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DaveWilko

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  1. DaveWilko
    After watching that part one's self,one thought "Let's hope they never have to scramble on an intercept"........... One has heard also that they won't have any unit markings applied,because they'll be moved around the units assigned to fly them,one thinks that that is code for "we can't afford many so units will have to share".
  2. DaveWilko
    Sir,might one suggest that these drawing may indeed be superior: http://soyuyo.main.jp/spit47/spit47-1.html One may have to translate into English and then scroll down the page,but one will find excellent side,top and underside views of the Spitfire 22. The link for these came from a thread on the conversion of the 1/72nd Airfix Spit 22 into a Seafire FR.47. They are superb. Dave.
  3. DaveWilko
    If one remembers correctly,the old Rareplanes vac form Seafire 47 scales out at something like 1/75th/1/77th scale. It does appear rather diminutive compared to "real 1/72nd"Spitfires/Seafires. Since beginning to return to the modelling scene(after many,many years away) and reading through many articles (plus being a lover of Mr Mitchell's creation in all it's forms)on these pages,it does appear that the Airfix 1/72nd Spitfire 22 is indeed the absolute benchmark for a Griffon Spit with the later wing. The gentleman above's(Bedders)conversion based,if one understand's correctly,on the Airfix 1/72nd 22 has captured the look of the FR.47 very well indeed. And here is the original leading question containing some very interesting information: And here the work involved to produce that lovely model of the FR.47 from the Airfix 22: Dave.
  4. DaveWilko
    One believes that the Sea Hawk is tucked away at Shawbury awaiting a large handful of cash,if one remembers correctly,to sort out the damage to the rear fuselage internal structure caused by hot jet efflux leaking from the bi-furcated jet pipes.
  5. DaveWilko
    Sir, Could one most respectfully suggest that the Warpaint plans quoted dimensions for the length are actually wrong?. Many plans quote the OAL as 55'7",the actual length as quoted by de Havilland is 53' 6 1/2" . The Frog Sea Vixen is the most accurate for overall shape and dimension in 1/72nd scale. It's main problem is that it is slightly wide from wingfold to wingfold,making the outer folding panels slightly too short and making the weapon pylons slightly too close together. That fact will be apparent if one tries to fit armament and fuel tanks,they will foul each other. The reason for one fitting the extension plug 'twixt radome and fuselage(actually making the length too long!!)is to visually make the over wide centre fuselage "look" slimmer. There are other subtleties such as the length and shape of the hot air ducting,undernose retractable rocket pods and fuel dump pipe for a start that can be much improved upon to make the model look much better . One's careful study of the real aircraft will give handsome dividends. Excellent work though Sir in fitting the aftermarket cockpit,an immense improvement to what,IIRC,Frog actually supplied when one last built this kit back in 1978.
  6. DaveWilko
    One didn't know that Grasmere was part of the Mach Loop. One rather likes the look of this project,good work.
  7. DaveWilko
    Quite. One believes that young bold pilots are one thing,but submariners are a rather different breed altogether.
  8. DaveWilko
    Dearest Peter224, When one was a pretty prolific modeler many years ago,much research was done by one's self into the interior colours of Supermarine and other "shadow" factory built a/c. It did appear then(and the above picture verifies this again)that they used and specified a shade very much close to "Sky" but with more of an "apple green" tinge to it for cockpit interiors and fittings. IIRC,the trick we used was a 50/50 mix of Airfix or Humbrol "Duck Egg Green"(as it was known way back in the day)and "Interior Grey Green" colours. That produced a pretty good approximation of Supermarine's "own" cockpit colour. Research also threw up that forr'ard and aft of the cockpit was quite often done in a silver dope,this also carried through onto the engine cowlings.
  9. DaveWilko
    One's daughter and her beau bought one this kit for Father's Day(gearing one up for retirement I fear!!!),looking at yours and David Collins' completed models,one would say that one is going to have a very enjoyable time building it and that a rather pleasing result will be had from it. One thinks the late model Griffon Spits really were the pinnacle of the breed,they look to be travelling at over 400 miles per hour even when parked. Excellent work indeed Sirs.
  10. DaveWilko
    I have had one bought for me as a Father's Day present by my daughter and her beau,(one isn't sure whether they're gearing one up for retirement!!), but looking at it through the bag,it does appear to have the larger rudder with the "Z" trim tab already in it and looking at the instructions, one is to use it on the post-war all silver II(AC)Squadron option as our friend above has built. Didn't the XVIII have slightly different wing access panels due to it being a true"tropical"version?
  11. DaveWilko
    This is nothing short of superb,one(as you know Big X)has more than a passing interest of 92 Sqn,but this is a fabulous tribute not only to the pilot(s) of 92 that were murdered by the Nazis,but to all the Great Escapers. Excellent work my friend and a brilliant tribute to some very fine and very,very brave young men. Lest We Forget. As a very,very,very small aside(One may have posted this earlier),a firm I worked for many years ago had a service engineer whom was actually named Steve McQueen. When asked "Has anyone seen Steve McQueen today?",the stock answer was always"No,but he did mention something about a fence and a motorbike..."
