JohnT

Is it true that Tamiya chose 1/35 to fit boxes? Or just an urban myth?

I’m with @wellsprop on this one. The model looks marvellous and normally I’d be first in line in the queue. It clearly surpasses the old Revell 1/32 kit in detail. Then again I suspect the price point of the Border kit surpasses the Revell kit too !! What I am struggling with is why Border are going for a range in 1/35 when that seems not to be hugely different in scale size to 1/32? Have they ever explained their preferred scale choice for their range ? I can see the sense of 1/72; 1/48; 1/32 and 1/24 for aircraft models but why introduce 1/35 into the mix? One might just as easily start a 1/76 range of aircraft or even just revert half a century or more to box scale again. 1/96 anyone? I must in fairness concede 1/35 for say some types eg Ju87 to sit beside your Panther or Tiger in a diorama but that’s a limited market 🤔 maybe? So as the 111 won’t sit well alongside my 1/32 Luftwaffe kits and I have 2 Revell kits to build with a shedload of aftermarket Border won’t get my cash this time round. Sad to say the same applies to the others on offer which I deeply regret as they do seem to be producing stunning kits. Just why in a scale that’s non industry standard and lacks compatibility?

Just a thought Charlie @Johnson. I guess the blue and red paint would be available at unit level for national markings touch up etc. So might add some weight there as a readily available option if the unit wanted to add some individual markings - pure speculation there of course

Maybe I can help? Santa brought me all 4 volumes cos I’ve been good boy for once. Vol2 has the photo and a profile. Now coming with the warning about extrapolating colours from black and white photos the authors have the spinner tip in red and the circular stripe in blue. That said I first thought both were blue and the I thought they might be black. Under the magnifier I saw a red tip and a blue ring but it’s mighty small. I got my son to have a look too. His 17 year old eyes are better than mine and he concurred red and blue without input from me. Whether those colours are right is a whole other discussion but if you use them who can argue?

There is one on the dreaded EBay right now if that helps

I agree with @Corsairfoxfouruncle in what he says. Perhaps ask yourself why you built your first model? For most of us it was to play with. That meant having fun. And because it was we built another and another. I think the problem comes along when we stop playing and start building. Then we get all self critical and any slight imperfection in the final completed model and once again it’s not good enough. For the builder anyway. Everyone else thinks “nice job”. Maybe the answer is if a law was passed making model making illegal and golf compulsory. Would we agonise we never hit a hole in one every time or made the Ryder Cup team?? Of course not. So build your next model and let it just happen. If it’s better than the last one then you have accomplished something and enjoy it for what it is - not what it might have been.

Nurse Nurse! Mr Mike is out of his bed again. Merry Christmas Mike and the other mods and thanks to you guys and all the other BM’ers for making 2023 a better world to be in

You could stick them on the living room wall like those 1960’s flying ducks If using as Christmas table decoration keep well away from the candles or it could end up as the first droop nose Vulcan. Happy Christmas guys and hope Santa brings you some plastic

Surely not Mike. Right you lot just as it’s Christmas no puns on this one just for @Mike and @Julien So Mike, does it have a best to build by date on the box? Ill get my coat then

I knew someone who had one and it nearly went on fire as one of the hoses was actually made of cardboard or so I was told Anyone know if true?

My theme for 2014 is "Try and get something started and who knows maybe finished". Applies to life and modelling in equal measure. The 1/1 scale project is to get planning through and complete a dairy/stable conversion to a two bedroom living room with ensuites for letting as a dog friendly, in the countryside, holiday cottage. (Discounted rates to BM members when up and running ) Edit - And the 1/32 P-38 that never even got started in the P-38 special type GB fits in with the twins ! Maybe this time round then !

My late father used to say that when he was in the Royal Marines there were times when US Marines asked what the RM insignia stood for. The answer his pals gave was “Real Marines” I tell this wee Bon mot as this thread reminded me that wooden ship modellers are “real modellers” - at least in my book. Great model and so lovely on the eye.

Yes I think you can. All Meteors were supposed to be painted starting with a green nose segment as per the order of the day. If Mr Lindsay is right then what happened at the level of individual units - where the return to camo work was to be done - there was seemingly the odd incorrect application of paint. An interesting example. Just don't open a thread on the correct application of D-Day white and black identification stripes . When I first came on Britmodeller I innocently asked about the colour schemes of Malta Spitfires Another can of worms.

Ah - explains a lot. He put in a huge shift into those books. I am truly ashamed to say I've not done a cover to cover read but I do dip in for info. And that's not because they are not readable at all - his style is very easy. It is just a time thing. Then I wish I'd time to just start Vol 1 page 1 and work through of the end of Vol 3.

