Stuart Wilson

Cheers Mark, Thanks for the help. I'll have a look myself as I have some Tamiya rails. Stuart

Hi, I understand the rails in the Airfix Typhoon are Mk 1 and a lot of aircraft used Mk 3 rails. Can I just substitute the rails from a Tamiya Mosquito or are the attachments different etc. Thanks in advance for any replies. Stuart

I wouldn't be surprised by a new Airfix Wellington next year or soon as the old kits moulds are worn out and the MPM one they released is nearly unbuildable (I tried!) I can't see them doing a BIV though. I'd assume either a BX and a GRXIV or a BI and a BII or BIII would offer more options and sales. Mind you who this time last year would have put money on a Lanc BII? Stuart

You'll need to be more specific about when, what version etc. Camo was applied at the factory from about Aug '44 onwards, as only one factory was still producing P IVs at this time there may have been a standard scheme. I'm sure others know (a lot) more though. Stuart

While I'm trying to resist the Sea Vixen and Javelin until they scale them down to the true scale of 1/72 (I've resisted the Lightning for about 15 years now!) I have to agree that a Hunter makes the most sense. Loads of variants and schemes and a beautiful aircraft to boot. I might even succumb myself! Stuart

This is a complete non-story. What difference does the colour matter. Especially since the Gloss white fuselage is partly to keep the electronics cool in bright sunlight and would need to be kept anyway. If the press want to complain about defence cuts, the navy need more ships, we aren't buying enough F-35s for the carriers and the Trance1 Typhoons are being retired too early. I'm sure if the Government was to pony up for a couple more Type 45s the RN wouldn't mind if they were painted a slightly different shade of grey. Stuart

Well I suppose the BBMF would be allowed to arm their aircraft as they are part of the RAF and as the aircraft are still owned and operated by the military there wouldn't be a legal reason they couldn't do it. On the other hand as they only just got to put working guns in the Typhoon because it was cheaper than leaving them out I doubt that there is a lot of money for doing it and I don't really see the need. Stuart

I Can't understand why you would want to re-make a classic movie when there's a more suitable story available: Operation Jericho. Mosquitos are smaller, faster, more exciting for the movie audience to watch. It's in daylight, there is the human interest story about the captured resistance fighters being freed and for the dramatic ending the raids leader is killed. Just my opinion. Stuart

The problem with the idea of Airfix doing a "Just Jane" release is that as a BVII her mid upper turret is further forward than in an BI/II/III. I assume it's in the same position as a late BX. The kit is set up for the standard position only with a blanking plate for the Dambuster version that would also cover a Grand Slam or Tallboy release. I can't see how they can get a BVII without changing the fuselage moulds. Of course they could ignore the difference but it's pretty obvious especially given the turret is also different and if they change that without moving it you end up with a Lancaster that didn't exist as the change in turret style and move in location went together. The fuselage windows would also require filling as they were deleted on late Lancs. Both these changes are well within the skills of most experienced modellers (given a replacement turret!) But might give the casual builder some difficulty Stuart

Hi, I want to build the Tamiya BIV kit as a BXXV KB462 of 162 Sqd. I have found a photo of KB424 semingly just after completion which shows: Paddle blade props An arial mast present Slipper tanks Late style wing tips with only the forward nav light glazing Am I right in assuming this would be correct for KB462 and also would it have had circles in the foward bomb bay doors where the camera ports would be (the BXX in a museum in Canada has them)? Am I missing anything else? Thanks in advance for any replies. Stuart

Arrrgh! I've been wanting to build a Wellington to go with the new Airfix Lancasters for a while and was resolved to wait till Christmas as I'm convinced Airfix will announce one and having attempted the Trumpeter one (It went wrong and got trashed, my fault not the kits) I thought the surface detail was too heavy. Now looking at this it looks gorgeous and I'm probably going to go out and buy one. Thus guaranteeing Airfix will announce one in December. Very, very nice. Stuart

Since Mobeius scaled their Nu Galactica and Pegasus at 1/4105 to match the old Monogram TOS Galactica I assume they are working on the 6080ft measurement. This would make the model about the same size as their Pegasus (a bit shallower though). I have the old Monogram kit and it's a lot bigger than the new Galactica. Stuart

