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I just acquired an ICM 1/32 Gladiator I, and am much taken by the pre-war 72 Sqn colour scheme that the airworthy G-GLAD currently flies in. There are lots of photos on the internet of that airframe and I have queries about the markings she wears. Let me quote from the Fighter Collection website: "2007 saw the fabric work completed by Vintage Fabrics, who also applied the wonderful 72 Sqn scheme she wears today. The Squadron colour scheme consisted of red and blue bars along the fuselage sides and on the upper surface of the top wing, all of which are faithfully replicated on N5903. In addition to these markings our Gladiator also wears the blue fin and forward tailplanes denoting the personal aircraft of the ‘B’ Flight commander." She also features the squadron's Swift spearhead on the fin. I've been trying to find period photos of the aircraft whose markings this restoration is based on (G-GLAD being a Mark II) so I can add an accurate serial number. However, I cannot find a photo of a 72 Sqn Gladiator with all the elements of this scheme at one time - i.e. the top wing/fuselage bars and blue fin/tailplanes with squadron badge - I can find bars, blue fin/tailplanes and squadron badge at different periods, but not all together. Does anyone have a period photo of a machine with all said markings together, or a serial number of such an aircraft?

The Corgi 1/72 scale Westland Wessex is probably my favourite of the Corgi Aviation models. Despite the scale trade-offs due to it being a metal diecast model I think that Corgi did a good job of producing a model that captures the look and character of a Wessex. I think that this HC.2 was their first Wessex model and Corgi would have had the chance to produce so many different versions and colour schemes for this model, yet not many appeared at all, I think Corgi have had problems in recent years. They did a very attractive Queens Royal Flight one and maybe two other military ones but the one that I would definately have liked, a Bristow Helicopters one, never appeared. Bristows had a Wessex Mk.60 based here at Scarborough in the 1960s at a small heliport just four miles from our house which supported the gas rigs off shore. I remember the hangar which was still standing until the 1990s. But I digress, the Wessex is one of my favourite helicopters, so I had to have one in my collection. I carefully removed the cockpit canopy and added extra detail to the cockpit and repainted it and the crew. I repainted the cabin interior and added another crew member. Externally I added a few aerials and the fuel dump pipes and just touched up a few details and markings. The rotors spin, the wheels rotate and the cabin door slides open and closed. So may I present my Wessex HC Mk 2 in the markings of 72 Squadron based at RAF Odiham in the late 1960s. On the apron with my Corgi Westland Whirlwind. On exercises in the field with the Army. One of the happy memories from my childhood are the Christmas parties that the Royal Air Force would provide for the children of the serving personnel. I remember the Christmas party at RAF Tengah in Singapore where we were all excitedly watching skyward for the aircraft bringing Father Christmas to our party. So this is my little diorama on that theme ............. Father Christmas arrives by Wessex at RAF Scarborough with presents for the base children. He will then climb aboard the Alvis Salamander fire truck which will drive him to the excited children. Welcome to Royal Air Force Scarborough Mr Claus, we hope you had a pleasant flight. Hope you liked my Corgi Wessex, it is just for fun. Regards, adey

Hey everyone, I was attracted to this one recently in my local hobby shop by the box top photo of a really cool scheme. Am going to go for a OOB build on this and see how I get on. Box contents..(clearly after some fondling and sprue-cutting as well as primer.) Made a start on the cockpit and just added some belts from Tamiya tape. Otherwise, out of box! Thanks for looking. Dermot

Hi everyone, Just finished this one, the Tucano in 1/72 by Airfix. She's completely OOB (apart from tape for belts), brush painted and crammed with a lot more than the 7g weight advised in the instructions - and yes, she sits upright without any help! The fit of the kit isn't the best in places and the canopy was a bear to get right but am really happy how she turned out. Originally, I was going to do an all black a/c but I really like the retro 72 Sq scheme though the camo sand could be a shade darker I think (it was mixed using Revell ratios). The full build thread is here but in brief: Build: Except for belts from masking tape, all OOB. Paints: Halfords primer, Revell Acrylics brush painted. Klear coat for decals, Flory Models wash. Decals: All from kit - 2013 Tucano Display Team in anniversary markings for RAF 72 Squadron Extras: As much lead weight as i could cram in the nose and wing leading edges! Thanks for looking and comments/suggestions welcomed! All the best, Dermot