Jump to content

Wez

Gold Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    8,931

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by Wez

    Airfix 1/48 Fairey Gannet 2023

    in The Rumourmonger

    Posted

    20 hours ago, Ptmvarsityfan said:

    If Airfix release a Gannet I will eat my hat. Evening meal on Tuesday could be interesting!

    Cheers, Paul

     

    Kinda depends upon your choice of hat - I favour a Pork Pie hat.

     

    Personally, I think it will be Firefly 5 to replace the current, very, very old tooling.

     

    If they do release a Gannet, I reckon it'll be in 1/72nd anyway.

    • Like 2

    Airfix 2023

    in The Rumourmonger

    Posted

    15 minutes ago, Yes_Man said:

    A 1/72 Hawker Hunter new tool would be most welcome too and seems to fulfil a lot of the criteria Airfix look for in their kits. The only real negative that might be holding Airfix back is that the already very good Revell 1/72 Hunter F.6 does seem to be tooled for the older variants to be issued with new parts on the sprue. It was just something Revell never got around to for whatever reason. Considering the history between the 2 companies (Lancaster, B-17 and Shackleton etc.) it wouldn't surprise me if Airfix announced a Hunter F.1/4 and, just like that, Revell magically re-issue their F.6 with the older mark adaptations hitting the market first.

     

    I mentioned in my original post on this subject, Airfix have stated in the past that regardless on whether another manufacturer has a kit available on the subject, if Airfix think they can do a better job, they will.

    • Like 2

    Ici minou! An Aeronavale Hellcat in Indochina

    in The Salty Sea Dog GB

    Posted

    13 hours ago, Rabbit Leader said:

    So good to see this kit and subject being built up here. A French Hellcat was one of my possible choices, however as there were huge doubts I’d be able to build four kits in this GB, I elected to park the idea for ‘possibly’ later on. Now that you’re about to tackle it, I can see this subject being built up by someone else. I’ll follow this thread and be keen to hear / see how those decals behave. 
    Cheers and best of luck.. Dave.

     

    9 hours ago, TonyOD said:

    Liking the cut of your jib, sir.

     

    1 hour ago, TEMPESTMK5 said:

     

    Good morning Wez 

    Very good choice , you should enjoiy your build , the Eduard Hellcat is a very nice kit ..

    Have fun

    Best Regards

    Patrice

     

    Thanks all, quite looking forward to it

    Ici minou! An Aeronavale Hellcat in Indochina

    in The Salty Sea Dog GB

    Posted

    Ici minou - here kitty!

     

    This is my entry for this GB, the Eduard 1/72nd Hellcat, I'll be making it as an Aeronavale F6F-5 based on the MN Arromanches (ex HMS Colossus), operating off of Indochina in 1953.  I'll be using decals from Model Art.

     

    Here's my references...

     

    References

     

    Here's the decals and instructions...

     

    Decals and Instructions

     

    ...the kitbox...

     

    Boxtop

     

    ...and finally, the contents...

     

    Here Kitty Kitty

     

    For those wondering why I'm not using the kit to make an FAA option, unfortunately the kit got water damaged when we got a leak in the basement, the kit decals are shot.

     

    I've resolved to make more models this year, I hope to achieve this by being less precious and less detail obsessed - wish me luck!

    • Like 13

    1/72 - Republic F-84F Thunderstreak by Sword Models - released

    in The Rumourmonger

    Posted

    1 minute ago, Procopius said:

     

    Model Art has done a few sheets, I believe.

     

    Model Art included Adl'A F-84Fs on one sheet many moons ago, with luck Jean-Pierre will re-release it or include them again on a forthcoming sheet.

     

    Modeldecal also did French, Belgian and Dutch F-84Fs, Dutch Decal did a sheet for Dutch F/RF-84Fs. 

     

    All of these sheets are quite old now but hopefully the decals will still be usable.  Finding them might be another thing...   ...I know where mine are :thumbsup:

    • Like 1
    • Haha 1

    1/72 - Republic F-84F Thunderstreak by Sword Models - released

    in The Rumourmonger

    Posted

    8 hours ago, RidgeRunner said:

    The French option should please @Wez and @TEMPESTMK5, too!!! Frank @bentwaters81tfw should be happy too ;)

     

    Partially, but as Alain @colossusfr says...

