Stuart Wilson

Well this is the only new tool I'll be getting. Nice to see the Do-17Z , He-111 and Swordfish again though. Might pick up the Blenheim IV too if it has the parts for the bomber variant. Stuart

Which kits and in which scales? A number of aftermarket sheets are available. Also are you referring to the ships from the show "Enterprise" later renamed "Star Trek: Enterprise" Starring Scott Bakula or one of the other Enterprises that have appeared in the various Star Trek shows/movies etc. If it's the former the only other NX class starship that appeared canonically was USS Columbia NX-02. any other name/number combination is fair game. Although the Mirror Universe episodes had ISS Avenger NX-09 so it might imply there was a USS Avenger with the same number in the Prime universe. Stuart

I agree with the FX-73 for Dark slate grey. You could try XF-24 for EDSC. To a 10ml bottle add 1.2ml pf XF-2 and 0.6ml of XF-8 Stuart

Another vote for Mr Muscle. Use it all the time, never had any issues. I'm told it won't work on cellulose based paint as it chemically bonds with the plastic. Regular Humbrol enamels shouldn't be a problem though. Stuart

That's a nice build, lovely scheme. Just finished the Two seater myself as a trainer. It's a lovely model when finished but the fit of the engines and the U/C is quite challenging. if it was a bit easier I'd probably have more then the two I have now. Stuart

Hi, I'm building the new Mk II Wellington from Airfix and I'm at a loss as to whether I need to paint out the long fuselage side windows and the large square(ish) one on the starboard nose side. Not too bothered about which of the kit schemes I choose. I've googled it of course and the 214 sqn aircraft seems to have at some time lacked the triangular side windows and in another photo seems to have them. the photo without the triangular windows seems to show the long side windows and the starboard nose one are there but may have been painted over, the other photo doesn't show these areas. The photos of the 305 sqn Mk II seems to have the long window painted over, OI can't see the starboard side. Other 305 sqn a/c seem to be similar. Does anyone know how frequently these windows were painted over? Airfix's instructions show these windows as black and presumably painted. but the drawings on their website show these as clear. Thanks in advance for any replies. Stuart

Hi, I just picked up the new Airfix 1/72 Mosquito BXVI and I was wondering about the bomb bay doors. I read that they should be sanded smooth as they based the doors in the kit on a TT35. Should the entire door be smooth or do I just remove the raised wedge shapes and the rectangular detail behind them on the rear half of each door? Thanks for any advice. Stuart

Befelspanzer were usually only issued to battalion and regimental command sections, a company commanders tank should be a normal panzer. Besides, ausf L were not built as befelspanzer. Some were converted for the role but not until 1943. At this time most would have either been ausf J with the short 50mm or ausf K with a Panzer iv turret (and long 50mm).. With perhaps a few old unarmed ausf H still around. I could be wrong mind you... Stuart

Not only 6 years ago., but the fact that Herr Flick (really!) had this tank was in Wheels and Tracks magazine about 1984 so I've known about it since then. Photos don't seem to have been seen since then until it was apparently "discovered" by the authorities but the Surviving Panthers PDF has listed it for years. It was one of the ones completed post war for the British army and found in a scrapyard in the UK in the 70s IIRC. Stuart

Yes, just the hanger and flight deck as I recall. My dad had to queue with me (I was too young to drive), we must have been in the first 50 or so people in the queue. I think the news said there were 20,000 visitors that day! Just the one harrier on board and it was roped off. I don't know if they had fiberglass replicas but it looked real to me. The wing tanks didn't match the paint scheme. I managed to visit Invincible, Ark and Ocean over the years but that was the first one and I remember it best. Stuart

A very nice clean build in perhaps the prettiest Sea Harrier paint scheme. I remember building this kit way back in the overall Dark Sea Grey scheme after seeing one in that scheme on HMS Illustrious when she visited Tyneside in '83. I waited for 3 hours in the queue to go aboard. It seemed to be a very nice kit to me back then! Stuart

I've heard Tamiya's XF-81 RAF green is a reasonable match, however it does have a sheen that I like for aircraft kits (going to gloss the whole thing anyway before the decals) but I'm not too fond of for armour as I only gloss where the decals are going on AFVs. Stuart

Don't know if it's still available but the AFV club zimmerit roller is perfect for the Tiger. I used milliput (an epoxy filler) and it makes it easy. Just take your time and apply it about half a millimeter thick. It doesn't damage the plastic and you can wash it off if you're not happy (before it dries that is!) Alternately the DEF models zimmerit transfers are great. I used them on the Academy Panzer IV (they come with the kit but you can buy them separately). I think they do them for the Tamiya Tiger I. Stuart

