Stuart Wilson

The 505th tank would need zimmerit too. All late production Tigers had zimm as did all but the very earliest mid production ones. Zimmerit application stopped in September '44 a month after the last Tiger I was built. Stuart

If the British army only has a small MBT force in the future, then they need to adapt to using an off-the-shelf design that can be logistically supported easily rather than some bespoke super-expensive niche design that no-one else uses. It doesn't have to be the best tank in the work. Just a good one that can be kept operational. The problem with British defence procurement over the last few decades is the insistence on having equipment designed for our relatively small forces. I suspect a lot of it is to create work for BAE. The Sampson Radar on the Type 45 destroyer is very good. But Aegis would have been cheaper and we can get spares and regular updates easily. We might have had at least eight destroyers. The Nimrod MRA4 might have been a great aircraft. But we would have had the only nine of them in existence. How long before we were cannibalising some of them to keep the others flying? The P8A makes more sense and the USN will be paying to develop updates to it's systems, we just need to buy them. Also the Leopard 3 or whatever it ends up being called will probably be in production for some time (lots of Leos 2s to replace) so we could add more tanks to our inventory later should the international situation require it. Stuart

I agree with the 120mm choice. Logistics wins wars. No use having the best gun on the battlefield if you can't get ammunition for it. Especially with a small MBT fleet. interoperability makes sense.

I hope they see sense and replace it down the line with the planned Franco-German Leopard 3 or whatever they end up calling it. And buy it off-the-shelf., rather than spending a fortune tinkering with it and making it "British". Given the small numbers we'll probably buy we need something with commonality with our allies. Perhaps we could paint it a different colour. and fit a kettle, But that's it. Stuart

I certainly welcome people pointing out flaws in kits. It helps me to decide where to spend my money. If it doesn't bother other people then that's their choice too. Personally I like an easily built kit that is basically accurate. Tamiya are the masters at this. I'm happy to buy Airfix when they get it basically right. Their 1/72 Phantom took some flak but I like it and have built 3 of them. I don't think I'll be buying the Cromwell as I think the Tamiya kit will do for me and the wheel bolt issue is something I couldn't overlook. If other people want to buy it great. Hopefully Airfix will continue to release 1/35 kits and will improve. There are plenty of subjects yet to be kitted and the ambulance they have planned could be a good seller. I wish them well and hope to buy future releases in this scale from them. Stuart

I was being ironic. That's why I deliberately picked two very obscure details that were only on screen for a second or two. In a movie that was generally well researched. and accurate. Although there's no excuse for the scene showing someone firing a submachine gun through the Tigers drivers visor. Good luck getting your 9mm pistol bullets through several inches of armoured glass! Stuart

I remember the final WWII scene of "Saving Private Ryan." The P-51 that flies over has a black and white checked nose! The 78FG didn't convert to the P-51 until December '44. And then an M4A1 (supposedly) turns up, with what are clearly Canadian pattern dry pin tracks! Totally ruined my suspension of disbelief. And also the reason my missus and my mates won't watch war movies with me anymore. Stuart

I'm surprised if it's Academy who tooled these if they got it so wrong on the wheels. I've just built their new Panzer III and its a real gem, as is their Panzer IV H (apart from the tracts. The link and length in the PIII kit is much better than the vinyl tracks in the PIV). It may be that there are better references for German tank but the number of bolts on the wheels is hardly an obscure detail or a carry-over from a different version. Either way it's a disappointment. I was looking forward to this kit and I like to support Airfix but I can't see myself buying an inferior kit to the lovely Tamiya one for the same (or more) money. If they do introduce an F hull then maybe. Stuart

Well we'll see in a few weeks or so. There is likely to be cuts in every government department except for health to pay for the pandemic. Defence is no exception and the pivot towards the Far East region means the navy will probably get priority for funds. I expect the Trance 1 Typhoons will go soon and be replaced with 20 or so more F-35s to make up a third squadron for the carriers (which are too big and new to be cancelled). The C-130s will go. The Navy may lose the batch 1 River class (despite them being some of the hardest worked ships in the fleet), some frigates will be retired early with a promise of jam tomorrow and the army will lose big. 10,000 soldiers, the Challenger refit will be pegged at 100 to 150 vehicles , the Warriors will go and the last 12 Apaches won't be ordered. To be honest it would be better that we realise we can't do it all and concentrate on a few things. And as a island that should be the Navy and Air Force. The army can be reduced in size. We're not going to war with any of our neighbours and we're not going to be invading China with our army. Really we should join with France and Germany in their new tank project (Leopard 3?) as a minor partner. Better to buy an off-the-peg design than persist in thinking we can design our own MBT which no one else will buy and which will cost a fortune. But it's all about jobs for the boys and what the Daily Mail will say. I'd like to see more Poseidons as they could be very useful in a variety of roles but I doubt there will be the money for them. Stuart