     

    8 hours ago, colossusfr said:

    About the "La Fayette" scheme, the red arrow should be green for me.

     And me too!

     

    3 hours ago, Lightningboy2000 said:

    Whoooohoooohoooo!!!!!! Whahahayyyy!!!!!

     

    You said it!  Couldn't agree more!

     

    If it's good I can see French, Belgian, Dutch, Italian and maybe even a USAF Thunderstreak in my future

    • Like 3

    Airfix 2023

    in The Rumourmonger

    Posted

    2 minutes ago, Procopius said:

    If so, I would dearly hope for a Mk5, so I could do Suez-y things.

     

    An F.5 would be so limiting though compared to an F.1/4, so many RAF options as well as  Sweden, Peru, the Neterlands, Denmark and IIRC, Belgium.  More sales there and lets face it, it would be a good starting point for an F.5!

    • Sad 1

    Airfix 2023

    in The Rumourmonger

    Posted

    2 hours ago, Paul J said:

    I predict a new 1/72 Hawker Hunter. Mark number couldbeanyones guess.

     

    In the past, the Airfix designers have said in conversation with me (and I'm sure others), that if they felt they could do a better job than somebody else's kit they would do so, which means a Hunter is possible in spite of the excellent Revell kit.  Given that Airfix have already done the research for and released an F.4 in 1/48th, if they were to produce a Hunter, an F.1/F.4 would be an excellent choice and fills a niche, furthermore, for the enthusiasts, it wouldn't be in direct competition with the Revell kit either.  If they were canny, they could break the fuselage down in such a way to release a Hunter T.7/8

    • Like 2

    Airfix 2023

    in The Rumourmonger

    Posted

    13 minutes ago, alt-92 said:

    Likewise :) Not bad for a 1973 tooled kit.

     

    Agreed, I heard tale it was a favourite aircraft of the tool designer so he pulled out all the stops with it, the result is still a superb kit!

     

    14 minutes ago, alt-92 said:

    With regards to the 1/72 Spit Mk.Vc : don't forget the Aussie ones! Some beautiful schemes there. 

     

    Two decal options, one in the Day Fighter Scheme and an Aussie one, bound to be a best seller!

    • Like 1

    Airfix 2023

    in The Rumourmonger

    Posted

    4 minutes ago, alt-92 said:

    I was certainly pleasantly surprised with both the amount of plastic ánd detail in the box. 
    But I should warn you that the most recent re-release was in 2018-19 and within the normal range (A04015A) - so I would not expect to see that as a Vintage release for some time yet since that strategy seems to be limited to kits that haven't been seen for 10+ years.

     

    That's fair enough for me, I have a couple in the stash anyway

    • Haha 1

    Airfix 2023

    in The Rumourmonger

    Posted

    Based on recent releases, I would expect to see the following:

     

    1/48th Buccaneer S.2B in RAF markings

    1/48th Vampire FB.5/9 - the parts are there in the kit already!

    1/72nd variation on the recent Mosquito, a fighter version would require a new fuselage wouldn't it?

    1/72nd variation on the Spitfire Vc - as somebody has already suggested, in northern European theatre markings

    1/72nd Tempest V Srs.2 - again the parts are there in the kit

     

    In my considered opinion, the following could be done from existing research from existing kits:

     

    1/72nd Sea Fury (from the 1/48th_

    1/72nd Hunter F.4 (from the 1/48th)

    1/72nd or 1/48th Spitfire IXc (from the 1/224th)1/72nd Spitfire XVIII

    1/72nd Anson (from the 1/48th)

    1/72nd Hellcat (from the 1/72nd)

     

    There are also some worthy kits in the Classic range too, the 1/72nd Marauder with some new decals is an obvious choice.

     

    The re-releases with extra parts/different decals are I think, a banker, more sales for comparatively little investment from Airfix, the releases based upon existing research would obviously require new moulds and Airfix now seem to get the idea that people want them to issue kits of the same subject in different scales so they're not beyond the realms of possibility, Airfix have a habit of surprising us.

