Stuart Wilson

I've heard that the US Congress refused to provide funds for any new aircraft that wasn't "stealth" so the USN referred to it as an upgraded F/A-18. Same thing happened in the late 40s early 50s when the F-86D and F-84F were apparently just upgraded versions of existing types. The F-84F looks nothing at all like an F-84E or an F-84G. That's because its a different aircraft. At the time Congress only wanted bombers. A few years earlier the USAF were told they had enough B-29s, so the B-29D became the B-50. Churchill said that democracy was the worst form of government apart from all the others. I think he was right. Stuart

I soaked my Badger 200 overnight in cellulose thinners (having disassembled it) a few months ago and there were no problems whatsoever. I don't know anything about your type of 'brush though Stuart

Looks great only why did they put zimmerit on it? This was clearly built after the application ceased in mid-September '44. (I believe it is actually one of a batch built for the British army post-war). The pattern is wrong for a Panther too, more like a Tiger. I'm halfway through applying zimm to a Panther right now and it's enough work in 1/35 to make me wonder how much time it takes in 1/1! Stuart

With the plan likely to now mean retaining the Tranche 1 a/c, reverting to 7 squadrons, retiring Tornado and having 2 F-35 units. My guess is 2, 9 and 617 on Typhoon (the last 2 on Tranche 3). And 12 Sqn and 800 NAS on the F-35B. Or 5 Sqn if they retire the Sentinel as planned. Stuart Whoops, I think XV107 got there just before me! Stuart

Box art for the Typhoon is on their site along with the art for the version with paint & glue so I expect it'll be among the first of the new releases out. There appears to be art for the Vampire and D/B Lanc so they may be soon too. Just drawings of most of the others. Stuart

I agree a Phantom would be a seller, FG1, FGR2 of course. Given how hard the Fujimi kit is to get and the home market advantage it would sell. I'd like to see the Sea Vixen in 1/72 and a Buccaneer to go with it. Shackleton/Lincoln, I can't see them selling enough to make it worthwhile. A Halifax would likely sell more and given how badly Revell messed theirs up Airfix have a clear run at it. A Beau is a dead cert sooner or later and a new Mossie. I know we don't need one but they've done the work in 1/24. I could see a 1/48 Hurricane selling loads as the Hasegawa ones are hard to get and must be made of unicorn horn given how much they cost. Ditto a Typhoon. Speaking of which a new 1/72 Eurofighter would sell. The Revell one is nice but if Airfix could better it I can see them shifting a few over the coming years/decades it's around. Of course they might wait for the Tranche 3 with CFTs. Anyway, They're selling me a Lanc BII this year and next year I expect a BI/III to replace my Hase/Revell ones, so I'm happy. Stuart

Not the main gear, at least I couldn't find a way to do it anyway. The nose gear I didn't fit till later. Make sure you put some kind of blanking plates in the main gear bay too as the whole of the rear fuselage/engine area interior will be visible otherwise. Stuart

A BII Lanc and a dambuster would make sense if Airfix were going to produce a new mould. They have released multiple variants before of larger kits at the same time, Lynx, Canberra etc. Most of us enthusiasts would buy one if it was any good. The BI/BIII has been in production recently and they would wait till most of them sold to the general public before releasing a new "standard" version. Which we'd probably all buy for the next 30 years. Personally I'd be all over a 1/72 BII but I'll wait for a release before I get too excited! Still dissappointed from the Revell Halifax. I must confess the Lightning doesn't have the effect on me it seems to on others. I'd still buy one in 1/72, a Sea Vixen would be much nicer. Stuart

Hi, The new Tamiya kit has the etched engine deck screens, looks very nice too. Stuart

Hi, Hasegawa did the Tallboy one, Came out about 6 years ago but probably hard to obtain now. Airfix and Hase have done the Grand Slam. Never seen a Rose turret Would love to see a Tallboy from Revell or Airfix, though I'd prefer a B.II. Stuart

36440 is Humbrol 129 Stuart

Hi, I'm sure others know more but...... Gull grey/White - The white was always gloss (anti flash) but the grey changed from satin to gloss in the early 70s. Of course weathering played a role and reduced the sheen over time. The later grey schemes were always matt as far as I can recall. Stuart

I expect a late war Glaster will be along soon enough. Nice to see all these destroyers, I've just finished Z-25 and am building Z-28. I'd love to see a few cruisers as well. They seem to get ignored more than BBs and DDs. Surely a Leander or Dido wouldn't be too large and would allow loads of different versions? Stuart

Hi, I assumed the "upgrades" are largely software related. I think the Tranch 2 a/c aren't multi-role yet as they're waiting for other software upgrades and therefore the T1 a/c are being upgraded in the meantime. My understanding is that the T1 a/c can't be supported much beyond 2015 as the computers they use are no longer in production and to replace them would cost around £20m per plane. However once the govt compares this to £100m for the F-35 I wouldn't be surprised to see some upgraded! Stuart

Hi, The stabilisors, or (nearly) horizontal tail surfaces are larger from all block 15 a/c onward and the ones on the model are the smaller ones that are only used on early A/B models. Since the Hasegawa kit has never had these tails you must have used ones from Revell. The last photo showing the model painted also appears to have the GE exhaust. It bulges somewhat making it look fatter then the PW and the petals or whatever they're called are wider. Block 52 a/c have the PW engine. The wider intake is used for the GE engine. The original narrower design for the PW. Some early block 30 a/c have the original intake and the GE engine which just reduces the available power, but the PW can't be used with the larger intake. Looks nice though, I've been thinking about doing a Polish F-16 for a while now. Stuart

