cngaero

Hi Mark, I can't help with your Hunter query, but with regard to the Lightning, as soon as I read it, a light bulb flashed in my little brain and I remembered reading somewhere that 92 Squadron had the tail fin and spine painted in ultramarine blue. I hope that helps and doesn't just muddy the waters. Chris.

That's what the swear box is for on the end of the modelling bench🙂. It's kept me in paints, glues and transfers for years. My daughter used to call it dad's piggy bank, SWMBO still calls it the pillock bank. It seems that I never learn. Chris.

A fine and timely tribute.

Ahhh! Normal service has resumed.

I'd certainly second that statement. I can't begin to imagine the stresses and strains that those young men faced night after night. Many, if not most of the crews, were much younger than my youngest son who is 27. Could I have done that? Who knows. It is important to remember that the 55,573 young men who sadly gave their lives, did so in the genuine hope that they were shortening the war in order to minimise the casualty rates of all sides. Bless them all. Chris.

The Stirling Project also have their own website if you don't want to use the Facepaint route and I can't say that I blame you on that score.

There is a wealth of information to be had browsing the Stirling Aircraft Project page on Facebook, with lots of detailed images of rebuilt portions of the cockpit and various crew stations.

A wonderful day spent watching the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III. I was and still am, very proud to be British. Seconded for Penny Mordant, a very important role carried out to perfection. Well done to her.

I'm speechless, honestly. That is a vast aray of dedicated hard work. A truly impressive display indeed. May I enquire as to the source of your display cabinets?

Lovely collection of Hunting Percival's finest. I particularly like the Prentice and the Pembroke.

Great looking Spitfire.

I seem to recall Phil Flory review a boxed set of paints by one of the manufacturers which were in a set of either 6 or 8 and which were a range of black shades. I can't for the life of me remember the manufacturer though, sorry.

I'm sure Mr Potter will be extremely to receive this beautiful model. Well done.

They certainly did, it's a shining example of what hard work and elbow grease can do 😄

That's a lovely dose of nostalgia. Your charming little JP brings back lots of happy memories for me as it was one of my favourite Airfix kits in my early days of modelling. Thank you for sharing it. Chris.

I seem to remember reading in a book on the Queen's Flight that the Andovers were eventually painted to protect the aluminium skinning due to constant polishing.

I've always liked the Gina's elegant lines. Your build of the old Aeroclub kit certainly has done justice to both. The finish you have achieved is superb.

Albion Alloys did a nifty couple of little gadgets called the Cutter and Strutter. The Cutter was a simple little gadget that helped you accurately cut their metal tubes and rods. Once cut, you placed the rod (cut slightly longer) inside the tube and placed them between both parts of the Strutter, which was then placed between the jaws of your small bench vice and nipped them together and hey presto, there was a strut. It would be great for the larger biplane types, such as Contrails gorgeous old flying boats. Unfortunately I haven't seen it advertised recently, which with hindsight is probably of no earthly use to you, but it did exist, honest. Chris.

In my spare time, I sit as a Magistrate in the criminal courts and we occasionally have to consider requests from Counsel to withhold certain details of the case in front of us whenever members of the media are present. This particular case, because of it's seriousness would have been held in the Crown Court in front of a Judge and Jury, but the same principles apply. In accordance with the open justice principle, the general rule is that all court proceedings must be held in open court to which the public and the media have access. Where the statutory conditions are met, the court must make a judgement, balancing the need for the reporting restriction against the public interest in open justice and freedom of expression. The need for any order must be established by clear and cogent evidence and the terms of any order must be proportionate, going no further than is necessary to meet the statutory objective. Chris.

Not a long enough sentence.

Sad, sad news. I've always enjoyed his humour which was the golden thread throughout his life and in all his many guises. He excelled as Lily Savage, in his comedy acting, his tv shows and in his Radio 2 show. However, the love and compassion he displayed in his animal programmes showed the genuine warmth of the man and his real love of animals. So much to offer, so much still to do, but taken far too soon. RIP Paul. Chris.

I too am considering buying one of these. From what I understand, the Combat Kits model of the Short Belfast is based on the old Magna kit, but from photographs seem to be worlds apart from the original. I have the Magna kit in the stash and it is quite basic in terms of detail and the castings, particularly the fuselage are very rough. The Combat Kits version looks to be quite refined in this respect, but either way, it will be a heavy model when completed. I'm currently trying to work out the modellers calculation of cost x effort x time x willpower = display, whereby the additional cost of the Combat kit may reduce the values of effort x time x willpower to a more manageable sum and a quicker display. Either way, she's still a hefty lass. Chris.

Sad news Steve, yet another brave warrior laid to rest. Blue Skies Sir and thank you for your service. Thanks for sharing this Steve. Chris.

Don't give up Paul, take a break yes, but don't do anything drastic. By all means thin out some of your stash, we've all got too many kits if we're being honest! I'll be hitting 68 this year. My arthritis in my knees and hips together constant lower back pain mean that the extended modelling sessions are a thing of the past, but an hour here and there is fine. My eyesight means the use of three pairs of glasses for driving, for reading and for modelling and it's a pain in the bum when the pair I need isn't at hand. I had always had great expectations of building up and displaying a huge collection of British military aircraft. I managed to build up a huge collection of kits, getting them built just didn't happen. I only managed to complete 9 models last year, but I no longer set targets or goals now and I enjoy what I'm doing all the more. Thinning out your collection of kits and part used transfer sheets may lighten your spirits. Keep your chin up Sunshine. Chris.

That's a little beauty. It looks every inch a JP. Chris.