I don't think any of us know how technology will change in 30 years, however, an aircraft with a good performance and payload like the F-15 will probably still be able to find a role even as a platform for stand-off weaponry and air defence, where stealth is less important. I can't see overall aircraft performance improving much in the next 30 years, at least not in a way that would allow large numbers of aircraft to be affordable. Hypersonic missies are one thing but a hypersonic aircraft that can be used for years of service is either a long way off or likely to be very expensive. Stuart

IIRC the F-15EX is rated for 20,000 flying hours vis 16,000 for the E model and 8,000 for the A,B,C and D models. At 300 hrs per airframe per year that equates to a service life of 66 years per aircraft without a subsequent life extension. It's just possible the F-15 might see out the Century! Stuart

I remember as a kid going to the shops to buy a Revell kit of the F-15 when it was just entering service. It came with loads of bombs like you never ever saw on an F-15A. I remember being excited about this new fighter. A quick trip to Scalemates suggests it was the 1975 release. If you'd told me then aged 8 or 9 that the USAF would be buying the same aircraft in 2021 (and possibly into the 2030s) . I'm not sure I would have believed you. Now, what's the odds on it eventually replacing the money pit that is the F-22 one day? Stuart

I assume the reason for the F-15EX programme is really to ensure that Lockheed don't have a monopoly on USAF fighter acquisition for the foreseeable future. If the F-35 is the only game in town then Lockheed have the USAF over a barrel. Now they can order more F-15s if Lockheed aren't keeping their prices competitive, or are taking too long to introduce improvements. upgrades etc. Conversely Boeing will also have to keep the F-15 competitive. It's like in the 80s when Pratt and Whitney made engines for the F-15 and F-16 and were dragging their heels over improvements. The USAF asked GE to develop an engine to fit both aircraft and the resulting GE 110 meant P&W had to up their game in a hurry. Stuart

I really enjoyed the Airfix kit and I think it has the best shape of the modern B-17s. I'm just disappointed that they didn't tool the early tail turret when they provide the turret as a separate part anyway. 225 B-17G-25DL and -30DL were built with the staggered waist positions and the original tail turret before the introduction of natural metal finish. Given how many people like to avoid N/M I'm surprised Airfix didn't give us the early turret so we could do an OD/NG finished aircraft out of the box. An early G model would have been even better but I'm not sure the RAF got any with the unstaggered waist positions and I think they really wanted to do the RAF variant. Mine is in N/M but I wouldn't mind building another in camo. I understand they're re-releasing the kit this year. I might give the Shapeways turret a go. Stuart

Just built this kit for the second time or should I say third? The first time I built it I painted, decaled etc and then tried to attach the undercarriage. After a long struggle it went in the bin. The U/C is easy enough to do but you have to be careful. With the next two (completed) kits I covered the unpainted wheel wells with the closed doors until after painting, decaling, flat coats etc. then glued in the lower (upper?) V shaped struts to the interior and let them dry completely. Painted the wheel wells and struts with a brush and then glued the U/C struts and supports in. If the V shaped parts aren't firmly attached before attaching the rest of the U/C it's a nightmare trying to get it to hold together. This may be obvious to others but I thought I'd mention it. Do it this way and there are no problems. Otherwise it's a lovely kit apart from the previously mentioned nacelle issues. Stuart

Another plus for the 1/72 scale kit that I forgot to mention is that Round 2 also do the Hawk from the episode "War Games" in the same scale. It's a lot smaller (and more affordable) if you want to display them together. Mind you the 1/48 is impressive and there are more variants available (Standard Pod, Freight/Winch pod, Lab pod). I hope they'll release more pod types in 1/72 but they haven't yet. I doubt you'll be disappointed by either kit to be honest. Stuart

