Dave Fleming

Black Buccaneer existed - if only for a short while - until they painted the 208 Squadron markings on it. http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1188158/L/ Note that the Sphinx wasn't always on the fin I saw it at about 200 feet and very fast through a Highland Glen a few weeks before it crashed - I was looking down on it at the time!!

There is a shot on Airliners.net that shows that aircraft taking off in late evening sunshone that makes the airframe look pink. IItaleri obviously use the same research tools as the rest of us!

I may be wrong on that one.

With regard to the Jaguar, the Idea kit was a copy of the Hasegawa kit, it could also be found at various times in Ay/Minicraft and Hobbycraft boxes. I must admit a preference for the Hasegawa kit as Italeri ones I have are poorly moulded.

Spitfire I and Me109E for example. Does this explain how Heller were able to raise funds for new tools when Airfix couldn't ?

And don't forget the extended wing root leading edges on the F3.

There were some posted on What If site: http://www.whatifmodelers.com/forum//index...showtopic=16260 http://www.trumpeter-china.com/war513/info...07629135314.JPG http://www.trumpeter-china.com/war513/info...07629135324.JPG http://www.trumpeter-china.com/war513/info...00762913532.JPG

Had a quick look through Duncan Curtiss' book on RAF Sabres and none appear to have an intake cover.

Summary: there are 5 1/72 Alpha Jet kits. Airfx, Matchbox, Heller, Fujimi and Starfix. From now one I will discard the latter! Of these, the Mtatchbox kt represents the engineering mock-up, and as such is inaccurate for a real Alpha Jet (Something MB did with other kits as well - notably the Lynx) Airfix and Heller are of similar age (Something in my mind says the Heller one is an early version, but until I find the kit I can't comment) - both have raised panel lines. The Hellerr one has better interior detail, but the Airfix one is generally considered the 'most accurate' Fujimi came along in about 1983 - engraved panel lines, but some question marks as to accuracy (and that thing about one wing being slightly further forward than the other). Now, Boxes: Airfix - always Airfix kit Matchbox - Always Matchbox (AFAIK!) AMT - Matchbox Fujimi - always Fujimi Revell - picture of model - Fujimi - painting - probably Heller Heller - Early style, black surround, Humbrol-Heller or Heller Orange style (photo of model) - Heller mould - 'blue period' box (Painting) - looks like Airfix (as this style appeared in early 90s, could have been for a while!)

I was led to beleive that 207 was reformed as one of the Tucano units on personal choice of the then CAS. How long was 25 disbanded for before it became an F3 Squadron?

Last Matchbox Release EBAY

I think the one I posted is also the Airfix kit - the Ebay listing says 57 parts

Try www.Airliners.net - there are quite a few pics from that period on there http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1072879/L/ http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0906282/L/ As for the serials, it was post 85 IIRC, and they didn't disappear over night, so I'd say your Skyhawk can legitamately have them

I'm waiting for a black one!!

At the risk of getting all 'collectorish', I've got the missing 'black box' Heller and revised Matchbox ones somewhere. That Revell one is definitely Fujimi, part of a deal which also saw the Sea King, Lynx and Sea Harrier in Revell boxes. A quick search also found this box style of the Heller kit (mid 90s from the style I'd say) Almost worth bidding on to find out what plastic it is!

They have recently started carrying a QinetiQ|IX logo

I have a Pavla kit somewhere

The F-111 WAS an important part of the Cold War deterrent for al those years they were based at Upper Heyford and Lakenheath, so I can see the point. the building may be a work of art, but it's a bloody stupid place to put aircraft in. Too dark and a stupid shape (it has been alleged they needed to have an 'iconic' building to get lottery funding) And the fact they have stuck the F-86 to the wall like a releif painting....... And I though the Science Museum was the worst aircraft display in the UK.................

But it's Airfix, it's a product of a failed management, it must be bad.

Found it Thanks again Rob!

I've got a list somewhere, via Rob Monfea, of the colour schemes for the Typhoon.

There is a well used pic of a PR10 Meteor that claims to be 541 Squadron, but is actually taken when the aircraft was part of the short lived B flight on 2 Squadron. The clue comes when you see the whole photo which shows it in formation with an FR9 and a Belgian F-84G. At that time the Beligians were attached to 2, and made up an unoffical 'C' flight. There is also the Far eastern PR10s that were overall aluminium with a small unit badge (NOT crest RAF style badge) on the nose, some of which had orange tips IIRC

Mmmm,lip looks a bit prominent http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/hu...e_underside.jpg

Nothing spectacular - mainly railways, some other stock, including kits & more importantly Humbrol enamels, Humrol Acrylics and tamyia Acrylics. Abbey Models, opposite the Abbey Churchyard

Did you decide to leave off the sails? Or does the kit not come with the vac-form sails anymore (When I built it in the 80s, you got a sheet of vac sails with it)