    • Like 2

    Aeronavale Hellcats Indochina - Weapons loads for embarked aircraft

    in Aircraft Cold War

    Posted

    18 minutes ago, AV O said:

    A picture and a few words :

    http://www.ffaa.net/aircraft/hellcat/hellcat.htm

     

     

     

    Thanks, that picture is for an F6F-5N, with no timeline but definitely shows rails on the rocket stubs.

     

    Interestingly, the description mentions use of the Hellcat by 11F, 12F, 54S, 57S and 59S.  The Model Art decals provide options for 1F, 12F (the OC's at the time's aircraft - LV Vercken), 3S and 57S.  My Google search showed a number of 1F aircraft and Jean-Pierre Desperez of Model Art is usually spot on with his research so I'm inclined to go along with his findings.  Funny how any number of resources disagree on things.

     

    4 minutes ago, RidgeRunner said:

    Now, I am looking forward to seeing your build of this, Wez :). I am tempted by a French Bearcat too but my build list is too long to add to! ;)

     

    Martin

     

    No pressure then!

     

    There's three things I've resolved to do this year, they are to read more fiction, pick up my electric guitar and re-learn all of those lost lessons (it's one of the things which got dropped when I was studying for my degree), and finally, make more models.  This one is planned for the Salty Seadog GB.

    • Like 1

    What are you reading - Part II

    in Chat

    Posted

    Over the Christmas period I've read the last three books in Rory Clement's Tom Wilde series (Hitler's Secret, The Prince and Spy, The Man in the Bunker).  For those that don't know, the series starts in 1936 and so far has run to 1945, Tom Wilde is an Irish American history professor at Cambridge who by various means ends up getting roped into MI6 then US Intelligence work in a battle against Nazi's and Nazism in the British establishment as well as the odd Soviet spy.  They are set against some of the darker aspects of the times and are quite violent in places but I can't help but thinking the series would make a damned good TV franchise.

     

    Moving on now, being a Twixmas baby, I got a few books for my birthday on the 29th, I'm currently dividing my time between A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles and Tribals, Battles and Darings by Dr Alex Clarke.

     

    The former is a novel about a Russian aristocrat, Count Alexander Rostov, is placed in internal exile in attic rooms at the Hotel Metropole in Moscow starting in 1922.  We see how he adapts to his change in circumstances, it has a wry humour and I can't help but like Rostov.

     

    Tribals, Battles and Darings is subtitled The Genesis of the Modern Destroyer, it takes you through the development, use and history of the types and how each class led to the following classes.  It looks at the restrictions placed on the Royal Navy  by the various interwar naval treaties and how the RN developed the Tribals to get the best use of their tonnage limits vs their commitments to Empire.  For thos that don't know him, the author Dr Alex Clarke is a renowned expert in the field and has his own You Tube channel if your interested (you'll be amazed at how much Irn Bru he quaffs during his broadcasts).  Also, many of the photos in the book come from the Drachinifel Collection.  Drachinifel is a naval historiographer and specialises in the period from the age of sail until 1950, his You Tube channel is definitely recommended.

     

    Finally, my daughter gave me a new Siouxsie and the Banshees compilation album which she accompanied with the suitably gothic Dracula by Bram Stoker.

     

    That should see me through until Rory Clements releases the next Tom Wilde book later this month.

    • Like 3

    Aeronavale Hellcats Indochina - Weapons loads for embarked aircraft

    in Aircraft Cold War

    Posted

    Thanks Patrice! :thumbsup:

     

    I completely forgot about Frenchwings.net :doh: What a fool I am!

     

    At the moment  I'm looking at either a 1F or 12F aircraft (the 1F aircraft has slightly more colour TBH so it would probably be that choice I go for), I'll be using an old set of Model-Art decals for this.

     

    If the aircraft are using US munitions (and I agree with your rationale for them doing so), then I don't think the HVAR used rails, I suspect the pictures you linked for the 11F aircraft are from later in the Indochina campaign by which time, the T-10 rockets were available?  The T-10 system used rails.

