David M

There is indeed a resin kit of this class - in fact two: one in 1/72 and one in 1/192. Russ Wilson makes them under his International Models Asia Ltd (IMACO) banner, essentially to order as he is a 'one man band'. I purchased one of his Fly class gunboats in 1/72 as a built model, in fact the one used to illustrate the kit on his website (http://www.imaco.com.hk/kits/). It arrived partially disassembled and beautifully packaged and is exemplary "clean and square" in its assembly. All the basics are there and there is scope to add a lot more detail if you are so inclined. Since getting the Fly I am inspired to also get the Insect and at last build Cockchafer in her tropical whites.

I think I have cracked it...Apprentice Training School. WRE had one based out of Salisbury in South Australia and "APPRENTICE TRAINING SCHOOL SALISBURY" seems to fit the proportions of the text arranged around the ATS at the centre of the logo.

Hi John, Hi Seahawk, Thanks for your responses, much appreciated! I am fairly sure it was not ARDU - I have scoured their ORBs - and I don't think the subject Canberra was used on anything nuclear as it has 4 boomerangs as nose art which usually indicated that it had survived four goes as a missile test target. Ken Delve, Peter Green and John Clemons mention in their “English Electric Canberra” (Midland Counties) that there are photographs of WK165 with missile nose art and I would be keen to see if any of them show the TAS/ATS logo: can anyone put me in contact with the authors? Again, many thanks, David M Sydney, Straya

Can anyone ID a unit with these initials operating Canberras at Woomera during the sixties? I am not sure if its initials were 'ATS' or 'TAS' but its logo was the letters 'TAS' (arranged as a small T/big A/small S) with four pieces of text arranged around them to form a diamond shape. Any help would be appreciated... David M Sydney, Straya

Thanks John, much appreciated.

Can anyone here confirm the size of the underwing serials on RAF Canberras in the period when they had no underwing roundels? Thanks and regards, David M

MilneBay, Mark, greatgonzo and Tbolt, Many thanks, that is the one. Best regards, David M Sydney, Straya

Somewhere (possibly an extremely old IPMS USA Mag?) I saw photos and a drawing of a Thunderbolt with the front (or rear?) half in OD/Grey camo with the other half in natural metal. Any and all leads would be very welcome... Thanks and regards, David M Sydney, Straya

The Alfabino running south from Launceston toward Simmons Plains in Tasmania. Google it as it was way, way too fast to photograph as we headed north...and loud in all senses!

I have been trying to renew my Kit Lotus subscription but the some of the site functions are not working...including subscriptions. I have tried emailing the owner a couple of times without a response...but did (as usual, via email) get the key to the latest issue...which did not work! Does anyone know if it has folded or how to contact them? Thanks, DM Sydney, Straya

As the good Admiral says: it should be a blast. We have swapped the Detroit > Nashville route from 'via Indy' to 'via Dayton' as I think he will enjoy the USAF Museum more than the Indy Museum. I will probably grab a beer and sit in the shade to watch The Admiral go mental in Pima and Dayton...that is going to be entertaining and fun to see. This will be my 5th to the US and thanks to all the great suggestions here (and via PM, for which many thanks to you all) I am already thinking about the 6th in 2019...probably a long amble up the right hand coast as I have only seen a couple of bits in Florida and Philli. So any and all suggestions are still welcome...

Prime Miniatures ( http://www.prime-miniatures.co.uk ) has all you will need. Hex in M series down to 0.6 in brass or plated brass and excellent service.

Admiral Puff and I are coming over for the IPMS US Nationals next July and then touring for six weeks or so. The plan is to start at Omaha then by road to Chicago, Oshkosh, Detroit, Indianapolis and Nashville then jump west to Tucson then by road to Phoenix, San Diego, LA and San Francisco before we leap on the Big Tin Bird back to Oz. Our collective interests are (in no particular order) old aeroplanes, old cars, beer, books, music in various forms, Mustangs (both kinds), French cars, models, architecture, race cars, float planes and flying boats, food. We have figured out the big things we want to see along the way but are interested in any suggestions any of you 'locals' may have for stuff to do or see along the way...ballgames? jazz? blues? classical? obscure events? Any and all suggestions will be much appreciated... David M

That is the one. I have subsequently found a couple of sources for drawings and hope to start in on it soon. Many thanks...nice models by the way...

I know it is a long shot but does anyone have pics of the FV180 Combat Engineering Tractor that was the gate guardian at Long Marston back in the 1980s?

Are there any decent drawings around for the QL tanker...preferably the early version without all the booms?

Fernando Pinto 1/24 Campbell Bluebird III of 1933. Not the most detailed kit and ugly as sin but should be fun...

Yep, the GT 86 is the one I am interested in having just bought an 86 GTS as they are known in Oz. The Tamiya kit looks closest and I will grab a copy of the Aoshima engine sprue which is thankfully available separately...and will follow Paul's WIP with interest. Thanks and regards, David M

Are these both from the same moulds? And if so any opinions on which of these two 1/24 kits is better?

Early (C-1) Mk IIIs had interiors that were largely finished in Dull Dark Green. Around the end of this variant NAA switched to Yellow Zinc Chromate tinted with black which produced a green hue. When the ANA colours were standardised this mix became ANA611 Interior Green. Finishes to fixtures and fittings varied from item to item and again over time but these were the predominant colours on both USAAF C models and their equivalent RAF Mk IIIs. The CAC built Mustangs had a different, brighter 'apple' green. David Muir Author 'Southern Cross Mustangs'

DC, Tremonia do 1/18 PE belt sets...available on evilBay. DM

What he said. I have a sample of the actual paint and is darker and slightly bluer than the decal suggests. H20 is close enough for all but a colour obsessive.

I rather doubt a re-issue is on the cards: it must have been massively expensive to produce. Things like formed/pierced/louvred aluminium bodywork, complex chassis (in one piece, no less) and detail down to and including the paper filters for the carbs is not easy or cheap to produce. They also pretty much covered the easy variations (BDR and long wings, BDR and cycle wings, Vauxhall and cycle wings) in previous re-issues. However, one never knows...Tamiya are not that predictable. If anyone is interested I have a heap of Caterham spares (couple of chassis, couple of Vauxhall blocks without heads, one x near complete BDR, two x transmissions for both, differential, most of the suspension, full set of the fluoro yellow bodywork plus lots of the small bits and trims) that are surplus to my needs. PM me if you need anything and I will see if I can help... David M

I have found a reference to "fire bombs" being used in Italy late in the war (early 1945). Information on US pattern napalm munitions abounds but I cannot find anything on RAF fire bombs. Can anyone direct me to an image and/or know how widely they were used by the RAF? Thanks, David M

I have been looking for a set of plans for a QL refueller without much success. Any suggestions of an online or print source would be gratefully received... Thanks... DM