Wez

Dunno, b'ain't seen 'em. I saw some that had corrected the profile but not the chord but those weren't Whirlybits. One thing I do remember is that the metal bladers were a bugger to do RRRF's (Rotors Running Re-Fuels) on!. They had open line refuelling and took over 3000kg of fuel - it took a while and wasn't a bundle of laughs being perched upon an aluminium A-frame ladder trying to top up the forward aux tanks! Wez

The last of the metal blade Mk1's went into the mod programme during Major servicing to recieve composite blades and the pressure refuelling during the summer of 1985 - it was ZA674 if you're interested. It had been on 18 (My Little Pony) Sqn at the G-Spot (Gutersloh) but was skulking around Odiham waiting to go into Fleetlands. The blades on the original Italeri Chinook were neither fish nor foul. They had the chord of a metal blade but the profile of a composite blade EXCEPT for the root end which matched the profile of a metal blade. The metal blades had a square cut root end whilst composite blades have a triangular root end. The chord of a metal blade is 26" whilst the composite blades have a chord of 32". You can't make a metal blade from the original Italeri blade because you'd need to cut back the leading edge which would reduce the chord even further, to make a composite blade from the original Italeri blade you need to add the extra chord to the trailing edge to make the chord correct and add a triangular fillet at the root end. I don't know if they've corrected this in the later boxings or the Airfix edition of the kit - the blades in the Italeri MH47E kit are apparently correct. Personally, I used the blades from the Matchbox Chinook which are correct for a composite bladed Chinook. HTH Wez

Bazza, I'm a bit wary about this 'cos whilst I know there were several variations in Stormoviks I'm not entirely sure what constitutes an Il-2m3 BUT, if you follow the link in Dad's Lad's reply to my original post the kit in that is identical to my Toko Il-2m3 - make of that what you will! Wez

Thanks for the reply John, when I've got more time I'll study the detail in the VVS website - in the meantime I'm more than just a little bit daunted by the pictures in your links! Regards Wez

Clive, The sprues on your link reveal that it is in fact the old Toko kit with extra bits - not bad in its own right but I'm sure it can be found cheaper than that in my link! Your link suggests that the Dako kit is better - its just a matter of finding one! Thanks for the reply Regards Wez

Hi folks, I recently acquired the Authentic Decals set for the IL-2 Stormovik in 1/72nd. All of the options are for two-seater variants which rules out using them on my Academy kit but I do have a Toko IL-2M3 to use some of them on but with so many interesting options I was wondering what the Zvesda kit is like? Follow the linky Anybody tried this one? Is it a re-pop of the Toko kit with bits for the 37mm guns or is it a whole new kit, if its the latter, what's it like? Regards Wez

Rowan, This is good news indeed! Just how much would we be talking about for the SPAD7 sheet in 1/72nd? I have the MAC kit waiting to be built but for some alternative markings - I don't really like makinng an option out of the kit, anyone can do that! I also have (in 72nd) the following that need some alternative decals - Sopwith Camel SE5A Brisfit SPAD XIII not to mention a whole plethora of Albatros and Fokkers... Also in 1/48th I have a couple of Brisfits and a Roden Nieuport 28 that is crying out for some new transfers on account of the kit ones being sooooo hideously out of register. Is there any chance... ...??? Regards Wez Rowan, This is good news indeed! Just how much would we be talking about for the SPAD7 sheet in 1/72nd? I have the MAC kit waiting to be built but for some alternative markings - I don't really like makinng an option out of the kit, anyone can do that! I also have (in 72nd) the following that need some alternative decals - Sopwith Camel SE5A Brisfit SPAD XIII not to mention a whole plethora of Albatros and Fokkers... Also in 1/48th I have a couple of Brisfits and a Roden Nieuport 28 that is crying out for some new transfers on account of the kit ones being sooooo hideously out of register. Is there any chance... ...??? Regards Wez

Looking forwards to this one too! I spent a day at sea on HM S/M Osiris back in 1991 when I was in the Falklands - fantastic day and a treasured memory. Wez

The latter is what worked for me - thanks Timbo I've gone back and edited the original posting complete with piccie now. Wez

Mish, I get the following message when I try to upload the page content - "You have entered a link to a website that the administrator does not allow links to" However, I've just pasted the link here now in the reply to this to see what I'd get and it worked - what a I am! I've edited the original post now. Wez

