DFC

To clarify, IPA is isopropyl alcohol. I used it on metal parts to get a natural metal finish. Otherwise I've simply over-sprayed metal and plastic parts to add detail or to achieve the correct colour. I hope this helps.

I've found IPA and oven-cleaner work reasonably well on small parts left immersed for a few days, only needing minor cleaning with a wire brush to finish. I tried IPA and oven-cleaner on the main tub with little success and finally resorted to using a local bead-blasting company which did the job but described the tub as made of pot-metal.

Like many others I am highly impressed by your modelling skills, especially skinning with litho plate. I've been trying to use litho plate to make natural metal panels for the pedal box of my Pocher Lotus 72 but have found great difficulty in forming holes more than 2-3mm in diameter. Are you able to explain how you do this, please?

Re Lancaster wheels, please see the attached (source unknown but on my PC for 4 or 5 years: Airplane MAIN TIRE Ave. O.D. Ave. Sect. Load Lbs. Press. Psi. Rim Dia/Wd AUXILIARY Tire Ave. O.D. Ave. Sect. Load Lbs. Press. P.S.I. Rim Dia/Wd Note: Quotation marks around the name of the aircraft manufacturer's name indicate a corporate name change has occurred. Avro Lancaster 64X22.50-26 63.75” 22.4” 38500 70 26 / 16.25 12.50-10 29.9” 12.05” 6100 50 10-Oc No info for Manchester. DFC

I bought MRM's 1-20 Vanwall kit and cleaned up the resin parts but never built it and still have it somewhere in the garage. I'd describe it as a good likeness but with many small suspension parts and it's now superseded by the SMTS 1-18 Vanwall which I have completed except for fitting the windscreen. I do like the shape of the Vanwall but always had trouble finding a rattle can colour which looked right to me - lots of time looking at full-size cars, noting registration numbers and looking up the colour.

I've been following <shipsofscale.com> daily for some months now, for general modelling info and for various threads on the design of the hulls of various sail fighting vessels. There are also threads for a group build of the Alert; a quick scan didn't show your name. DFC

Thanks, Paul, for the reminder. Noted. DFC

Many thanks. Please email to [email protected].

As one who as a teenager in the 1960s had his first flight in a Jackaroo from the sands of Morecambe Bay I would like to be able to add drawings to my personal files. Can you help, please?

I've been following with interest your build of a model of this well-known special and, when visiting the De Havilland Aircraft Museum on Saturday , was pleased to find a copy of "Motoring Is My Business" by John Bolster which relates his racing, commentating and writing career. The first 90 or so pages deal mainly with the development and racing history of Bloody Mary. I had not known Bolster raced "BM" on circuits such as Donington as well as hill-climbs. As you will know BM was developed continuously from 1929 until it was put into store in 1937. The book contains a 3-view drawing (with dimensions) by Bolster himself in 1929; the text notes later that BM's wheelbase was increased from the original 6ft to 6ft 3in and when disinterred from storage in 1947 (when it had 4 engines) the wheelbase was 6ft 8in. (The 3-view drawing is on the internet).

I, too, think the engine of the RR Phantom has shaft-driven camshaft, altho' I can find no evidence for this even with internet searches for rolls-royce phantom II engine parts. However, I did find at www.fiennesparts.uk a catalogue of parts for the same with photos (and prices) but without any details of the camshaft drive. To make best use of this website you will have to be very specific about the model of the Phantom II in which you're interested. My search also found www.team-bhp.com/forum/vintage-cars-classic-india/131178-rolls-royce-phantom-ii-continental-restoration with 5 pages about a restoration that has much detail while again failing to deal with the camshaft drive. An option I haven't explored is to search internet sites, eg ebay or prewarcar.com, for camshaft drive parts. I will continue to follow your thread for developments.

I will not be surprised if Pocher issue another Lotus 72, eg in Godl Leaf livery, altho Pocher will have to change the rear suspension, wing etc. Pocher may also choose to continue the Lotus theme with a 25/33 or 49. A Maserati 250F will be welcome, too.

As promised Octane issue 251 (May) has an article on the Fiat 130hp GP with a summary of its history and whereabouts since its sale by Fiat in 1910 to a collector who retained it until the 1950s. The gold lining on the chassis was applied during the 1910-50 period of ownership and so is non-original The Fiat now has stub exhausts cf period photos from 1907 which show 4 pipes behind the bonnet merging into a horizontal tailpipe The Fiat now has wooden slats below the fuel tank (presumably for protection from flying stones) The Fiat now has an undertray as far back as the clutch The radiator is still brass cf period photos which show it the same colour as the main body and chassis A HT magneto was fitted during the period 1910-50 So now we have a choice to model the Fiat as per 1907, as displayed in the Turin museum until its recent restoration, or as now.

Peter, Try pocherpacific1907fiat.wordpress.com for a detailed build log which appeared on scalemotorcars.com. DFC

Peter, I've checked my hard drive and found all threads except one are on Scale Motor Cars and are inaccessible there. The exception is from a German website and the link has been lost. In all I have 365Mb of downloads.