TimB

Nice - subtle weathering. Regars, Tim

Very nice - I think the Pit Road one is the best of the 1:144th ones, and you have certainly done it justice. Tim

Yes, please. Regards Tim

Harrier T4s could carry the standard recce pod. IV(AC) Sqn was the "dedicated" recce sqn at Gutersloh, and the T-birds carried pods pretty much as standard. They were less usual when deployed in the field as the hover performance could be marginal in summer. Standard sqn war load in early 80s was 2x BL755 ourboard, 1 x recce pod, 2 a 100 gal tanks. Later, a sidewinder and a Phimat pod on the outboard pylons became standard for recce tasks. Regards Tim

Hi, Jetboy, thanks for the review. I hate to add a negative view, but there are some dimensional problems with the Dragon LM. There was a lot of comment when it first came out, and I won't repeat all of it, but the main issue is that the Descent Stage is too small - about 2 mm too narrow and 4mm too short. While this shortfall may not seem much, it is enough to give the LM a seriously top-heavy look compared to the real thing. Unfortunately, this also throws out the geometry of the landing gear, which is a real shame as it is nicely detailed. I'm planning to make several next year as part of an Apollo project, but will use the Airfix LM as a template to scratch build the DS. There are some minor problems with the Ascent Stage, but these would only be noticed by a rivet counter. The CSM is good, but remove the banding and on the SM's engine bell - the real thing is flush apart from the weld lines. The NewWare brass set for the LM & CSM is very nice. At least the CSM and LM are not too far off. The 1/72 Saturn V is tragically inaccurate - I hit three pages of corrections needed to get it to look right. It's a lot better than nothing, but I will need to feel strong before I start work on it! Regards Tim

Wow! I like the beautiful restrained weathering. Regards Tim

Very nicely done - certainly merits a place at Hendon. Brings back memories of "survivor" drills - being dangled under the Sea King and Wessex in various inhospitable places. Regards

Nice - good to see a CSM in Block 1 configuration for a change. Regards Tim

Very nice. I'm hoping to get to mine in the stash next year... Regards Tim

"I don't gamble, but I would put money that the RC-135 will not be called Airseeker in RAF service." Wait for a name starting with 'S' - as in Sentry, Sentinel, Shadow... Voyager followed Valiant, Victor, VC-10 as tankers. "This might be a dumb question, but why pull the Nimrod in favour of the RC-135?" In the fall out from the MR2 crash, MOD could not prove Nimrod safe. The USAF Recce 135s had not been as (ab) used, and MOD experience of integrating major avoinics systems into the Comet airframe had been mixed, to put it mildly. "Something went funny in the MOD Department responsible for issuing these about 10 years ago." Cut as a savings measure?

Very nice - I think I may be inspired to break out my Italeri WX for a SAR HC2. I think that I have a handle on the differences - mostly aerials, windows, underside and interior. BTW, were the flotation gear bottles green? - on the SAR cabs they were white, and I seem to remember that it was to prevent overheating. Regards Tim

Seconded - I've bought on and off from Glenn for over 15 years. He can be pretty busy but is always polite and helpful. Regards Tim

Had a phone call to take from home! Regards Tim

Hi, here is my latest - the Hasegawa Voyager with LVM Studios brass booms. This was a quick build as a break from the Atomic City Mercury. The model is a gem, but is not straightforward - you need to dry fit the various tubular assemblies to the main spacecraft bus before gluing each assembly, or there will be small misalignments (or some large ones in my case!) . It would also help to build it when not too tired... The LVM brass makes a massive difference, but I could not get the magnetometer boom to twist after soldering it. I'll try again with another one when I have time, and add the 2 cables that run up it. The stand is a temporary one. A fun model to build. Regards, Tim

Count me in - I've got several spacecraft/launchers I need an incentive to get on with... Tim

Nice - I remember watching the original live on TV! Regards Tim

Hi, perdu, FYI there are holes under both drivers' seats (Part 31). It does look very nice - but will take a bit of work to make into a SAR HC2. At least a wet-fit floor will solve the problems Oz identifies. My memory is that the SAR ac seats were about where Italeri put them, leaving room for the role kit. I would have liked to see a bit more gearbox detail, sch as the inclined shaft, but I doubt that it will be visible... Regards Tim

Thanks, Simon. The green scheme trialled by 3 Sqn was judged to be better for the Cold War deployed scenario and low level, but then camouflage went gray when medium level ops became the norm. We even trialled "brick and tile" camouflage netting for Harrier hides at about the same time as the aircraft trials - not very effective, as ity tended to show the ripples and unevenness of the cam-nets! Might have worked against the proverbial requisitioned German supermarket though, but less effective stuck in a wood. Regards Tim

Hi, Simon, great to see XV738 in the gray scheme, and a very clean build. In any case, XV738 was clean when it first arrived on IV(AC), from Major/Phase 6 at St Athan if I recall. I can claim some responsibility for the squadron markings - the original trials instruction was not to add any, "to avoid any bright colours". An evening with a sqn badge, a few tins of Humbrol and I had a toned-down version for the sqn Boss. Got his approval, then negotiated with the painters and finishers how many crates of beer it would take to get an "unauthorised" marking applied! I still have the original somewhere, and have a GR3 on the "shelf of doom" to finish when I retire (again). Regards Tim

Hi Colin, I would spend a little more and buy a compressor with a tank. It damps out any pulsation in the air pressure giving you a more even flow. I started with a similar one to the one you are looking at, then bought an earlier version of one from Axminster (http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-awc10hp-compressor-prod868639/), and now use it and an Iwata Smart Jet . The simpler of the 2 compressors will need a water trap. I also use a fine pressure control at the airbrush. As for airbrushes, I've used a fair few. You get what you pay for, but even a relatively cheap one is much better than none. I currently use an Iwata Eclipse HP-SBS, and a Harder & Steenbeck Infinity. Both are good, but the H&S is much easier to clean. I do not try to spray camouflage directly - 20+ years of trying have convinced me that I do not have the steadiness of hand! Be prepared to be frustrated - airbrushing takes time to learn, and every paint type behaves differently. You will need to experiment, start with simple projects and move up. But it is worth it. Good luck Tim

Hi, JJC, I built a Hasegawa F-15C earlier this year. My pics are under "Lakenheath F-15C", in http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=234913005&hl=TimB . I ended up using Gunze H308 for the lighter gray, and H337 plus 15% H15 blue for the darker, and still think its pretty close. Regards, Tim

Nice! You can never have too many helos. While I never worked with the Griffin, and my SAR dats were UK Wessex, I'll be watching this with interest. Regards Tim

I bought a copy from a fellow BM'er a few months ago. Very good pictorial history of the Banff Strike Wing, with some of the best reproduction of the photos I've seen. I'd say its complementary to "A Separate Little War", rather than competition. Regards Tim

Very nice! Regards Tim

Very nice. I worked on the GR3 for 3 years and you've caught the look very effectively! Regards Tim