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Denford

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Everything posted by Denford

  1. Sounds logical, but they normally send out their mailing on Sundays. That is the day on which the week starts, and so would be next week. However we've been told this week, so it must be tomorrow, the only day left. If anyone in Hannants, with 'influence' reads this could they please, next time, give an actual date when the announcement would be made.
  2. The more I contemplate my rather hurried earlier posting, the more I'm convinced it should be a Venom FB 1. per Wiki' 375 built, yet I'm not sure this variant has ever been issued in kit form! Surely lots of users (indeed worldwide use) and hence 'finishes' and Printscale have even produced decals for a 60 Squadron machine based at Tengah! Now that brings memories, of my unit (414 Signals) working with them on PI's (Practice Interceptions) in the mid-50's. Mustn't drift 'off thread' but its differences from later marks surely merits a new tool. Conversion, though doubtless possible, would be tedious...
  3. British Post-War jets not yet mentioned? And in two 'boxings' - Sperrin, 'original' and test bed for RB211. - AW52 flying wing - De H 108 Swallow (the two variants). Yes, I know ? has or is just about to release the first variant, so both variants. Manufacturers don't always know what others have in the pipeline! - Venom\Sea Venom. Lots of scope there. - Those long forgotten 'development' aircraft between the Sea Hawk and Hunter. Does anybody know when: it's already Wednesday and I don't want to go through the 'agonies' of ARMA.
  4. Thank you for this: your information on 'past releases' is much better than mine! However a re-boxing (under the Xtrakit label) of a MPM Allison Mustang could, curiously, be described as a 'New Xtrakit' though not a 'new Kit'! Whatever it is, I'm sure it will be no more than a re-boxing under the MPM label of an existing kit.
  5. None of these. Instead a front-line fighter (surely 1000+ built) that served with USAAF and RAF in North Africa, Italy and Burma. Yet hitherto only Mainstream tooled by Frog in 60's! The Allison engined Mustang, was released 90's? in several boxings (maybe variants) by MPM. The Xtrakit releases that I have 'examined' show a strong link to MPM, for example in the style of instructions, So this will be no more than a re-boxing, of the original MPM release(s) under the Xtrakit label. Sorry for those of you who had high hopes for so many subjects, especially for the Scruggs Wonderplane, though it just might be a re-issue of the much-sought Spitfire Xll instead.
  6. - The Spitfire 'twin tub' is an old chestnut. It has to sell worldwide, repeat, worldwide. Not just in UK where a few fortunate have flown in them but in USA, Canada, Australia, NZ, South Africa and everywhere else too. Instead why not a 2 Seat 8 in its striking all-yellow colour scheme? The AZ rendering is 'a bit of a challenge'. What might have been rumorued to have been seen at Airfix's HQ in another old chestnut. I recall a 24th Lysander which was surely the Matchbox one in a mistaken scale.... - Battle: known for the horrendous losses it suffered but not much else. Like everything else it has to sell. - Don't think we'll see anything large: the new Spitfire lX will have drawn heavily on the budget. - Possibly a 1/72 Dragon Rapide. World-wide usage, colour schemes to say nothing of it still giving joy rides to more than will ever fly in a Spitfire. Xtradecal would go crazy. - Not much WWll is 'untooled' but plenty of scope for new tools. My favourites Corsair and Avenger, both with folding wings. And the supposed visit by Airfix to the FAA museum... No, I don't think it was for the Scimitar. - Postwar: again 'retoolings' perhaps a new Sea Hawk to replace one of their earliest. Maybe a Venom/Sea Venom. And whatever is coming they are working on it right now and researching follow-on subjects. Hampden will surely come, but not until restoration at Cosford is complete.
  7. If you are going to model this aircraft, be aware that the serial was RM908. Aircam No 8 has a couple of pictures of it (alas in a scrapyard). The correct markings are available on AeroMaster 72-070. That is if you can find one! I'm glad to see that they, correctly, have the 'Leaping Panther' on the port side only: Aeromaster (sometimes called 'errormaster') have it on both sides. However they did get it right in that the codes do not have a black outline and are entirely angular. Incidentally, make sure you place the overpainted roundel and hence Panther etc correctly. The (in this case port) U comes within an inch or so of the edge of the side entry door. I didn't and so it overlaps it. Um..... Roll on a new Spitfire XlV for which this this decal will surely appear either with the kit of separately.
  8. As is we haven’t already heard enough of Airfix’s Quality Control problems, may I add more, perhaps from Airfix’s perspective... The Vulcan would have been a huge investment, second only to the Hellcat. At last, after the usual ‘difficulties’ it is released to be molded, when the unimaginable happens. Covid, and India was particularly badly affected. Hornby’s agent(s) there would (along with everybody else) have been frantically looking for alternative providers. To delay would have a serious financial effect and at that time, nobody know how long this would last. So anybody who could do molding, including those who one would not normally consider, were engaged. Two things then happen: Because of the multiple ‘suppliers’, sprues are better bagged to avoid loss of parts in transit. QC ‘goes out of the window’. It has little meaning if molding something like teaspoons… So that’s my theory why the Vulcan had so many more imperfections than usual. There is now surely a better measure of the problem and the new Spitfire, at least, will be molded in UK.
