Jonny

Kev67 ... Do you mean '3M 471 ...' ? I Googled the 'M3 ...' and the 'hits' were all for 3M, as indeed were the Ebay ones too. It looks good, I've just ordered a roll ... only 33 metres but should last a week or lots! Thanks for the tip. Jonny

For what it's worth (not a lot, probably), after a day or three of 'NO 500' or other odd messages, today I've had 3 or 4 of the 500 ones. No big problem, just refresh and everything's normal. Weird or what? Jonny

It's just happened again. 11:35-ish morning December 12. UPDATE, The posting appeared OK and a minute later I was out of BM, replaced by Google!

To me too, unfortunately. I *think* I've experienced it before, some time ago. On this last occasion it appeared immediately I logged in. No big idea - more an irritant than show stopper. Windows 10 with Firefox. Both regularly checked for updates, etc. Jonny

Nick ... Your modelling to date looks great. You could save yourself a bit of trouble by buying an Xtradecal sheet X48144 - one of Bader's 242 Sqdn Hurricanes (V7467) is featured - along with 4 other BoB Hurricanes. It's currently out of stock at Hannants but their website indicates it'll be back soon - or you could try looking at a certain well known online auction site! Hope this helps, Jonny

Hi, Harrygt40 ... One other idea came to mind ... IF you can find someone with an unbuilt 1/72 model TSR2, ask if they can have it copied using 3D printing, scaled up to 1/48. Sadly my knowledge of 3D printing is limited to watching a demonstration at my local Computer club quite a while ago now but it migt be feasible to reproduce the part you need by this means. Welcome to Britmodeller, by the way. You'll find it's a mine of mostly expert help and advice! HTH, Jonny

Not sure I like this approach. Not only does it affect newsagents by not supplying them with copies to sell, but MA Publications apply a quite high 'Post-and-packing' charge. I only realised when I started to buy the November SAMI. Sorry, but I abandoned the whole thing. SAMI is usually quite good but not, in my view, worth over £7 a pop.

I was at Duxford yesterday too. It seems that that it was the last 'airshow' of the season, and the only show I've managed to get to this year. Like Alpha Delta 210 I've splashed out to sit in N3200 (with camera too!) next month which will be the 3rd Spitfire I've sat in! One must hope that something will fill the hole in the Duxford calendar left by Flying Legend's departure. Yesterday was the first 'showcase' I've been to - I hope it won't be the last. There were LOTS of aeroplanes out in the open and the flying show was good - no-one's fault that the weather wasn't exactly good. It stopped raining at the start and held off until the end - I just had time to get the camera into my bag before it came down again. Great pics, AD210. I concentrated on the 'static' and walked through the hangars. Jonny

Well, it’s good ... no, GREAT, to see you back in the fold, Procopius ... welcome back - I was beginning to fear that this COVID horror might have claimed you, I’m so very pleased it hasn’t. What I’ve always enjoyed in your postings here is your mix of good modelling and a little of your personal / home / family life. Sometimes the latter shows a certain discord but, well, that’s real life. God preserve us all from that changing. How is your new home? Do tell us all a little about it, together with your modelling. Once again, welcome back! Jonny

There's N3200 owned by IWM and kept at Duxford - a Mk. 1a HTH, Jonny

Thank you, Neil ... It hurts like hell but I'm trying to recall ALL of the many good times we shared in a littlke over 35 years together. It's just that the more recent horrible few months are still too vivid. I'm trying, praying I'll be able to push those unwelcome memories into the background and keep the good ones. Cheers, Jonny

HHHHmmmm I'll have a look at the November edition in the 'High Street Library' and if it - and the December edition - look goods I *might* start a new Subscription. The 'incoming editorial team' is strong, a very good sign. I wish them (the new team) and SAM the very best of luck. Jonny

This all reminds me of two super birthday presents my wife gave me ... first an hour's flight in a Tiger Moth from Duxford (her mum was with us and as I left them to walk out to the aeroplane I'm sure I heard mum-in-law saying "where do they keep the anti-aircraft guns?" I *might* be wrong) ... but almost an hour of poodling around Duxford was a wow. The second was what we call a 'significant birthday' when she treated me to a taxi ride in NX611 at East Kirkby. On the way there we stopped at RAF Coningsby to visit the BBMF, then to the Petwood Hotel at Woodhall Spa (I paid for that) before going to East Kirkby for my taxi-ride. What a day ... back to the Petwood (I paid again, well worth it) for anothe super dinner and B&B before coming home by way of the Newark Air museum. Overall my best birthday present ever. Sadly there won't be any more - my wife died early in August (NOT thanks to Covid-19). But I treasure the memory of those presents. I can fully understand Alpha Delta 210's joy and his remaining smile ... mine took ages to wear off! Well done, lovely photos and thanks for sharing them.