    What music are you playing VIII.

    in Chat

    Posted

    1 hour ago, One 48 said:

    Love em or hate em ... and personally do not like Bono one bit ... but, this is one brilliant song and most appropriate for today ... Happy New Year all ... sincerely.

    Its a cracker of a song actually, love it  🎸

     

    SPOILERS!  It was today's Heardle rather appropriately.

     

    I liked their first three albums but felt they started getting a bit pompous with their fourth (The Unforgettable Fire).  I've liked some songs from subsequent albums but that's the odd one here and there.

    All the Wildcat/Martlet questions you wanted to ask

    in Aircraft WWII

    Posted

    On 29/12/2022 at 15:10, Troy Smith said:

    I don't have an AS-8.  I have two jars of Tamiya XF-17, one an old 23 ML jar is a deep green blue, the other, bought this year, is much darker and bluer, like a midnight blue.

    Neither are 'match' for any USN Sea Blue,  though the 23ml is nearer to the FS15042 standard. 

     

    Which is a right pain as if Tamiya paints are not batch consistent, it means quoted mixes for their colours worthless.

    Annoying as I made a good visual match with a 50/50 mix the old XF-17 and X-16 Purple (yes, that bizarre Tamiya gloss purple)

    I only tried that as I read a @Mike Starmer Humbrol mix that was IIRC 4 part Humbrol Sea Blue to 1 part Humbrol purple, and had a jar of the X-16 I bought cheap.

     

    wartime ANA 623 Gloss Sea Blue was memorably described by @Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies  as "a deep smoky blue" or if you like a purple-blue dark grey.

     

     

     

    Tamiya AS-8 is a dark blue-grey colour, if it has a purplish hue to it, it's very subtle (I have very good colour perception, it's a requirement of my job).

     

    I had a rummage amongst the paints and found two unopened tins of Humbrol Authentic Gloss Sea Blue (as well as a couple of Non-Specular Sea Blue), I wonder how they compare?

     

    It does seem like a visit to Sovereign Hobbies is inevitable though...

    • Like 1

    Aeronavale Hellcats Indochina - Weapons loads for embarked aircraft

    in Aircraft Cold War

    Posted

    Happy New Year to you all!

     

    Can anyone confirm the weapons loads carried by Aeronavale F6F-5 Hellcats when embarked on the Arromanches during the Indochina campaign (particularly around 1953)?

     

    I've done a Google search and it shows a good number of embarked aircraft but often without anything more than the centreline drop tank fitted but no underwing armament fitted.

     

    Did the Aeronavale's Hellcats get loaded with bombs and/or rockets?  If so, were these of US manufacture or were they of French origin (e.g. US HVAR vs French T-10 rockets)?

     

    Many of the pictures in my Google search were of (some really lovely), completed models or renders for on-line computer games, not the real thing so I'm hoping somebody will come up with the answer (especially, our French colleagues, yes Patrice @TEMPESTMK5, I'm looking at you).

     

    Thanks in advance

    Marcel Bloch / Dassault Aviation GB Chat

    in Marcel Bloch / Dassault GB

    Posted

    29 minutes ago, Lightningboy2000 said:

    Join me up for this group build please.

    I've got one of the Valom Ouragan's to start. Might have something else in the stash if I rummage around a bit.

    https://www.scalemates.com/kits/valom-72080-dassault-md450-ouragan-paf--211188

     

    Thanks

    Martin 

    Welcome along Martin,

     

    An Ouragan would be a very welcome addition to this GB, glad to have you along for the ride.

    • Like 2

    Spitfire antenna base plate

    in Aircraft WWII

    Posted

    3 minutes ago, Tbolt said:

     

    I don't know, I've never used Bakelite SRBP, but Bakelite and Paxolin SRBP's are just basically the same thing made by different companies? Was one superior back then? From what Edgar said the SRBP seat in the Spit was made by the Aeroplastics, so did they also make the IP and mast base?

     

     

     

    Quite possibly, Government procurement tends to favour certain manufacturers.

     

    Bakelite and Paxolin aren't the same although they look similar as bakelite is just the resin whereas Paxolin is impregnated with layers of linen or apparently paper (I was always taught linen in trade training and having worked the stuff, it always looked like a cloth laminate).

    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1
×
×
  • Create New...