AntPhillips

Hi James, Actually, the Eduard set is a new release and to my pleasant surprise when I opened the Hannants envelope, the brass is just that and is not coated, don't know if this is a new thing with Eduard, but makes sense. Cheers Ant

I'm presently building a 1/35 scale Trumpeter LAV-R, I've got Eduard photo etch set 36-008 to dress it up, and amongst other things there are a couple of ammo boxes and jerry can holders that I suspect will be a bit fragile just relying on super glue alone to fix them. So I'm contemplating soldering them together, I have a little bit of soldering experience from my engineering apprenticeship days, but haven't done any for years. Do any of you guys/gals have any valuable knowledge, tips or tricks to pass on, or even recommendations on the type of solder / soldering irons / mini-blowtorches that will be of use. Don't be shy, I'm open to any and all ideas. Many thanks in advance Ant

Hi Tony, Without wanting to hijack the thread, there are reviews on PMMS of the ICV variant, the CV/TACP and only yesterday the ATGM version review was posted. PMMS is usually my second site of the day, straight after Britmodeller of course. Ant Nice build too eng, I can see what Mike means about the green though, but a nice dark filter might work a treat, and it might help hide the oily mark.

AFV Club kits are pretty much the dog's danglies, particularly with their choice of subject, only really surpassed by Tasca in recent times, take a look at the reviews over on PMMS you'll see what I mean, the Stryker has a good write up. Happy modelling Ant BTW I've got one of these left in the to do pile too.

Nice idea with the wing stripes, very original.

Nice topic, my great uncle Bryn (known as Uncle Titch in our family) was one of the crew of the Amethyst. Your dead right the film is a classic and IIRC fairly historically correct, I remember seeing the film as a little lad, I was very lickl' and didn't understand the reason for her enforced stay, but I do remember being oh so proud when she finally breaks out.

The Monogram 1/48 AV-8A kit includes RAF markings for a GR.1 as an option.

Great news on the job front Dan, even if it does drag you away from the modelling bench for awhile.

Hi Davide, Fabulous build so far, I would suggest the holes you refer to are part of the Air Conditioning/Canopy De-misting system, but I'm no expert and there's more than one Tornado Techie here, who I'm sure will be able to help. Cheers Ant

The FG.1 kit has the extended double oleo leg that was unique to RN Phantoms, the kit includes parts for it in both extended and contracted positions. See Ed's answer, not sure if the RAF FG.1s continued using the slotted stabilator or if the RAF changed it to the unslotted version when they took them on. Are you sure it was on an FGR.2, it sounds like the ECM containers that were fitted to the ex-USN F-4J(UK)'s although the RAF didn't use the same ECM fit, it was too much hassle to remove the fittings so the F-4J(UK)'s flew with the empty fittings still attached to the airframe.. Yep you presume correctly, note the FG.1's in Naval Service did not use the centreline Vulcan cannon pod, but it is OK for RAF use. I might have one left, let me check the stash. Happy modelling Ant

Very nice work Dan, your making a far better job of it than I would have and in about a 10th of the time. Ant

As Johann's comments seem to be based on the transluscent nature of the yellow decal, and as this is quite often a problem not just with MA but other decal manufacturers too, maybe MA should look at putting an additional sheet of basic white decals shaped to go under the yellow, several other manufacturers do this, seems like a simple fix.

Wow, that lot looks familiar Can't wait to see the build, I'm off on my hols tomorrow I expect to see some major progress by the time I get back. Ant

He obviously gets his reference material from crappy 1960's Hollywood movies

Hi Neil, Theres a couple of boxes of several varieties of rocking horse manure left in my garage, just waiting for you to come and take a looksy I've checked with the other half and Saturday 23rd would be good. I'll let Chris know, and leave it to you guys to finalise the details. Cheers Ant

