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Stand by your beds..I've decided to post something just to prove that rumours of my demise have been greatly misrepresented by the popular press and Social Services. I thought I would assail you with one of my builds for our Bomber Command display at Telford in the form of the AW Whitley Mk III using a mix of the newish Airfix Mk V and an old DB Productions Tiger conversion set that Geoff Trenholme kindly gave me a while back. Although it's designed for the ancient Frog offering it fits well on the nice shiny Airfix kit too with a bit of fettling. The most obvious difference between the early Whitleys, (Mk's I,II and III) and the later marks were the AW Tiger radial engines and larger rounded tail fin and rudders, though the Mk IV had Merlins and the rounded tail fins to confuse matters however there were a number of other subtle changes including a ring DF aerial later changed to a bullet shaped casing, nose turret changed from the manually powered AW unit to the FN16 , the bulbous single gun A W rear turret later changed to the four gun FN4a, an FN17 ventral 'dustbin' turret, (not successful and often removed to save weight), deletion of small observation windows in the nose, triple windows above the FN17 circular hatch reduced to two later, the addition of a 'chin' bomb aimers glazing section, (Mk III on). References were many and various including the excellent Warpaint 21 by Ken Wixey and plans and the old Profile publications booklet. I always liked the looks of the early versions so thought it was about time to add one to our table. The Airfix kit has been around a while now, (this is my third one) so all it's little foibles well known to me. The DB set, now available from Flightpath UK included some very nicely moulded resin Tiger engines with integral engine facings, rear turret extension, (needs modifying), resin tail fins, (superb), new exhausts and carburetter intakes, (good), wing oil coolers (excellent), new white metal props (excellent) and clear acetate rear turret, (totally useless) and new replacement flat bomb aimers glazing position (irrelevant for Mk III). This is the airframe I'm going to have at, (take little notice of the drawing it has detail issues as ever, it's the aircraft serials I'm more interested in). http://img.wp.scn.ru/camms/ar/553/pics/9_37.jpg Obligatory sets obtained through nefarious acts included the Eduard PE cockpit and essential masking sets. Decal sets to be used, excuse the butchered Airfix set and Kits at War grey serials.... And Fantasy Printshop 8'' black serials And finally a new AW turret borrowed from an AZ Oxford Mk I which fits perfectly and is a huge improvement over the awful kit part. So I shall begin, I need to finish one this a bit sharpish..... shouldn't take too long... And he's off...straight into the fuselage parts, no big problems here. I really like the Mr Cement C stuff, easy to use and very quick drying...just don't get any on your model via careless hands it's as thin as water and travels a long way, ask me how I know, (not on this one, so far !)..... Also some Xtracrylix Interior Aircraft Grey/Green has been applied. More soon...