PhilB

Congratulations! Have to say I didn't notice you were gone though............................................

The WNW "cult" ? I think it has definitely achieved "cult" status for some. Not necessarily a bad thing as most cults are benign but there's a very good vid by a guy called John Cadogan who is a straight-talking Aussie car guy who has a Yootoob channel. He did one called "Tesla Cult" for the Tesla car company. To start with he defines "cult" and "faith" (not in the religious sense) and if you look at some of the "predictions" on here we definitely have a few paid up members of the WNW "cult". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6GeHnMwl1c

If you can get it the Mastercasters Mk22/24 cockpit set is very good. As said, the Iconicair front end is also another must have. Freightdog set is pretty comprehensive too.

Oh if you must!!! Were you there for the engine failure on the Norwegian A/c . There was a you tube vid but can't find it now. Superb landing on one prop.

Yep, I remember the indoor athletics from Cosford on tv when it was probably the best indoor track in the country. Love the Jag in "The Saint" scheme....................... That would look really nice in 1/32.

Very interesting to see the huge amount of work that goes into a new model. As regards the section about the Hellcat in general, I was only reading yesterday about David McCampell and "Minsi III" and the air combat at Leyte Gulf. Nine confirmed and two probables for just him in one mission was a good example of the superiority of the Hellcats and the US pilots.

Dean, I think maybe you could be ok going down the "ugly" route as that's a matter of opinion. But "useless" ?? Some of your examples are inter war year aircraft that at the time of introduction were state of the art. Of course come WW2 they were found to be useless as they were obsolete. As far as the Gannet is concerned, (I'm not a fan of it personally) I'll agree pretty ugly but it was function before form. Any aircraft that can fulfill the anti-ship/submarine role and also AEW and ECM from the early 50's until the Nimrod arrived can't be that bad. Must have been good as the Aussies and the German Navy bought it too. Anyway back to the B17 and watching pigs fly past the window................

Already discussed here: https://forum.largescaleplanes.com/index.php?/topic/80418-hk-dam-busters-release/

Oooh thanks amigo. Brings back nightmares of those decals.........

The phrase "clutching at straws" comes to mind with this topic.

Oh yes! Didn't we also see a Bucc and a mega-detailed Tempest as well? Certainly got a lot of attention at the time and turned into another excellent "me want" saga.

Aires do both opened and closed burners: http://www.aires.cz/en/catalog/exhaust-nozzles/26/#lightbox[photo]/4/

Thanks for posting. Just a superb build and great finish. I guess it builds up pretty nicely after all despite what some have said. First one I've seen completed and that sets a very high standard for the rest. Well done!

Big, pointy and foil. Got to be worth watching...............

This calls for a response in the style of someone else......... Wow Brian, I AM amazed AT the RESULT. Superb DETAILING and really GREAT weathering. You SHOULD be very PROUD!

I don't need to provide examples to prove my point John. But I did as many on here know that whatever the quality of a kit some people will still throw all the AM in the book at it. As you say, the WNW will be out eventually and people can make up their own minds. But I think it important that people comment to challenge the speculation which has been made much of which has no evidence to support it at all.

To say the HK kit is popular amongst the "it looks close enough" fraternity implies it's flawed/has issues. Bearing in mind the WNW hasn't been released I'd be interested to see how and where it will surpass the HK ? My main issue is with the talk of all this "expensive" aftermarket to bring it up to the WNW level. What aftermarket and what prices............ As regards WNW AM just one example here (no criticism of the builder whatsoever, just an example of what can be done) https://forum.largescaleplanes.com/index.php?/topic/80074-first-of-a-fokker-pair/ Why is so much AM available for the WNW kits if they don't need it?

Perhaps it's just me but I'm having a bit of trouble with the comments that HK kit will end up near the price of the WNW when you take into account all the AM needed to bring it up to the WNW level? What AM ? The couple of builds I've seen didn't use any AM. Since then we have the Airscale IP released which would probably be used in the WNW anyway by most people as well as maybe a set of brass barrels for the 303's as brass is always far crisper than plastic - so good for both kits. So what AM is needed on the HK ? Also how can it be "brought up to the level" of the WNW and with what AM when that kit hasn't even been released? Lot's of speculation and supposition including the belief the WNW won't need any AM either. Looking at the amount of AM used on many of the WNW builds on here, I don't think it's safe to say the difference in price will be nullified by AM on the HK (not that there is any anyway).

For the F/A 18E and F then go for Trumpeter. Some nice am including Aires cans and if you can find them, the Rhino seamless intakes and wheel sets are very good.

It's nothing to do with any anti 109 attitudes from Commonwealth posters. It's a legacy of history on here. Luckily people and things seemed to have moved on but in the past there was a very vociferous group who would "critique" any new 109 (if it wasn't Hasegawa) in a way that we don't see now. At that time the best way to make a mod's blood run cold was to open a new topic about a "new tool Trumpeter 109". They knew it would be jumped on even before any box review and a quote I saw on one release was "a hideous, misshapen hunk of crap". So that was the attitude that was about at that time. If you dared build one you had to be prepared for constant whinging and unecessary and often unfounded criticism. As an example, have a look at my first post on a Trumpeter 109 I "dared" to build back in 2010 just to let me get on with it in peace. https://forum.largescaleplanes.com/index.php?/topic/31093-trumpeter-132-109f-4-trop/ The 109 is a very iconic aircraft but the controversy it used to cough up was quite startling. There is/was also an ongoing desire for another 109 and another and another......... I think the general populace got pretty fed up with it all so even now it can still raise a few comments, but I like to think the current climate on here is a lot more mature and far less reactionary.

It depends on how the previous driver left it. I've just been looking through various books at numerous pictures of parked spits during the war and most seem to have the column forward and centrally placed. So the pics mostly show elevators lowered, ailerons neutral and rudder neutral. Of course there are photos of spits where they have been left with rudder applied and elevators level with a touch of aileron too. So the choice is yours.

I dug out my Modellers Datafile and there's good and bad news.......... It lists ten versions of the TFX in the outline drawing type thing. Most had the full length intakes as per the model above. Some of the earlier versions had a shortened intake that stops at the back edge of the cowling ring. The cockpit can o' pee is different from the base kit and if using the kit one some frames need sanding off and sorting out. I've seen models of some X's with a Vickers K gun mounted at the rear. Not quite right. The K gun was a local mod particularly for Malta where they cut the back off the observer's dome and installed the K gun. X's had the revised rear observer's canopy which is a different shape and with frames and they had a 30 cal Browning installed. If I get a chance I'll scan some stuff and email it over to you.

Yep, I was waiting for this stage and I think it's just right. Takes it from the "just painted" stage and knocks it back to be more realistic and given your scenario on it's age it looks right. I can't wait to see those missiles on it. They remind me of kind of a "Buck Rogers" type thing and that's the 1939 films!!!

That does look far too pink. Probably down to the photography. They have one on display at the British Heritage Motor Museum, and in the flesh (pardon the pun) it's more like the famous Corsair "Salmon". Google "Pink SAS Land Rover" and the images show many shades even on the same vehicle.