Probably a sensible decision given the ongoing 'Virus news'. I'm very sorry though. This is the first time in so many years I daren't count them that I haven't been to ANY airshows. I am sorry for Duxford, though - they must have put a lot of energy and thought into both the airshow and Proms.

Thank you very much, Mark Jonny

It wasn’t a ‘transfer to ‘Friends of the IWM ‘ it was to become Members of the IWM, which means we get free entry to any of the IWM sites. Fair enough but the last time I looked several sites were already free. FoD arranged trips abroad, e.g. to Arnhem. IWM does not. We (FoD) used to enjoy worthwhile discounts on anything, including meals, bough during skits. The IWM discounts are considerably lower.. I’m not really convinced that a long trip to IWM North is worthwhile. I’ve a limited interest in anything not related to aviation. It always struck me that what made Duxford so enjoyable was the several changes that occurred ... most of which were thanks to the resident private collections (and ARC). The IWM museum didn’t positively change its exhibits, what changes it made were actually negative - e.g. removal of the midget submarine, the MTB, the Wurzburg, etc. I don’t know if it’s true that the Land Warfare museum is to be closed but it seems possible (where will the exhibits go?) MY FoD membership was an annual birthday present from my wife, who carried on with the much-valued gift when it became Members of the IWM. Very sadly my wife died early August this year. So shall I renew my membership in 2021 myself? NO. Flying Legends was a super show, now it’s gone we’re left with a rather series of IWM airshows which I don’t think are worth attending. It occurs to me that Bentwaters might be a suitable venue, although the last time I went the access roads were horrible. But Woodbridge might be suitable?

Pete ... Where oh where did you find Jever Pilsner? I was once at a (British) borading school in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, not too far from the then RAF Jever. That was handy for the CCF, of course. We were able to sneak out of school to a local hostelry occasionally - strictly out of bounds - where we could imbibe Jever Pilsner. I only found out years later at a school reunion in Wilhelmshaven, while chatting to one of my old teachers, that the staff all knew where we were, who we were, and what we were drinking (the teacher I was talking to used the same hostelry but had the sense to turn a Nelsonian blind eye when we walked in) ... . Anyway, I'd love to sample the Pilsner again. So where, PLEASE, did you buy yours? Bestest, JonnyPS Apologies for a rather clumsy ‘thread drift’. Memory playing up, too dominant!

Thank you, Troy! Jonny

I was always under the impression that RAF fighters had yellow leading edge bands as a recognition aid, not to help groundcrew avoid walking into a wing in 'pre-dawn darkness', as stated in the caption attached to the first photo. Am I wrong? Gentle replies welcome! Jonny

Thanks for sharing your photos, John ... I've never seen the Fauvel AV36 before, is it a Shuttleworth aeroplane, or just based there, or was it even visiting 'just for the day'? Good photos too, by the way!! Jonny

Megga thanks to Tony who sent photos and a description of what he did to build his GR.3 - now I can start building mine - which *might* end up in French colours ... I've a set of decals. Thanks for all that, Tony! Jonny

Aplogies if this has been covered before (I have tried searching in Britmodeller and in the Internet!) but - some later marks of the Lancaster had two windows to the rear of the port side, and one in the starboard side entrance door. The latter is easy to make but could someone please tell me how far ahead of the tailplane the port windows are? I say the tailplane 'cos that's a fixed datum point - the end of the fuselage ahead of the rear turret would do as an alternative. I’m using a 1/72 Airfix kit, by the way. Many thanks in advance, In hope, Jonny

It's a Noptikal Illushun, as some in the trade might say. Isn't it?

This is probably too late, but I bought the July 2030 ‘Flypast’ this morning. There’s a super article “Maritime Hunter” all about the RAF Coastal B.17s in it. Just saying, Jonny

Another reason might be that the Spitfire was designed for point defence in the UK, a small island. Consider the hugeness of the USA. The Spitfire simply didn't have the range that I suspect the USAAC wanted & needed. There is the matter of 'Not Invented Here' too. I seem to remember reading that Ford declined to build Merlins because of some anti-empire views held by Henry (I might be wrong here)/