Learstang

Your father had belt! We used to dream about being thrashed to sleep with belt! Our Dad had to use a live pig to strike us about the head and neck with until we passed out from the pain and the loss of blood. And you had a crust of stale bread... Jason (Secretly a Yorkshireman)

Blimey, now there's a carrot for one of Baldrick's 'Sunday Surprise' stews! Best Regards, Jason P.S. The Blinder was one good-looking deathtrap! And the Blackburn Blackburn was a well-liked, good-flying aeroplane. Just shows that looks aren't everything in aeroplane design.

Thank you for the clarification, Graham! I'm afraid my knowledge of the V bombers is not as good as my knowledge of the Soviet post-war bombers. So, the Valiant was designed after the Victor and Vulcan. I'll have to make sure I have all that correct in my Tu-16 book, when I mention contemporaneous (to the Tu-16) medium jet bombers. Regarding the Sperrin, 'ugly duckling' though she may have been, I wish someone would come out with an IM plastic kit of her. Best Regards, Jason

Actually, gentlemen, at the time the Valiant and Vulcan were being designed (the Victor was a bit later), Andrey Tupolev was designing the excellent Tu-16 Badger, which in developed form (the Chinese H-6K), still continues in service. I'm finishing up a book on the Tu-16 now, so I felt I had to put in a good word for this truly great medium bomber and its designer, Tovarish Tupolev. Za Rodinu! Best Regards, Jason

You are correct, Bill! The mandrill is a very colourful character both coming and going. So, what's the 40 bags of mulch for - are you planting Sherwood Forest in your backyard? Best Regards, Jason

I think we've been through this before, Bill, do not, I repeat DO NOT mistake a mandrel for a mandrill! A mandrill is a very large monkey with a technicolor face and nasty pointed teeth that does not like being used as a tool for making model aeroplanes. Best Regards, Jason

I rather like the 'carrots', as they give the Victor a sort of Soviet 'Tupolev' look (maybe a 'Viktor'?). Best Regards, Jason

Brilliant build of the H.P.42! She looks good in the camouflage and yellow finish! Regards, Jason

It sure hurt my feelings! Who else does a full resin cockpit for a Hasegawa P2V-7 Neptune? And they did a lot of other aftermarket bits, some of which I've used. I don't care what their kits were like, I miss their aftermarket items. I'm so glad it didn't hurt your feelings...

Beautiful job on that Fairey IIIF! Regards, Jason

Very nice! I like both those schemes, especially the Soviet one. Just as a bit of an historical aside, the Soviets tested both the B-26 Marauder and the B-25 Mitchell. They rejected the B-26 (probably because of its less than outstanding landing characteristics), but couldn't get enough of the B-25, using in all nearly 900, although they would have used many more if America had sent them more. The Soviets appreciated the toughness, crew comfort (especially as compared to their Il-4/DB-3F), navigational equipment, and strong gun armament of the B-25, and its ability to operate from rough airfields. Regards, Jason

Excellent job on that attractive little jet! I have one of these I plan to build for my Suez collection. Regards, Jason

Great work as always, Libor! Was the kit that bad or was it just normal limited-run type issues (sand, fit, sand again...)? I ask as I've seriously thought about buying this kit (I built the Frog kit decades ago, and I have the MPM kit). For some strange reason, I've always liked the Barracuda. Regards, Jason

I've always loved the aircraft of the Spanish Civil War, and that is an amazing collection! Best Regards, Jason

Brilliant job on the Ar-65! I have this very kit and plan to do this scheme - at least your example will give me something to aim for, if not achieve. Regards, Jason

A remarkable collection indeed! I especially like to see the Soviet WWII aircraft and the Spanish Civil War aircraft. I see your collection of Moscas (I-16s) takes up an entire row and includes the prototype with its skis and three-bladed propeller! Best Regards, Jason

In response to the General's message; 'Oh, dear!'. I hate to disappoint Darling, who is no doubt salivating over the prospect of smacking a man's bum, but I've decided better of my nefarious plan of nicking all your models, General, and passing them off as my own. It never would have worked anyway. The moment people didn't see my traditional gluey fingerprint on the cockpit canopies, the jig would be up. Bestest as Always, Jason

That reminds me of my Mediocratic Oath! Best, or should I say as Well as I Can Be Bothered to Do, Regards, Jason

Thankfully all pictures of my models posted on the Interwebs are of such an horrific nature that I seriously doubt anyone's going to nick them and claim them as their own. Mediocrity is its own reward at times. Best Regards, Jason

You gents might be on to something. We could have the General make all our models for us, or at least most of them (including all the difficult bits), but we would then take possession of them and claim credit for them! And modelling need no longer cut into our valuable bitters-swilling time at the pub! It's a win-win situation! (Mind you, I may have forgotten someone in my equation.) Best Regards, Jason

I have built this kit, and it's actually a pretty nice kit, especially if you wish to build a post-war arrow with the rear metal fuselage (for example, a Yugoslavian Il-2). I built mine as a GPW aircraft, so I had to sand down the rear fuselage panel lines, which wasn't that difficult. It is definitely not 1/48th scale, though, as Chris points out! Best Regards, Jason

Well, it looks like I'll need to update my book! I shall be spending some time looking over this information. Thank you, gentlemen (including Dr. Rodionov), for providing it! Best Regards, Jason

Beautiful! The Skystreak is one of my favourite aeroplanes, and I have this kit. I'm very glad to hear it is a good kit. I also have the Skyrocket but I can't recall if it has the optional jet engine or just the rocket engine. Best Regards, Jason

I didn't realise you were such a Victor boffin, Your Generality! I actually have this kit, although I've not gone any further than lovingly looking at the contents and wondering when I'd ever get to it. Still, I had the other two V-bombers already, so a new-mould Victor was a given. Having Bill construct one will show me how it's done. It won't make any difference in terms of my making a total bodge of it, but still, it's nice to see how it should be built. With your knowledge of the beast, and Bill's modellistic talents, I expect nothing less than a show-stopper of a model. Wait a tick! You said you're on holiday, and His Martianship said something about taking you to Mars to show you about... You're not on Mars, are you? Please pick me up a few rocks for my collection - plenty of boring old Earth rocks (for this boring old Earth geologist), but none from the Red Planet. And do remember to dress warmly - Mars can be wretchedly cold this time of year (or any other time of year). By the by, dreadfully sorry to hear about the passing of your Babel Fish! One does become rather attached to the slimy little things. I remember when my late Babel Fish, Rupert passed away; I was inconsolable for weeks. As Always, Yours, etc. Jason

Yes, where is the good General? We can hardly have proper banter without him about. I mean who else will I talk to about monkeys on the ceiling and cabbage crates over the briny or some such nonsense don't you know? Best Regards, Jason