I expect Airfix are concerned about price given that their main competitor (Revell) are selling their Lanc for £20. I assume Airfix sell most of their Lancasters to casual modellers and people who buy a kit on a whim and not to the likes of us who will be happy to pay an extra fiver for one with wheels the right size and that doesn't need surgery to get the wing right (and who know which kit does have these issues). Hence saving money on not putting the bombs in helps lower the cost. I hope that the Bomb kit means Airfix will be producing more RAF bombers as we could do with a Halifax, a Wellington, a Hampden and a Blenheim. I'd be happy to see good Airfix kits of all of them with or without bombs. Personally I don't mind having no bombs as the aircraft spent most of their time on the ground without them Although I do hope we get a Tallboy release and would expect a bomb in that (although I remember the Matchbox one came without it!). Stuart

Hi, I've just managed to rescue this kit after following the instructions for the horizontal tails. They tell you to make one from parts A6 & A7 and the other from B8 & B9. this is wrong it should be A6 & B8 (I think) and A7 & B9. I'd made one tail unit yesterday and had to prise it apart this morning. I don't know if this fault is in the Dambuster instructions. I suppose I should have paid attention to the parts I was gluing together and not the instructions! Sorry if this has already been pointed out and you're all aware. Stuart

Just Airfix, mostly the gift sets with paint & glue. Popped in the Metrocentre one yesterday and they had a few of the newer ones, I noticed the Gladiator for example. Stuart

I think it's a re-issue. There has been no announcement of a new tool B-25. And yes the Hasegawa is better. I think if Airfix were to do a new one the C/D would be a better choice as it saw more RAF service and there isn't a really good one in 1/72. Mind you I'd have assumed any new P-51 would be a B/C for the same reason and we got a D! So what do I know. Stuart

A question about the Dambuster release: Am I right in thinking it has all the parts needed for a BI/III? and can be built as one given suitable replacement decals? Stuart

I think that all BII were built with the fuselage windows. They may have been painted over. I'm sure others know more. Can't wait for this kit! Stuart

No, the gun in the A-1 was an MG 15 on a simple mount. The one in the kit is the MG81 on the circular (armoured?) mount. I think some used the MG131. Either way I think it's not just a case of changing the gun. I'd hope Revell release an A1/5 kit. A lot of people seem to want an A1. I'd like an A5 myself. Stuart

I built this recently and it's a lovely kit. Better (and a lot cheaper!) than the Hasegawa kit. I'd already done a couple of the A4 so knew what to expect. The cockpit interior is a bit fiddly but the rest is straightforward. It allows for the Nightfighter with radar and the single rear gun or the Zerstorer with two rear positions. IIRC the C4 was based on the A5 airframe and had less powerful engines without the asymmetric bulge on the underside and with narrower chord props. Stuart

IIRC the weld line on the turret roof is only applicable to vehicles built from May '44 onwards. Up to April '44 it was a single 25mm plate with a bend in it. In April they switched to 40mm with the bend, then in May two 40mm plates welded together. However the pilzen weren't fitted June so if you're leaving them on then yes, you need the weld bead. I'm sure others know more. Stuart

Given the D-Day anniversary they might want to think of things they can put black and white stripes on but that will keep selling later, so how about........ 1/72 Beaufighter Mosquito Tempest P-47 B-25? (We could do with a new C/D kit) Spit XIV 1/48 Tempest Spit XIV 1/76 Tiger Panther Sherman Of course its the Centenary of WWI so there may be something from that too. I'd imagine we'll see a Lanc BI/III, a Hurricane I (late) and a Lightning F6. I'd like to see a 1/72 Sea Vixen and Phantom FG1/FGR2 and a Hunter in 1/48 but I suppose time will tell. A Halifax BIII or Wellington would be on my list but they may wait till we're all bought all the Lancs we need. Stuart

I haven't built the Zvezda kit but I'm on my third Revell one, the new C-6 having built two A-4s and I can say that it's much better than Hasegawa. A lovely kit. Having said that if you want an A-1 then the best place to start would be an A-5 as there aren't any A-1s available. I don't know the Zvezda kit. If its an early A-5 then all you'd need to do would be the wing tips. Later A-5s had more A-4 features. If anyone is likely to release an A-1 I'd assume it would be Revell as they've done the work in 1/32. Personally I'd like to see them do an A-1/A-5 kit with alternate wingtips. Stuart

For some reason the idea persists that the blown hood is somehow a sign of an F-8 and the "flat" hood and A-8. It's just a late production feature. Both types were built with both hoods, just like the D-9 was. It is possible that as the D series came on line fewer A series fighters were built while the F series continued to be built in numbers resulting in more F models having the blown hood but that's just me speculating. Anyway. I'll be buying a few. I'd have liked alternative markings for the Typhoon in the Dogfight Double boxing as I've just completed that one but if that's the worst thing I can think to say then great! Stuart