JohnT

I am guessing this am set would be good for the earlier Profipack and other Eduard boxings that might lurk deep in the stash waiting to be built?

thanks Graham

Thanks Jennings - much appreciated all I need is the colours of the shield and I am away I am doing a matching Spitfire from the same action too BTW PS anyone any idea why the rather esoteric upper wing markings. Not exactly designed to blend in with the scenery !!

Yes - I had read that land based F4's had the retrofitted and what you say makes a lot of sense rather than just being a fit for carrier ops. I wonder if there is a possible explanation for the apparent discrepancy? Maybe it was a fit for the reasons set out by the author at first but was found to be beneficial in other espects so then carried across to other F4s? Anyone know?

I have a query about the type and colour of German wing crosses. I am getting some help from Ian at AdAstra masks to make a set for a 1/32 Heinkel 111 I have planned. I want to do the "Humbie" machine as she came down a few miles from where I am sitting right now and a couple of things have cropped up from his examination of the photos I have sent him. He is incredibly helpful and has spotted some things which I and others have missed in the past. As you may know the upper wing had 2 sets of croses. A massive balkenkreuze with some smaller ones outboard. Ian spotted that the Kagero profile seems wrong in that neither of us can see the codes painted on top of the wings on any photo. While I was checking this I looked again at the outer wing crosses which seem the be just white outlines with no black at all. I thought this only appeared late war? Or could it be a "one off" or possibly just my failing eye sight? Ian also spotted that up till now the "J" in the codes had always been made as a standard letter J on decals sheets but in fact it has an extended top to it not easily seen. Lastly we reckon the Unit Shield of KG26 has a black lion but not with black lettering and outline. We are guessing a base colour of white with red detailing. The aircraft was from the Geschwader Stab of KG26. So any thoughts all you very helpful Luftwaffe experten out there? thanks as always JohnT ps there are loads of pics of her on Google ww.ltscotland.org.uk/scotlandshistory/20thand21stcenturies/worldwarii/humbieheinkel/index.asp http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=humbie+he....asp&docid= http://www.luchtoorlog.be/he111_f3.htm

According to the Warpaint publication (like I'd know otherwise !!) the slotted stab was on the FG1 only. It was to help with creating downward thrust and initiate rotation on take off from the carrier deck. The FGR2 had the standard F4C nose wheel oleo, no ventral catapult fittings and no slotted stab On the FGR2 the wing tips folded manually whereas the FG1 were hydraulic On the FGR2 the radar stayed put while the nose section above hinged whereas on the naval FG1 the whole lot hinged for space on the small carriers. The main difference was the internal equipment fit with the FGR2 systems optimised for low level ground attack missions till the Jaguar entered service. The FGR2 had provision for a strike camera below the fuselage on the port forward Sparrow missile station. Also it has Spey 202 engines with a slower afterburner response than the mk 203 on the FG1. It did have a gas turbine starter unit making it the only variant capable of self start on internal power. From 1971 the FGR2 had improved Spey 204's. With arrival of the Jaguar replacing the F4 in the strike role the FGR2's were released for the air defense role from 1974 on. They were upgraded and modifidied for their new role including an in flight refueling probe and missile system upgrades before issue to Squadrons. Many were also fitted with a telescopic sight for the back seater to allow him to assist in a visual ident of targets. 111 Sqn was originally FGR2 equipped forming at Conningsby in July 1974. Once worked up it moved to Leuchars on 3 Nov 1975 operating alongside the FG1's of 43 Sqn. In the interests of standardisation 111 converted over to the FG1 as FG1 airframes became available from the RN from January 1978 and by July 1979 the last FGR2 left 111 for service elsewhere. All this info courtesy of a very good Warpaint publication no 31 by Steve Hazell which I can thoroughly recommend to you all having just purchased a second hand copy from Jeff aka Gundylunch - ta very muchly Jeff - it was in pristine condition.

Externally there was not a huge difference between the two types. The FG1 was originally the naval spec and when the RN retired theirs they went to the Leuchars squadrons. The main differences from a modelling perspective seem to be the slatted tail, extendible nose leg for catapult launch, and heavier constructed arrester hook(can't say the difference looks that visible in smaller scale) and the catapult fittings. just been reading the Warpaint book bought on here and can send you a copy of what it says on the point. I'd guess on cockpit internal differences too but if its 1/72 I am not that sure how much would be visible anyway. The FGr2 was optimised originally for the strike role whereas the Fg1 was for long range naval air to air intercept and the electronics were tweaked accordingly drop me a pm and I'll copy and send what I have There are those on here who I think were hands on and can give more authoritative views than I ever could regards John

Thanks for that info I hope he repeats the info here as and when they get round to making each model. John

