JohnT

I'd prefer not to use a new model for a whiffery project that tickled my fancy. If anyone had an unloved, even part built Victor sadly festering away and would part with it I have a very interesting whiffery in mind. Rather not use a new model though as plenty of Victor schemes and options to run through in respect of the real animal

Hi about to head for home - I'll pull the kits from the stash and have a good look to refresh my memory and let you know later tonight.

I have one of each in the stash and I could copy and send you the instructions for both if you like? I think the kits are pretty similar but have not actually done a direct comparison part by part. Weapons fit is different if I recall - can't check as at work on a break !

lovely job shows what can be done OOB - great model

Steve I recall when Revell brought out the 1/32 Spitfire 1 and the Me 109F - bought both but thought - this will never catch on ....... Have the same luck on the lottery and horses. More on topic I imagine they will sell very well across the pond but perhaps not so much here?

Aye and when your eyes get as old as mine 1/32 seems a blessing !

Only if there was lead in it surely Edgar?

I understand the usual reason given for the "coal hole" for the radar Nav was that the then radar displays required to be pretty dark so the display could be more easily watched.

Had a look at Richard Franks book on the Javelin the Appendix on the various Marks gives the lengths as follows F(AW) Mk 1 56 ft 3 ins F(AW) Mk 2 the same F(AW) Mk 4 the same F(AW)Mk 5 56 feet 4 inches F(AW)Mk6 56 feet 3 inches F(AW)Mk 7 56 feet 3 inches F(AW) Mk 8 56 feet 4 inches F(AW) Mk9 & 9R 56 feet 4 inches T3 60 feet 3 inches so excepting the trainer it looks like only 1 inch in it Marks 2, 6 and 8 all carried the US AI 22 radar with nose cone hinging to the left whereas the AI 17 equipped aircraft all had to have the nose cone removed for maint. I bought this a while back for a Dynavetcor build ref but have not got round to building or reading it yet - if anyone wants anything checked just say and I'll see if its covered. Great book by the way - also have the Sea Vixen publication and both are excellent reference works

Thanks Andy just ordered some and some liquid putty. I bought that as I was placing an order anyway but will have to find out what exactly the difference is between them and when to use one and when to use the other.

Jonners Yes - I was hoping to use this to fill the panel lines in however from what I am reading it might not have the "volume" to do that - the Valiant panel lines are quite large Thanks - I had a look for the jars but Graham at Relish is out of stock and Hannants were not showing them at all. Thats a useful tip on the reduction of the panel lines rather than their elimination, thanks. Clive - thanks for that tip - where do you buy it? I should add that I have read hundreds of reviews and builds extolling the virtues of the stuff (Mr Surfacer) but no one actually saying how to use or in what circumstance its helpful so much reading between the lines - please excuse pun

This will sound a daft question but I've not used Mr Surfacer before and I am going to tackle the removal of some panel lines on my Valiant build. I have ordered some from the big H but a - its in an aerosol can - which I assume is usual? and b - the instructions are only going to be in Japanese Can anyone offer either some tips on how to use alternatively can anyone offer a crash course in Japanese? Are my Milliput days over for good then? thanks in advance John

No interest to me and not related to the sale in any way - I had this pop up in a search and thought to pass it on in case anyone was interested. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...3#ht_500wt_1413 Edit out of curiosity had a "Google" and found these too so I would not overspend on any bid http://www.sharkit.com/sharkit/skybolt/skybolt.htm and http://www.freightdogmodels.co.uk/product_...7780758b7b564b4

I was thinking more "worrying" as in they don't know they have counterfeit parts on their planes or where they are sourced from. Nothing against a "made in China" label - some of my favourite models come from there !

