gingerbob

I couldn't even see the pinstripes! bob

I don't know if you looked back at the thread I linked to in post 11, but '229' came into discussion there. I thought it might have been an error for 299, but perhaps it was an error for 228? My record of the individual history doesn't show 228 going to 41 Sqn, but it was with 91, who passed some 21s to 122 in Jan 46, which was renumbered to 41 in April, so it is theoretically possible that this transfer never got recorded. Hmm... bob

Glad to see you here again, Peter! LA217 was my leading candidate, also. 2 July- Burke gets a mention at the bottom of the page. bob

Oh, I ought to be able to do something- but no idea what subject yet (got several on the "to do" PRIORITY list). I might need a reminder when the time comes, though. Meanwhile, back to the XF5F, except for the Vampire distraction, and what about those couple of Hurricanes I meant to do earlier this year? or the... bob p.s. Undoubtedly 48th- I don't yet have the confidence to desecrate my 32nd Tamiya.

Not so- there is or was a Model A (biplane) at the New England Air Museum (I didn't find it on their website, for some reason). There is also in Mexico, the QED. bob

I think not. There were also NH serialled IXs, and I think that's what he's referring to. While I could easily turn out to be wrong, I do think that the VIII remained with 'c' armament to the end. bob

For the Griffon side, I would suggest the Seafire 47 as the end point- it introduced a number of changes to suit its special use, and was the last actual production of the line as well. bob

Not bad for rubbish photos! Note that, while built as a IIa, this aircraft was converted to Va, and the prop fitted is a type not seen on Mk.IIs. bob

Windex for the model, alcohol to quell the fear... bob

I think he's referring to the Swedish Volunteer Flight in Finland. bob

Wait- only 5 Spits in the stash? You have got a problem! bob p.s. My wife's biggest complaint is that I'm NOT building the models. Of course, if I do start having finished ones, there'll probably be another objection...

I have a feeling ten acres in Texas is rather like a parking spot in an English town. Actually, probably a lot easier to come by. bob

Silly me. Their "yellowness" wasn't particularly obvious, and I allowed myself to be fooled by the illusion that they weren't at the same station on opposing wings. But now that I look again it seems obvious enough! Thanks all. bob

I hope it isn't too much of a detour, but what's the deal on those light areas on the Tiger's upper wing? They seem at variance to the rest of the Earthy areas. bob

Yes, if it's had the broad-chord rudder fitted. It wasn't mandatory on FR.14s as it was on 18s, but it was allowed for retro. bob

Yes. (Well, 4 'original' inches.)

Whoops, little late to the party, but 'Quadrupled'! bob

I haven't actually assembled it, but I've played around with the nacelles. It's been a while, so treat this with caution. First of all I think some parts might need just a tiny bit of trimming to avoid a jam-fit, but I had the impression that if I glued each nacelle half to the wing first, being careful to get good alignment and adhesion, I could then (with quite a bit of pushing and such) glue the two halves to each other down the middle. This might require a bit of creativity to get the other parts to fit- there might be something that nests inside?- but I think it can be done and eliminate most of the gaps and filling that will happen otherwise. Note also that the radiator fairing butts up against the outboard side. I've also been told that the top nose piece is even worse, but I haven't checked that out yet. bob p.s. I actually know just where that kit is, so perhaps I'll play with it again today... Edit: OK, now I've looked at it again. My thinking was to get the two major pieces fitted to the wing before worrying about the couple of bits that go inside, or the chin piece. On mine, the worst fit appears to be on the bottom, where the back end meets the flap "hump". Does anyone know what this really looks like? Is there a portion that slides inside the nacelle-proper when the flap goes down?

Nonsense! Take care of us first, then all those less important types!

Yep, which means you'll have to delete the little triangle on the front edge of the gear doors, and fill the corresponding notch in the wheel well. bob

Yes, I've seen 'locked' on the spinners too- it refers to the position of the fasteners. bob

Warwick? bob

Actually the guns didn't go in for quite a while- I can't look it up just now. No, Mike, that's far too dark! bob

...at low altitude. The Spit IX, and especially LF.IX, turned out better than they'd initially bargained for, which made the XII a bit of a moot point. However, as Edgar said, 2-stage Merlins were in short supply at first, and the XII, while not being ordered "to keep production going" was certainly ordered to get some high-performance aircraft in place of still more Mk.Vs. bob

Not much is known about the Spitfire...