A guide to all aircraft of WWII? i doubt if there is one. The best bet it to research each aircraft separately. Air forces tended to use similar schemes for aircraft with similar roles in the same theater. But not always and consistency differed between countries. The RAF were more consistent than the Luftwaffe for example. The He 111 was usually painted at the factory in a standard splinter scheme of RLM 70 Black green, and RLM 71 Dark green with the undersides in RLM 65 Light blue. However as above the Luftwaffe weren't too bothered about units re-painting aircraft to meet local conditions and this happened a lot. Undersides were often re-painted black for example. White would be used in wintertime on uppersurfaces. As to which paint manufacturer to source these colours from, that's a matter of personal preference. I like Tamiya. But that requires a lot of mixing paints Though in the case of the colours I mentioned, XF-27 is RLM 70, XF-81 is a good RLM 71 and XF-23 and XF-2 in a 2:1 ration will get you as near as makes no odds to RLM 65. Oh and get used to sources contradicting each other. Unless there are colour photos of the same subject in a variety of lighting conditions (there won't be) it's rarely a certainty. Stuart

I've built two Round 2 1/48 scale kits and two of the new 1/72. They're both great kits, the 1/48 has some interior cockpit detail but it's quite crude. I find i prefer the 1/72 as Eagles are quite moreish and I can display (and afford) more of them. If it had been released first I doubt I'd have bothered with the 1/48. Also the larger size shows up the lack of detail in some parts of the original models. BTW the original models were painted Ford Diamond White and you can get this in a rattle can from Halfords, it is gloss so will need a matt coat. Stuart

I couldn't get the decals to fit the wings in the first place to be honest. I managed the lower fuselage ones in the initial release, but if you're building the newer one then I couldn't get them to fit and hastily revised my plans. Fortunately I had an Xtradecal sheet with markings for another aircraft without the stripes. I have recently painted stripes on an Airfix Beaufighter and a 1/48 P-47 but I use an airbrush. I use Tamiya masking tape and I always paint the stripes first, before the camo scheme.. Then Mask them off till I'm ready for the Gloss coat. Stuart

I stand corrected on my comment about modifying the old Lancaster molds. If it's easier to just produce a new kit then there are other aircraft I'd prefer Airfix to do before a Manchester, which, to be honest, few people are going to buy more than one of. Stuart

I wonder is Airfix could modify their 1980 Lancaster mold to produce a Manchester? The don't need it anymore.

I'd rather they did a 1/72 Halifax. I think a 1/48 Lancaster would be a risk given the issues already mentioned. Personally I wouldn't build anything larger than a Mosquito in 1/48 and I think a lot of modelers have similar space issues, especially in the UK where Airfix have the home advantage so to speak. Now I realise a lot of people would like to see one but I wonder if enough sales would result The last thing I'd want to see is Airfix spending a fortune on a mold and not getting a return on their investment. Especially given that Airfix even at their best , produce good but not top flight kits, there's a danger someone else would come out with a better kit before Airfix had broke even. Not many people are going to stock up on 1/48 Lancs for the stash. A 1/48 Typhoon series would be a better idea. The Hasegawa kit is old and expensive and a new one would be nice and there's more of a chance of multiple purchases by modelers. A 1/48 Halifax would be a big risk. I'd love a new 1/72 one, especially a Mk II as the Revell is frankly poor. Perhaps I'm being over cautious and just because I wouldn't buy one doesn't mean I don't want them to make it. As long as they're making a profit. Stuart

The Revell dihedral issue is correctable but the Airfix kit (either of them) doesn't have this issue to start with. If you don't fix it it definitely looks wrong. The Airfix Dambuster has all the parts to make a standard B.I or B.III. At least the initial release did. I built it as one. Airfix offer a B.II which is either being re-released or has been. No-one else does this version and it gives you the bulged bomb doors and ventral turret options common to this version. The only downside to the new Airfix kit I found was that you need to put the main undercarriage legs in early in construction so they need protecting from damage during later assembly and painting, As a result you sort of need to complete the kit in one go unless you have plenty of space to store half completed kits in safety. Oh, and new Airfix kits do have very tight tolerances. It's also best to follow their instructions in building stages even though they sometimes seem counter-intuitive. Having built Airfix, (new , 1980 and the original 1960? kit), Matchbox, new and 1960s Revell and Hasegawa. I'd go with the new Airfix myself. Unless you want a Tallboy or Grand Slam in which case Hasegawa (if you can find one). Stuart

Oh you had to suggest a 1/48 Chieftain didn't you? Now whatever it is I'll be disappointed. Unless it is a 1/48 Chieftain! Stuart

Isn't the oil cooler under the port wing larger on the Mk V? though I believe some Mk II had the later type retrofitted and it may be in the kit. I haven't got one myself, waiting for the Vb/c kits. Stuart