Stuart Wilson

I doubt we'll see a BIII as the fuselage halves are only set up for the two gun tail turret and most IIIs had the four gun one which had a shallower fairing underneath. The engines and horizontal tails are on a separate sprue so I believe a variant with a different engine is planned but I think a BII is more likely as the merlins will give more of a different look. The triangular windows were used on the Mk VIII and also on the Mk Ic when used by coastal command (check photos of 311 sqn) so perhaps a maritime version is in the offing too. Just my thoughts Stuart

Perfect. Thanks for the help. Lovely photos too. Stuart

Hi, a couple of quick questions here. I'm building the Airfix AEW2 and wondering about the flaps. What photos I can find seem to show the flaps up when the aircraft is at rest, is this correct? to be honest I'd rather build it flaps up and I'd rather this was the case. Also bomb doors? were they closed when at rest or open like the Lanc? I haven't decided whether I prefer them open or closed. Photos seem to show both. Thanks in advance for any replies. Stuart

Hi. I've just finished the new Airfix FG.1 and fuelled up by all things Phantomy I was wondering if the F-4J(uk) can be built from the Academy kit or are there things missing? I'm aware the aircraft were essentially F-4S but lacking the slats on the wing but I'm not sure how the F-4S differed from the F-4J. Thanks in advance for any advice. Stuart

I believe that the larger tailplanes were a requirement for the 4 bladed prop. Others may know more though. Stuart

Thanks for the response. Stuart

Hi, I remember reading that Humbrol were going to discontinue production of their RLM paints that were only released a few years ago as well as other colours including 167 Barley grey. Is this true or was it just a rumour. The paints seem to be in stock on the website and at Hannants. Thanks in advance for any info Stuart

Yes you're right it was an M4A2E8 from the tank museum.

If you're not bothered about them being exactly contemporary with each other then I'd recommend Tamiya's early Tiger (no zimmerit needed!) and their new M4A3E8 Sherman. This is also a match for the duel in the film Fury as the tiger used in that is the one Tamiya based their kit on. Anyway some early tigers showed up near the end of the war as they were taken from training units. If you can get the Tasca Firefly in the Tamiya boxing that has been said is a great kit. Stuart

Buccaneer S2, B-25 C/D (there's no modern kit of the earlier version and it saw a lot of RAF service), Me262, Wellington. I think all the above would sell well and could stay in production for a long time.

I used FS 36622 for my Fine Molds X and Y Wings and was happy with it, Xtracolor was the brand I used. For the Tie and Tie Interceptor I used Tamiya RAF Medium Sea Grey. The Tie is difficult as sometimes it looks white and other times a blue-grey, The MSG seemed a good match for the grey shade. Stuart

Hi, I'm building the Hasegawa kit and I fancy putting some weapons on it. Do two seaters ever get used for QRA. I can't find any photos on google that would confirm it. Thanks in advance for any replies. Stuart

I love it, I have a couple of those built up, might tempt me to strip them down (again) and try something similar. Stuart

The plan is for 13. I reckon the navy will get 8, possibly 10 with more OPVs to take the place of the rest. Bear in mind the next 3 River class OPVs will have a 24 knot speed and a large helipad I think the govt will use them in place of frigates on anti-piracy or Caribbean patrols to free up the 45s and 23/26s. More heavily armed OPVs are possible on the same hull which would make sense if that's the plan. Hope I'm wrong and we get 13 but we'll see. Stuart

The initial 20 Tigers that went to Africa were from s.PzAbt 501 and were very early models, they lacked the turret escape hatch on the right rear and had non standard forward track guards among other differences. They were fitted with feifel and turret stowage boxes before shipping however. The other 11 were from s.PzAbt 504 (Tiger 131 at Bovington is one of these) and were built around Feb 43, they had the turret escape hatch and other later features although as Tigers go they still fall into the "Early" category. As far as camo is concerned that's a whole other subject and I'm not confident I know enough. The people who restored 131 presumably did a lot of research so you could look at photos of that. Stuart

Hi, Yes that's the one, the proportions are all off, especially the size of the turret, compare it with the turret from the Ausf G, they should be basically the same apart from the chin on the Mantlet and the extra periscope on the Late G. Still I built a few when it was all there was apart from the difficult to find Nichimo kit, these days though there are lots of decent Panther kits around. I don't know why Tamiya still market it given their nice Ausf G kits. Stuart

I like Humbrol 159 with 1 ml of Hu33 black mixed into the tinlet. I don't know how well it brushes but the new formula certainly seems to airbrush better, the old one often went chalky. Stuart

That's the second generation kit released in the 90's Still a nice build, all the Tamiya Ausf G kits are this vintage. The old Ausf A kit from the 60s is awful and best avoided. The new kit is an Ausf D and isn't out yet, later this month in Japan I believe. Stuart

I believe it is one of the ten built after the war for the British army, it was found in a scrapyard in the 70s? and is in a copy of Wheels and Tracks mag dated 1985 that I still have, it was in running condition then but not complete (the cupola was not there as well as many other fittings). It matches the other two surviving "British" Panthers at Bovington and in a museum in Germany in having a late engine deck and exhaust and the earlier mantlet. Stuart

If it's any help regarding the fit issues, I forgot to attach the bulkhead in front of the instrument panel (firewall?) and the panel ahead of the cockpit fitted ok with only a little trimming to the instrument panel. You can't see the missing bulkhead anyway (I'm building the canopy closed). Of course how I managed to forget it I don't know! Stuart

I haven't built the Academy kit but I don't think so. I believe it's generally not considered as accurate as the Tamiya kit. It also represents a late vehicle while the Tamiya kit is an early one and is accurate for a Six day war tank. Stuart

I've always used Humbrol Khaki Drab 159 with 1ml of Matt Black 33 mixed in, looks ok to me. However that was for 1/35. in 1/76 you might want to omit the black. Stuart

I used milliput and the AFV club roller. Looks great, the only trouble is the turret which has the same style as the hull whereas it was done with a heavier roller on most Tigers. I think it gives a better result than the Dragon moulded Zimmerit. Certainly my Tamiya Panthers done using this method look better than the Dragon Panther G with the moulded zimm. Unfortunately I haven't any photos. It's not as hard as it looks really. It took nearly as long to mask the scheme for a Hetzer as it took to zimmerit a Tiger, and you get the sense of satisfaction every time you do one part, unlike masking! The only tricky part is the mantlet, do one half, let it dry then do the other. Stuart

I'm not normall one to comment but that is one of the best weathered finishes I've seen. Sublte and realistic. Stuart

That late in the war (April '45) the Tiger I had been out of production for some time and many of those sent into battle were from training units. These were often earlier vehicles like 131 that would have been rare in combat the previous summer. There are a number of photos of them including one in Berlin. Some had the later steel wheels installed but not all. The Feifel Air cleaners were probably removed however. Stuart