Stuart Wilson

Personally I have no interest in a Grand Slam but would love a Tallboy Lanc. However I think that sales would be better for the Grand Slam. Either way, given how their existing new releases are delayed I would have thought that to get some new product out quickly next year we may see new versions of existing kits so a Grand slam or Tallboy Lanc would be a good idea. Could we also see a Wellington II, an He111 H early or a B-17F? I'd be up for any of those. A re-pop of the Do17Z would be nice too. Stuart

Hi According to what I've read they were all supposed to go to the Soviet Union, however about 200 out of the 1000 or so built went to the US Marines. the Sherman minutia website below: http://the.shadock.free.fr/sherman_minutia/index.html Says that the British never received any, and that instead 500+ older. small hatch M4A2s were remanufactured for UK service. I can't recall seeing a British one, the only British Shermans I've seen with the large hatches and welded hull fronts are a few M4 105mm that served in Italy, don't know if there were any of those in other theatres. And the handful of M4A2 76mm HVSS that we got like the one in at Bovington that was in "Fury". Never say never of course. but it doesn't look likely. I nearly picked up the Zvezda kit today myself, it looks nice for the price. But then I would want to build a Red Army one. Stuart

Reading this thread back I realise that Sandsmodels had already posted this information. I really should pay more attention. Stuart

Warlord games do a 1/56 wargaming miniature version of the Kelly's Hero's Tiger: https://store.warlordgames.com/products/hollywood-tiger?_pos=2&_sid=d59c32390&_ss=r They also do Oddballs Sherman: https://store.warlordgames.com/products/oddball-sherman Which, while it was a real Sherman, had a number of modifications both for post-war service and for the movie. Stuart

Surely the Americans have the fight Idea about naming ships, name them after politicians and then they won't get cancelled/scrapped. So how about we rename the carriers HMS Margaret Thatcher and HMS Tony Blair, Wait no that won't work half the Labour party hate him. How about HMS NHS? We could get a third carrier if we called it HMS Nicola Sturgeon! And we can ask for a couple more squadrons of F-35s if instead of calling them "Lightnings" we call them "Boris Bombers" And while my tongue may be firmly in my cheek, why do you think they've gone back to City names for the T26s? Remember the response of the US admiral when asked why the USN started naming submarines after cities instead of after fish as they always had. "Fish don't vote" Stuart

If you really want to use Tamiya, then Roy Sutherlands mix is XF-24 with 1.2ml XF-2 and 0.6ml XF-8. (assuming a 10ml bottle of XF-24). I've used it on a few WWII builds and it looks ok to me. I've heard of using XF-77 but haven't tried it. Personally, although I prefer Tamiya, I used Xtracolor for my Buccaneers and Phantoms. The Xtracrylic seems a bit too blue to me. Stuart

I read the books as a teenager back in the early 80s. I really can't see it as a TV show without changing so much of it it becomes barely recognisable. Asimov's stories are mostly about people in rooms talking, there are no continuing characters, and it doesn't really have an end. If you really wanted to make an Asimov TV series then the Elijah Bailey novels would be a better start. Or even Then End of Eternity. The movie of Bicentennial man was a wasted opportunity. I could be wrong. I never thought The Lord of the Rings could be filmed. But that was mostly about the effects and the length. Much as I loved Asimov 40 years ago I think if this is any good, it will be because someone took the original concept and changed it massively. Much like the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica. Stuart

Recently built the Zvezda one and It's a really nice kit. Simple, easy build. It's also accurate for a 1944 built tank. Most other kits are either very late war or post war. Relatively cheap too. Just make sure you get the recent release ZVE3687. Not one of the older ones. The recent release is all new tooling. Stuart

You might want to lighten the 83 with a little white. I prefer Tamiya colours myself. XF-88, 89 and 90 are their current late war German colours although some people don't like the XF-90 brown. I find it ok. If you like Humbrol 83, 86 and 160 are good choices. Enjoy the build, I never did get this kit when I was a kid, now I prefer 1/35 Stuart

Great, thanks for the advice chaps. Stuart

Hi, I'd like to build an F-4J (UK) in 1/72 to go with all the lovely Airfix Spey ones I have (and am planning). Can I use the Academy kit out of the box or are there any changes I'd need to make? Thanks for any advice Stuart