Well, there goes the chance of a new Stirling I suppose. Still there's a Halifax in Canada isn't there? I was hoping for a new BII Series IA but I would make do with a BIII (not too different from a Mk VII). And I guess when they finally get round to a JU-88 we'll get an R1 as that's what's at Hendon, or is it at Cosford now? Hopefully the Mosquito won't need much correcting. I'm planning on getting a couple. And if they could see their way clear to doing a BIX later on that would be nice, bring back memories of the old Matchbox kit. Stuart

Does anyone know the fatigue life (in hours) of the original harrier? I've read that the AV-8C modification added an extra 4000 hours, but not what it was added on to. I was wondering if the GR3 were removed from service because they were time expired or because of cuts (end of the Cold war etc). I know half a dozen of them were only about eight years old but if the rest of the fleet were getting on they may have been the only airframes with much life left. Thanks for any responses Stuart

Thanks Andre, It's a very useful tread , especially on the underwing serials, However, it doesn't confirm the timescale for the changeover of wingtip. Was this done immediately following the return to flight after the fatigue issue? Or was it later on as a result of further research, and if so. when? Stuart

Hi, I have Xtradecal sheet 72308 for the new Airfix kit and I was planning on making either XN981 from 208 sqn in 1983, or XV869 of 208 in 1981. Can anybody tell me which wingtips would be correct? I have read that the Buccaneer S2 reverted to the shorter S1 wingtips after the Gulf war in some references, but others say it was after the crash in 1980 that resulted in the aircraft being rebuilt. The instructions aren't clear on this. Thanks for any advice. Stuart

It's an early Tranche 1 jet so I suppose they may as well use up the airframe hours before it gets retired flying it around with a flag on it. Personally I Like grey. Matches my personality. However it's not doing anybody any harm. Although come to think about it. Isn't doing harm what a warplane is designed to do? Stuart

Tamiya's "new" (2014) Jagdpanzer iv Lang kit is very nice. Nothing in common with the old 70s release. It does have vinyl tracks but they're the newer glueable material and I think the Dragon re-release has similar ones (except the dragon vinyl tends to deteriorate quickly). It's one of my go-to kits if I'm lacking inspiration. Fit is excellent and you can put it together in a couple of days. It's a shame they didn't release the L/48 gunned version.as well. Stuart

Oops! You'd think I'd have noticed that. Thanks for the reply. Stuart

Hi, I'm sure this has been asked before but I want to build Lancaster LM624 from the Airfix kit and I have a query regarding the row of narrow windows along the side. Now I'm pretty sure that they were deleted before this aircraft was built, however what about the forward one ahead of the W/Os square window? Was this deleted at the same time as the other windows. Or was there a significant crossover period where aircraft from the same batch were sometimes built with all the windows, and sometimes without? While we're on the subject, I understand that before the windows were deleted in the factory, many aircraft had them painted over. Why? I realise they weren't needed anymore, but if they were already installed. why overpaint them? Thanks for any replies. Stuart

I hope they keep some of the spare CR2 in case they decide to increase the force in future. And why does it take six years to get it into service? They put a man on the moon in eight. Also I noticed the mix of roadwheels, some perforated, some not. I assume it's just a case of whatever wheels were available when it was in the shop. 60MPH? do they mean KPH? Well; if someone wants to bring out a kit I'll build one. Stuart

Not with a force of 148 operational tanks we can't. Well, we shouldn't anyway. We'd find ourselves paying a fortune for a small force of tanks that weren't inter-operable with those of our allies and we'd have to shoulder the whole cost of upgrades. Just like Challenger II. Which isn't to say we should buy the M1. It's eye-watering fuel consumption should rule it out. We should have bought Leopard II back in the 90s. UK armed forces should be equipped to defend the UK. Not provide a meal ticket for BAE executives. And logistical support should be a major point in any procurement exercise. If we stopped wasting money developing unique bespoke kit we might be able to afford more kit in the first place. Just my opinion of course. Stuart

I had to buy a track set for the RFM Firefly as there weren't enough end connectors in the kit. Personally I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as the Tasca Firefly or the Tamiya A3E8 but then I prefer simpler kits, especially when it comes to tracks. Other will have different opinions.. It certainly results in a nice model. Stuart

Takom have just re-issued the Chieftain Mks 5 and 10 so I hope the FV432 will be along again soon. Stuart