SLoB

This afternoon I saw an Apache out in Essex. On my way home I stopped off at a cafe by Writtle College and whilst sipping my latte outside I heard merlins and overhead flew two warbirds. One was clearly a Spit, but the other was slightly further away and may have been a Hurri (it happened so fast - didn't get a chance for a snapshot). I believe they may have been BBMF machines to or from Clacton (displaying) and perhaps on their way to land at Southend.

The Cornwall Aviation Heritage Centre has one and they may be able to provide details, or if someone is not far from Newquay they could pop down and get some shots for you. I went there a few years ago when it was in the hands of Classic Airforce and remember seeing the 1-11, but cannot find any photos that would help you. Here is a link to the present web site. http://www.cornwallaviationhc.co.uk/our-aircraft/

That's a nice looking meteor. I am still fettling away at the intakes and taking forever to move mine on. Looking forward to seeing the completed model.

I have one of these and it serves its purpose well. http://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/daylight-company-naturalight-table-magnifying-lamp/573114-1000 Apparently they are doing 15% off your first online purchase with them at present.

Hi. Nice build and very useful info. I am presently building this one. I also have the Barracuda intakes and whilst they look good, the fit is awful with them not being round and in places nearly 1mm too wide. I am debating whether to use the Barracuda ones as an example and with milliput trying to build up the internal shape, etc., of the kit ones. Did you sand the resin intakes by hand to a circular shape, or did you find some way of mounting it into a chuck and sanding it whilst spinning? Not decided about what to do with the intakes and would appreciate some guidance as to whether it was taht difficult to beat them into submission. Stephen

Just ordered the Spitfire/Seafire package - all went through OK. Now looking forward to package arrival Thanks for the heads up on this one.

This is only my second GB here and as with the other, I started before remembering to take some photos, but have provided some intro and shots below. This is the box art, that I know is very familiar - done it again on the photo rotate - sorry, I will get the hang of it eventually! This is the scheme I wish to do - it is Col Ben O Davis mount in the Korean War - have done a red tail P-51D in the past and intend to do a red tail P-51C in future, but in the meantime thought I would do this for something slightly different. Got photos from Wiki page, not sure about copyright Some sprue shots Some work in progress. Have sorted out intake so that it is reasonably smooth. Not sure how much will be seen, but good practice. That's all for now. By the way I am a hairy stick painter, so the finish could be interesting and am debating whether to go with using foil.

This is my first attempt at a biplane - so be gentle! This is also my first group build here. I had started (after the GB start date) before I remembered to take some shots - oops. Here goes though. The box cover - sorry but thought I had rotated photo, but no doubt you've seen it before. I am going to do the second scheme down Some sprue shots (including PE) And some work in progress, showing my first attempts at wood graining using oils. Have also put the engine block together That's it for now. Stephen

Hi Been meaning to go to this airshow for some years and finally got round to it. What a day to go! Two Lancs and the Vulcan, plus some great flying from various others. Have not had a chance to go through all the photos I took, but a few are in this Flickr album. https://www.flickr.com/photos/63405925@N08/sets/72157646423425017/ Stephen

Further to my post above I found these two photos. They are not brilliant, but give an indication of what I did to get the engine and wings to fit well. The resulting wing root joint was better than it appears in the second photo (I was only holding it together for that one - it was not fixed). I hope this helps.

That looks really good. I have recently finished this kit in those markings. You beat me to it, regarding the cockpit. However, I suspect you will still find it tricky to fit in, so watch out when you close up the fuselage. I also suggest you leave off the IP and gunsight for now - they are easily fitted after the fuselage is closed up. With the wheel wells watch out for the undercarriage alignment holes. I found out - too late - that the other bits partly obscured the holes and had to drill new ones and fiddle about to get the undercarriage to fit in. The engine is a pain, as the kit parts are too big for the space in the fuselage. You will read other builds where they filed off the piston heads, etc, to get it to fit. I did some of this, BUT I also read how others had found a very poor fit between the fuselage and wing at the front root. In dry fitting I realised that if you opened the fuselage out at the bottom by c. 1.5-2mm it would fit better at the root and open the space for the engine (so less shaving of piston heads). I then put a piec of plastic strip in the gap and sealed it up. I have photos somewhere and will look out later and post again with them. You will also find that the part from the wheel well under the engine to the front does not fit well, and from memory there is at least one piece (unseen when finished) that it is better leaving out to improve the fit. I will post later with more info and photos. It is a pain to build (one modeller I know says it is the worst kit he has ever built), but when finished it looks good. It is a good challenge for modelling skills. I still have the wires to fit, but otherwise just about done. Yours is looking far better than mine did at the same stage. Keep going and you will be rewarded at the end with a nice looking model. Stephen

Thanks for the input. I hope mine turns out half as good as yours.

