Coors54

Interesting project, my old Dad served on one of these as a sonar operator - HMS Conn 21st Escort Group based at Londonderry NI from late 1943 to the wars end. She sank several U-Boats and he had a few gruesome tales to tell. The group was one of the most successful in Western Approaches Command. I have some photos somewhere.... I built a 1/350th scale resin model for him some years ago. The type was well liked by the crew (they had ice cream makers and bunks!) and was a good sea boat, one even survived having its stern blown off by an acoustic torpedo. Almark (of blessed memory) did a monograph on the type in RN service and I have a copy of "The Captain Class" in the library (I'm at work at the moment) which I may be able to scan some pics. The RN vessels did away with the torpedo tubes and had a much bigger depth charge complemnt along with rather more small calibre AA armament. Dave

I just received my ASH conversion from A2Zee and I am VERY pleased with it. The nose section looks to be a drop in fit with little cleaning up and sharp detailing. The radar works for the office are likewise sharply detailed and the Montex masks and colour instructions complete the package. Excellent value for money. Alistair and I have traded emails over the cockpit layout supplied as there seems to be no definitive information available. I think that supplied is more like the Sea Mosquito than the converted FB IV - but no complaints from me that's what research and modelling is all about. If the other conversions are this good I can see another Mossie calling me. Now we just need the Paragon bits to help the undercarriage area.

Nick, I took the easy(ish) route of backing all the wing bulges with thick plastic card then razor sawing the external bulge detail off, filling and smoothing then re scribing the access panels in their new positions. The bulges were made with a plan profile in thick card built up with Davids P38 filler and sanded. All very old skool! This wasn't totally successful but not bad for Government work. I was doing this as a get back to modelling exercise after a 2 year layoff and I was happy to rehone some old skills and finis a model.

I've just used bits of the Heritage Mk IX conversion on my Trumpeter Spitfire Mk VI, converting it to a Seafire III. I was very disappointed with it - designed down to a price rather than up to a standard - lots of stuff missing that would be needed make a Mk IX and no instructions on what more is required. My exhausts were short shot too but just about useable - I was surprised that no one offered the six stub exhausts as a seperate add on - it opens up both the Airfix and Trumpeter kits to late model versions of MkV etc. I used the exhausts, the Aero Vee carb intake (which required re profiling) and that was was about all, the extended cowling was warped, the tailplanes would not fit the Trumpeter kit (no surprise) and the prop was worse than the kit one in detail. There were no parts to effect the wing mods, no late cannon barrels, no later windscreen etc etc. Sorry to sound harsh but it could have been so much better and I would happily have paid more - after all the Spit is not that big in 1/24 that you couldn't have 2 or 3 in the collection so I wouldn't have thought it wouldn't be a one off purchase for a significant number of modellers. Edgar, I didn't know the Airfix MkVb kit had the later type windscreen, it's the weak part of my conversion - I must investigate.......