Jonny

Stu The XII fuselage is no good for a XIV, The nose is too short!

I read somewhere that the Germans were trying to produce aviation fuel from coaldust. It was to have powered unsopghsticated ram-jet style engines such as those intended for the P-13a. I wish I could remember where I'd read it! I built a Revell boxed 1/48 scale version of this some time ago (since lot during a house move, worse luck). I think it was a reboxing of another manufacturer's offering. Your's looks really good, wbk666. Congratulations!

I'd love an Injection moulded Javelin - any mark! Interestingly (?) in the current Airfix Model World there's an interview with Darrell Burge, Airfix's Marketing Manager. He says he has a 'rolling 5 year plan' for new products so knows what will be released up to the end of 2014 and has a fair idea what the 'star' products will be up to 2017. He speaks of a team which "buys finished goods from our factory in India". It's failrly clear that he won't give any clues about what is in the pipeline (not unreasonably, I suppose!). Not sure if this helps, but a nice letter to Mr, Burge suggesting a model and scale might not come amiss. There's no suggwestion in the interview that modellers are asked what they'd like, which I find disappointing.

I had a look at the Nimrods at Duxford at the last Flying Legends airshow. I've also seen the new Fury which was there over the winter. I'm pretty sure that the Nimrod's wheels are bigger, too, apart from the larger wingspan. The Nimrod 1 does have 'straight' wings but TBH I can't say whether or not the tailplane is wider. Ive been collecting bits to make a Nimrod myself. One of these days I'll get round to it! HTH, Jonny

Did this aircraft retain its wing cannon while the RAF was test-flying it? I read somewhere that all armament was removed. But I'm not sure if that relates to 'this' one or to DG200 (now in the RAF museum, Hendon). I'm asking for the obvious reason - I have the 'Club' kit in my stash an it keeps waving at me suggesting it's time I made a start on it! Cheers.

Seriously & sincerely & delighted to see you back!! I hope very much that you didn't think we were all hounding you. None of us was. I trhink we were all genuinly concerned. Nuff said?

I was really enjoying watching this build. So sorry we haven't heard anything from you for so long, Nobby. I hope everythging's OK.

Oh that's good. I'm sure I asked and was told they won't be there! Many thanks for the heads-up.

I'm going to Farnborough on Saturday. Does anyone know if there will be any modelling-related trade stands there? It's years since I last went there but I seem to remember there were some trade stands. Unfortunately, the few traders I've been in touch with say that it's far too expensive for them to rent space. So - anyone know if I'm likely to be able to buy items to increase my stash? ASny and all answers gratefully received. Jonny

Jon - I can understand about ensuring that your cat doesn't cause damage, but however do you manage to use your dining table?? I have a 'workroom' (SWMBO calls it a tip, and she's right) but if I **dare** try to use the dining or kitchen tables for anything but eating it's ... well, a fate worse than death (ask how I know). Interested mind at work, etc. John sent me 'my' Demon which arrived the other day. It's truly a lovely, high-quality kit. I had forgotten just how detailed John's research and construction notes are. If only certain otheder manufacturers took so much care. I've been wartching your build with great interest. I'm going to use iot as my guide when I get round to building my own Demon. Thanks for sharing your build with us. Jonny

Ah!! Many thanks. I thought it might be the Airfix one, that I saw in my local Hobbycraft store. Cheers

Hi ... SO WHICH KIT IS IT PLEASE??? I might have missed a reply but I don't think Erwin's question was answered! Super work, though. I love the trooper in the door waiting for his predecessor to fall away ... Brilliant. Cheers, Jonny

Hi, Chris - any chance of a few more in-build piccies? I have the kit (it's the Vista boxing, and a date-stamp on the boxlid is 3-VIII-1994!!) but not the Airwaves update. Having looked at your pics and the kit I'm beginning to wonder how much time can be justified in scratchbuilding an interior. Might get away with a greygreen interior and a few blaclk boxes here & there! I'm sure yours will turn out better - I'm just tossing ideas around ... Best of luck! Jonny

Well done, Karl!! The result is super. I shall bookmark your 'build' thread to use as reference for mine. Please take that as a compliment.

Good to see this. I have the Vista boxing which I found acting as loft insulation! I'll be watching this build carefully.

Hey, Woody - this is looking really great! I've been watching your posts very carefully, 'cos my Stirling's sitting in its box right here, while I pluck up courage to start it. I don't think I'd have thought of detailing the wheelbays but looking at yours has made me wonder. Same with the profile round the nose turret. It's so obviously necessary now you've pointed it out! Are you using Falcon transparencies of the kit ones, polished and Futured? I think you might have said 'Falcon' somewhere but I'm hoping I'm wrong. Cheers, and thanks for a super build.

