SeventySecond

I can possibly add another perspective to the starter kit debate. I am a CI in the ATC and supervise what they call aeromodelling. Unlike when I was in the ATC, hardly any of the cadets have ever made a model but they are keen to learn. I bought a variety of Airfix standard kits - Spitfire 1a, Hurricane, Fw190, P-51D, Bf-109E and the Hawk Red Arrows and Spitfire Vc starter kits. My experience over a 20 cadet sample size is that most beginners have struggled with the interior details of the standard kits, especially the Spitfire 1a, but really enjoyed the 2 starter sets as they could achieve a model they were happier with 1st time than with the standard kit. They then have more confidence in developing their skill with the more complex kits. Assuming it is accepted we need the younger generation to take up modelling for it to continue, I think Airfix are producing well thought out kits for the market they are aiming at and we are more likely to get new people to take up the hobby if they have a good initial experience. I won't be buying any of these for my own use, but I will be buying this starter kit in quantity for the inexperienced cadets as I have seen how they struggle with the standard P-51D.

I would be tempted by a 1/72 version in any markings, as in the late 80's and 90's I worked for the company at West Malling (when it was still an airfield and not a housing estate) who built and fitted all the interiors and sprayed the exteriors of the 340, so any original operator scheme would bring back good memories.

Hi Ian Happy to help, hope it works for you as it has for me. Seventysecond

They are simply stunning models and have raised the bar incredibly high for what is possible in 1/72. I have followed the build of these from the beginning and have been entertained and educated in equal measures by the WIP, so thank you for taking the time to share with us how you got there. Looking forward to whatever you do next even if you are wandering off from the best scale!

Hi Ian I have had one of these for more than twenty years and has given great service, doing the job very well. I have two airbrushes and have quick release valves on them, so I can leave them in the holder all the time. I would add these are Iwata gravity feed brushes and so sit side by side comfortably. https://airbrushes.com/product_info.php?cPath=400_14_416&products_id=870 Hope this helps Seventysecond

Robert Many thanks for the info and a good piece of lateral thinking using 1/48 decals to get the right size. Yes the control tower has protected status, although it is a little hemmed and has been turned into a café in the last time I was there. A lot of good memories though. Thanks again Seventysecond

Robert Both very nicely made and finished models, expecially in a nowhere to hide HSS finish. Also good to see a West Malling based aircraft, as I worked there in the lates 1980's and early 1990's before we were kicked out and had to move to Bigin Hill to make way for the Kings Hill housing development. If you don't mind me asking, where did you obtain the red code markings for the Meteor F3 bacause as you say the kit decals are black? Thanks Seeventysecond

It is just a shame that due to the limitations of the bricks that neither get close to the beautiful curves of a DB5

Great comparison photos from Tbolt and show exactly why am looking forward to seeing the Finemolds F-15 and I passed on the Platz version when I opened the box.

That is really nice and all the better for being 1/72nd 😀. Congratulations on a great build I have one of these kits to start and really like the blue/grey scheme, so very interested to know which of the Gunze C range paints you used - those as specified in kit instructions or did you (given there are no exact matches for the French colours) make your own variations?

Hi Mike i have a spare O ring for my eclipse and all the dimensions shown on your link are exactly the same, which you have probably checked, so it should fit ok. Therefore the only other factor will be the density of the rubber used. Given that you have some control on how much you squash the o ring on the eclipse I would really surprised if it doesn’t seal properly. I know you are getting 20 for £5 but unless you are selling them on I would doubt you would use anywhere close to 20 seals ( I have only used 1 in 15 years) so I guess it a decision on is the risk worth the £1 saving over getting certainty from the OEM part. hope this helps a bit and doesn’t add confusion Seventysecond

Not according to their emailed update last week FROM ARMA HOBBY: "(...)Today I would like to share more information about what is happening behind our office and warehouse doors. It will be about news, plans and prices. The Ki-84 Hayate Expert Set is selling surprisingly well, better than the Mustang P-51 B / C at its launch. There are not many models left from the first enlarged production run, and within a month, we will be preparing a second edition of the kit. In June, we will release the Ki-84 Model Kit edition with two colour options and without photoetched parts and masks. We can see that many interests aroused camouflage with "giraffe-like" spots. There is a discussion on the Internet about the techniques of its implementation. Rafhart (polish Youtuber) even posted a tutorial on his channel (you can find an article with photos and a video on the model's page on our blog, link). Write to me please about what you would like to receive for painting this camouflage: masks or decals? We are also considering making a mask template to download from our website. What do you prefer? Articles about Hayate link The Mustang F-6C reconnaissance version is waiting for photo-etched parts. The model was supposed to come out this week, but the transport of etchings has been travelling from the Czech Republic for a month, and Post lost it somewhere in a warehouse. Our supplier wanted to save us a cost and did not send the plates by courier. We hope etched parts will reach us within a few days, and we will start shipping the pre-orders. You'll find a great #armastory article about the F-6C by Robert Bourlier on the blog. Articles about the F-6C Mustang http://armahobbynews.pl/en/blog/tag/nr70040-en/ Plans Unfortunately, we must revise our release plans. The 1/72 model of the aircraft planned for June will not be ready until July. Therefore, we are postponing its release to the beginning of September. We decided not to launch the model during the holidays. Hurricane 1/48 expected in September will therefore go into October. The P-51D Mustang 1/72 would be available at Christmas or New Year. The plans are, of course, indicative. We hope that nothing will stop the news from being released. I feel awkward not being able to announce the date clearly. Unfortunately, we do not have the production process under complete control yet. Our moulds are made in Poland, and there is a lack of processing capacity in the tool workshop, mainly due to the lack of qualified employees. Model prices We are faced with the need to change the prices of models. Due to inflation, we are trying to fit between the scissors of rising costs and keep retail prices unchanged. Unfortunately, the situation on the market is pressing us more and more. From June 1, we will increase the prices of the Model Kit and Limited Edition models. We are also considering resigning from photo-etched plates in Expert Set models in the future, keeping the retail price as much as possible without an increase while leaving a wide selection of decals and masks. Such a solution is encouraged by the quality of details in our moulded parts, which increases from model to model, making the photoetched parts less needed. Tell me what you prefer, keep the price or the etched details, please? "Spring Cleaning" Special Offer Be sure to check out our online store. Before the end of May, we clean the warehouse of the overstock of Eduard, Hobby2000 and Tamiya models and some Hataka paint and Arma Hobby Limited Edition models. See how you can buy 361 products with a discount from 10% to even 25% link. Each purchase supports the development of Arma Hobby! See the terms of promotion in the store link and available products link. Yours Wojtek Bulhak Arma Hobby" V.P.

