Paul Wagner

Thanks - that's a bit cheaper than the other set I was looking at - and more useful! Paul

I found one, but at a way-above-Ouch! price.... Paul

Does anyone make a kit of this? I've found (old) references to a vac-formed one, but I'm sure it's impossible to find.... Paul

Anyone got one spare? I'm trying to avoid buying a whole box of mixed Falcon canopies just for this one..... Paul

I left it shut, and have the 3rd crewman peeking out of the lower left window http://www.flickr.com/photos/34860818@N06/.../in/photostream Paul

Masochism is a hobby......

Also, don't forget that the actual paint on the actual BoB Spits came from dozens of small factories all over the place, all churning something out in rather a hurry from whatever they had available - so it was hardly a standard colour, varying from the Sky you know, to something much greener, or greyer, to quite a bright light blue. So you can be quite forgiving at pretty well any depiction of it. Paul

Since I "returned" to modelling I've been sticking to 1/72. I'll do anything from WWI to Sci-Fi, and while I have more WWII done than anything at the moment, I find myself being increasingly drawn to the inter-war (and early war) types - they are so wonderfully wonky and un-martial looking. That might be right up my alley then! Didn't even know about that War. Any good references? Paul

Ah, sneaky. Hadn't thought of that! Wonder if it worked? If so, you'd think the RAF Poles would've tried to muck with their Spitfire markings..... Paul

I'm doing a small Polish collection (well lets face it, they didn't have a huge range of planes !) and am intrigued by the asymmetrical placement of the rondels (squaredels?) on the upper wings. Why? So you can tell which way the plane is going? Easy recognition? Paul

I’ve been working my way through a series of Vs – not upto the Sword kit yet, but I’ve been taking notes as I go. Eventually I'll have a complete guide The Airfix kit is obviously old and very bare bones, with finely raised panel lines, but everything fits together with a minimum of filler and fuss, and the end result is very pleasing. I have read the opinion of serious Spitfire buffs that this is also the most accurate, in terms of shape, of the available Vb kits. The decal sheet also includes nice stencilling. The Vc issue has a Trop filter and different (ie Vc) wings, 2 types of cannon blister, and engraved panel lines. I actually quite like this kit, as there’s enough options in the box to make a whole swag of different types. For your purposes, there are lots of extra cannons in the box as well, which could come in useful for the 4 cannon models. The Revell Vb is lovely, with good detail and excellent fit - slightly better than the Airfix. I have read the opinion that the shape of the kit, especially around the wings, is somehow inaccurate, but it looks the part to me. The decal sheet includes enough stencilling to do the job without being overwhelmingly fussy, and the decals are very fine and confrom beautifully, and you get the option of full or clipped wings. I’ve made a couple of these, and they go together great. Then there’s the Smer Mk. Vc trop. Let’s be very clear from the start; this is a Terrible Model. DO NOT BUY THIS KIT. The angle at which the wings sit on the fuselage is all wrong, the fit is awful with huge gaps to be filled, the plastic is thin and sensitive, and yet requires twice as much glue as normal to get it to stick, and the “surface detail” of raised panel lines on the wings is so overdone it looks like someone dropped a pile of spaghetti on it. Awful in every way. The only redeeming feature is the decal sheet, containing good stencilling and markings for two RAAF Spitfires, and actually looks pretty good; given how cheap this kit was, it might be worth purchasing after all, just for the decal sheet! And, to be fair, the 3-piece canopy is the nicest and finest Spitfire canopy I’ve yet come across. Then there’s the Hobbyboss, in various incarnations. I’m afraid I dislike this kind of Hobbyboss kit. The fit is excellent, the casting crisp, the detail nice and the shape fine… but there is virtually nothing to do. The body of the aircraft, including cannons and cockpit, is one solid lump of plastic, and the few other parts just clip together. Boring. Also, the decals are barely adequate, and you must wash Hobbyboss kits in detergent as they are covered in “mold release” goo and just won’t paint unless they are cleaned. Another consistent bugbear with Hobbyboss is the canopies – they are always massively too large, made of absurdly thick plastic, and the shape of the cockpit is obviously wrong as no other Spitfire canopy from the spares box comes close to fitting the shape of the Hobbyboss model! So I had to butcher a couple of different canopies from the spares box, finally finding an Airfix Vc canopy that, with major surgery, fitted and looked OK. Paul

Thanks! I found something that's good enough on one of those! Paul

I'm starting a series of Polish aircraft C.1939, but can't find a picture of pilots/crew. Esp colour ones - damn Poles fought in so many other air forces Google can't find any actual Polish Air Force ones! Anyone have any idea what a Polish pilot would have worn? Perhaps there's an Osprey book? Paul

Hi Ken, Yes I'd found that even before I posted the question. Looks awesome, and will no doubt come in very handy when I eventually start the build. So many options... 3 planes on top, tanks hanging underneath, belly full of paratroopers.... crazy fun. Paul

I can highly recommend the Life Color RAAF paint sets, which have very nice Foliage Green and RAAF Sky Blue (and the rest) in them. Well worth the money if you're going to do a number of RAAF planes. You might also be able to buy the individual colours separately. Paul

Precisely - baggsed a TB3 yesterday and thought it looked like fun. So thanks - but bugger resin is going to be heavy hanging off the bottom! No styrene/vacformed then? Paul

Does anyone know of a Russian Grigorovich I-Z fighter in 1:72? Paul

They're sounding good so far! How do they go brushing on rather than spraying? Paul

That's exactly where I got onto them. Have been browsing the website - there's a LOT of colours on there, so it'll take time to sort through exactly what I need. But I was hoping someone had given them a go.... Paul

Not sure what forum to even post this in, but... ...anyone familiar with AKAN acrylics? Paul

Well, I'm starting on the Great Falklands War collection, and first off the ranks is the Pucara. I've found some good pics of the cockpit, indication the dials etc are black/very dark grey, but what about the rest of the interior and seats? And the pilots? Paul

That's awesome. And neatly sums up everything that's wrong with today's military - too much body armour and IR-scanning-motion-sensing-night-vision whatsits, and not nearly enough people going into battle in cardigans.... ....now all I have to do is paint a convincing Aran Herringbone weave in 1/72 Paul

I am embarking upon a Singapore based Vickers Vildebeest c.1942. I'm going to put in a crew - but what would they have been wearing? Paul

Can I ask - how is the Airfix Sea Fury as a kit? OK? I've got a Trumpeter but I want a second one... Paul