  9. I have had - Hasegawa F-104 'short shot' canopy: returned with complaints slip to UK address somewhere in the Midlands. - Airfix Boomerang with crazing all over the wings: Posted, though walking distance from where I now live (and not that far even then) with complaints slip.. - Frog reboxing of Hasegawa with Vigilante wingtips upturned to different extents. Looking at the finished article I think both should have been flat. We Britmodellers are able to 'complain' on-line. While all manufacturers will surely fail from time to time, it does seem that Airfix have the most complaints or is it that Airfix are the majority of our purchases? However their kits are molded and packed in India by a third party so QC enforcement may be difficult. It will be interesting to see the effect of having molding made in UK.
  10. Glad to hear it (re Meteor), but aren't we 'a little off thread' ....? Returning to the main topic of inspection, it might not be necessary to inspect every sprue since it appears faults develop so in a sense 'one would know where to start looking.' All that said, I'm sure Airfix (and indeed any other manufacturer of similar injection molded items) must be well aware of this problem and know best how to address it. Here we moan to BM, but for anything else (or non BM followers) one would take it back to the retailer and ask for a replacement. It would be interesting if any BM follower has/has had hands on experience of QC. Probably not as most such items now seem to be manufactured in India or China. However is so, could they enlighten us on their methods.
  11. Sea Fury gets my vote but would like wing fold too. However there's not even any allowance made for this on the F4F, though admittedly more complex. That said if Airfix can do it .....
  12. As noted above, the responsibility lies with the retailer: I suspect that, in turn, there is a replacement to them from Airfix. Probably this is the cheapest way. Everyone talks about 'Quality Control' but those who do might like to explain how this is to be performed at reasonable cost. Visual inspection? Weighing? Supermarkets and other retailers will usually replace defective goods ie when the customer has done the inspection so to speak.
  13. Does anybody know when the announcement will be made? I'm looking to 29th as it's my birthday and right at the end of the month, so anything sooner would be a 'bonus'. The announcement of a Spitfire XlVe (for reasons given in an earlier post) would make an excellent 'present', to be followed up by test shots at Telford and release at Christmas. Dream on.
  14. This has already been announced: release around Christmas if I remember correctly. Even if this had not been, look at the B\C sprue layout and content.
  15. I’ll suggest that ‘mystery announcement’ will be of a Spitfire XlVe. It bears the same relationship to the Merlin variants as the P-51B/C does to the D. No shortage of excellent kits of D’s or Merlin Spitfires but hitherto no ’quality’ B/C or XlV . By all accounts the B/C was a runaway success, so it would make good sense to repeat with the Spitfire. I’ll guess, initially, high back with fuselage parts on a separate sprue: low back (on its own sprue) to follow later. Don’t think we’ll see a ‘c’ wing: not that many built. And when? Well 29th is my birthday: or is that just wishful thinking? Oh yes: I’ve never been right with any prediction…
  16. Surely the Sea Hawk (I think the oldest of the list?). Now, as is Airfix's custom, with folding wings. As a Bridge Player I'd 'have' to go for Ace Diamonds. The all red (forget which aerobatic team) would be stunning. There's also Black and Yellow Suez stripes.
  17. Thank you for this. Don't think I would have ever found it otherwise! There's no (to me) self evident connection \ link to Alclad II as was. Always thought they were Acrylic, rather than Enamel, though don't really mind. Incidentally I use Nail Varnish remover to clean my airbrush and leave the nozzle assembly in it till required. Will be curious to see if the bottles are the same size. At Telford I was, very generously, donated a rack which still has quite a few vacant spaces in it.
  18. I did indeed. The Website (via Google Search) shows just 'Hobbies' and of Alclad there is no trace. Based near Norwich so presumably the correct one. Mil Spec (nothing to link it to Alclad) gives just 2 subjects! - AK interactive Slime and Grime.. - AK interactive Metal Burnishing Fluid Hence my posting!
  19. None of this is what I was really seeking - see original posting. Metallic colours are widely available. It's the 'ordinary' colours I was after. If there is a dispute over the 'ownership' of the name this would explain why they can only be found by 'remaindering' from existing stocks. To define my objective, met by Alclad ll, but who else? - Ready to spray - Prefer Acrylic. - Aircraft colours - Colours MUST be referenced by 'system' eg FS number, RLM, BS etc. Yes, I know there are some that don't use these eg Japanese, Israeli in which case this MUST be used as part of the identification. Likewise some 'unique' identifications such as PRU Blue, Aotake. Too often paints are merely identified as Mid Tan, Light Grey. Yes: I know the Xtracolour/Xtracrylic do this but they aren't ready to spray. Likewise some manufacturers sometimes and inconsistently add, say, and FS number. Often this isn't listed on the description and can't easily be seen on the picture of the bottle: Almost as if they were embarassed to show it! As a Post Script, I do like the little glass ball that Alclad often include to help mixing. Not obligatory as I have now a small stock of them.
  20. I'm puzzling over the caption with Red 2. My limited German translates it as 'The next man the same lady': a subtlety I can't follow.... While I'm here, what is/are the difference(s) between D-9 and -11?
  21. I've not seen the decal sheet, but Airfix would be wise to provide the leaf in both colours and let the modeller decide.
  22. I had no idea that they Poland 'handed over' so much. This merely reinforces my point! As for the suggestion (from yourself and others) of further Japanese releases, and in view of the reported of 'above expectation' sales, these will surely come. However the 'lead time' required makes it unlikely they will be the subject of the August announcement.
  23. Perhaps I should have said new Soviet subject
  24. The Poles did not and still do not like the Russians: don't want to get political here! On a purely factual note they are giving\lending\passing on their Soviet Aircraft to the Ukrainians.... So not much hope for any Soviet subject!
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