Kenneth ONeill

Good spot, and something I'm usually nervous about with starter packs (are they the old tool?). Incidentally Yellowjacks stocks seem to be getting rare now.

Oh yes; this isn't so much a kit as a series of models that eventually build up into one really bigmodel!

Hi mate. Tip from someone who's built both the 1/72 and 1/48 scale Gnats. Follow the instructions around the cockpit and intakes, and pre-assemble as much of them as you can before painting: use the fuselage as a jig for placing bulkheads. (Not the intake liners; that would cause access problems, but you can get the cockpit bath completed bar instrument boards, controls and seats, and the cockpit sidewalls/intake liners (clear when you look at 1/72 scale instructions) fitted before painting the cockpit.

{meanwhile, back at hull 552} 😉 Looking at those davits and thwarts makes my eyes hurt!! Also, I see what you mean about Clearfix; it's not going to be for everyone and needs more practice to get started with. The "not water soluble" is actually an advantage I think, because once a port is done it will stay done.

Also cross-check that sub-assembly against the lower wing centre section.

@ja591 - Nice LM; what's your preferred material for modelling the gold mylar film?

I've got a Yellowjacks Gnat in the post.

Humbrol Clearfix will also work at that size, dry clearer, and isn't water-soluble.

@81F - I suspect you'd be right there; standard guage is 18.83mm in 1/76 scale. OO guage is 1/76 with the track gauge reduced to 1/87.

The mis-juxtapositioning of the davits and prominade deck windows would bother me, largely because the lifeboat positioning would have been deliberately done to maximise the view from the prominade lounge.

Hi. Ok, if you haven't done so "the ship has sailed" on this one, but I'd have put some "bulkheads" inside the hull before adding the decks, if I planned cutting at the waterline. The 1/72 scale builder's model in the Glasgow Riverside Museum (mentioned by me multiple times in this sub-forum) is full hull though.

I'm sorry; I got distracted by the Sky Pirate refuelling from the Victor K2 (period correct).

@typhoonfanatic - Thanks; that pretty much confirms my thoughts about "temporary scheme". I've heard similar tales to the others that you cite from other sources, although the white of the Arctic scheme wasn't "that permanent". I used to have some hard copy photos of Harriers and Jaguars taken in March when they were just off deployment, and they were brushmarky with the green showing through, so if anyone is contemplating doing one of those I'd suggest applying the green over grey, then brushing the white over the green and not worrying about brush marks and/or the green showing through a bit.

I'm not familiar with this "Zebra scheme", and suspect that the "correct" answer will depend on whether it's a "special scheme" like an anniversary or Tiger Meet scheme, or simply a Winter camo.

Well, for 1950s and later, the differences in bonedomes, boots and growbags for NATO (and other European plus ANZAC, probably also Japanese and South American {and that's not a full list}) aircrew are normally of colour (without including things like unit painted USN bonedomes) more than of shape or cut.

The TSR2 was announced as a one run Limited Edition, which for a company such as Airfix who usually deal in big numbers always struck me as a bit daft. Hornby got around the Limited Edition palaver by releasing the Stratos edition. It's been rather more than five years since the first release, both the 1/72 and 1/48 kit seem to have been pensioned off, although you can never say never. The Stratos 4 version needed extra runners (got and built it as well as the prototype), and a licence for issuing a kit from an Anime show. It could be built as a prototype though, since it included the relevant instructions and the decal sheet.

As to accuracy, the "Mary Rose Trust" have I think just finished preserving most of the hull.

I'm well aware that "as commissioned plans" may not represent a ship as of ~25 years later; I have plans of HMS Warspite (Pennant 03) from as commisioned through to 1943 covering all the refits and major additions of ack-ack.

Neither kit was particularly 'limited', if my memory is correct the TSR2 ran to some 15,000 units on first release and the Nimrod was about 20,000. I couldn't quote you a figure for the Stratos 4 TSR2 re-issue. They were not done with cheaper moulds, that is just another alternative fact pedalled by the rumour factory. The TSR2 was 'sold' - mistakenly in my view - as a limited edition. The Nimrod production run was based on orders received from wholesalers/retailers. It has to be said that both kits created something of a debacle instigated by the previous Airfix management. In answer to the OP's question, I would think the Valiant will be released at some time in the future, when it's ascertained that there is sufficient demand. The tooling represents a considerable investment and not doing any further production runs doesn't make economic sense. I'd never measure demand by inflated ebay prices, that is usually a sign of blatant profiteering when something is perceived to be in short supply. I saw Valiants for sale on traders stalls at model shows last year, although I can't recall if there were any at Bovington last weekend. There's still some out there. I think you're mostly correct but the story from my LMS about the TSR2 (prototype boxing) was that "We've done one run, and if we can move them all we'll use the profit to do a 1/72 scale Nimrod. Either way, we won't do another run of TSR2 for at least 5 years".

Guys, I picked on Howe because I happen to know where her builder's model is, and that GRM (qv) hold copies of the builder's drawings that they use to maintain the model (source being an old friend who was a modelmaker for Glasgow Museums). I've no doubt that the "London MM"* hold a set of plans as well. *Sorry, I don't buy into calling things in one corner of the Country "national" unless they're unique, by which I mean that no other examples of them exist.

Well, for a Clydeside built ship, most of the plans not destroyed in the Clydeside Blitz still exist in one of the BAe Shipbuilding, Scottish Maritime Museum, Glasow Riverside Museum (Museum of Transport) and Mitchell Library (Glasgow) archives; So do a substantial number of the fully detailed models built up on the test tank hulls. For example, if I was asked to do a model of the HMS Howe (KGV class, pennant number 32) for Airfix, I'd start by taking the LIDIR to the GRM (qv) where there's a 1/72 scale model of her as commissioned and contacting the cited bodies to locate the builder's drawings.

Thanks Ratch. The three kits you mentioned are probably the best of the 1/600 range, and would still be considered worthwhile builds today. I think there's a trick being missed though. With a bit of retooling and a few new parts, you could sell the KGV again as Duke of York with the catapult removed. With more work the Repulse could form the basis of a Renown. Even Prinz Eugen coule be one of the other ships in her class. Airfix have been willing to do this with aircraft, but not so with their ships, which I never understand. If it is partly not wanting to deveop a whole new kit, at least doing this work on the existing models which are up to standard would be a good halway house. As to sales, that is always a tough one, and as I've said, where modelling is concerned it's a legacy matter. Produce a nice kit now, like the Seafire in 1/48, and you have a product for maybe twenty or so years. As others have sid, it's an investment, but the sales of these great kits of aircraft must have shown it is worth it. I think that should be more "Airfix are now willing to do this with new tools for aircraft." Other than the EE Lightning I honestly can't think of a pre-2005 Airfix aircraft where the tool allows 2 significantly visually different variants to be built by swapping a single runner (or adding another one). To compare like with like, ask yourself how much work would be needed to retool the old (1970s?) Blenheim IV as a Blenheim I: I reckon it would need new fuselage and engine cowl sprues as well as transparancies which would constitute replacing about 2/3 of the model. Similarly, your warship suggestions will (probably) require new deck mouldings.

The other point to consider is that your average Frenchman is often "more patriotic" in terms of their choice of manufacturer of $product than your average Briton. I'm sure you can all think of examples to illustrate that point.

I'm from Dumbarton, about 8 miles from John Browns in Clydebank where they were built. How could I not be interested?

Ref the "late reply" - No problem; it gives me some sort of confidence that I should be able to do something similar for "lighter kits" using cup hooks.