Max Headroom

I loved the books. I seem to remember reading them slowly an building up a picture of what it all looks like - not a spoiler but Trantor should all be covered by metal clad buildings with no outside at all. I think ‘Towards Foundation’ has a scene where youngsters are taken to the top to experience The Outside and to traumatise them! That sort of is an important detail later…….(the metal, not the kids!) Trevor

I highly recommended the books, especially the original three. Must re read them all again…… Trevor

After trying and failing to get Apple+ on my tellybox I was resigned to watching Foundation on my iPhone. However, Sky has decided to pick up the channel and I’m now set to go! Halfway through episode 2 and I can safely say, not much (yet) has carried over from the books. The general premise is there, Hari Seldon is there and so is the Empire. I think I’ll treat this as a stand-alone and see if I can spot Asimov’s plot along the way. Trevor

Hello from 5,330 miles away in Cheshire UK Trevor

I have an idea. Admittedly it’s a daft one, but hear me out…………. A few years ago I built the rather nice AZ low back Spitfire XVI as my contribution to the Edgar tribute build. What surprised me was in the aftermath I had a spare high-back IX fuselage and sundry other bits which in effect amounted to half another Spitfire. Off to the spares box they went. Since then, I have harboured the idea of getting a ‘free’ MK.IX out them somehow. I just needed a pair of wings. Then last year I ended up with an Eduard Profi Pack IX and so that idea went out of the window. Again there appear to be a lot of spares to harvest from that kit. Sadly though, no spare wings. Frankenspit part 1 btw was my attempt at getting a 1/72 Vc from the Airfix I, using some of the AZ leftovers. And then Aldi came to my aid. The newish Airfix I was being sold at £4.99 a pop as part of their Christmas stock. That solved the wing problem. Quick sit rep this afternoon and I gathered the mortal remains in my laboratory. The brown bits are AZ and the grey are Airfix. Top left are odds and sods. I think the canopy is Italeri, the slipper tank and pointy rudder definitely are though. The blue tailwheel is the old Airfix Vb (more refined than their current offering I think). Additionally, there’s the Eduard kit, but I have just started that, so can’t be certain what will be left over, but canopies, exhausts and cockpit furniture look possibilities to add into my mix. Now what? My first thought was a PR.X or XI as I have Almark stickies for an XI. But I already have the Airfix 19. Idly sifting through the internet ironically led me to an old Britmodeller thread and specifically this picture I hope @Troy Smith doesn’t mind me repurposing his pic but it captures most of the details I need. At first glance it’s an unarmed IX, but it’s actually the first prototype III in its final form. From the back……rounded rudder, retractable tailwheel, internally armoured windscreen, elongated nose to accommodate the series 60/70 Merlin with two stage supercharger. The wings are standard ‘A’ type with 4x Brownings and original style undercarriage as found on the I to Vb before the forward rake was increased (2”?). It also has five spoke wheels. However, it also sports the larger port underwing radiator associated with the two stage Merlin Spits. Not visible in this photo is one other feature. Merlin engined Spitfires have a rear engine panel than runs straight over the top of the fuselage, as opposed to the one on Griffon engined versions which sweeps forward over the top. This example has the Griffon version and retained this throughout its life, so the kit line needs moving. As a non operational type, it retained Dark Earth/Dark Green uppers, but never sported the Sky fuselage band and had yellow undersides. A type roundels and tail flash. Ladies and gentlemen I have my muse! No building yet, as I have the Eduard IX to finish first, following which I will pick over the mortal remains for this build. I’ll probably be doing this as my companion build to the 1/32 Revell Mosquito. However, I would welcome any comments, tips or guffaws before cobbling this together Trevor

Utter wow! Model of the year. Trevor (incidentally how much does it weigh?)

Or the button on a pelican crossing or lift when someone has already done so? Trevor

Just caught up with this. Utterly fab. I’m loving the ‘pre-owned’ vibes it gives off. Trevor

Two Airfix starter kits from Aldi, namely the Spitfire I and JP4. I have half a Spitfire IX left over from my AZ Spit 16 and if they fit, the Airfix one will donate it’s wings to help make the Mk.III.* As for the JP that’ll end up as one of the Dark Green/Dark Sea Grey/Light Aircraft Grey ones. Trevor * UPDATE - it’s doable

Y chromosomes? Trevor

There is no letter ‘J’ in the traditional Welsh alphabet. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welsh_orthography So where do all the Jones’ come from? Trevor

Looking the business Trevor

“Moving forward across the piece”. That one belongs in Room 101 Trevor (and another hater of starting a sentence with “So..”)

You left off the Balliol. So many marking options…… Trevor

A slip wing Hurricane? Trevor

Dave Grohl, having a cardiovascular workout Trevor

That was her day job (celling??) but she was also a volunteer with St.John’s Ambulance so already had training in giving injections. You realise that in a situation like this there is a wide pool of volunteers that step up to help others on a crisis. Trevor

I forgot to say that this third jab was the first administered by a nurse. Number 1 was a fireman and number 2 a cellist (just as well she wasn’t a percussionist!) Trevor

Had my booster yesterday. No sore arm and no after effects either unlike some I know who had 24 hour flu symptoms. Trevor the brave boy

I assume the Canberra is still a no then? Trevor

Allie never (to our knowledge) did it in her youth, but seems to have started in the last 12 months. Trevor

I have recently discovered that this is called a ‘blep’ Trevor

Contrail did a vacform in the 80’s. Trevor

That’s a nostalgia blast In my memory they were always white. Trevor

Terrific Toofani! Trevor