Alan W

Kingsman - that looks good. I was thinking having looked at ColonelKryptons suggestions that I would have to paint brass chain black, but this may just be the answer.

Thanks ColonelKrypton. I had tried Jadlam and eModels as my first choices and couldn't find anything there, hence my query. I hadn't thought of model railway shops. Hannants didn't occur to me.

I've just finished building the above model and hit a last minute problem. According to the instructions the chain (supplied, black) needed to be cut at 72mm to attach the trench crossing device. I should have checked the measurement before cutting. The upshot is that I am short by several millimetres. I do not have enough of the chain remaining to make two longer lengths. Does anyone know of a suitable source for black chain for 1/35 scale models? It's about 16 chains to the inch.

Looks like I am going to have to invest time and patience (the same thing?) into making individual track links for all my models - just noticed two previously completed Tamiya kits have suffered broken vinyl tracks, after ages spent on the display shelf! Probably should expect the rest to go the same? BTW they're not in direct sunlight.

Right, Ok. Thanks for your help and advice.

Both sides completed. The second went faster with growing confidence. Both used 79 links (nice to know both sides are the same!) Now to paint. MiniArt Instructions say black/gun metal; Dragon say steel; but I'm thinking not in the desert! Maybe steel base with desert yellow on the flats.

Ok, thanks. Alternate - Is there any RAF squadron that I could badge this aircraft for? I didn't realise until after buying the kit that it only came with Luftwaffe markings and it simply won't look right with all my other aircraft being RAF or FAA. (the one exception being the Phantom that I bought back in the 1980s/90s)

Thanks guys. But the basic airframe is the same? The cockpit displays I can live with - it's 1/72 and I can never see the detail inside the cockpits anyway. There's no chopping required? Looks like I need Kits-world and FantasyPrint shop for my decals.

I've got a Revell Panavia Tornado on order - the ASSTA 1/72 model. I want to do it as an RAF 617 squadron aircraft. I'm not sure just how much this aircraft differs from RAF versions in appearance (I think it may be mostly/purely electronic systems from what I've read) I've found a good set of decals from Kits-World which also include all the aircraft identification markings for the RAF Dambusters raid as well as for the Tornado Commemorative scheme of 2013. (Handy as I have the Airfix Dambusters Lancaster to build) Alternatively there is a set by Xtradecal, but these appear to be under two references and I'm not sure whether they are exactly the same or not - X01372 and X72013 (and do not provide the Dambusters ID markings anyway) Presumably I would also need a stencil set as well? Or are these provided for in the Revell kit?

Ok, 1 side done. 79 links. The idler wheel was not glued in so taking it off and fitting the track was reasonably easy - just VERY tedious to make! Thanks for the tip Das on the masking tape - not sure I would have done it without this.

This is going to send me mad!!!! 24 links done so far!

Thanks Das, I think I'll give the masking tape a go (tomorrow!). The end connectors kept falling off the link causing me great frustration! I looked through my kits and I have a Gecko kit which does have a jig (that's the word I was looking for) but not suitable for this type of track. Also the Meng WWI tank has individual links so it's a skill I need to develop. The box suggests 79 links per side - I've calculated they've given 5 spares for each side, which gives me 84, sounds like just enough. Dragon gave me instructions totalling 71! Same size as well.

MiniArt track link set received and looked at. Is there a construction aid (template) available? I'm not sure I have the ability (skill) to hold all the pieces in place whilst then applying a tiny bit of glue to attach the other half of the tread. Thanks for any help or suggestions

Thanks guys for your comments, and tbolt for the piccie of the cockpit. Fukuryu - that's about the length I've gone for. Whether all this will be visible when I put the cockpit sides and top on is another matter. Now if I can only get Flickr to work for me........!

Thanks Tbolt, that seems to have worked. I've left the yokes out more than the 0.8mm the instructions suggest, otherwise I don't think the pilots arms would reach them! I'm also undoubtedly doing this wrong and the hard way, not in accordance with the instructions, but I need something more to hold onto with my clumsy hands! Can't send a photo - Microsoft One Drive have locked me out and I don't have a mobile to receive a text message to unlock! **** them!