[Kit stashes - an investigation 🤓]

My stash is 8 1/32 kits and even when over the years I built 1/72 then 1/48 I never really had a big to-do list. I tend to have ideas and my go to is predominantly ebay. I'll put kits in the watch and then sit on it. If I want it I'll bid but mostly I'll forget about it, which shows me I probably wouldn't have built it. Boring I know, but it works for me.

 

*viggen, 2 x Tornadoes, Lynx, Buccaneer, Mi-24, 2 x Hawks and a Hunter.

 

[C-5 transport, meet light pole]

Could it have been turning?

[Bits in paint - how best to fix]

I had this with some old xtracrylix. I ended up using a bit of gauze as the etch gauze I had for intake covers was too fine.

[RN Phantom FG.1 refuelling probes]

Does make you think who proof reads it.

[Site very slow to load, more Service Unavailable screens]

Just got a 500 server thing @ 2100.

[The last of my X-15s (for now, anyway….)]

As above, just brilliant.

 

 

 

[It’s BLUE!, oh no it’s BLUE]

Thanks everyone for taking the time to comment. There is actually not much out there about the Brit Js’. I purchased a couple of magazines for the snippets referenced and even one of my RAF years books had a piece but nothing meaty. Website and the usual search engine and zooming in, which I suspect we all do. Even my wife has asked "why is it blue" and then when I found a website including 50 shades of blue, there was a raised eyebrow!.

 

The parachute comes with the bag and an option to purchase the lines which are carbon rods. I had problems gluing the rods to the parachute as there was not enough contact patch, so i sanded back the ends of the lines flush to the parachute. They then glued and stayed connected. The parachute is quite soft and will flex in handling. My main problem was gluing the carbon lines to the main rod. I kept ending up with a Hay bales that looked like they'd been tied by hand. So the second attempt was wire locking. I used very thin gauge locking wire that we used to use on fire extinguishers on aircraft and that brought everything together and superglued. The small parachute is paper mache moulded over the end of a rounded pen. At low speeds this deflates to a hanging pose.

 

Anyway I used these sites

https://www.airfighters.com/photo/135568/M/UK-Air-Force/McDonnell-Douglas-F-4J-UK-Phantom-II/ZE352/

 

https://bpag.co.uk/gallery

 

https://3d-chute-expert.myshopify.com/

 

 

[It’s BLUE!, oh no it’s BLUE]

Hi folks, I finished this yesterday having started it just after Telford last year. I wanted to build a model of the F-4J that the RAF got back in the 80’s as it’s a conversation subject all day long. I’ve done more research than is probably healthy and picked up a kit at last years show knowing full well what it was going to be. I managed to bag a set of decals from the States and at last years Salisbury show I picked up the F-4J(UK) Aeroguide book, which for an old publication has been invaluable. Anyway the kit has had much written about it, so I won’t duplicate what’s known but it’s a first for me ;the Tamiya kit that is. Prior to building whilst researching I knew I wanted the centre line tank with a ballast sparrow and aquisition round. I wanted to be different from the other blue builds so I found a 3D parachute on the internet, so ordered one. Again research showed that the crew could and some did put the pins in the seats on the taxi back to the line. So I wanted to depict a cab taxiing back with everything cleaned up and the rear crewman putting his pins in. Refuelling probe extended for checks after shut down. It ties in quite nicely that I found back in the day that 74 Sqn did indeed mount a challenge to fly 74 sorties in one day, trying to out do 56 Sqns efforts some time earlier. They did succeed. So this is my take on a cab going back to the line for a quick turn around to be available to go again. Reading Tug Wilson’s book they did the same at Akrotiri with parachute still attached for the same reason. 
 

Any comments or if you see I’ve blatantly missed something speak up.

Thanks for looking.

 

Steve.

[Classic vehicle brochures - online sources?]

Try this

 

https://autocatalogarchive.com/index-brand/

[C-130H HERCULES HAF in scale 1/48]

A wonderful subject and some tremendous modelling skill.

 

 

[Eduard 1:48 F4F-3 VF-41]

A great model mate and boom its so colourful. I'm going to let my wife pick the next one. Then tell her to pick again once she gets the one I'm actually going to do.

 

Personally I wouldn't wash it as they look defined already.

[F-4 Phantom parachute details required]

Hi all. Does anyone have the length of the tether that connects the parachute lines to the airframe.

 

 

[Fawlty Towers]

I also hope it goes well, but alas with the different world we live in it will not be familiar. Basil will probably be spelt with a Z and Fawlty will be autocorrected to something less negative. But we've got to give it a chance. Anyway flowery twats, I'm off to count the tiles on the roof.

 

O'Riley

 

[617 Squadron The Dam Busters Books]

I read Operation Chastise by Max Hastings last year. Its a factual account and one of those "can't put it down" books. I can't recommend it highly enough and can be had for a few bob in the usual outlets. 

 

[Dear manufacturers; please stop it with the oversized boxes already!]

I like the boxes as they become my spray booth, with the bottom inserted at 90 degrees to the lid.

 

 

[35th Scale Land Rovers Models Design for 3D Printing.]

Brilliant, keep updated.

[Nigel Mansell's Tamiya 1/12 Williams Renault FW14B]

Hey that's a great model of the good days of F1. If my wife got a peak of this she'd want me to build one. Being bold if I may, I'd look at removing those mould lines on the tyres. Will look ten times better.

 

Sorry.

 

[D Models Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 4x4 Q8]

I crashed our 2wd Sierra. It had 365bhp and accelerated like a stabbed rat. I owned it for 5 years and I too think I'd still have it. Big lump in my throat seeing it in the compound banana shaped. Fasted I ever went was 135mph which was enough for me, however my wife drove it much faster as she passed a friend (who thought it was me driving) said he was flat out at 135 and I just disappeared. That was a conversation the following day...

 

 

 

 

[Trumpeter 1.32nd EE Lightning Yes or No ?]

See the way i see it is accept the kit for what it is or be prepared to modify the kit to make the wrongs right. Now how much you modify is your choice either effort or cash (making it an expensive kit). I've seen many a kit at shows over the years and some are great unmodified. Choices choices. I think you should sell it to me for £15 for the greater good of modelling. I'll send you photos when it's done.

 

Alan P will be along and offer you £20 and he'll build it in 2 weeks.

 

Steve.

 

[A pair of Airfix Hawks in 1/72 (Several new piccies using my new photo lightbox)]

Tremendous model making and you would think those are 1/48 scale all day long. To think they're 1/72 is even more impressive. So when are the Jags coming off the bench........

 

Steve

 

 

 

 

 

[Sea Harrier FRS1 intake vent positions?]

So these blow in doors are spring loaded and they let extra air in depending on what flow is demanded by the engine. When the engine is shut down the upper most through to the side doors will hang down fully or sightly by gravity. The lower ones will remain closed. So in the above photos you can see engine running or not. The optical illusion of the picture with 713, they look closed but are actually open.

 

 

 

Hope that helps and you can position your to how you intend to display the model.

 

 

 

Steve.

 

 

[The Lynx effect]

You've done very well to get those decals down over those rivets. A good looking model.

 

 

[Motorsport of the day]

I see Craig Breen is also a part timer this year. 

[Italeri 1:48 Saab Gripen Czech Tiger 9237]

Cracking build. I'll get my coat.

[RAF RC-135W Rivet Joint]

Excellent mate and very different.