  12. DaveWilko
    Would that be Mrs Impecunious of Mars by chance?
  13. DaveWilko
    Don't give him too many drinkiepoo's,one suspects that the dear Mrs Procopius will be watching the internet like a hawk to see if there are any pictures of her galavanting husband in a highly parlous state of sobriety caused by an over libation by his British chums................................
  14. DaveWilko
    And all being thrown around the sky in full re-heat trying do out do each other's skills one's afraid.
  15. DaveWilko
    Further to isaneng's post above,here's a few more pictures of the F/E's "dicky seat"(some with him ensconsed on his "throne" too). Do bear in mind though,the F/E spent 90% of his time standing up and looking outside the aircraft,so the seat was usually folded up and out of the way rather than unfolded and hinged into position. Oh and a very happy birthday too young man. https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=avro+lancaster+flight+engineer's+seat&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=pYXSFTi47gCgKM%3A%2C01kmzPgbCpUGGM%2C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kScYyD26KnDVCptHlxlWtfcZn52ow&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiomLzy2vfgAhUFJ1AKHYctByUQ9QEwDHoECAIQBg#imgrc=pYXSFTi47gCgKM:
  16. DaveWilko
    These are delightful. Although never in the Air Cadets oneself,I remember seeing these flying on summer Sunday afternoons when out around the then RAF Ternhill in the 60's/70's when on a "Sunday afternoon" drive with one's parents. One's father would park up on the lane that borders the airfield and we'd watch the gliders.
  17. DaveWilko
    I posted this to Steve via PM,but he has asked one to put it up into the main thread,so here goes. The Time Team dig for Paul Klipsch's Spitfire:
  18. DaveWilko
    My word!!! Do you chaps have to have qualifications in Origami to achieve that? One would imagine that dragging it out again must be equally "exciting",what happens if you have to do it in a hurry? One bets there's far more "guiders and watchers"than do-er's for that maneuver.
  19. DaveWilko
    One would imagine that if our William lived in Devizes he'd find it far easier for him to access the real thing and then sally forth with his measuring equipment and deal these irksome dimensions a ferverish blow.
  20. DaveWilko
    Especially as IIRC,the fellow was held at bay by another crew member's(obviously not the gentleman in the "driver's seat")revolver shoved exactly where we may not wish to speculate upon.........
  21. DaveWilko
    Quite true Steve,he did indeed meet up again with Roger,John Gillies,and Norman "Green to Black"(I can't remember his surname offhand,possibly Ryder?) though he states that the old Roger was long gone and a much colder steely eyed very different character now occupied the man he once knew. As you say,those are the four pilots mentioned as shot down that day in the ORB.it is just possible that I may be confusing the combat with another around the same time in which Wooder was lost(I'm sure the name is Wooder,I'll have to dig Bob's book out). Certainly,Learmond's aircraft exploded and the ball of flame kept position in the formation for few seconds before falling away "Like a wilted fiery rag"(to quote the book) after the Messerschmitt formation's initial firing pass before 92 broke and engaged them in combat.
  22. DaveWilko
    IIRC,Paul Klipch's Spitfire was excavated by the "Time Team" some years ago. Pat Learmond's Spitfire exploded in flames as the formation was bounced by the Messerschmitts(Bob Tuck got the leader). By a strange coincidence,when Peter Cazenove was shot down(P9374 24th May 1940)and had belly landed on the Calais beach, whilst walking along the beach, he happened upon the wreckage of Learmond's aircraft,no trace of the pilot was found only a badly burnt and melted parachute harness buckle......... Another name that surfaced in Bob Tuck's book(Fly for your life)as shot down on 23rd of May is "Flight Sergeant Wooder" also seen to be going down in flames. However,in 92's operations book for that day,there is no mention of a Flight Sergeant Wooder,only the names you mention above. A fine job Sir on the aircraft of a true hero.
  23. DaveWilko
    You're most welcome Crisp(if I may call one that,I assume your surname isn't "Walkers"too). That really is a very impressive bit of casting,I gather from the tone of these other members of the "audience" that you will do a fine job of bringing it to life. Excellent job of explaining about the aerodynamics of these machines,obviously from one's knowledge and forum "handle", one once flew them for a living in the Fleet Air Arm,more power to one's elbow I say Sir.
  24. DaveWilko
    I believe the F/E held him at gunpoint to keep him away from the radio(it is many years since I read the book,but I think that's the gist of it.) The Ju 88 is at Cosford: https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/collections/junkers-ju88r-1/ And just to whet one's whistle so to speak : https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/cosford/
  25. DaveWilko
    Indeed it does and yes,it is at RAF Cosford. You'll enjoy the book young sir,a good read. IIRC,two of the aircraft's three crew were in on the defection(Pilot and F.E)but not the W/op.
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