I had load of fun doing these Hi thats exactly the point. I honestly think that both are very good bearing mind you said they were your first time models. frankly thet are much better than my first efforts. The fun part is in a year or two you will do the same subject again and find that you have progressed a lot and are no longer happy with earlier results. And again in a further year or so Of course the danger is it also drives you bonkers in the end just like all the rest of us nuts on here enjoy with your boy John

There was a lot of excitement a few months back about a company Wingscale going to produce what was shaping up to be some very nice product when I read that due certain ahem , "difficulties", in China they were not proceeding. That seems a shame given what I had seen so far Has there been any news of a revival at all? I hope those products do get to market some day Anyone heard anything? John

Wonder if they have worked out its a good idea to design it so the aircraft you are intending to buy can operate from it ok? If they have then maybe they could do a secondment of their procurement personnel to our MOD? Meiouw - I am off to lap at a saucer of milk now

Hey if you had said you were going to make that good a job I'd have given a discount ! seriously nice job and one I hope to copy in 1/32 one day so will be watching this with interest

Rather but it does remind me of when I worked at Edinburgh Airport (the old one - yes I am that old !) in the 70's when I was a student. An Aer Lingus 737 flew in every day from Dublin and returned. Usually it was packed both ways with American tourists but on this day it came in heavy but there was something like half a dozen businessmen with no bags going back and no cargo, or at least none to talk of. The guy came back from air side and said the 737 was light on fuel but didn't want any in Edinburgh and to watch the take off. It was a very spectacular steep climb out starting from about half way down the normal take off distance. We had a good laugh and wondered what the business persons on board made of it

Its been showing for some considerable time now and I asked a while back about it but they don't take pre-orders as such. I think from recollection they had hoped to have it out by now. Either way I'd think it would be a good seller as there really is no alternative other than paying a very substantial price for a second hand Aeroclub version

I was planning on going but on looking at the ticket prices for 2 adults and a 6 year old and then at the projected displays and factoring in the September Scottish weather I really did hesitate. The only thing that might change my mind is if its the last airshow there and I might pitch for that reason alone. Anyone any thoughts on the cost v display line up? Its not exactly a riveting show that being planned and if I recall correctly RIAT was about the same money this year John T

Encore are doing a nice A-37 in 1/48 but I suppose that doesn't really help ! review on Hyperscale

I thought Scimitar from the side profile but from the nose I did wonder "Yakolev?"

Now just when I had made up my mind to sell it on you go and do this ....... Very nice I must say

I know a chap who was a flight engineer on all three heavies. He was well over 6 feet 3 and he liked the Stirling as it was the only one he could actually stand upright in. He also reckoned that the Halifax III was as good as if not better from an aircrew perspective than the Lanc as with the Hercules engines it had decent performance at last and was much easier to abandon if necessary. The Lanc was by far C in C Harris favourite as it was the best bomb truck and capable of seriously heavy loads and bigger sized bombs but the emergency exits left a lot to be desired. In short that stats show that you were more likely to be shot down in a Stirling than a Halifax and more likely in a Halifax than a Lancaster. But if you did go down in a Lancaster you were more likely to perish than if in the other two. Harris comments about Sir Frederick Handley Page and his company were pretty dreadful but nothing compared to what he reserved for Shorts.

Sorry - meant Prowler, not Intruder (senior moment)- was having a very quick break at lunch before the boss came back in ! Thanks guys - that rather answer my question. One for passing on then ! John

I have one in the stash bought as an impulse buy at a LHS several years ago and I never looked at it but was rumaging in the stash at the weekend and came across it all forlorn. I was wondering was it any good? I think it is a product of Airfix's years in the wilderness and might have issues so was wondering if it was worth the while? Anyone know this model and the thinking on it? Thanks

I have to say Top Gun is one of my all time favourite films Nothing to do with the film or content but more to do with the very attractive Debbie Harry double I was starting to date at the time.. got to sign off the Missus is watching !!!!! Film was pretty good at the time though but sadly its rather aged now ..a bit like me !!

Agree with Dave and Mike maybe once in a collection but I don't figure tons of internals that get covered up and can't be seen. Might as well go to the spares box - or is that heresay? And I wish manufacturers would show a little more imagination in choice of subjects. yes Airfix, Revell et al will have to cater for the mass market but high end products can be more targeted and surely manufacturers like ZM could think a little more ambitiously? Its not like they will sell to the schoolboy pocket money market

Thats a great build Tell her when I was her age I didn't even attempt to paint them and tell her yes, she can get an increase in pocket money to buy a model at weekends

Just finished reading "Killing the Bismark" and prepared to re-think that comment. Possibly POW got a bad press she didn't deserve and it looks like if she had not significantly hurt Bismark in the Barents Sea battle Bismark would have had to slow down, possibly then have been missed by the Swordfish strike that damaged her stearing and lived to fight another day.