HAAFPhot

I did wonder at that. Wings “have” to flex to absorb in flight stresses etc. Even rotor blades flex....hideously if you could see it. Going back, if we fuelled the Beavers wing tip tanks we would always use that first because landing on a grass strip would bounce the wings about too much around the points where the struts attach. Quite a lot of weight out there. And gliders....about the straightest longest wings going....flex like hell, which is good as I probably wouldn’t be here

Yep. Massively under load or pulling out of a dive. All aircraft flex, quite alarmingly to the un imitated, but it’s there for a reason. Without it the first decent bit of clear air turbulence or rough landing and things could get a bit bent. Even the mighty Chinook flexes in the middle with the skin rippling under max torque. It has to be absorbed somewhere or things fail. I think a compound visual effect is washout which can often give the impression that dihedral is less than it is. Even on rotor blades it can make them look slight tapered (which ironically is what it replaced).

It has around 3.5-4 degrees rather than 7 to be fair. The problem seems that depending how you view it, because of the washout, things can look at odds. I have just corrected the dihedral on one. I wasn’t going to bother but I figured if it was worth building, and with all the info out there, why not? Not that difficult to be honest.

Ah. Thanks again. Possibly airbrushing markings is pushing it a bit but I am taking time out after my current job to work on the air brushing. I am still loathe to cover up all the effort they make in terms of detail with a ton of paint. What still amazes me is how badly wrong some manufacturers get it. Many seem to simply copy schemes without finding out whether they ever really existed. There are several Gazelle helicopters about and those covering the Op Granby theatre are just....well, wrong. The truth is that I do care about accuracy and will do some research, but I am wary of spending huge amounts on one offs. What does surprise me is the Airfix 1a and Eduard profi pack are near the same price. Really impressed with the Eastern European kits TBH. I was gifted a little PZL37A Los from IBG by a Polish mate. More detail in it than some 1:48 kits.

Cheers Ray. Sounds a bit of a no brainier TBH. When I say back into modelling I don’t mean lazy and if the fidelity of the Eduard offering is better....knowing that, I would end up grumbling. Out of interest is there a Polish Machine in among the DK decals? I think I saw a Middle Wallop based machine as one Eduard option which would be nice as I have some good memories of EGVP I have a “double” of the Eduard Sopwith Camel I scored for a song during lockdown but they will have to wait Not afraid of work, airbrushing needs work but is getting there. Thanks again Ray/all

Actually LB312 was in a bit of a state and damned near cut out on its next flight. It will be a very long time before it flies again.

Morning all....there are seemingly hundreds. I am back into modelling after after a couple of decades, quite happy with PE, resin etc, but WW2 is not my specific bag....so....if I was looking to build one Spitfire, 1:48, ideally a 1a, which is the route of least grief? Originally I was thinking the newer tool Tamiya but Eduard look like they have them nailed. I am really into Army aviation/FAC/CAS etc so the Spit would as likely be a 1 off, a decent nod to the crabs if you like. It’s rude not to

I believe they also used the 5" Zuni rockets for FAC which appear to be in the kit. No expert on the Bronco to be fair but being exe AAC I am more interested in the CAS, COIN and FAC type cabs such as this, the Sky raider, 01 and 02, Cessna dragonfly, Pucara etc. We struggle for Army types so this looks like a nice route. If you get the chance, read "A lonely kind of war". It covers a second tour OV10 FAC pilot who was also doing the CIA "Pretzel" missions into Cambodia. Really puts the meat on the bone, quite a remarkable little aircraft.

Afternoon folks. Does anyone know the BS or nearest offer spec for the Blue Eagles 2 tone blue? I have seen Pastel and Roundel blue. Anyone expand? I know one of the pilots from tha era and even he was baffled Cheers CBA

As the exe phots with the HAAF, can I point out that there are a great deal of detailed, close up shots of all of the aircraft, for modellers, in the HAAF FB albums. All the best.

Jens. I dropped an old pilot from 4 Regt at the time. He said that there were no hard or fast rules. It depended on role but by and large seats stayed in. Some took them out altogether (one lot buried the things and Nige had to go and find them again!!). He did say (and this makes sense) that the outward facing central config was popular as it was easier to stow your kit, webbing, CARM etc. Hope that helps a bit.

Blimey Jens....that's a good question. I always remember their being standard seating in the back. We could fly missiles etc out to a FARP or teams with kit they were usually in the anti tank role. I will confirm with an old Lynx pilot friend. You have to be a bit careful because they were a bit halfway house between Lynx 1, 5 and...

