Hurrinut

If we are being really picky theres also a silver Canberra in the background at Hemswell and 'Butch' has a picture of a DH Venom on his office wall at High Wycombe! Honeybee and me only noticed this when we saw the Film on the big screen at Vue in Leeds a few years ago, when they were showing some old films. Still a good film though.

I don't see why not. John doesn't run his website anymore so I would suggest either writing to the Aeroclub address or pm John. If you do pm him have patience as he gets a lot of messages everyday.

I have a set of the Morris and the Gallay corrections obtained at SMW 2012 and most impressive they look too. I was also fortunate enough to get a briefing with Honeybee by John on the said parts in the bar at Telford on the Friday night!

Now that I like.

The rigging is Albion Alloys 0.2mm nickel wire.

This is the Pyro kit with scratch building and super detailing. The transfers were from Pheon and they are very nicely done. The model will be on the 3 Sqn 100th anniversary display at SMW

Byron, I will pass on your good wishes when I speak to John. I'm afraid the bluntness is the Yorkshireman in me coming out but be assured my comment was not aimed at you, it was the posting above yours that irked a little. There's probably not many who remember John busting a gut to get his Hunter out for the IPMS(UK) 'Nationals' when we were still at Donington and making himself really ill back then. Ever since my mantra to him has been, whatever project he's working on, it will be ready when its ready and I certainly can wait. Regards Richard

John has been quite unwell. I was at his 70th, yes 70th! birthday bash on Saturday, he is taking it easy at the moment and I don't blame him. If I'm lucky enough to reach his age and I'm half as fit and active I will be happy. The Halifax parts will be ready when he feels fit and has the inclination to go back in the workshop. If folk start hassling him they might not ever get finished.

I am researching the 149 Sqn Short Stirling BF372 OJ-H, flown by Flt Sgt Rawdon Hume Middleton VC that crashed into the Channel on 29.11.1942. BF372 was a Short Stirling Mk I issued to 149 Sqn in September 1942 (The Stirling File, Air Britain) and had earlier tall FN mid-upper turret. As far as I’m aware there are no photographs of this aircraft? Now to the issues puzzling me over the airframe markings carried by this aircraft. There is a colour profile of this Stirling in the Squadron Signal in action, with the code letters in dull red in a small size akin to the markings used by 7 Sqn. Corgi produced a die-cast model with again the letters in a small size but they are in grey. The RAF switched from grey to dull red code letters in July 1942. BF372 was issued to 149 Sqn in September 1942, I would have thought that the letters would have been in dull red and Corgi got it wrong? Every photograph I can find of 149 Sqn Stirling’s, either Mk I or Mk III, with grey or red codes show them with the standard 48” codes. Why would BF372 be any different from standard 149 Sqn machines and use smaller code letters? Any information and assistance anyone can provide would be welcome.

I have also noticed that Revell have repeated the Matchbox error of giving the Flight Engineer a seat in his position behind the Pilot. Very nice but he used to have to stand up when using the engineer's panel. He did have a 'Dickie' seat that he could use on the starboard fuselage wall near the pilot. I'm also mystified that Revell have made the bomb bay doors two piece a la the Lancaster when Matchbox did them in four like the real thing! If we are being really picky they should be in eight pieces. Keep up the good work, I might actually start building mine now you've lead the way on the engine nacelles. Lets hope John re-releases his propeller sets, I shall be twisting his arm at the Huddersfield show.

Hope you can find room to bring it to Telford as it looks rather good.

Thanks for the comments. Our glorious Bomber Command SIG C-in-C Honeybee is running the V Bomber theme at Telford again this year. As we now have some more V Bombers finished and my 1/48 Vulcan B2 never made it to the display last year. It spent all weekend on the Airfix stand.

Its got the wrong undercarriage on it for a Mk V. Should have gone to Aeroclub. Can I still have my lift to Berlin tomorrow please Paul?

Well done on completing a pig of a kit and making it look good as well.

Yes XH537 did have the narrower intakes but I dont have the skill or inclination to narrow the opening by about 2mm. I leave that sort of thing to 'V' (Geoff) Modelling is all subjective and I personally think for all the extra toil it just wasn't worth it. Mind you Wolfpack says I used that much filler on the intakes they probably are narrower now anyway.