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JohnT

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Posts posted by JohnT

  1. Reading the above my experiences of commercial leasing come to mind.  

     

    First six years in not a long time in business.  That length of time makes me raise an eyebrow.  I suspect that there was quite a bit of chat in the background and unless one knows what warnings or alternatively what "promises" were being made at the time one does not have a complete picture.  Without that one does not know quite who the "villains of the piece" are.

     

    Second, local authorities are usually not great at maintaining consistency - mind you commercial landlords aren't either at times.  The problem for local authorities are many.  Circumstances change, constituents and voters demands change, Councillors and policy changes etc.  In the past few years the news seems to be that attitudes of locals are changing and income/ jobs from tourism etc is less vote worthy than the pressures on homes.  No comments either way.  Its a tricky situation and a balance needs to be found there.  Changes like that do impact into the desire of the local authority to recover the land for other purposes whether that be housing or job creation.

     

    In my view the operators of the museum, having negotiated only six years guaranteed occupancy,  should have been planning a remove from pretty much day 1.  TBH I might even have passed on the site in the beginning but that's being unfair to the people dealing with the situation at the time.  They might have been lulled into a false sense of security by promises, nods and winks (really from politicians??) or alternatively  might have been told that 6 years was the end of the line.

     

    I'd suggest an FOI request on all passing emails etc but even then I've seen the "Look don't worry this is just a formality and we do this all the time.  A renewal is standard.  No problem."  Only then it changes with the times and people in charge and now is a problem.

     

    All in all you stick with whats on the paperwork in day 1, plan for worst case scenario and if that's not needed then that's a bonus.

     

    I hope the people at the museum find a new home.  I was there a few years back and it was a good afternoon mooching about.  Perhaps some funding might be found to assist in relocating exhibits?  I have a nice 1.5 acre field if they are interested and it would be permanent but Scottish Borders might be a bit far.

     

    One last thought - Do local authorities, folks in charge generally and pressure groups really value aviation heritage???  Given whats happened at East of Scotland Air Museum and other museums/ old airfields around the country I really do wonder about that.  Perhaps closing most of the small museums and putting the resources into maybe 4-5 mega museums like say Cosford, Duxford, etc as 4-5 national service types museums spread across the population and geographically across the country with sate of the art facilities (inc fly- in?) with education and conservancy centers of excellence might be a better way of saving aviation heritage ???

    • Like 3
  2. Just looked at the photo again but this time on the big screen.  Is it just the light or my eyes but is the grey colour under the open wing leading edge slats (ie the areas normally concealed when slats not extended) a lighter shade of grey than that on the "exposed" wing surfaces?

     

    My suspicion is its the way the light is hitting the colour but it does look at little lighter in shade.  

  3. Good luck Kyle

     

    @davecov can you change the title?  “Highland Games Bits and Bobs” had folk running for the hills in case you were about the answer the centuries old question what a Scot wears under his kilt. Er bits and bobs????  That what we are calling it :D :whistle:?

    • Haha 4
  4. On 16/08/2022 at 19:32, cardiff guy said:

    Yeah sorry about the battlemech's these have been 3d printed by one of the guys in the club. Though the MOD need as much help as they can get 🤣


    could be a stage set for a prequel for the next Transformers movie ! :D

     

    Right colour scheme for the Andover and Hercules too

    • Like 1
  5. Sad to see them go but whenever I thought  "they look good- fancy some of those" I swiftly changed my mind when I saw the price tag and I don't often saw that about my hobby.  For me the cost benefit analysis didn't work out in favour of buying them.  I do hope that they are successful, in their next venture and that we have not seen the last of them and wish the all the very best going forward.

  6. It’s the perpetual illusion that we will have an over abundance of free spare time next week/month/year to make this new kit as well as the all those in the stash and those on the shelf of doom which is inevitably going to be wrecked on the jagged rocks of reality. 
     

    To borrow from the thoughts of many aircrew on their chances -  It’s the other chap that won’t get his model done, not me -  I will be alright 

     

     

    1 hour ago, Bertie McBoatface said:

     

    That's an interesting idea. I think it's rather widespread right now, along with a fear of not being able to afford enjoyment in the future.

     


    A bit like dating and marriage then ……..

    • Like 3
  7. 5 minutes ago, Adam Poultney said:

    Obviously stopping 1/32 so they can produce the definitive range of V Bombers in 1/48.... /s

    Adam

    off to the naughty step 

    :D

    3 minutes ago, Tbolt said:

     

    What's weird about that? Advertising a model show with three girls who have paint bottles and brushes in their belts and garters, with one holding a large drill, all ready for modelling action 😂

    Naomi Campbell too pricy for the job then. What on earth is that anime stuff anyway. Bizarre IMO. However I do acknowledge the words curmudgeonly and old fashioned are often applied to yours truly :D

    • Like 1
    • Haha 3
  8. 16 minutes ago, exdraken said:

     

     

    If you go to the BBC news web site and look at the section on whats in todays papers it enlarges enough to read whats on the front page - sneaky !!!:D then it continues on page 5.

     

    From what is on Page 1 it seems a re-hash of what has been said in the press earlier.  I wonder why the prominent re-hash then ?  :hmmm: Someone with an agenda and influence or an axe to grind maybe ?

  9. 18 minutes ago, Mike said:

    Ummmm.... yep?  Or are you getting mixed up with Not the Nine O'Clock News in your dotage? :wicked:


    Dotage?

    Nurse, nurse. Michael in the next bed is being cheeky again. When do I get my meds?