OK Graham, my 2 pence worth - I am sure @tempestfan will agree once he gets his hands on them. when the first Volume came out I read that that it was something special but a bit expensive. The reviews were high in praise so a birthday was coming up and I asked nicely. Come birthday come Vol 1. It was everything that reviewers had said and perhaps more. When Vols 2 & 3 came out in due course the model budget got blown for a few months. I just bought direct as a normal punter. That didn't stop Roger Lindsay putting a nice handwritten note inside each. There will be more info online but each Vol has an intro from an Air Vice Marshal e.g. Vol 3 from George Black. The format is pretty much the same. To take Vol 3 the first 2-3 Chapters cover subjects to give background such as the political situation, the "opposition" and RAF Organisation. There is a chapter on Camo and Markings and then the Chapters deal with squadrons by type in service so Vol 3 has chapters on the Swift, the Hunter, The Javelin and then the early Lightnings. Each Squadron gets its story told with the type, the snags and operations and such like. It has a section on its own individual markings and table of aircraft allocated serial; code; arrival and departure and fate. The photographs are nearly all black and white but there is a section on colour photos in each volume and some colour profiles A random example I opened Vol 3 at Page 184 - the section on 208 Sqn on the Hunter. What I found there runs to pages 6 and a bit A4 pages in double column so plenty info on units story and type. Also when looking at my half dozen books on the Meteor to try and assist the OP none mentioned the details about the camo variations due to urgent repaints at squadron level to comply with the change back from silver/aluminium to camo - now the order of the day. Yet it is there in detail from Roger Lindsay in his more generalised work. Out of my 400 odd aviation books I rate these in the top half dozen. Especially if you have an interest in Cold Wr RAF Fighter Squadrons (and associated units it must be said). They are on my list of grab it if there is a fire. If you get the chance in a book shop or going at a sensible price on line then grab it when you can.

Yes. I’ve got all 3 volumes. In the intro to Vol 3 he makes it clear that he only intended 3 books. What I meant was another Vol 4 covering 1960 through the phantom would have been good. But not to be. On the other hand where would one stop.

Such a pity Vol 4 Lightning late marks, Phantom and Tornado wasn't done. . I think he was quite ill towards the last publication or something like that?? You can see from the books the amount of work he put in.

I have a few Meteor books and having had a look I think I can advise as follows:- Barry Jones Crowood Aviation Book Page 94 has 2 black and white photographs of F 8's from 64 Sqn. Making the assumption the lighter tone in the camo is grey and the darker tone is green, the one at the top has a green painted nose but the one in the lower photo is the reverse and has a much lighter paint (grey) on the nose. The paints are similarly reversed in the two photos in the next painted camp section around the cockpit. All the side profiles in SAM Modellers Datafile have camo Meteors with a green nose. Chapter 9 on Camo and Markings sates "Early meteors were finished in the contemporary Day Fighter Scheme. The upper surfaces have a disruptive pattern of Dark Green and Ocean grey (MAP Shade) to a standard pattern laid out in MAP pattern 2." Further on " Camouflage was reintroduced in December 1953 using Gloss Dark Green (BS381C;641) and Gloss Dark Sea Grey (BS381C:638). Undersides remained in Aluminium." Turning to Scale Aircraft Monographs Camo and Markings No 1 (don't have No2 - sorry) the profiles show Meteors with a green nose but in two places the work makes reference to the scheme being applied in Pattern 1 Of course they are referring to pre Dec 1953 in that work and Marks earlier than the F8 Lastly Roger Lindsays seminal work Cold War Shield Vol1 1950-1960 has a colour photograph Page 406 of a 610 F8 taken in 1955 on the starboard side and the nose is quite definitely grey with the next segment of the pattern in green around the cockpit area. The photo below of four 610 Sqn aircraft in June 1955 have them with both green and grey nose paint - three aircraft with a grey painted nose and one with green. The photo between these two photos is of two 610 aircraft and shows "one of each". Lindsay details the specifications for the Dec 1953 camouflage edict in detail and reproduces the drawing showing the schematics. DRG. No. A.P.2210H/M.25/55 (Sheets 1,2 & 3) Interestingly and perhaps conclusively he gives the following observation and perhaps your answer. "Such instructions were not always exactly adhered to, and it was possible to see some Meteor 8's on which the camouflage pattern had been significantly reversed or significantly altered." Painting was done at unit level. Even more common was deviation on the demarcation line on the engine nacelles forward and aft the wing. At some bases including Tangmere and Wattisham upper and lower camo was divided by a straight line and not the flowing curve as specified. Aircraft were supposed to be stripped before the repaint but there was an opt out if facilities did not permit and over painting was allowed but due to that adding 30lb of paint the c.g was then out and 22lb of ballast was added to resolve that issue. I suspect that does not help and can only suggest the modellers mantra. Always look for a photograph bestest John

Having the record breaker GB next year is handy. With my track record I can start in one GB and finish in the second GB - maybe if I am lucky ! Thanks @Corsairfoxfouruncle

Silly me. Teaches me to read the instructions again. A bad failing. @Enzo the Magnificent Apologies @Corsairfoxfouruncle

I picked up a sort of cheapish Marsh Models DH 88. Does that qualify as a golden age transport or is it more record breaker @Enzo the Magnificent ?

Indeed - I think it was first touted donkeys years ago. Just Hannants has listed pre-orders with discount so I was wondering if they knew something we didn't ! I seem to recall that Special Hobby or someone had a 1/48 Beaufort listed more or less since we were worried about the millennium bug !

Clearly a Resurrection from the grave as far as reviving ancient threads but Hannants are showing it as a future release now. Are there any well founded whispers as to when this might actually arrive on the shelves?

After a bit of man shaming grovelling and pleading I was able to purchase for Santa Claus to give me later two sets (conversion and cockpit) for the Tamiya 1/32 Spitfire Mk XVIe Low back by Laminar Flow Design to make a Mk XIVe. I was allowed a peek in the box but told after that it wait till 25 December. The peek shows they are incredibly well packed in cardboard insert inside a sturdy box. I did not remove but the cockpit parts look intimidatingly fiddly while inside their printer cage. Slowly and carefully comes to mind. Oh and certain perfume hints were delicately dropped - kinda like

Good Man Veritas Mike. And he has a good lawyer