fightersweep

Hi Mika; Email sent! Best regards; Steve

Hi Mika; Consider it done! Best regards; Steve

Hi Mika; Thanks for the reply and good to hear from you. Must say that I was impressed with your website and I'm glad Space Ranger posted up the link here. Shall I drop you a message via your website regarding the custom decals? Best regards; Steve

Lovely dio!Sorry for chiming in really late, but I only just stumbled across your build. I spent several years back in the 90's researching "Ice Cold Katy", and more or less gathered enough information for a book. I also corresponded with many ex 612th BS aircrew that flew on Katy. She completed 103 missions and survived the war returning to the States in July 1945. She ended her days at Kingman, Arizona like many other US aircraft and was scrapped sometime in 1946/47. Black outlines were introduced on the yellow tail stripe when the natural metal aircraft started to arrive at Deenethorpe so the group marking would stand out more, but it was several months before "Katy" was painted with the black stripes, so you can say that your dio dates between March and July 1944. Her regular crew at this time was that of 1st Lt. Richard McCord. I have photos of "Katy" showing both. In fact, "Katy" was one of the first natural metal B-17's the group received, one of three that arrived in March 1944.I discovered that her name came about due to a popular song at the time, and that it was reckoned that 42-107039 had a defective cockpit heater and was one of the coldest aircraft in the group. She was named by her first crew's top turret gunner/engineer, Sgt Earl C. Gibson.Best regards;Steve

Hi Space Ranger; Thanks for posting the plans. They look just the ticket! I may drop a PM your way for the files. Thanks also for the link to Arctic Decals. I've just had a look around the website and I'm tempted by several sets of decals. Particularly the Demon demonstrator. I notice that he offers custom decals...I wonder what the prices are like? I've got a Piper Navajo I simply have to do as G-NMAN! Best regards; Steve

Jessica... Thanks you for correcting my apparent brain fart! My brain meant Howard, but my fingers tapped out Hughes and neither party noticed!! I've changed the thread title and details accordingly! When I read somewhere that the Howard 500 was a Lodestar conversion, I thought, well, how hard can it be. I get the impression now that it's pretty much a completely different aircraft!! I don't mind a good kit bash, but this sounds more like a scratch build. I don't suppose there's much chance of a kit ever appearing, so I probably won't hold my breath! I appreciate all your replies, and I go away having learnt something about the Howard 500, so that in itself is a result! Best regards; Steve

Hi all; Just a quick question as I am a total know nothing in this area. What do I have to do to convert a Lockheed Lodestar into a Howard 500? Is it a doable conversion and what would I need to do (or buy) to get a Howard 500 on my shelf? Thought this the very best place to ask. Thanks in advance; Steve

Love the build! Thanks for sharing! This just sums up why I love Matchbox kits. I think this was the first biplane build I ever tackled, and thanks to their superb engineering, I actually made a half decent job of it (well this 12 year old thought so at the time!) I also wouldn't have known what a Siskin was, so thanks to Matchbox (and I suspect more likely thanks to Maurice Landi), for fueling my interest in the wonderful world of inter-war RAF aircraft. I feel all warm and fuzzy now! Best regards; Steve

I'm still waiting for the Memphis Belle movie Mustangs sheet to be released! It's been ages in the pipeline, and it should sell well! Others have had issues with RAM. I'm sure there is another thread somewhere. Best regards; Steve

Taken from the 1983 GWAD video, the sadly missed Stefan Karwowski describes flying the Bearcat... Best regards; Steve

Hi Paul! Thanks ever so much for posting these up. This is my favourite show and your photos will be really helpful for the modelling project I have on the go at the moment...namely all the aircraft that were there that day. Hope you don't mind me having a "right click and save" frenzy with your photos...they're perfect! Seems as though you were there the same day as me...chucked it down with rain most of the morning if I remember rightly. Also remember those mock up B-17s on the far side of the airfield. I think they managed to fool my mate and I for a few minutes at least! Seem to recall the stars from We'll Meet Again being paraded up and down the crowdline in the military vehicles in the pouring rain. Despite the weather, the display was pretty good, with Stefan Karwowski's Bearcat display being pretty darn blistering, and Barry Tempest's "crazy flying" routine in Tiger Moth G-AYDI was a lot of fun and it must have been the first time I saw Sally B fly, so a pretty special day. I also liked G-FIRE with the flashing lights in the gun barrels...probably why Spitfire XIV low backs are my favourite warbird now! I re-watched the video last night and had to chuckle when it showed a load of cars turning up at the gate, and I thought, "I don't remember a classic car display being there that day?" Then it hit me those were the cars we were driving back then...made me feel a bit old! Anyhoo....I'm rambling and getting all nostalgic! Thanks again for posting these and look forward to the possible few more 83 photos! Best regards; Steve