IIRC yes they were 1/72 first, so this will be the first time Hornby era Airfix will have "downscaled" a 1/48 kit

Hi Dominic I was able to be part of your father's funeral service last Thursday via the online link and I just wanted to say how well you and the rest of your family did in the words you all spoke in tribute to him. It must have been a difficult day, but you gave him a fitting send off. I only really knew him from his modelling work, so it was a revelation to find out all of his other interests. As you have probably realised your father was incredibly well liked and respected so hopefully that is a comfort to you.

A very nice Spitfire and in my opinion you have overall colour right. I did the same aircraft a few years ago using the Tamiya 1/72 kit and all the research I found was that the colour was more off white than pink as the name suggests and I did more or less exactly what you did, putting a drop of red into a whole pot of Tamiya white. I also added the gun port covers to give some variety and at the time I did not find anything definitive to say if they were or were not applied , however I have since seen a picture that suggest they were not used, but as they say - they are our models.

To me it is the same quality printing and paper as the last two double month editions. The cover on my Dec issue has a slightly less glossy sheen to it than the previous two. 82 pages including the covers

As I have mentioned before I am a SAMI subscriber and to my surprise the Dec 21 issue arrived in the post today. This was without any chasing or prompting so hopefully other subscribers will receive theirs soon.

That is just lovely, well done Libor

Hi Smudge Try this https://drallim.com/sacru1/ . If this doesn't work PM me and I will send you the PDF drawing. As for the frame the best (and only) picture I can find is on page 30 of the Warpaint on the Sea King (No95) where there is a shot of a HC4 carrying a Snowcat and you can see the frame. Cargo Aids had nothing to do with the frame it was a Westland design and build and from memory it wasn't used much as it only increased the weight that could be carried from 6,000lb to 8,000lb. The fitment of cables on the frame was much the same as the standard fitment of the SACRU on the Sea King. i.e. four individual cables from the underside of the airframe to shackles on the SACRU. The main operation of the SACRU was electrical so there is an electrical connection from the hook to the airframe and them a cable operated back up to the other side of the hook. Finally there were very thin cables that allowed the SACRU to be stowed up under the aircraft when not in use, but I think you could leave those off. Hope this helps

Back in the 80's I used to work for the company that made the SACRU hooks (and the QRC used throughout the forces). They went by the name of Cargo Aids and were part of the Drallim group of companies. They are still going and on their website you can get good reference pictures and dimensions if you want to scratch build one, which may be an option for you. Here is the link https://drallim.com/sacru1/ and if you download the PDF you get the full dimensions

Mine was fine, although it was in a flimsy clear poly bag, rather than a paper envelope, so it didn't get much protection from the postal process.

As some of you will recall I am also a SAMI subscriber and experienced the same non-delivery issues as everybody else, however I did get an email from Mark this Tuesday following my latest chase up saying the replacement Aug/Sept would be with me by the end of the week and to my surprise it has landed with today's post. I was surprised as I, like many, had given up on seeing it. In Mark's reply on Tuesday he did say that the Oct issue would be sent out at the end of this week and they are trialling a new postal service, so hopefully we may see the Oct issue next week.

Just a minor update - today's post just arrived and no sign of the elusive (to subscribers) Aug/Sept issue.

I am a SAMI subscriber and not received the combined Aug/Sept issue as yet. I did get a reply from Mark at MA earlier this week to say if I didn't get it by this weekend to let him know and he would arrange a replacement, which seems to indicate he hasn't that much faith in the delivery service he is using.

I am also a subscriber to SAMI and waiting for June issues onwards. I also received exactly the same reply as KLN posted above to a chase query I made today. When I checked if "all issues" included August as well, Mark replied that it would. Given all the other emails I have had with delivery estimates that have proved not to have been met I have very little confidence that this will happen, so have posted this just in case it helps others. Even if this does happen and we get them soon after the 22nd September, in the "old SAMI " delivery schedule we would be expecting to receive the October issue at this time.