Hi everyone! I'm not going to post pics of my stash (it's in 3 different places, two of which SWMBO isn't aware of - I hope). I've started to decant the contents of kit boxes into ziplok puuches, with the decals, instructions and the box lid. I store the pouches in large storage boxes. Well, most of them! This may reduce the resale value - if ever I can bear to be parted from them - but it does cut down a little on storage space! I've never dared inventory the actual stash. Looking at the cost of new & re-issued kits makes me think it represents a LOT of hard earned cash. That's all, for what it's worth! Jonny

Hi, Severus, As you'll have seen, I've taken the easy (???) option and ordered a Tempest update which (apart from sprucing up the original) will release the Tempest tailplanes for my Tiffie. Hopefully, in time, I'll have half decent models of the Typhoon and the Tempest. Thanks for your encouraging advice. Everyone: It's slowly dawned on me that this forum is lots more useful than buying magazines!! Where else can you get the advice from 'real' modellers for free? It's the interaction I find useful and very helpful. I've never sens a question asked and a response in the form "it must be obvious to even the most inexperienced modeller that .....". This sort of mutual suport just doesn't happen with the reviews one sees in the mainstream (and expensive) magazines. So thanks again to Severus and everyone else who contributes to Britmodeller!

Hi, Troy ... Actually, after I posted & before I saw your reply I managed to stumble onto the Alleycat Tempest update on A2Zee's website. It occurred to me that correcting the Tempest provides a 'spare's set of tailplanes which I thought might be persuaded to fit the Tiffie. I checked with Alistair, it's in stock so I put in my order and money. Here's hoping! Cheers, Jonny

Karl, I've suffered from white going decidedly 'off white' in the past. Did you use the 'drop of blue' you mentioned earlier? I hadn't heard that trick before ... Cheers, Jonny

HHHmmmmm - it made me think of a Mustang, with the squared-off wings, fin and tailplanes! This is looking seriously good, Karl. Wonderful work. I'll be starting my Tiffie soon. I don't think I have the skills to scratch build or convert the tailplanes to the larger Tempest ones and have been trying to source replacements. The only one's I've come across are in Holland ...

WELL SAID, Keefr22! I've cut down the magazines I buy. It's just 2 I buy regularly now, with one or two more if I see something in one that **really** interests me. I have to confess to looking at all of them in a certain High Street 'reading room' .... ! You know, it isn't just magazines that are pricing themselves out of my personal market - it's the cost of kits too. No way will I pay £30, £40 or more for a 1/72 scale kit. I'll just about pop £30 for a 1/48. I'm grateful to Revell Germany and Airfix (Humbrol) for launching new quality kits at sensible prices. I'll be watching what happens to Revell Germany's prices following the change of ownership. I'm also starting to appreciate the sze of my stash, and to look at pre-owned kits at airshows, too! Yes, and a HUGE thanks to Nobby and others for showing what can be done with an older and inaccurate kit. Rant mode OFF

That's very nice, Derek! Reminds me of visiting the Hall of Fame at Southampton - the S6B's there alongside a Spitfire Mk24. I'll keep an eye open fr theTestor's kit. I don't remember seeing one at the various trade stands I see at Airshows.

That was a great idea, Tony. What a shame the RAFM doesn't see it that way. Duxford does adequately highlight the sacrifices made by the USAAF / USAF by allocating a whole hangar so I see no reason a representative RAF Fort. shouldn't be in what is after all known as the RAF Museum Bomber Hall. The work of 100 group isn't represented there at all, so far as I recall (last visit mid-January!). How long ago did you ask them? It may be that minds have changed ...

Hey, Paul, that's great! I have a Revell B17 in my stash, but also an Airfix (actually a reboxed Academy) one, too. After reading your WIP and seeing the final result I've decided to build a 214 Squadron Fortress III myself. I'm going to use the Airfix / Academy kit and scratch anything else.. I've checked and the Revell Lancaster BI / BIII H2S radome fits (I know I'll have to deepen it). I haven't checked diameters or anything but I'm considering using a cut down Lancaster 'cookie' to form the basis of the 'Jostle' box. One thing - may I ask your advice please? The ball turret aperture: how did you fill it, please? A heads-up would be most welcome. My thoughts are to 'plank' iot inside & then again externally, making good with Milliput. But I'd love to know how you did it! Thanks for a very interesting WIP. Jonny