Sorry to kind of piggy back on your thread - it IS Blackbird's Manchester conversion related I've been trying to contact them to inquire about the status of my order - I've emailed, then PMed on BM - then I noticed Glen had been on this thread. If you remember next time he's on, could you just let him know I've PMed him please? Obviously if I'm around when he posts I'll pop in, but i seem to be too slow when it comes to thread updates! Thanks awfully Jim (dying to start his Manchester )

Thank you Bill! Never heard of them, off to do a Google Cheers again! Jim

Hi everyone Just in the middle of cleaning when I heard the sound of multiple engines.Dashed upstairs to grab a camera and then out into the garden. In the distance I saw 3 prop aircraft in formation, one then broke away - I identified this as an Extra. The other two did a little aerobtics before departing to the NW. I looked at the pics to see what they were. Seeing the markings my first thought was Yak 11s but the squared off wingtips seem wrong. Could the BM collective please put me out of my misery? Thank you! Jim PS I'm in Middleton-on-Sea, a little to the east of Bognor Regis

I'm a bit confused here - two of my photos are of the aircraft vertical completely showing the underside. I'll nip off and have look at the video - my tablet doesn't want to do videos at the moment! Jim

At what point did he 'roll inverted'? Surely he was inverted by virtue of pulling up into the 'loop'. From the airfield it appeared that he pulled up while pointed towards the crowd line - I saw a not quite frontal aspect of the aircraft about 30° to my right. The maneuver certainly ended on a different heading to that it started on, although not as much as the 90° I've seen mentioned on other forums, and depicted by the DM. Jim

Same here. Got out the airfield at 1918 and home at gf's in Middleton on Sea at 2100. Time for a stiff drink Jim

Hi all, Thank you all for the info - the props comparison looks most interesting! I have two sets of the Aeroclub 4 bladers (at least, that's what my database says - trying to find them is a different matter!) but as they were made for the Matchbox kit (which I think had nacelles too narrow?) I don't think they'll fit the Aeroclub replacement nacelles. I have both the Morris Block and Gallay sets from John. I also have Freightdog's Z nose as well as a couple of the Revell issue of the Matchbox kit (they were a surprise when cataloguing the stash!) I'll certainly have to look closer at the photo - I didn't even think to check the exhausts (thanks for the heads up Graham). I'll have to get out all the kits and bits I have, lay them out and compare what I need from where. I wasn't sure how far to go with correcting/accurising(?) the kit, but as I'm using the Aeroclub nacelles I might as well do as good a job as I can. Just not sure whether to 'waste' a Matchbox kit in order to correct Revell's ailerons - but I suppose the Matchbox will not get built now anyway! Many thanks again to you all for your input and help. Best wishes Jim

Hi again Graham Thank you for the info re 4 bladers all round on CC aircraft. I wonder if Aeroclub's white metal 4 blade props fit their nacelle correction sets? Time to head to the stash! Jim

Hi Jerry and Graham, Thank you both for your input, much appreciated. Jerry, That pic's great, thank you. At least I know it is a valid configuration. Graham, I see what you mean about the high demarcation, I didn't realise how it changed with the scheme. Just being EDSG upper surfaces isn't offputting, that nose and turret on a CC scheme fits my 'something different'. Do you think it's a four blade prop on the port outer? I understand some aircraft did carry 4 bladers on the outer engines, but I can't decide if this one's just the angle! Cheers! Jim

Hi all I've decided to make a start on one of my Revell Halifaxes, in Coastal Command colours. I'd like to do something a bit different; in the Squardon/Signal book on the Halifax there's a colour profile which shows a GR.V Series 1 with the Z nose and what I think is called the Type C turret. Serialled DG250/C it is depicted carrying Extra Dark Sea Grey/Dark Slate Grey over white. (Link to page which carries a copy of the S/S profile as well as another profile of the same aircraft) http://wp.scn.ru/en/ww1/f/560/9/1 Looks just what I fancy(!) but having Googled away I can't seem to find any photographic 'validation' of this combination. The only Halifax references in my library (if it can be called that!) are the aforementioned Squadron/Signal book, and the Halifax/Wellington book by Chaz Bowyer. Can anyone point me in the direction of a pic that supports the profile? It makes for a different look, and might be what I need to actually complete a model! Many thanks in advance Jim