     

    I remind you that you called me a cheeky rapscallion once. I badge I wear with pride. 
     

    :D

  10. Also bear in mind how the market has changed in 50 years. When I was nowt but a nipper… enough of the nostalgia!  In the mid to late 1960’s when I was moving from primary to secondary education nearly every boy bought “Airfix” kits (That is Airfix, Frog and Revell) from hobby shops, toy shops, Woolworths, newsagents, hardware stores, one art shop I can think of and I suspect other types of outlets. The turn over in kit numbers must have been huge and ranges were always available- at least I think so but I was not paying too much attention to that side of the hobby. 
     

    I can’t see that same retail scenario existing today and competing with electronic games etc. I imagine that makes manufacturers leery of keeping big ranges and large stocks that might not sell that quickly hence what we see today

    • Like 1
  11. Well for once I think I might be able to participate though there is no way I will get finished within the time frame.

     

    At least I have collected most of what I need to complete the project which is encouraging.  So this is what is going on the desk with apologies for the iPhone camera quality.  I am without a camera at this time so its a tad foggy there. (Great as it will cover up my build mistakes if I am lucky)

     

    Its going to be a backdate of the L to a  G-15-LO of Ken Ladd with his Windy City Ruthie that he carried on his later P-38's.  Much to ponder as to how quite to tackle this but the Grey Matter backdate set will assist considerably.  Also i cant recommend the quality of the replacement undercarriage legs from Synthetic Ordnance Works in the US highly enough.  Their produce won't come cheap but by golly it really looks the part.

     

    I also have a copy of Mike Ashley's publication on "How to..." build one of these and I saw with interest his concern that the Trumpeter plastic on the twin booms is a bit thin and might flex leading to seam opening problems.  When he did his one he added strips of reinforcing plastic card on the inside of the booms like an internal frame support.  Something to ponder methinks.

     

    I might try making a  start.  It will still be inside the 25% rule and I wont get finished before the end but rather just treating this as jogging along the real runners for company.  So where to start..........

     

    Probably the cockpit area which will need changed from the kit.  Luckily I have a book on early P-38's by Robert Peczkowski [MMP Books] and I'd say its ideal for modellers for an early P-38.  He does the same in another volume for later Lightnings

     

    PS - I have the Kagero decals in 1/48 too so if anyone could use them just drop me a pm and they can go to a good home.  I have stopped building in 1/48 (so why did I buy that 1/48 Gannet AEW then???)

     

    y4mmOC1BMpZjmY3SKrZNDSFm8qSfMza_N1metOFF

    • Like 4
  12. 6 minutes ago, Al Blyth said:

    Hi Jon, seen those and sadly dad’s not among those photos. Only aboard for that op, maybe just for a week or so. Interestingly enough (or maybe only to me) the craft immediately behind dad’s going into the landing zone was commanded by Alec Guinness.

    Hi Al

     

    Aye just had a re-read of my Dads unit history more carefully and edited my post above.  Like your Dad mine is not in the photos either. There is a chance he was on her for Salerno.  While he was on the Sicily and D Day landings too it wasn't on 299.  He did Walcheren Island landings in a Buffalo.  The Alec Guinness connection is interesting.  Must look that up as I didn't know he was there.  Dad had an officer who was the brother of John "Cats Eyes" Cunningham - the nightfighter ace.  

     

    I am going to have a bash at one of these but will absorb all the build techniques and tips.  Every day a school day and something new to learn

    • Like 2
  13. On 17/08/2022 at 22:18, Faraway said:

    I’m guessing you’ve seen this ?

    http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/15/150299.htm

    Jon

     

    Oh thanks for that and no I hadn't.  I pulled the book about 41 RM off the shelf again and looked at the caption for the photo and its misleading.  It says 299 was one of two LCI's that took 41 RM to Salerno boarding the Seaforth Highlanders.   Reading on the photo shows not Salerno but its for the Sicily Landing earlier.

     

    The photo taken on 6 June 44 has the caption "299" repaired after Salerno, back in business on D Day, on Juno beach at Bernieres"  IWM 123938.   I had assumed it showed 41 RM but the caption does not say that so i am guessing its included as showing a typical beach shot.  41 RM were tasked with heading for and through Lion-sur-Mer just along the coast from Bernieres 

     

    So 2 photos of 299 but neither for her trip to Salerno with 41 RM - 

     

    Some of the photos in the book showing LCIs are almost the same as the ones on the site and clearly come from the same camera but perspective and human beings in shot have moved slightly.  Fascinating stuff  - thanks.

     

    Watching the build here with great interest :popcorn:

    • Like 1
  14. Oh I've wondered if anyone ever did a model of one of these.  My father dropped into Salerno and again into France on one but his unit history that has photographs of them have confusing captions and perhaps you experts can resolve please?  One photo shows an LCI(L) at Salerno number 299 and it appears again in a photo of Juno beach on D Day after being repaired, apparently.  Another photo of the same day shows what is described as an LCI(S) on D Day unloading the RM 41 commandos with one poor chap falling into the water right on cue.

     

    So two questions really - is the LCS(L) really a typo and should be described as an LCI(I) and what is the difference between the two types - an LCI(I) or (L)  and LCI(S)?  The photos are not really good enough to see.  The D Day ones have a partial bow shot in one and a head on shot in the other while the Salerno photo  is another bow on shot.

     

    I do fancy getting one of these and to build it for Dad even if he is long gone now.

     

    TIA as always

     

    John

     

     

    • Like 1
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