IainMackayDall

Any 3d prints of those engine nacelles yet?

Thanks everyone, I better brush up on handling resin parts, but I guess that we are all now used to washing our hands much much more these days

TJTX That book I quoted, was quite an explanation to me as I toured Laos, as to how complex the situation was in Laos back during the 60's/70's. The US inherited many mobilised Hmong Laos from the French, using that 3 way divisions with the Laos ethnic split. The top being the richer lowland Laos and the other 2 are the most marginalised Hmong and Khmer ( Hmong sources from the North China/Russia and khmer from the South/Cambodia ) That and the King of Laos, with his 3 sons , the 3 Princes were intended to form a coalition in 1962, each one representing Royalist Laos, Neutralist, and Communist Laos. None acceptable to the US, Russian and Chinese power struggles then. The US involvement then, through the book was obviously aimed at the Vietnamese problem, but used and trained the Hmong to fly, like pilots like Lee Lue https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Lue The US also has a strange bunch of volunteer flyers, flying with exceptional skill, all un-uniforned, flying through heavy ground fire to identify targets. The book shows all sides and makes any judgement difficult as to what was right and wrong through the Laos side of the conflict. It ends with only some of the Hmong pilot families getting a fraught passage to leave their homeland to set up a new life in the USA.

Great photography along with great modelling, so inspiring !!

Has anyone built any models from Accurate Armour? I've discovered they have a 1/35 scale Alvis Stalwart ( actually 3 versions it seems, or maybe 2 past versions ) https://accurate-armour.com/aa-products/135th-complete-kits/k160 has anyone built one, or one of their model range? Regards Iain

Hi, have you seen this link to the Trojans from Laos ( where they classed as T-28s? )They are not the VNAF T-28s but those of the RLAF They also get mentioned in The Ravens (Pilots of the Secret War of Laos) by Christopher Robbins. I managed to buy a copy when travelling through Laos. It explains the complexities of all the political and ethnic spits in Laos, during that era, and of the Hmong pilots who flew the Trojans. http://www.t28trojanfoundation.com/aussies.html

As a teen, I always harboured thoughts to join the RAF. I knew I could never aspire to fly fighters, but being on a RAF C-130 Herc, in any form, was my dream. I had a great mentor "Reg" who was on old Cornish beach lifeguard, who told me not to join up, and concentrate on my art course application, which I did. I realise later Reg had lost his older brother in WW2. Lancaster ND-559 crashed in Molenaarsgraaf on the night of 21 / 22 May 1944. https://2ndww.blogspot.com/2006/07/what-happened-at-molenaarsgraaf.html. But, i had the great fortune to have a father who was in the Royal Navy and to hear about his many ships, and D-Day experiences. ( see pic with one of his US built RN LST-165 on probably Gold or Sword Beach in the background. More recent good fortune had me back in London for my daughter Imogen's wedding to Matt. Matt completed 2 tours of Afghanistan as a Artillery Captain. He also, along with some of his colleagues on either side below, wear the Para insignia and beret. Matt notched up a multiple jumps from those RAF C-130 Hercs.

Has anyone ever produced a 1/32 F-111 ? I ca see many 1/48 scale versions, like this Academy Model Kit 1/48 Scale RAAF F-111C

found these images of a museum SM-55

Hi Just spotted this: I have a connection to a downed Lancaster in the Netherlands, more through a family in StAgnes (my old Village in Cornwall) A tribute to Molenaarsgraaf. https://2ndww.blogspot.com.au/…/what-happened-at-molenaarsg… I know the brothers and family of Flight Sergeant R.G. Watts and I am constantly amazed by their many visits to Molenaarsgraaf to remember. But also to the spirit of those in Molenaarsgraaf to keep such memories preserved and so well tended. https://www.tracesofwar.com/sights/96996/Memorial-Lancaster-ND-559.htm https://www.tracesofwar.com/sights/1612/Commonwealth-War-Graves-Molenaarsgraaf.htm Regards from Australia

I am seriously considering a Lego Titanic build.. but some examples can be huge. It's all because my Grandfather Andrew Dall was a junior engineer at Harland and Wolf (Belfast), set to sail on the Titanic, responsible for the steam engine designs, he would have been in the engine rooms most of the time. All his superiors gave him an option of being the Chief Engineer on a lesser prestige ship, to be delivered to a Greek client, just so that they could take his place on that maiden voyage... My other model would be a scale plastic build of a D-Day LST, the only kit I can find is a Lindberg model. Does anyone have other suggestions? My father John Dall ( Andrew Dall's son ) was a Royal Navy Lt Engineer on a D-Day US built but Royal Navy loaned LST. The closest I have got so far is this CGI model I managed to get of LST 165 built in 3d. https://www.turbosquid.com/3d-models/lst-landing-transport-ship-boat-3d-model/331467 Although technically the Royal Navy LST's had none of the front Bofors/Oerlikon gun turrets that the US operated ships had. The RN ships trained to land as silently as possible, all cables on the stern kedge anchor heavily greased to muffle sound, as they would drop that anchor just before beaching. But the American LSTs on the next beach to Gold would land with all front guns blazing. The RN LST crews would watch them land attracting all the returning fire. A bit off track, but D-Day related. Again my father John Dall was a keen jazz musician and on LST165, he spotted on a subsequent trip to the D-Day landings, that the RAF "Squadronairs" were being loaded on board as part of the troop entertainment bound for Europe. The RAF Squadronairs, were really a rebadged famous London night club Jazz band. as were many adopted bands during WW2. My Father, being a jazz drummer himself, convinced them to set up all their instruments on the deck of LST-165 and just play as they sailed over to Normandy. I think we are all here building these detailed scaled replicas more in respect for what has gone before us, be it for family history or the fact we just had the good fortune to not have our lives ever scared or altered by such experiences. To all, keep safe in these times of "the end of normal".

