Jeff

I hear you on that Rob................... at the moment we are a bit handcuffed looking after ageing parents, but one day I WILL get out there and discover some of the finer things in life....... been out there some, but still MUCH more to discover... I have a 'list'...... New foods and wines and beers to find.... and new friends too....

YOU are a true Gent , Carl............................ take a bow !

HA !! I'm on it NOW... https://vinepair.com/wine-blog/7-things-you-need-to-know-about-vinho-verde

Black Potatoes, and Vinho verde????????? Man I really HAVE to get out more........ I better go to Google, and look this up........

Dennis...............in conjunction with what Ian has posted above, my information has Ian's information correct as the first Berlin Op for EE139 as August 23/24 from 2041hrs to 0313hrs duration, pilot was W/O J R (Ron) Clark, and 'crew'............ the information I have regarding the 'crew' is Sgt. H. Bennett (FE), Sgt. J H Siddell (N), Sgt.D Wheeler ( BA), Sgt. L J Easby (WOP), Sgt E Gordon ( MU), Sgt. W Green (RG), and according to what I have , the crew watched a JU88 get shot down due to Flak.... The Lancaster came off the Avro assembly line as a MK III with Merlin28 engines and posted to 100 Sqdn at Waltham Lincolnshire May 31, 1943. She flew at least 29 sorties with 100 Sqdn. there was a slight change in the Bomb symbols after the 30th op and were in rows of 15. Sgt Harold Bennett the first Flight Engineer was the fellow who painted the Phantom of the Ruhr nose art. Ron Clark flew EE139 on 24 ops, nearly buying the farm on their 23 op over Mannheim as they were conned by search lights and were hit buy flak which damaged the starboard elevator and another shell going through the bomb bay and exiting out the top of the fuselage and apparently just missed the WoP Sgt. Easby, they dove still conned and being chased by a fighter of sorts..... Bennett helped Clark pull her out of the dive and they escaped the fighter to make it home, Bennett was awarded the DFM and Clark the DFC for that op. She flew with 100 Sqdn and 550 Sqdn for her war operations, her last op appears to be November 21 1944 1531 hrs - 2208 hrs on a trip to Aschaffenburg Miyards with Sqdn/Ldr W F Cudlow DSO DFC AFC piloting. After her last op she was sent to 1656 CU December 1, 1944, with 121 ops on her nose, and became Cat AC ( you may have to hunt that part down ) February19, 1945, she was sent to 58 MU. She was returned to 1656 CU, June 5, 1945, then she was off to 1660 CU December 17, 1945. She once again became Cat AC on January 12, 1946, and was finally made Cat E and was struck off charge February 19, 1946 I hope that is of some interest for you.....

Mk IX................... two stage Merlin, BIG 4 blade prop, graceful lines, Big fire power, and could kick the snot out of a FW190

And not only all that BUT way too pricey for all those mess ups................... I for one won't pay THAT kind of money for an unbuildable kit............

SORRY, John................................ but I LOVE your work and watching your techniques and how you get the magnificent results............... I do watch your builds closely and I do try to pick up new ideas............ I feel like a 'peeping Tom' some days though...

Thats awesome Carl.....................

Carl, this job you did on this kit makes my heart flutter............................ it's AWESOME !!!!!!!!!!!! I was going to do mine the same, but after seeing this one, I changed my mind, you did a MASTERFUL job on it.................. I LOVE it!

Dennis, do you have a particular operational date that you are going to base your model on? Or a particular Op and or target?? If you give me a date of a particular sortie, I can give you the names of the crew if that interests you....

HBD....... "H" !

Me too, although I don't have quite as much experience, I did help a little bit and am in constant contact with 'our' restoration of the Spartan B.35 in Nanton Alberta, as well as the prez of the Calgary Mosquito Society, who is my good friend, and................................ 633 Sqdn was one of my top movies ! LOL.... how cool that was that you got to work with Tamiya on their 1/32 Mossie.......................... THAT could be a story in itself, also you must be proud of all the good comments on that kit..................................................... sorry for the high-jack, Ron.................. we now return to our regularly scheduled program................

Thanks for the better pics Anthony, I had some as I had a great discussion with our Calgary Mosquito Society Prez, he sent me some excellent pics and I was trying to find them, but your fit the bill perfectly.............. I only brought this up so Ron didn't have an issue that he would have had to rectify later on should he want to.... I feel the 'cap strips' on the 1/32 Tamiya Mossie are a bit 'proud' and need a little tlc as well.... it seems this is a subject by subject thing, as you show, some birds show the prominent strips and others not so much... thanks for the great pics, now I don't have to keep searching for mine....

Ron, ............. I see you mention adding the 'strip ' to the top wing.............. in actuality it is just tape and not actually a 'strip' of anything thick and huge, it is barely discernible even in real life, in some cases hardly visible at all......

Sad to hear that Tony, but hey a guy needs to do what a guy needs to do, and as the busy time is upon you, work, family and life is the important stuff....... I will be sitting patiently in the front row, waiting your return..............

This is SO cool !

And after all that a trip to the Optometrist................. very cool stuff, love the detail..............will be fun and most interesting to watch all those engines come together....

Ya gotta love those "German Chicks" ...........................

Send pictures or it didn't happen ! And a 'Pre' Happy Birthday Harv ! 70 is the NEW 40 !

Don't get me wrong, boys ................. I have 'good' intentions ...............................

You guys are hilarious................ me I'm at about 350 kits, and at the rate I build, well.................I should be about 2743 years old....... and as far as 'romping' with someone................ hhhhmmm, now that's something to consider.......................... yup................ 'Immortal' as well.......................... so with that information, I don't have to 'hurry' to build much .......

That was pretty cool............... thanks Matt, and welcome..............

that would be cool.... I'm sure some of the guys, ( me included) would enjoy that..... thanks Mike