Mr T

Thanks for the photo, I printed the same one yesterday together with some more from the AP from a Radio Control Model website. The seats look more like baking trays than the upholstered efforts in the kit.

Having had a Novo Hotspur that has been in the stash since 1978 when it was bought form Redgates of Sheffield in a clearance for 15p, it is probably time to build it as it remembers the original Mrs T (who was never Mrs T on account of being a doctor and was only around for a couple of years) . The decals have gone west, but being Novo, this is probably no great loss. Overall the kit is not too bad condition wise, the plastic is a beigeish grey with some flash and the skids are damaged, but they were when I bought it. The canopy id not good and will be replaced buy a Vacform one from Falcon and I will use the Blackbird decal sheet although the fuselage roundel will need replacing for which I will use a spare from a Sword Spitfire Vc as it is a good match colourwise I have made a start by replacing some the raised panel lines with engraved ones and thinning the rudder, elevator and ailerons as they look very bulky if left. two big ejector marks in the cockpit have also been filled as I will add some detail, currently the two Frogmen are meant to sit in comfy looking chairs with no means of control over the aircraft. will need some proper detailing from scratch in keeping with the age of the kit. The keen eyed amongst you will note in places I have been a bit ham-fisted with the scribe, which why filler was invented.

A BBC drama trailer earlier this year showed bits of it as part of their 2019 drama series, so probably later this year.

According to to the old Ducimus Camouflage and Markings publication on the Meteor, the late James Goulding stated that the prototypes were finished in Dark Green and Ocean Grey with Yellow undersides. The photos show a fighter type Sky band. Prototype aircraft were sometimes finished on their uppersurfaces according to their role, for example colour photos of the early Sea Fury prototype show Temperate Sea Scheme with Yellow undersides.

Greetings from just over the border in West Yorkshire. Sci Fi is not usually my bag, but nice models.

They also dd an E Type Jag. I had one for Christmas in about 1965-6

I had designed up for a Hotspur build ages ago, but not on list. Do you still want one?

On the way to Scotland passed an early 1960s Hillman Minx and in Wooler a WWII Jeep. In Kelso two SAAB 96, one in a very bright metallic green. Also a Red Jaguar XK140 and 'E' Type coupe. Also a lot of motorcycles came through of all makes.

You have got off to a good start. I once started the 1/72nd Contrail version about 1980, but gave up on it as it had some serious shape errors, especially at the front end and at the time I was not in a position to undertake major scratchbuilfing. Yours looks much better shape wise. Looking seriously at my AIM Hastings.

R prefix reg Skoda Felicia, have not seen one in ages.

When I used to use Xtracolour, I thinned them with a mix of white spirit and added a small amout of cellulose thinners, which helped the paint dry better. Xtracolour needs stirring a awful lot and first coats often take a while to dry.

Best of luck with it, if you have not built a vacform kit before you may find a Contrail kit a bit of a steep learning curve as they can be a bit variable in quality. I think you scratch building skills will be useful. I still shudder thinking about the Merlin kit of the same aircraft that cane complete with part of the mould embedded in one of the fuselage sections.

Found the article in Air Enthusiast number 38, written by Ken Delve. He states the the aircraft were armed and provides a photo of ML772 taken at Shanghai from NJ176 during the crisis that clearly shows the code letter, but no guns, presumably removed after the damage that necessitated the return to Hong Kong for repairs

Thanks Tony, somewhere in old Air Enthusiast there was an article about the Sunderlands and the Yangtse Incident, I will have to look for it.

Having recently bought the kit from an emporium in Halifax, I will watch this with interest. I plan on building mine as one of the aircraft involved in the Yangtse Incident. I understand the aircraft turrets were armed for these missions.

Thanks for that, so no role suffix and Mark number. Lightning FG1 sounds better to me

On the A17 at Sutton Bridge on the way back home, a J reg open top Triumph Spitfire in that weird maroon brown seen on early 70's British Leyland cars

A good point, I suppose you could argue that as the Lockheed Lightning never entered service with the RAF, then the F35B is legitimately the Lightning II as far as the RAF is concerned. BTW, anyone know what the official designation given to the British F35B Lightning is?

Thanks for all of the kind comments. As a kit it tried my patience and I consider myself a very patient person. At one stage I did wonder whether to bother with or not. Part of the problem are the instructions with part numbers that do not match the plastic provided and which involve some head scratching to work out. Alignment of the booms is also not easy.

Happy day today in Norfolk. MrsT and daughter drive into Wells Next the Sea and I walked along the coastal path from Stiffkey. Beautiful weather and peace. Had an excellent coffee in Wells and another nice walk this pm. Came across a launching site for radio controlled aircraft used as targets for AA training

I would be interested in a set of engines etc. as I have the kit and some S&M?decals for the Queens Filght and an Aeroclud set of props and undercarriage.

On the way down to North Norfolk yesterday evening and a pale blue 'F'reg (67) MGB was coming the other way. Also a Jowett Javelin in layby with the bonnet up😕 About 15 mins ago we stopped outside where we are staying in Stiffkey and overtaken by a hardtop 'J' red bright red E Type Jaguar.

The Comet was no different to any large aircraft of its era, no matter where built and no relation to the decision by British Governments to give independence to territories it controlled. Not saying any further beyond a broad statement of history.

I had completely forgotten about the VC10 kit, but I am pretty sure I had one. The silver plastic was quite tough as I remember.

Planted out my the rest of veggie plants today as we are away at the weekend.while Alison (Mrs T) planted out a lot of other plants and so looking forward to watching them grow.