Paul Wagner

Cool. Since you seem to know what you're talking about can I ask you about colour schemes? Esp for the Boston IIIs - I've been told the standard Dark Green/dark earth/sky scheme mostly depicted is way too simplistic...? Paul

When Airfix launched their magazine, I subscribed because I'd never got a modeling magazine before so I thought why not? And I have enjoyed it, but... ...the time is approaching when I decide whether to sign up for another year or 2, so I was wondering if there might be a better mag out there? I do a bit of everything modelling wise, though WWII aircraft is what I care most about getting right, and the bits I enjoy most are useful refs for my own builds, and news & reviews of new stuff. Anyone have an opinion on what the best magazine out there is? Paul

That's awesome info, thanks! So, to be clear, did any RAAF Boston ever go into combat with the Nose glass fully clear/unmodified? Paul

I'm most of the way thru an air fix Do217J, and am wondering about replacing the clear bits. There's a Falcon set for the Italieri kit: http://www.hannants.co.uk/product/FNCV1572 Anyone know if it'll fit the airfix kit too? Paul

Ditto! Glad to know I'm not alone Though I must admit it makes some German subjects somewhat challenging.... Paul

I am looking forward to this one - never quite got round to shelling out for an ebay example, so yay for repops! Paul

I ordered a bunch from Linden Hill and had a very positive experience. I'm sure they will return eventually! Paul

No, hadn't seen that in the photo! Paul

Well that's excellent news - now I can combine bits of dodgy Airfix Beaufighter, Defiant AND Lancaster to make... the Airfix FrankenBeaufighter Mk.V! An extremely efficient use of the spares pile Paul

Hi Martin, Cool! Paul

Ah OK. Though I am thinking about abandoning the I.F plan and converting to a Merlin-powered Mk.V.... Would that make a difference? Paul

I might take you up on that, as the Has kit I was watching on ebay sold for $70 + postage (!!!!) (I will never understand Hasegawas marketing strategy, or rather lack thereof..... let's make the ultimate kit of XXX, produce a very few, then take them out of production for decades until someone from Eastern Europe does one too, and them maybe we'll repress some...) Paul

Don't know if this has been mentioned, but Peter Jackson did a short film for the Australian War Memorial on the Australian Flying Corps in WWI - it is pretty awesome. Paul

I can't find an aeroclub, and the very nice looking freightdog set is probably overkill when all I want are the propellers! Don't support anyone who's bought the replacement set wants to sell me the ones they replaced? Paul

Anyone make Halifax props in 1/72? (or, for that mater, have some spare?) Paul

Lifecolor do a very nice Azure Blue - mine came in one of the RAAF sets. Unfortunately it (or at least mine) goes funny when glosscoated. I've also got a MM azure downstairs, and I'll be painting something in one of them very soon so I'll post the results.... Paul

Oh yes, Pilots. Bane of my life. The Revell RAF set are Giants Among Men, and on the odd occasion I find a cockpit that suits them I have to remove lots of their middle and shorten their limbs! On the other hand, the Revell Germans are wee little creatures that struggle to see over the instrument panel of most planes. The Airfix ones are, by and large, pretty good (at least you get some!), but yes sometimes there is butchering or even pre-butchering - I'm doing an Airfix blenheim at the moment, where the pilot is moulded with no feet, the observer no legs at all, and the gunner is just a head and arms(!). I was trying to fit a Revell RAF Giant in a Valom Hampden, but ended up swapping him for an Airfix Beaufighter pilot, which was the right size, and the Airfix Beau cockpit space was large enough to take the Revell Man. Then I painted up a Revell German for a Valom Hampden cockpit, but he was way too small and only reached half way up the control stick! So one again, swapped for a spare Airfix, and put aside until I can find a cockpit too small for a standard pilot.... I don't know why Airfix doesn't release a box of mixed 1/72 pilots and crew - they have the moulds, and there's obviously a demand. The Hobby Master US Pilots are OK, but their Modern and Mixed WWII ones are pretty dodgy. The PJ ones are awesome, but pricey. And for WWI, the Dark Dream set is pretty rough, and usually take a lot of butchering too... In the meantime, if anyone out there DOESN'T use their pilots and crew figures and has a box of them lying around, I for one will pay good money for your spares!!! Paul

Thanks for the info. This is the photo I'm working from: found here: http://totallyfreeimages.com/188537/Air-cr...l-Blenheim-bomb No info as to sqn, but indication it was being used operationally ("They have been pounding the enemy throughout the offensive") and in 1941, so maybe it wasn't 459 or 454...?!? Curious. And while I'm dubious about picking colours from b&w photos (hell, picking them from colour photos is dubious!) it looks more like desert camo to me! Paul

I'm looking for images on RAAF Blenheims from 454, 459 or 460 sqns. I assume they were done in standard RAF Desert camo? Paul

Yes, they are now based in Singapore. Their service is excellent (better than it was, dare I say), and I think they are basically selling off all the old stock of High Planes kits (now called "limited run" kits), while expanding their own new range - the f@#%@%$## excelling Mirage IIIO/Dagger being first off the line (just finishing my 3rd one - really, really good!). Anyway, point is not all their kits are available, and (I suspect) will not be restocked, so if you really want one, grab it while you can(!). Paul

"As difficult", you mean A High Planes would be hard work, but I have an Airfix on the shelf, so unless a Has turns up not-too-dear, I figured I may as well use it. Doesn't sound too hard... Paul

For a bit of fun it's a great bit of retro-style Baa Baa Black Sheep type adventure. Personally I had a great time - bugger grim realism, its nice to have a bit of Commando-comic boys own fun for a change. Actually it was an Italian destroyer escort, taken over by the Germans and fitted out as a torpedo boat. The Tuskagee Airmen movie used the same incident (which, BTW, is the movie to see if you want the story told with Gritty Realism...) Paul

I want to do an early BoB era Beaufighter Mk.i in 1/72. Leaving aside the probability of finding a Hasegawa kit at an affordable price(!), what would I need to do to convert an Airfix beau?? Paul

Great. Thank you, gentlemen - this place is full of excellent knowledge!! Paul

How many crew did the Blenheim Mk.1F carry when it was being used as a day fighter? Paul