Thanks for all the responses. I think that if the wing sprues are suitable Airfix could get an E/F out of them with a new fuselage sprue but it dosen't seem likely. They don't seem to want to do multiple variants of things based on the same molds too often these days. Hope I'm wrong! Stuart

Hi, I've always liked the A-4 and I'm looking forward to the new Airfix one but I'd prefer some Veitnam war versions. I know the A-4B was used on Intrepid on a couple of cruises and Freightdog are planning an A-4C conversion but I'd really like to see the E/F versions and the TF-4F. I havn't got one yet as I'm waiting for the kit to come out on its own. Has anyone worked out how easy it would be for Airfix to kit the later variants? I assume a new fuselage sprue would be needed but are the wings suitable? Any thoughts? Stuart PS I know the Fujimi one exists but they're hard to find and I somehow feel all warm and fuzzy buying something with Airfix on the box.

I have to say, we could do with a GOOD Me262 in 1/72. Hasegawa, is hard to find, expensive and a little dated, Academy didn't nail it right and Revell needs a new canopy. Plus none of these make any money for Airfix and the 262 always sells. They need to tool it for a two seater as well. What I'd Like to see? now that's a different question....... And on reflection the answer is a Halifax BIII. Which would also sell, especially after the disappointment around the Revell kit. Stuart

Any chance of an AH9A in the future? I'd like to do something more contemporary. Or is Airfix too likely to do one themselves? Stuart

Hi, 35227 is 1/35 32529 is 1/48 They represent the same version namely one of the 20 Tigers of Schwere Panzer Abteilung 501 in North Africa Dec '42 to the end of the campaign (though the survivors would be pretty beat up by then). It's not really suitable for other units. There's no turret escape hatch so it only represents one of the first 45 or so Tigers and includes several features unique to 501. The Early production kit is more versatile (I'm building one now) as it represents a vehicle built from Jan-Mar 43, and with a few changes to the engine deck it can be usd to represent a vehicle built up to May. It is the boxing with the tank painted grey on it although few if any were gray (Tiki from 2nd SS was but had Dark Yellow bands). It can also be used for North Africa as one of the 11 Tigers of S Pz Abt 504. Hardly surprising as its based on the vehicle at Bovington which was a 504 tank. The Mid and Late production kits need Zimmerit. The Mid is a late mid built Nov 43 - Jan 44 while the Late is representative of the tanks built in April 44 if you remove the pilsen sockets on the turret roof, and afterwards if you add the weld line where the roof kinks (it was one plate with a bend in it prior to May 44, afterwards it was two plates welded together). The Late and Mid kits have individual track links, the Early and Africa ones have Vynil tracks The Dragon kit is more detailed but I for one find them over-engineered. If you want super-accurate go Dragon. If you want an easy build that results in a nice looking model go Tamiya. I bought the one I'm on with on Thursday and the first coat of Dark Yellow went on today. If I'd bought a Dragon one I'd probably still be on with the suspension! I build OOB with the exception of the Tamiya engine deck screens. If you go in for lots of aftermarket then Dragon might work out better. Stuart

Hi, On the subject of colours I'm no expert but I'm sure as a lot of people will tell you White Ensign Models make the paints you need. Their mail order service is first class. However, I like Humbrol 127 FS36375 Light Ghost Gray for RN modern stuff (admittedly in 1/700) as it seems to look right to me and has a slight sheen like the real thing.Decks Humbrol 106 Ocean Grey. Also I can't get WEM paint to dry when I spray it (it brushes lovely mind you). Personally I'd advise brush painting if you're not getting an airbrush. I think spray cans are hard to use. Mind you I'm a bit of a luddite and still think glue should come in tubes! As far as modern RN in 1/350 Airfix are doing a Type 45 this year and Trumpeter a Type 23. Remember it's supposed to be fun (I keep telling myself that). Enjoy it! Stuart

Odd choice to do the early "Porsche" turret. Especially without mentioning it on the box. I'd assume a standard one will be along eventually. It's quite limiting given the low number of these built (47 + 3 Prototypes) and also the fact that it requires zimmerit which I wouldn't like to do in 1/76! I'd have thought 1/76 would have died out by now as everyone else (Revell, Dragon etc) is doing 1/72. I'm more of a 1/35 guy so I admit to not knowing how popular 76 is mind you. Still I hope it sells for them. Stuart

I probably prefer the Lanc but the dissapointment about the Revell kit which I bought and which now sits unfinished in the stash is that there is still no decent model of such an important type. If I want a JU-290, a BV-222 or a 1946 Luftwaffe wet dream I can get one but there's still no decent kit of a plane 6000 examples of which fought in WWII. Now I like the Ju-290 but surely the Halifax is more important. Also the recent Revell Ju-88 is a lovely kit so I had high hopes for the Hali. Of course it leaves room for Airfix to do a B.III to the standard of their Swordfish. Then a Stirling, a Hampden, a Beaufighter, a Blenheim................ Stuart

That looks very nice. It seems to have the Harpoon installed that aren't on the real ships, but not the Phalanx that is already on Daring. Hopefully they'll be included in the kit. Should look nice with Trumpeters Type 23. Stuart

Hi, Be careful of the "Head"/body joint. If you just glue it on it angles upwards and the whole thing looks like a bannana. Add a plasticard shim a couple of mm wide to the upper part of the front of the body and sand it till it blends in about 2 cm down. Looks much better. Looking forward to their Pegasus next year. Hope it's the same scale! Stuart