Stuart Wilson

Since her last mission was May 1943 that's too early for a P-51. P-47s entered service in March but they would have been early versions, C models probably and use would have been limited until later in the year. I think the P-38 didn't see service from the UK till later in the year too. Spitfires are probably your bast bet and the Vb was certainly around in numbers in early '43. Others will know more though. Stuart

W H Smiths is the only shop in the Metro Centre that still stocks kits, unless you count the Airfix stuff in Toys R Us and a few cheap Airfix and Revell kits in The Entertainer. Not a lot of choice though. The North East Model Centre at Chester Moor is within half an hours drive down the A1 however. Come off the A1 at the Chester-Le-Street roundabout and head towards Durham on the A167. Lots of stuff there and they have 20% off Airfix, Tamiya, Italeri and I think Revell. Well, they did have last week. Stuart

Left with the paintbrush, Right with the airbrush. Couldn't swap over if I tried. I write left-handed, and play snooker that way, most other things with my right, especially if it requires any stregnth such as bowling. My right eye is dominant, despite having poorer vision in it than my left. Except darts, I never could pick a hand with darts. Probably why I'm so bad at it. Stuart

To be honest, if someone had said a few years ago "Would you like to be able to walk into any model shop and buy an accurate EE Lighting F6 for £16 in 1/72?" Would we have all said "Well.......as long as the box art is good"? If Airfix would like to do a new Halifax BIII to the same quality I'll agree to buy it even if they put it in a box with a child's drawing of a Lancaster on the lid. Stuart

I'd rather see a new Mk.I. Hurricane in 1/48 from them. If they do another Spit a Vc would be nice. Battle of Britain 75th annivarsary next year. Here's hoping. Stuart

There won't be any catapults fitted, that was ruled out a couple of years ago when they reverted to the B model F-35 because the cost of modifying the ship was prohibitive. Anyway a navalised Typhoon would cost Billions and take decades. It took Boeing a decade to navalise the Hawk! As far as AEW is concerned the plan is to have a radar system "Crowsnest" that can be fitted to the Merlin HAS2. about ten radars will be bought and they should "plug-in" to any Merlin HAS2. There has been some talk of increasing the planned number of HAS2 from 30 by also upgrading some of the eight remaining airframes that would otherwise be retired. I expect the F-35B purchase won't increase and we'll see only one carrier operational at any one time, just like the Albion class assault ships. Stuart

My only concern about this is would Airfix sell enough to make a profit? I think it's a bit "niche" myself. I don't think many people would be that interested and it's a bit too big for an impulse buy. I can see myself picking up a Swift on the off-chance but I'd have to really want to build a Shackleton before I'd buy one. I may be wrong but I understand the Nimrod wasn't a massive success. I wouldn't want Airfix to lose money and end up with financial problems. Stuart

Buccaneer first please! Stuart

I would have thought given the lack of opposing air forces that something like the Super Tucano would be ideal. Long loiter time, low operating costs, two seats. Stuart

Saw it last weekend when it flew over the Download music festival. It had just taken off from East Midlands airport. That is a big plane! Stuart

Well as I started all this I'd like to say thanks for all the replies. To be honest I'd assumed this had already been talked about and I'd missed it! They're both nice kits and I don't think a few mm here or there would stop me buying either again. As has been said I think the 55ft 3in measurement includes the nose probe and tailplanes making it harder to measure the true fuselage length. The wider cockpit of the T4/5 may accentuate the appearance as well. I'm sure someone with more knowledge and info than me will get to the bottom of this. Stuart

Hi, I'm just decaling the Sword Lightning T5 and as the instructions for the stencils are near useless I was using my completed Airfix F2A as a guide when I noticed the Sword kit looked a bit shorter. A quick comparison shows the Sword kit is about 4mm shorter (about the length of the chrome nose ring). A look at the only reference I have, the SAM Modellers Datafile shows a length of 55ft 3in for all versions. So at least one of them must be wrong. I tried to compare them to the plans in the book and while this was hampered by both kits being built the Sword kit seems to be right and the Airfix too long. So is the Airfix kit wrong? Or is Sword and SAM wrong? Or all of them? Or just me, and should I go back to building panzers? Stuart

I suspect that most Cromwell VI had the "D" or later style hulls. Accurate Armour has a conversion. They may have had the "Vauxhall" hatch too (I think AA do one of these too). Stuart

Well it's five quid cheaper than the Dambuster so if you want a regular Lanc it's the way to go. I suspect the Dambuster and BII will only see the light of day every few years and this kit will be the "standard" issue. I'd love to see a Tallboy release myself. Perhaps in a few years.....? Stuart

Unfortunately it's the only game in town if we want to get the carriers to work. I'd have rather seen cats and traps and the Super Hornet. A plane with an known cost and reliability. Once the RN was up and running with carrier ops again we could have bought a squadron or two of f-35Cs as "Silver bullets" and had a couple of decent airwings. Unfortunately that's not going to happen so we're left with two gigantic helicopter carriers and a dozen aircraft that we have to use as there's nothing else. Without even the Harrier as a stopgap. Still the US marines will have something else to fly from when we have to "borrow" a squadron from them. Stuart

Very nice, I went with the camouflage one for my first and I'm not sure I can wait for the F6 to build another! I like your weathering, subtle and not too overdone. Stuart

Citadel metallic paints are very nice, I've just finished an F-86 and F-51 (both Airfix) in "Runefang Steel" and they look great. Thinned with Tamiya thinners they spray good although you must use a primer (humbrol 64 worked fine) and minor touch-ups with a brush are invisible. They're easy to get too as Games Workshops are everywhere. I added some white for the centre wing panels on the '86. I agree with you about Humbrol 11. I bought some for the new Lightning and didn't use it due to the dullness. That ended up with Runefang Steel undersides too. Stuart

Can they get the Halifax right first? I mean a Hampden would be nice but on recent form I'd rather have Airfix make one.

I had the same problem with the tracks on the Shot, also the paint came off them as they flexed. I'd just built a Tamiya M51 and a Dragon M50 (I've been on an IDF groove!) and painted the tracks with the exact same paint without any problems. Stuart

I've just finished an AFV club Centurion (the Israeli one) and hated every minute of it! not an easy build. The Tamiya M26 comes with USMC markings for Korea and is an easy build, but it is designed to represent a WWII version so is only suitable for an early war USMC version. The army's ones had various minor mods and new tracks. Stuart

Very nice, much better than mine. I love the finish, and the demarcation between the dark earth and dark green. The nose blister is the later deep type. Is that correct for the aircraft? IIRC all BIIs were built with the early shallow variety. Is this a field replacement? Summer '44 is late for a BII so a replacement is likely. Stuart

I think the flashed over holes are for the Argentinian ones which were re-fitted with the outer wing pylons before delivery. I think Airfix missed a trick on this kit as ony a new nose is needed for an A-4C but the kit has the nose moulded on the fuselage. The C model saw a lot more service in Vietnam than the B did and was also used in the Falklands War. Stuart

Tie fighter, I mean one hit and Boom! Seriously, The Manchester. It looks so familiar and different at the same time. Stuart

That's very nice. I have one stashed away and plan to do this someday. Were you able to get plans or have you just based it off what could be seen on screen? Stuart

I picked one up at Models4Hobby just outside Durham on Friday but it's listed as out of stock now. I assume the F6/F53 will cost a bit more as all the parts for the F2A will have to be included. Is it too early to start badgering Airfix for an F3/T5? I know it will need a completely new tool but if you don't ask........ Stuart