I'm by no means a Sherman expert but I do have a case of Shermaholic Syndrome, the nomenclature of British Shermans is pretty simple once you know the way it works: US Type No - British Mk No. - Hull Type - Engine Type M4 - Sherman Mk.I - Welded Hull, 56º Glacis, Small Hatches (with or without Direct Vision visors) - Continental Radial engine M4 Composite - Sherman Hybrid Mk.1 - Cast hull front with welded rear, 47º Glacis, Large Hatches (mostly) - Continental Radial engine M4A1 - Sherman Mk II - Cast Hull, early versions were small hatches with or without DV visors, 56º glacis, later versions were large hatch, 47º glacis with wet stowage - Continental Radial engine. M4A2 - Sherman Mk III - Welded Hull, 56º Glacis, Small Hatches (with or without Direct Vision visors) - Diesel (GM) M4A3 - Sherman Mk IV (a very elusive type around which there is a lot of doubt and much speculation) - Petrol (Ford) M4A4 - Sherman Mk V Welded Hull, 56º Glacis, Small Hatches (with or without Direct Vision visors) - Petrol (Chrysler Multibank) In addition to this the Mk. No could be suffixed with an additional letter to denote a main gun different to the regular 75mm gun 75 mm - No suffix 76 mm - Suffix A 105 mm howitzer - Suffix B 17 Pdr - Suffix C so a US M4A1 76(W) would be a British Sherman Mk IIA & an M4A4 17Pdr would be a Sherman Mk. VC If the tank was fitted with HVSS suspension it would be further suffixed with a Y although the British only received a small number of these mostly fitted with the 105 MM howitzer late in the war, hence the Sherman Mk. 1BY The Italeri USMC Sherman kit is basically an M4A3, but it does give you an extra engine deck for an M4A2 but doesn't give you the corresponding hull rear plate or mention changing the angle of the rear hull plate, your better off regarding the kit as a pure M4A3 with 47º glacis, large hatch with wet ammo. stowage, that tends to limit you to building as a US Army or a USMC M4A3, it is one of the only Sherman kits that give you the wading trunks although the fittings are only representative of the M4A3, but the upper halves can be used elsewhere if you can scratch the lower areas. If you want a British Sherman your better off starting with one of the newer Dragon M4A1 or M4A2 releases or at the cheaper end of the market update a Tamiya M4 using Accurate Armour or Formations update sets. Sorry if this post goes on a bit, but I guess thats why Shermans are such an interesting subject there are infinite varieties of them, even if you only model one particular nation or 1 theatre of operations. Hope this helps Ant

Hi Gareth, In the car modelling fraternity, there are available decal sheets with various sizes of carbon fibre weave, not seen it as small as 1/48 though. Another option I've heard is to spray a dark metallic shade through stretched nylon mesh (not that I'd ever consider pinching one of the missus tights honest) onto a black base, might be enough to give the weave effect. HTH Ant

Hi Scott, The blog is >>>HERE<<< Theres also a Bishop build over there and with it having the same hull and suspension it could be worth a look too. As I mentioned earlier I've got both the Mk IV and Mk XI by Maquette and the Bishop, I've dabbled with the MkIV and got myself the Accurate Armour 2 man turret, it's a whole lot better than the kit effort, its just a shame its not hollow moulded, but with a figure mounted in the commanders hatch you wouldn't see inside anyway. Also as Spitfire mentioned the kits not all bad it's just the amount of effort required to clean up the parts to get an acceptable fit. The Eduard etch sets do have some more inscale replacement parts but they are among the early Eduard sets so you don't get as much to add as some of their recent sets. Good luck, would love to see some pics as you progress. Happy modelling Ant

I seem to recall that Valentines weren't used in Italy, (except possibly some Duplex Drive examples in the very last stages of the campaign in the push around Lake Comaggio), the Sherman (75mm, 76mm, 17pdr and 105mm variants), Churchill and Stuart were the pre-dominant tanks in the Italian campaign. There's an excellent building blog of a Maquette Valentine/Bishop on the Military Modelling site, I've got both versions and a Bishop in the stash. Good luck Ant

Hi Andy PM inbound

I think Phil was more interested in it being a Flying Grope rather than a Flying Gruppe, maybe its a Welsh thing

Hi Radar, Glad to see the kit is being used , you didn't have to tell me about the one that went on Ebay for £102 though I'll be following this with interest. Happy modelling Ant

Looks like a nice clean build, are you going to finish it as a US or Commonwealth Sherman, and are you going to give it the weathered look ??

The post war Firefly 4/5 certainly had a black interior, not so certain about the Firefly 1 however as they were WW2 vintage. Ant

I'd agree with that, and the triangle also seems to be split into 2 colours, left and right. I've got some AoS references at home but it'll take some time to dig it out. You could try asking the question on the Post War discussion board over at Missing Links, there are some pretty knowledgable guys there. Ant