Spotted this and thought to share Suprising and worrying if true http://uk.news.yahoo.com/fake-chinese-part...-103012001.html

Request permission to enlist General? I have all the B1 bits and a Vulcan in the wings as it were so may I watch and learn and ask sundry stooopid questions along the way please? Who knows it might even help me turn out a vaguely passable B1 ! Cadet John

Thanks for that I hope to get round to an all white Vulcan and Victor as well so thats very useful Might pay a visit to a shop here in Edinburgh who do a lot of professional drawing instruments and see how fine a pencil I can get. I'll add something here if I get something useful

Thanks guys - thats something to mull over. Better had get her built first ! Done quite well today actually

Anyone any advice on how to reduce over scale panel lines easily? I usually build in the bigger scales where its not so much a problem but have moved to 1/72 to do a Valiant for the V Bomber GB. The panel lines are way over size and I am thinking about just removing them altogether in this scale. The V Bombers all seem to have a pretty tight fit anyway. I would guess the options are a Fill and re-scribe ever so finely somehow - advice welcome or b Fill and forget or c run some thickish material, paint whatever into the lines though I doubt that would have an acceptable effect or d I have some unformed idea about just applying a very fine line somehow in pen or similar after filling and sanding away the panel lines but have no idea what I could use Bearing in mind my next build if I get the Valiant finished in time will be a Victor and then the fun really will begin Anyone tackled this with success before? John

If I get this finished I will be well chuffed - thanks for the pic and the info. Much appreciated. I had a wee diorama lurking in the back of my mind. I know the Airfix Bloodhound is pretty basic and inaccurate but... thinking on!

Making a start this am Had a few thoughts on the panel lines copied here from another post this am any thoughts/comments most appreciated "I was looking at the model and the panel lines. Anyone think Airfix have them too pronounced? I had a look at some close up photos of museum aircraft and others on the web. The surface finish appears to be pretty tight for paneling, showing a smooth surface with little evidence of panel lines being overly visible. They are there but the panels are pretty close together and tight fitting. Take that down to 1/72 and - I suspect that if I could touch the real thing then I'd struggle to squeeze my finger nail between the panels so reduce that to 1/72 and what do you get - a hairline crack? That's one to mull over the coffee with later today. (Why does the Matchbox Victor now pop into my mind?!)"

Thanks Guys. All that advice and input on painting is helpful. I am going to make a start today as it is an Edinburgh local holiday to celebrate Victoria day. As far as I know only the Canadians share this day and call it a Victoria 2-4 (after a 24 pack of beers). On a more modelling theme I was looking at the model and the panel lines. Anyone think Airfix have them too pronounced? I had a look at some close up photos of museum aircraft and others on the web. The surface finish appears to be pretty tight for paneling, showing a smooth surface with little evidence of panel lines being overly visible. They are there but the panels are pretty close together and tight fitting. Take that down to 1/72 and - I suspect that if I could touch the real thing then I'd struggle to squeeze my finger nail between the panels so reduce that to 1/72 and what do you get - a hairline crack? That's one to mull over the coffee with later today. (Why does the Matchbox Victor now pop into my mind?!) I put up the main parts, fuselage and wings against the plans from the Warpaint production drawn by Richard Carunna. They appear fairly close to each other in most dimensions and any discrepancy can be put down to the plans being wrong, or Airfix, or both, or neither from topics I have read on here ! Gets us back to "if it looks like then etc" ! Not sure how much will go into the cockpit and internals. I recall decades ago going to town on the 1/48 Monogram B29 interior. Once the fuselage halves are together you may as well have left the parts in the box! I suspect the same might well apply to all the V Bombers. Seeing in and out of them was not a great priority in their design. I'll try and get some photos posted but I have a pretty useless camera. Right off to make a start but any comments and thoughts most appreciated John

Roger I have one in the stash and its waiting to see what exactly HK do with their Meteor. I think it should be possible to convert an earlier mark meteor to a later mark and I'd be surprised if an enterprising am company did not produce a resin plug and tail and canopy but if not then it might be possible to use the tail and canopy of Johns vac. Either way the vac is basic but buildable but will need a fair bit of scratch building too. Its still a viable project and option though. John

Was browsing and found this and boy did it take me back to battles on the carpet with KGV, PoW and Cossack taking on Bismark with a 1/72 Airfix Sunderland running bombing runs. Somehow the scale discrepancy did not seem to matter overly ! I was intrigued to surf further to read that some 1300 models in good condition had been found in boxes in Italy last year http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eaglewalls-Table-N...5014&sr=1-1 Thinking back the models were not exactly state of the art but that really didn't seem to matter back then Oh happy days

Hi I just bought a sheet from Rareplane detective in the USA - Aeromaster 661. I had a quick look and he is not showing at as still available but it might be worth sending him an e-mail?