MikeC

Apologies, it was the "all classic trainers" that misled me. I have the Magister in the stash: it looks good in the box, but the proof will be in the building when I get around to it.

I agree, although the Bulldog I think you mean was by Scottish Aviation, whereas the Bristol Bulldog was the inter-war biplane fighter. Not sure they'd do a Magister, given that Mikro-Mir have done one in 1/32, but I wouldn't say no if they did.

Nice model. @Christa I believe it was a combination of design issues with squeezing Merlins into the available airframe without compromising the aerodynamics or fuel and other flows; and the fact that rather a lot of other types wanted Merlins too.

Thanks for the info Kev, and this bit in particular: done, and it worked In case anyone's forgotten which email they used when setting up their account, you can see by looking (whilst logged in, obvs) at Account settings/overview at the top of the page. I'll leave you to work out how I know this. Good luck with the upgrade.

I bought one from eBay a while ago, and liked it, so I also bought its smaller sibling for 1/48 and 1/72.

I'm not sure what's got into me lately - perhaps a realisation that the stash isn't going to build itself - but I've finished another one , making two so far this year: that's almost unprecedented! This is another of Eduard's 1/48 Zlin series - the fifth I've built. They're relatively simple, but have little fiddly parts. I did this in an elapsed time of two weeks plus a day, and freely admit I cut a corner or two. That was also helped by the AK paint markers I bought at Telford, which do reduce time spent mixing small amounts of paint and brush-cleaning. This time it's a Z-526AFS Akrobat, in the markings of the Jicin Aero Club Czechoslovakia (as it was then) in 1975. This aircraft was frequently flown by Jiri Kobrle, a well-known aerobatic pilot of the time. But that's it - I think I'm a bit "Zlinned out" now, lovely kits though they are. I think the next project will be a bit more military "heavy metal" in 1/32 scale.

Sources I've seen give it as "Kurfurst/Konrad" - the latter makes more sense given that others in the alphabet are also names eg Friedrich. I'd leave it out of the instructions, and leave modellers to continue to refer to it as "Kurfurst", "109K", or whatever. From experience "official" names are used in official documents. Aircrew, ground crew, and everyone else (eg procurement) refer to whatever is meaningful and unambiguous to all concerned at the time.

The Wessex is a classic, but that scheme on an HAS3 is afaik a one-off - it's an anti-submarine variant in an RAF Air-Sea Rescue scheme. It does actually exist though, and when I saw it, it was in the air museum at Bournemouth. I used to know why that scheme was applied to it, but time flies and I can't recall.

I am 99% certain that Airfix would not do that, for many commercial and practical reasons. But could a modeller fit the Merlin from the new Spitfire into the old P-51D? The engine is a Merlin in each case, as we know, so the simple answer is yes. The more complex answer is that it depends on respective variants of Merlin, not least that the engine in the Spitfire VIII and IX was produced by RR, the Mustang's by Packard; ancilliary fittings, with perhaps some not fitted to one or the other, some to both but in different positions; and engine mountings in the aircraft. No doubt it could be done with application of modelling skills.

That is lovely! Great work on a striking and colourful subject.

I suspect a likely cause is using whatever's available in the supply chain at that stage in the war. But others may have access to original docs proving me wrong, if so please do, my deduction here is just that, not certain knowledge.

Have a good day

Funny: I thought I was the only heretic to think that the rivets on the Kotare Spitfire's rear fuselage were somewhat exaggerated, a thought that crossed my mind when standing within a few feet of a preserved airworthy mk Vc. But whilst the Kotare Spit is not 100% perfect, it is surely the best early variant on the market in our scale. Can't say I'll be buying a 109 - too much Revell jet goodness due this year, apart from anything else - but I hope those who do find it the best also.

@Sharkmouth I have the J/K kit, so your last post above gives some really useful info - thanks for posting. But a sign of the times - when I saw the last pic, my first thought was that the chap in the flying helmet was on his mobile/cellphone

Absolutely right, that is undoubtedly the most variable factor. Everyone will have a different build experience and view of the same kit.

Nachtschlachtgruppe 9 in Italy, am I correct? An interesting, little-known aspect of the air war in that theatre.

I seem to recall there was a specific reason for red gear legs on certain 109s, although the reason escapes me - something to do with fuel I think. Achtung 109 Experten: please feel free to chime in, even if it's only to tell me I'm misremembering.

Alas, you are right, I fear. But it's fun to dream

What he ^^^ said!

That's what Italeri say: it's under the heading "New for 2025" on the site. Keep those fingers crossed if you want one.

Something I've never found the answer for is this. You've prepped your model, mixed your paint, put some paint in the airbrush, set the compressor running, put your respirator on, etc, etc, and picked up the brush ready ... ... why is it only then that your nose under the mask itches, or you feel an uncontrollable sneeze coming on???

Just spotted this - looks like a C.200, C.202 and C.205 in 1/32 (aren't these out already though?) and a GR1 boxing of the 1/32 Tornado. https://www.italeri.com/en (Link takes you to the main Italeri site, click on "New Items 2025 and go through it a little to get to the LSPs.)

Ome of the original aircraft of the "mission" the French set up, effectively forming the air arm?

It was there for about half an hour yesterday (and I'm relatively not that far south of you) These look really good, and the details on the uniforms/flying kit/etc for the RAF types certainly look authentic, not just a generic flying helmet ot whatever. The subject knowledge even extended to showing the 2TAF pilot in army battledress uniform - yes, that was quite common where they were operating out of continental landing grounds in the aftermath of D-Day. @R Palimaka Thanks for the heads-up

The full title of the air arm being Luftstreitkrafte der Nationale Volksarmee, or LSKdNVA. Interesting the term "Luftstreitkrafte" (air arm) is used as opposed to "Luftwaffe" - interesting from a linguistics point of view, I hasten to add, not a political one.