Paul Wagner

I did a little post-Christmas shopping at the local shop the other day and while I was browsing the shopkeeper plonked a new Swordfish down in front of me! I picked up up again rather quickly....! So it's out! And has had time to fly to Australia. But yes, strangely without any fanfare. Oh, and from my first look, it's awesome..... Paul

You can add the equal uselessness of written theories and references - where either "facts" get repeated just because someone said it once somewhere, and the more post-modern phenomenon of disputing well-known "facts" as "unlikely" due to lack of evidence, even though there's no new evidence either Paul

Speaking personally, I like my aircraft clean. I do a little weathering or rust, maybe, around the exhausts and guns, but by and large leave them looking pretty and new. It's an aesthetic choice, I guess, or maybe I'm a little tired of seeing everything weathered to the Nth degree... but I also do mine wheels up and with pilots, so I'm very un-trendy I think the weathering thing is popular because it's a an extra Thing To Do, and in some cases it's perfectly appropriate. But in a lot of cases I personally think it gets overdone as a way of showing off technical skill. So if you don't want to - don't! Paul

Very cool. I don't know about anyone else, but with the 30th anniversary of the Falklands coming, I've got to get around to making one of there this year, and this will be very helpful! Paul

I was going to suggest that too. It also mean you can peel it all off if it goes pear shaped. I'd even suggest Future the canopy, then tint some Future and use that as the medium. I'll be interested in how it works out - I've got the same kit sitting on the shelf, and since I can't fins a Hasegawa one for love nor money, It's what I'm stuck with Paul

That's useful. Maybe I'm just spraying a bit too much every now and again. I might try and see what I can get other than the Testors, just for comparison. Any suggestions? Paul

Well, I use acrylics only, and Testors gloss- and dull-cotes... but it's such a rare, occasional thing I can't see the paint itself being to blame, when 95% of the time there is no issue Paul

That's the thing - I've had it happen over various paints, all of which (the vast majority of the time) I've also had no problems with. These include tamiya, humbrol, lifecolor and citadel... Paul

When I was a kid, one Christmas me and my brother each got a die-cast plane. Mine was a P47, can't remember what his was, but they were pretty decent 1/72 models, and had landing gear that you could move up and down, and (most importantly) a battery-powered motor that made the prop spin. I've seem one or two old, non-functional examples of these same toys in op-shops since, bit I was wondering if anyone still makes such things today? Paul

That's probably something to watch, but it's certainly not the issue with the current disaster - the paint was dry for weeks before I got round to glosscote... Paul

Every now and again, for no readily apparent reason, I get to the glosscoting bit prior to decal-ing, and I get a cracking kinda pattern on the glosscote. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to why it happens, as far as I can figure out - it'll happen with paints, colours and brands I've used a dozen time without issues, on models that were primed and not, of different brands, in different atmospheric conditions, etc, etc.... Does anyone have any advise as to what causes this, and thus how to prevent it? Paul

Does anyone know if there is a difference between this boxing of a Revell SR71: http://misterperturbed.blogspot.com/2011/0...l-unboxing.html ...which I gather is the same as the Monogram SR71.... and THIS boxing: http://ninjatoespapercraft.deviantart.com/...388212?offset=0 ...which I think is the Revell Germany one? They have different product numbers, but I don't know if there is any concrete difference between them? Paul

Don't panic, I think I've got a handle on the Blue Spitfire question.... But I do want to know something about Mk.Vs generally, and in particular reference to Malta Some Mk.Vs had clipped wings, some did not. When did this habit originate? Malta, it seemed, had a mix of Vbs and Vcs, with and without trop filters - would any of these have flown with clipped wings? Did any Vtrops ever fly with clipped wings anywhere? Paul

Damn, so they did! Great - That might cost me lots of money.... And the kit I've got is a different Hasgawa one! Aarrggh! Paul

I might do that - but why is bravery required?!? Paul

Thanks Andy, Now at least I know they exist I will keep hunting....! Paul

Does anyone make these in 1/72? They're available here in 1/48.... http://www.theaviationworkshop.co.uk/mas90...2000-p-251.html ... but that seems to be the only scale I can find! Paul

They look good! Hooray problem solved Thanks - keeping supplied with pilots is a continual problem! Paul

Does anyone make sets of 1/72 bomber crews? With gunners, etc? I can't find any googling myself - even PJ Productions only seems to do pilots... Paul

Yes it is - for a start the fuselages are different diameters, so the Seahawk needs to slimmed and the Hunter graded up to get them to mesh. Plus the wings and tail are different to the Hunter. But I wanted mine to be a bit more developed and "Huntery" that the prototype 1081, so I went for something inbetween... Paul

>Its the old Revell EFA kit you need the bits from isn't it ? So would this work? http://www.hannants.co.uk/product/PAVV72065 Paul

Since I do all mine flying, I probably have enough landing gear to equip the whole run of 15! (if anyone needs them, just ask!) Paul

I built a 1081 out of a Hunter and a Seahawk: http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,30860.0.html Paul

Hi all, Martin said (on the whatif forum) "If there is enough interest. ie 15 plus people committing to buying one, I might consider making a new set of molds for a 2nd run. For the amount of RTV and resin needed you will be looking at a price in the range of at least £30 plus postage." Last I checked we had 5 sign-ups! Anybody else? Paul PS Just to keep things neat, if you're interested best to say so here (if possible): http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,31033.0.html

Wooksta! Clean out your PM box! ("This message can not be sent because the recipient's inbox is full.") Paul