northernphotography

My word, a wonderful 'C' , simply stunning.

Sorry this is off topic but it might be interesting to some. I was too late for UFO, and indeed Century 22 in Slough, although i did see some vehicles and 'weapons' and a space suit from UFO at Pinewood when i started going there regularly. However, i was lucky enough to be at Bray for Space 1999 Moonbase manufacture and filming. Heck of a model, but actually dwarfed by a model spaceship that was used for one of the episodes. Now that was big! By then Derek was fully ensconsed at Bray and what a nice chap he was too. Always made time for a talk and words of encouragement to a young (very) modelmaker. Bray's 'treasure chest' at the time was a large locked room containing every Airfix kit you could think of and certainly many many Saturn 5 rockets, to use parts from for space ships etc, much in the same way that the Airfix kits had parts used for Thunderbirds etc by Century 21. Watching the filming of the Eagles in formation was pretty cool too, as they used 3 different size eagles against a black background. The Eagles were on black covered stands and the camera dollied past them slowly, then the Eagles were removed and the star backdrop added and was shot again exposing the stars to the film, and sometimes if you look closely enough you can see a star 'go through' an eagle. Also noted at the time that no planet was round, it was oval and fitted onto a cement mixer handle for turning slowly while an Eagle was positioned to look like it was orbiting. Remember the 'tube' underbase transporter? This was a tube lit from the outside, and the tube was vertical on set. The tube module was held by a small lever, the camera ran up to speed, the lever thrown and the module dropped. This film was reversed to show the module slowing to a stop. One day watching the rushes for the model work in Brays cinema, we were all astounded by take that looked fantastic..... an attacking white light came down and took out a section of moonbase, leaving a smouldering hole (caused by not very strong acid i believe on polystyrene), we were all looking at that segment when a blinking blue bottle flew straight through the scene lit up like a ruddy.....well , bluebottle. lol They had to rebuild Alpha for the re-take, which took a day i seem to remember. Those school holidays at Bray last long in the memory, that's for sure. Then onto Pinewood, where as a youngling ( i wont tell you how old but it was young) i was trusted enough to wander the sets, etc with no questions asked. The times i've patiently waited outside while the red light was on, waiting the green and my entry into 'wonderland'. Many is a time i've sat in the Eagle cockpit turning away from danger like John or Alan did, my mind imagining great risks and attacks by enemy ships. No one ever said anything but i reckon there's some shots that have switches on the eagle or Alpha's corridors and control centre moved from take to take. I was offered the 'big screen' to take home after the second series and i didnt bother, but i did note it between sound stages for a few years, before it dissapeared. One thing that has just sprung into my mind..... The Shado base beneath the studios, oh those computers with the reel spools on them, not one of those pesky switches worked .....lord knows i tried, but them i also thought they had power plugged in. However, there were banks of them, maybe about 10 in total sitting there right next to another space ship cockpit... oh i had fun with that too, spending hours piloting around the cosmos. I sat in the moster with the tentacles and pretended to be an alien, i watched as the technicians painted 3 giant paint tins (20ft high for a dulux advert) white for Barbara and Martin to explore as a strange new world (they were great by the way, and i was in love with Barbara's accent, that is for sure..... a real southern drawl). At the end of season 2, Bray still had high hopes of a third season, and chat while playing football with Derek and Nick and the rest of the special effects / model department at lunch times was that if it was cancelled permanently, my name was down for the smallest eagle as a gift. Never transpired though, but at least i have my memories of the great show and how it was made.

While the military XF5U1 might not have flown, i found this that might be of interest...

long in service. Apparently they have 15 x Tranche 1 Typhoons

Hi TT, great pieces of detective work and you have certainly convinced me. It's one of those aircraft i always thought rather attractive, but my thoughts were sullied by what is perhaps over lurid thoughts by a test pilot or 2 in books. Thanks for taking the time to spell out the truth and put me straight, at 55 i'm still never to old to learn something new. Much appreciated. Best David

full of admiration for the build and your patience Jamie, top work. 👍

One of my favourite States, welcome

and.... https://www.airspacemag.com/military-aviation/the-gutless-cutlass-12023991/

I raise you the following; https://www.avgeekery.com/gutless-cutlass-vought-jet-bad-enough-pilots-landed-quit-flying/

I'd like this, especially as the much awaited real thing is now back in AMAARG in its kit of parts. Photographed it about 6 years ago at the USAF Museum in Dayton and missed it San Antonio unfortunately.

Restoration to fly? Lord no! It wasnt known as the 'gutless cutless' for nothing. Engine problems, landing gear problems amongst others made this a problem child from the start Yikes, i'd love to see one fly but i wouldnt like the pilots job even if i had the qualifications and the pair of very large sphericals!

Lovely, and if a range of decent decals is available i might go for 2 or even 3, as their markings were rather superb (thinking gear doors, high vis etc) but having just seen pics of the 1:48 version in photographs, i'm torn. lol

Oh my word, just saw this and i'm drooling already. A '36' has been on my list for a long time, and 144 should be about right. Having been fortunate to see all remaining '36's including the '99' and except for Walt Zaplata's full scale metal kit of one, i'm a terribly big fan of type...... RB would be nice, but not sure that or armament deployment is possible in this scale. Cant wait.😍

Cheers mate 👍

Hi Scott, Thanks for the message. My experience in model aircraft kit making has been limited for the last 25-30 years to be honest as i went 'another way' with building models (not aircraft) for clients as a small business. I know i will be rusty, but hope muscle memory, the mk1 eyeball and 'other' experience will help. Part of my 'other way' was air brushing, and i was self taught. However i picked up some fantastic tips from Flory etc about weathering and how to do the subtle stuff, and tried it myself with limited at first, but growing success. If i get to 75% of some of the finished models on here, i will be a happy old hector. The A-7 will be part of a diorama which will be based on a photograph i took a good few years back, and its crucial to me personally that i try to reconnect myself with aircraft modelling, as they are my first real joy and a youngling. Not sure this ramble helps explain my situation, but i hope it does. All the best David

Hi all, Thanks for your help. So it seems a Hasegawa kit will be winging (excuse the pun) here very soon. Along with resin intake, nozzle, cockpit, gear and undercart bays, , etched parts, and glazing masks. Just need to find 'olympos' decals now as they seem to be out of stock with everyone, as i really wanted to do this special bird and i have some great photographs of it at RIAT a few years back with all the bays open, which was handy. 😁 If i cannot find them, then my plans mean i shall do the green , tan standard weathered camouflage. All the best David

Hi Werner, Sorry for the confusion. So would you say the Hasegawa one is the best available? Best David

Hi everyone, First posting here so be gentle.🤪 Multiple questions i'm afraid and i hope you can help me... I purchased a HobbyBoss 1:48 scale A-7 Corsair2 kit first before doing homework and i want to give it to my son to make, getting a better more accurate kit. Can you advise a better kit of the same aircraft for me to make please? Secondly, i want to do the model justice with after market detail packs, etches, masks etc, but cannot seem to negotiate the plethora of these bits and kits that are available. Can you please help? Ideally i want to purchase all that i can to allow me to make a fully detailed and authentic greek A-7 in either camo, or if i can get the decals the 'Olympos' special. All help gratefully recieved. All the best David