johnd

I've never been a great cinema-goer but had to step into the breach on this one when my wife was let down and didn't want to go on her own. The expectation of boredom with a 3-hour film was high, but it managed to hold attention all the way through. It's intended to be a biography of Oppenheimer rather than about the Manhattan Project so there isn't much action in it. It is an American film, written for Americans. It certainly doesn't subscribe to "Britain invented the bomb, the US built it". Despite that. I'd recommend it.

I got the same set from The Works, great value as it was cheaper than the Kate kit sold singly. And you got 10% off in the store for collecting it yourself. Looking good. John.

My first car was a Mk.1 Escort. A friend of a friend had replaced the 1100 engine with a 1300 (brakes were left alone though) and he didn't like the white paint so sprayed it to look like a Mexico rally car. It was fairly easy to spot it wasn't one (standard wheels, arches etc) but it did fool a surprising number of people. My favourite was when I was in the left lane at lights and a car drew up alongside, and sat there, engine revving. Eventually, I looked over and the driver was looking my way so I nodded. When the lights changed, he went haring off down the road at quite a speed and with a fair bit of smoke. I turned left.

I got a bit excited for a moment, I've not been taking an interest much for a couple of years so thought I'd missed something. I'm not sure you're right about the Zero though: metal-winged Browning-armed Hurricanes, Wildcats/Martlets and P50 B/Cs haven't had a definitive model made of them, in 1/72 at least. With the Zero, we have Tamiya and also the Airfix example. It does look like a Japanese type but maybe something in need of a new moulding. Someone mentioned above that the Val hadn't been represented well...

Have Arma done a Spitfire?

If fully fuelled, that was the theory. I seem to recall there was a photo to back it up but don't have the link, I'm afraid.

I really appreciate the one-piece engine cowl, even if the exhaust pipes are attached. John.

Great link, thanks. Love that part of the country.

The hills around Beddgelert, I believe.

Well I knew that some Defiants with Merlin IIIs had six stack exhausts so it wasn't entirely unreasonable. Just wrong, as I can see now (I'd have probably noticed myself if I hadn't started on the ale early). Probably...

Oh dear. Hook, line and sinker! Thanks for putting me right. John.

Evening all, I've been wanting to build one of Al Deere's Spitfires for a while and found some 1/72 markings for KL-B P9398 in my transfer box. Now, I undersand that was probably P9390 in reality, but in searching for photos online, came across this. Six stack exhausts. Any idea what I could use for these? Thy don't look much like those fitted to Mk.IXs J. PS The last number of the serial is indistinct in the photo. Any thoughts?

DH propellers were heavier than Rotol ones. On Sea Hurricanes this helped to compensate for the weight of the arrester hook. Don't know about Malta Spitfires though. John.

Was just about to type, "been using BM all day and still haven't had one!" You can guess the rest.

Lovely model. You say it went together with no issues at all, does that mean it was fine with the recommended weight in the nose? John.

Wish you hadn't told me that. You're a bad influence... 😉

They seem to have a different concept of overalls in the US.

So, my leader has become involved and her foot has definitely been put down. DPD are collecting the box later today. So the answer to the question, my friends, was to buy a smaller printer. John. PS Thanks for all the suggestions, I'm sure they'll come in handy next time I go rogue.

Actually...it's a printer. Nothing exciting.

It contains a single item that can't be broken down. The box and packing adds little weight but adds protection and a smooth surface to slide down the steps. John.

The side rails (they're not really vertical but are at a steep rake) are set back from the steps slightly. I could just let the box down over the step edges on the straps with someone guiding it but if I couldnt hold it then that someone would end up with 33 kg heading towards them. I'm used to lifting properly, btw, it's a big part of my job. A block and tackle would be a good move if there was somewhere to attach it. John.

That's right. The trolley wouldn't work in this case as you have to go down facing the steps. Two people have tried going down forwards. One ended up in a heap at the bottom (amazingly uninjured) and the second pulled it off but never did it again.

Do you have his number?

Hi all, I have a 33 kg box that needs to go down into a cellar via steep ladder stairs. They're the sort of steps that you have to go down backwards. Clearly, it can't be carried as it would be all too easy to lose your footing. So how to go about getting it down there? I've got as far as thinking of using webbing straps around both vertical axes attached via a shackle at the top and a further strap attached to let it down. Unsure whether this would work as I don't know whether it would just go shooting off at that weight. Any comments or better ideas gratefully received. John.

Apologies, exhausts are in fact supplied, just not mentioned in the instructions...