Hi Paul; Many thanks for posting these! I remember the 1989 show really well. The Sandringham was fantastic, and was that the year Sally B did the flypasts firing lots of blank .50 cal rounds at the Buchon? I hold the Great Warbirds Air Display very close to my heart. The 1983 show was the first proper warbird show that I went to at the age of 13, and despite the awful weather on the Sunday, the show has stuck with me ever since. I was lucky enough to pick up the 83 show poster off of eBay recently. I can't wait to get it framed. The Gary Numan VHS of the show is well worth picking up too! Top memory from the show for me was Stefan Karwowski flying Stephen Grey's Bearcat...a stunning display!! I've currently got a stash of kits that I'm using to build the line up from the 1983 show. The only kit I'm missing is a Fiat G.46....still looking for that one! I've got the ball rolling and recently finished Piston Provost G-AWPH and Stephen Grey's Bearcat. Next in the build pile is John Watt's Pilatus P.2. Thanks again for posting up these memories....do you have any photos of the 1983 show? Best regards; Steve PS: "Ding Hao was the OFMCs G-HAEC, which of course ended up in Germany and totaled at Duxford by a Skyraider!

Pah to all three! I'm eagerly awaiting Starfix to upscale their 1/72 Mustang kit...

I think the Wellesley, Siskin, Lysander and Piston Provost are a few of my favourites, but to be honest, there has hardly been a Matchbox kit that I haven't enjoyed building. I built loads as a kid, and with about 100 in the stash, I still build them whenever I want some AMS free fun. Just finished a couple of Piston Provosts and have the B-17 and Siskin lined up. I honestly believe that if it were not for Matchbox, I may never have heard of the likes of the Wellesley, Siskin, Piston Provost, Heyford etc. I used to build a lot of kits with an equally enthusiastic school friend, and we often used to try and out do each other as far a esoteric subjects were concerned. Matchbox supplied a lot of those kits and I have always admired their brave subject choices...and this 12 year old (in 1981) proved that it wasn't just the older modelling anoraks buying Siskins and Heyfords! Oh! And I loved that Roy Huxley artwork! So Matchbox will always be held dearly by this now older and wider modeller (and I meant wider not wiser!) One thing puzzles. I often trawl eBay for the odd Matchbox kit, and wonder why the Zero always seems to attract regular high prices...often in excess of £20. Nice little kit, but often fetching a lot more than the other aircraft in the same series. Does everyone have the H&C History of Matchbox kits book? Lovely little book! Best regards; Steve

Homebee; Many thanks for the heads up on this kit! I've been waiting for a nice kit of the P.2 for a long time...this will nicely finish of a collection I've been building. Want to order two, but I've never dealt with FSC before...are they easy to order from? Best regards; Steve

Postie just delivered vol 4 of Battle of Britain Combat Archive. Very nice indeed and a whole volume on just two days. I bet August 18th will be a volume on it's own! Well worth buying! Best regards; Steve

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/feb/08/richard-hatch-battlestar-galacticas-original-apollo-dies-at-71 I loved the Galactica film and series as a kid, so very sad to hear this news today. RIP Richard Hatch. I will be cracking open the dvds later. Best regards; Steve

Same here! So far up to date on both the Luftwaffe Crash Archive and the Battle of Britain Combat Archive. All up to the usual Red Kite/Wingleader standard, well researched and very nicely produced. If the BoB is your subject, then both series are invaluable. And as Stonar says, these will probably be changing hands for a fair whack in a few years time. Best regards; Steve

...And hopefully a plentiful supply of plugs, plug leads and rotor arms that will constantly need replaced. And I want windows covered in condensation that forever refuses to clear. Just contacted Eaglemoss by the way.... Best regards; Steve

I might actually consider buying this...so I might be the one that rack's up the single figure sale! I haven't built many car models, mainly because I'm just not interested in Ferraris, Porches. F1 cars etc. I would happily build what I call "Bread and Butter" cars, just like this. I just like the ordinary stuff and sports cars don't interest me much. Must explain why I bought four re-released Esci Transits. If more of these old boring classic were released, I would buy them as these are the cars I remember being on the road as a kid....so yes! I would buy a baby vomit green Marina if someone were mad enough to release it. (can't afford the prices for the old Airfix kit! Shame, as my Dad had an orange one that I treated like the General Lee and insisted on entering it through the window!) So, if I was mad enough to buy it, would there be any interest in a build thread? Best regards; Steve

Well, it makes a refreshing change from all those Supercars! Wonder if anyone wants to do a 1/8th scale Cortina Mk III partwork? Best regards; Steve

Hope this helps! Remember this one well as I did all the Great Warbirds up until 1992. Best regards; Steve

Lovely photos of a lovely looking aircraft! Thanks for sharing. I'm no Anson expert, but why does the wing shape look different to the almost parallel chord wings that my Airfix kit has? It looks like it has the wings from a C.19. Either way, it's an outstanding restoration. Tempting to go to New Zealand just to see it! Best regards; Steve

Hi Paolo; Oh yes! They are fantastic plans! Perfect! Many thanks for the link. Best regards; Steve

Thanks guys! Those plans might just be helpful enough. I'm only really after a 1/72 general arrangement. I really want a G.46 for a project I'm doing and I can't get hold of the resin kit that was produced some years ago, so that got me thinking. The Fiat G.55 trainer looks very similar in a lot of areas, and with the help of a few G.50 parts, I reckon I could try a kit bash. Just having trouble finding decent plans. Thanks for the replies. Best regards; Steve