Just Finishing the Rye-Fields Firefly and I have to say I have hated doing the track. I can't see how you could get it to work as the end connectors are too fragile, also if you can get it glued together without managing to get glue on any of the end connectors and keep the joins between the upper and lower track pads tight enough to avoid said end connectors coming out you're a far better modeller than I am. I just glued it all together and stuck them to the wheels. Also there aren't enough end connectors. I had to buy a set from Miniarm to complete the kit (no I didn't lose or break any). Perhaps I made the track too long but I would have appreciated more end connectors (there are more than enough track pads). Honestly. I will stick to the Asuka kit from now on. The Rye-Fields kit is very nice but I can't be bothered with the current trend of armour kits that require a watchmakers skills to assemble. Each to their own I suppose. Stuart

Even if Eduard never do a Mk VI then surely the easiest way to make one would be to cross-kit their V fuselage with their II wings (once it's released). Especially since you can buy overtrees from them that just contain the plastic parts which would make it relatively cheap. There may be some work inside the radiator and blending the wing/fuselage joint but it would seem far easier than merging two very different kits from different manufactures. Stuart

Hi, I've just ordered another Airfix Buccaneer and was wondering if it can be built as an RAF aircraft from the box (if I can get decals!). I think the forward spine aerial needs to be broader but other than that are there any changes I need to make for an Early RAF aircraft and if so which parts should I use? Otherwise it'll be another RN one and I'll just have to buy the RAF boxing when it comes out. Thanks in advance for any replies Stuart

Again, thanks for all the help and advice. Stuart

Great, thanks for the replies folks. Stuart

Hi, Got the Airfix Victor B2 off Santa this year and having never built one before I need some advice: I would prefer to build it with the flaps up. Photos seem to show this was common when parked but I'm not sure. Is this the case? The two intakes on the upper rear fuselage can be deployed up or down. Again up seems to be standard when parked, I assume this was the case? Thanks in advance for any advice. Stuart

Looking at the sprues for the re-tooled X-wing. Does it look as though the undercarriage option is still available or is it in-flight only? The reason I ask is that I have the Last Jedi X-Wing currently on it's way to me from Japan and I want to display it alongside the green one from the new movie. I normally make my X and Y wings on the ground just like I do with aircraft but if the new kits are in-flight only I'll make the one I've ordered in-flight too so they can be displayed together. Anyway, I hope they sell enough to make the new Y-Wing. Always had a soft spot for that design. Stuart

Thanks for all the replies, It's a great help as I don't know nearly enough about Buccaneers, Haven't built one since I did the Matchbox kit around 1977 Stuart

I'm really enjoying the new Airfix Buccaneer and I was wondering if an early RAF aircraft can be made from the kit? I think that the bulged bomb bay was installed later in the 70s and xtradecals have a sheet that includes early RAF schemes. I would like to know if any changes need to be made to the kit to build an RAF plane from the Early 70s? Thanks for any advice Stuart

Well it's the Buccaneer that's got me exited and is very welcome. I'm intrigued by the B-17G re-release with new markings. I hope that this includes the early tail turret which would allow an olive drab/neutral gray scheme provided they chose one of the 220 Douglas built aircraft with the staggered waist windows (as per the kit) that were built before the switch to natural metal. Still, a 1/72 Buccaneer! time to buy some more EDSG. Stuart

Probably not for me but I hope they sell tons of them and make a lot of money. Should prove popular across the pond too, Stuart

Very nice, why can't they make cars that look like that now. Only ones that work all the time and don't rust like the originals.

I learnt to drive in a Cortina Mk4! I might buy that. My dad's 1.3 litre. 0-60.....eventually. With a good wind behind you. Mind you I wouldn't mind building the Mk3 he had earlier. 2.0 Ghia in Yellow with a Black vinyl roof. I'll get one when I win the lottery. Hoping for a 1/72 Vulcan. Don't think I'd buy anything else too big. Unless they did a 1/72 Boeing P-8. But I doubt that'll see the light of day until the RAF get some. Stuart

The F-35 isn't scheduled to get Meteor until 2024 and the Tranche 1 Typhoons won't get it at all so they will need AMRAAM until the 2030s, especially as they're to concentrate on the air defence role (freeing up the Trance 2 & 3 for air to ground ops). Stuart