That looks really good - I have the conversion kit for the Mk 5 and am looking forward to doing it. Seeing yours has encouraged me for when I tackle it. Was it fairly straightforward or are there any issues one needs to be aware of? Did you use the kits bang seats? I have replacement seats because I thought the 5 had an earlier MB seat, or have I got it wrong? The starboard pitot needs to come off and I note yours is cleanly removed. Have I missed something in the Alley Cat instructions, as I cannnot see reference to this? I assume you just cut fill and sand until you get the leading edge shaped correctly? Thanks for sharing.

Am I too late? If not I will enter and will attempt my first biplane, rigging, etc. The Eduard Camel in 1/48 scale.

Count me in as well. Got a couple in mind for this.

I will be there Saturday - taking my disabled father so no parking issues. We live fairly close, so are there often. We don't bother with the museum, but if you have not been for a while there is always something worth seeing. The best thing about Duxford is it is never precisely the same - there is usually something going on. Others have said the main things. However, down by Airspace (where the disabled park) there are usually fewer people and you can still get good photos of the displays if you stand back from the crowd (rather than get squashed up by the Land Warfare mound). The main problem is you do not get such good shots of them taking off/landing. The flight line walk is well worth it IMHO, as you can spend time getting fairly close and getting some good static shots. If you start early enough you can take your time. If you are a Friend of The Fighter Collection you get the flight line walk free. For Friends of Duxford there is a marquee with refreshments and a viewing area and Friends can take one person in I believe. Find a Friend without a 'friend' and tag along There are usually several retailers of second hand and new kits and bits and bobs. I usually wander around the stalls between the flight line walk and the display starting. If the weather is hot there is not much shade so take protection (cream, hat, etc.). Should be a good show. As there seem to be a few of us going, perhaps we may bump into each other.

Only just come across this thread. Signed petition.

I used decals from http://www.aviaeology.com/index.html and found them to be quite good. Decals are thin and great care needed though. They have low and high back schemes. At present their web site is showing sold out, but you may be able to pick some up from other stockists. SLoB

Fantastic photos. Particularly like the shot of Grey Nurse. So much so that it is now my desktop image- thanks. I am also very jealous. SLoB

Thanks Pielstick for the advice and info; I have bought and downloaded IL-2 1946, but not yet fired it up to check it out in detail. So far have only loaded basic, but not the updates, etc. From what I have read it might be sensible to create a separate installation that I can mod and play around with and keep the original clean. Yet to find time to sort it all out, but looking forward to having a go.

I used to enjoy the occasional sortie using MS CFS3. My issue was that the sim was basic and the only thing that made it good were all the community add-ons. By the time you downloaded and dealt with all of them the computer was groaning under the load. I took it off the computer some time back when I also found that there was a virus in one of the downloads and I couldn't figure out which. Of those you mention which might be best for combat flight sim. I rarely have time to go online and fly with/against others, so it is mainly me against comp. I had looked at IL-2 in the past and read mixed reviews. I am after something that can be loaded up and more or less played out of the box (for now at least).

Mark Model Junction is worth a visit if you are in or near Bury St Edmunds. It is in Whiting Street. Prices are not low (compared to what you can get on the internet). They have a reasonable range of plastic kits (Airfix, Revell, Italeri, Tamiya mainly) and are very helpful and will tell you that if you want something they have not got they will get it in for you. About half the shop is for rail stuff, 1/4-1/3 is for plastic models and the rest is RC.

Mark Thanks for that - will check out the Cambridge WHS when next there. A couple of weeks ago I was in Ely and I think the model shop you refer to is in fact a model section on the first floor in a toy and bicycle shop. I bought a couple of odds and ends there. It is reasonably well stocked for a smallish area and had a wide selection of genres. Prices seemed a little on the high side. The people in there were OK and helpful, but not as friendly perhaps as those you meet in Model Junction in Bury St Edmunds. If it was my nearest I would not be disappointed and I suspect if you were regular in there and got to know them they could get in what you need if they didn't have it. My nearest model shop is in Harlow and last time I went in there it seemed to have been largely taken over by gaming. It was busy though and if that is what sells then good for them.

Not surprised to see nothing in our local WHS (in Bishop's Stortford). However, I am surprised at no mention of Cambridge. There was a large-ish MZ in the past and there are a couple of WHS outlets, one of which could contain some MZ stuff. Am probably going there at the weekend (Christmas shopping ) so will have a look-see at what may or may not be happening.

I specifically asked (at SMW on the Saturday) which kit/s were to be the club kit for 2014 and was told (and he pointed to) the Torch Hurricane and Swordfish combo in 1/72 scale.