Bubble top with Airwaves Tempest taiplanes and three bladed prop - see above. Wez

Hi all, When I decided to take part in this GB it was with the aim of modelling one of the many Hampshire based Typhoon squadrons aircraft. Originally I'd intended to build the Academy 1/72nd kit as MN819/MR-? of 245 Sqn based at Holmesly South but then during a trip up to the loft I stumbled across the Hasegawa beauty (or should that be beast) Anyway, the kit has markings for a 247 Sqn machine who were based at Hurn and it would be relatively easy to do Booker's B with its red spiralled spinner based out of Thorney Island so I'm spoilt for choice - oh and BTW, Hurn and Thorney Island were part of Greater Hampshire then (pre 1973) I would say "Here's the kit and some references, as you can see from the piccy - I like Typhoons and I'm looking forwards to this one!" however, this forum won't let me link in a Photobucket image - what's the method for posting images in this forum? Edit: Hopefully this time with pictures! Good luck to all during the GB Wez

Agreed, The box top painting is pants - looks like it was done by somebody who'd only had a fleeting glimpse of a Lightning but, the rounded fin top is correct for Lightning F1-F2's. I'm not gonna start slagging the kits contents off based on a very poor piece of box art! Wez

I was "Down South" on the Squadron before this happened working on the Wokkas. A certain individual on the Sqn mentioned that we were getting a Yellow Sea King rather than the more usual Dark Sea Grey ones that were used in the Falklands at the time. This certain individual knew that you had to get permission for a special colour scheme which he was sure would not be forthcoming but thought it'd be a bit of a hoot for a Sqn photograph. By using black bin-liners and tape they could make it look like paint for the benefit of the photo, should the cab be needed in a hurry the stripes could be ripped off and, as no paint had been used, no permission was needed! I saw the photo in the RAF News after I'd got back and I think they did a pretty good job really - makes the old Queenie almost look aggressive! Regards Wez

Andy, I think your first thought could be pretty close to the mark - looks like an Alvis Leonides out of a Pembroke or similar. Spent some time collecting bits of one of those from a German cornfield when on summer camp at Wildenrath after it had blown up on an Air Experience Flight - summer 1982 IIRC. I remember finding large amounts of black, sheet metal baffle - which look like those pieces under/behind the cylinder head. Regards Wez

Chris, Thanks very much for your informative reply - very helpful. As things stand the model isn't started yet due to the pressure of work not giving me any time for modelling. Hopefully that'll change soon. Thanks again, Best regards Wez

PM sent. Wez

Which scale? If its 1/72nd I could help. Wez

PM sent. Many thanks. Wez

Patrick, I'm not sure whether it would help however, I would be interested in seeing it purely for interest's sake. Thanks Wez

Thanks Derek, I've re-checked my references and I think the blue is too bright. I'll drop Jean-Pierre a line - I've always found him extremely heplful, proactive and very forthcoming with information in the past. Do you have any idea when he's planning on issuing the baggage pods? Regards Wez

'Fraid not Jonty, I never took any photos when I was in the mob - most of the information I have is in my head (which is a very dark and strange place). Regards Wez

Thanks for the gen' Christian - just what I was after. Regards Wez

Paul C's link shows some good photo's of ZD575 but don't necessarily believe the captioning. Gonna get up on my hobby horse now - see! Photo ID1358036 shows ZD575 when it was an HC.1 - the DSG/DG/Black colour scheme is a give-away. ID's 1354043, 1352352, 1020381, 0703973 show ZD575 in its earlier incarnation as an HC.2 - it has the earlier HF aerial fit with the wire antenna, the remaining photos show the later HF fit which is correct for Op Telic although be careful of photo 0607978 as this could have been a post Telic fit - I can't remember when 575 recieved the mod work. You absolutely must have a picture of the aircraft at the time you wish to depict it to be correct. Time to get off me hoss now! BTW, Copenhagen is a reference to Wellington's horse at the time of Waterloo - 18 Sqn (or "My Little Pony" Sqn - their Sqn badge is a Pegasus), were in the process of naming all of their deployed cabs after famous horses. HTH Wez

I think you may be referring to the Chinook HC.2 wich was serialled ZD575 - which was IIRC named Copenhagen. I think this aircraft is featured on the Model Alliance decal sheet for the Wokka. Sorry, I don't have any photos but if you try Google with the correct serial number it may help. Regards Wez