I have been given this kit and in spite of best intentions, it's getting built from the box. I cant seem to stop the wing leading edges cracking. Slight pressure and...bugger. I think there is just no real surface for the cement to bond and no internal support for the wings. Point noted re the fuz, plastic card support it is. I am back after a long break (20+) years so this one is a nice one to practice on. She will get my best efforts but not a subject I would normally build.

I have to agree with that, I was 436 crew for a while. I don't think Airfix give a stuff by and large as what individual modellers may be passionate about, does not seem to show on their radar. I have tried many times to question the fact that the Army Air Corps is ignored, again and again....and yes, been ignored. Now I know the ignorant will scoff...that's up to them, but we were the largest operator of helicopters in Europe at one stage, and until April fools day 1918 we, and the Navy, were doing all the aviation. The Corps now operates the premium (many would say the best) version of the AH64D produced, with the E Block inbound soon. Airfix did a fantastic job of the Lynx AH7, a model which I was recently given. I am looking forward to modelling it as 161, an aircraft that has just become airborne again to which I will have access, but as her GT form on Op Granby. But was that it? There are many, quite important subjects to choose from, all of which are available to survey either at the Army Flying Museum, or more importantly, the Historic Army Aircraft Flight, both at Middle Wallop. Helicopters don't sell they say. Well that may be correct, but with the work going on at Historic Helicopters at Chard, they are making a comeback, with Wessex, Whirlwind, Various Sea kings, The Mighty Lynx 7, and the Westland Widgeon, all now ready for or on the show circuit. Interest is the fling wing is increasing. Even the little Chipmunk is flawed, with panel lines not being continued and wings and front end to catch the unwary. Its a step forward but why the Spitmunk as an Army offering? Surely that was one for the smaller decal producers with the T10 at Wallop being so close to the RN Scheme (In terms of decal data anyway). Incidentally, if you build an AAC variant, check out the exhaust, it can differ from the bog standard chippy but I digress. The DH2 Beaver (or AL1 as we call it) has an amazing history worldwide. Rarer (certainly in the European circuit) than any Spitfire, and having had more Roles than Greggs (I cant spell...its a pongo thing) is just not represented. It could carry bombs (25lb HE although they were never used in anger), flares, camera pods, stores paniers, skis, god only knows what...even donkeys apparently. I just don't get it. Same with the Scout and Sioux AH1. Iconic, but just not represented much if at all. and even then they are incorrect. And the Gazelle. Being done in Eastern Europe but sadly old moulds that are incorrect or badly researched. Come on Airfix. Why the need to produce quirky rock related bombers and every marque of Spitfire ever made when you ignore the people who started it all? So sad. I very much doubt it John. They don't read their emails...or of they do, they don't reply.

Late I know but the grading and basic FW chippies did not always follow the RAF scheme. The prop striping also differed. I took many images of WD325 belonging to the HAAF at Wallop that has not changed since retirement and is due to be flown again soon. WD325 also has a different exhaust config to most and for the life of me I cannot remember whether it was standard at wallop or not. Aircraft in Army service could embody mods that were not necessarily type typical. I recently found that the Austers and Beavers were fitted with updated cables that were configured in a way that were not able to be wrongly fitted (left to right etc). Images are on the historic Army aircraft flight's FB page under albums.

Hmm. Bit late for this one and getting back into modelling after a 30 year gap. I served with the Lynx in various marks from 1 through 7 and 9 as well as the Gulf war so I know the type. Moreover someone has just given me one of these kits so really chuffed. What you have achieved here is a stunning and fine tribute to my oppos who flew the mighty Lynx (for all its faults) simply stunning. The best thing is that you have not over weathered or over grimed it. They were well looked after, even in wartime, so never looked like the heaps some present as look alike. It would be nice to think that with the recent (this week) re flying of 616, an exe 4regt Mk7, down at historic helicopters at Chard, that kit manufacturers would step up and start offering other Army Aviation subjects. I work with the HAAF at Wallop and there are no shortage of accessible and complete airframes. Army Aviation, greatest story never told...but beautifully represented here at least. Thanks chap.

Folks. If anyone is after shots of the following Beaver AL1 XP820 Auster AOP9 XR244 Sioux AH1 XT131 Scout AH1 XT626 Chipmunk T10 WD325 Gazelle AH1 take a look at the @HistoricArmyAircraftFlight FB page albums. 131 is covered by Italeri (needs work, it's missing a fair bit) and 325 is covered by the current Airfix kit, markings from micro scale, although antenna are non standard.