How about adding in on our lockdown viewing "The wind rises"..

I found these - admittedly colourised images off: https://www.facebook.com/colourbyRJM/ The first image: Leading Aircraftmen Norman Bond of Swindon and William Webb of Addington, Surrey, carry a rocket projectile to load under the wing of Bristol Second image: Five Malta-based pilots sitting in front of two fighter aircraft at Luqa. Third and fourth from the left, respectively are, Wing Commander J K Buchanan, Commanding Officer of No. 272 Squadron RAF, and Wing Commander M M Stephens, leader of the Hal Far Fighter Wing, shortly before the end of his tour of operations. Behind them is Wing Commander P P Hanks' Supermarine Spitfire Mark VC, BR498 'PP-H', which he flew as leader of the Luqa Fighter Wing, parked in front of a Bristol Beaufighter of No. 272 Squadron RAF. Third: Bristol Beaufighter TF Mark X, NE543 'UB-E', of No. 455 Squadron RAAF based at Langham, Norfolk, in low-level flight over the North Sea after firing off its rocket projectiles.

Hell most of the model community is already self isolating. Maybe these shows could go virtual, or cloud gatherings. Each model company could host from home production locations with model walk arounds with show and tell features on demand from cloud audiences.. Yes it seems extreme now, but just think of how many other panics could unfold, what would happened with any future attendee arriving from.. well from any Elon Musk Mars or Moon base complex? As in they will definitely not what to attend and return home with such a riot of new virus potential.

Was there any e-Bay purchase of some Ex-Soviet/Russian cockpit colour for the restoration?

I've just read Chernobyl: The History of a Nuclear Catastrophe, By: Serhii Plokhy https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/may/09/chernobyl-history-tragedy-serhii-plokhy-review-disaster-europe-soviet-system 2019 Serhii Plokhy (P)2019 Penguin Books Ltd it is also now an Audible book..

I found this from a year ago.. Has anyone heard of any progress on it?

I'd also ask him "how's the progress on that Dambusters movie, did Stephen Fry write the script?

Do you realise how big a Huntsman Spider is here in Australia. ( about a 1/48 scale version, if a Tarantella is a 1/16 scale .. ie I'm guessing but if you are scared of spiders they are pretty big, but less than half as big as a Tarantella ) They are for us humans harmless, but they do like to disguise themselves ( badly ) as hanging pottery, cuts or plates etc. They also travel in pairs.. as in, if you remove one there other partner is close by. Often experienced whilst driving in a car, they may suddenly rush out across your windscreen.. not to bad if they are on the outside, more often than not, they are on the inside !!

RIP to a C-130 crew here in Australia, these experienced volunteers, flying a Coulson C-130 water fire bomber during our unprecedented conditions, would have had to battle severe flying conditions, flying so low over such targets this season is bravery in itself. All of Australia has realised this tragic crew loss. Today, we still have US and Canadian volunteers firefighters arriving here to battle our conditions. I do so hope we can return the same when needed. The NSW RFS mourns the loss of the three crewmembers, killed in yesterday's Large Air Tanker crash. Our thoughts are with their families, fellow crewmembers and the broader emergency services family that knew and worked with them

never realised that the 6 engined Nakajima G10N has contra rotating props!! an demanding resource for them to build, did any other Japanese aircraft use such engines?

Has anyone modelled, or is there a ever a 1/32 build of the larger Japanese medium bombers, like the ones that Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto flew in (Mitsubishi G4M Betty) 1/48 ref URL: https://hobbycom.jp/my/351c960165/diaries/31268 plus an obvious pairing for a P-38 out from Bougainville. The documentation at https://www.pacificwrecks.com has always tempted me to try to visit some of the forgotten airfields in the Solomon Islands. ( although not to collect anything there, just witness what's been left for so long ) I've dived on wrecked ships with that incredible water visibility in the Solomon Islands, but never realised when I was there, what was still hidden on these islands. https://www.pacificwrecks.com/airfields/solomons/ballale/salvage.html and http://warbirdsnews.com/warbirds-news/wwii-japanese-aircraft-wrecks-salvaged-at-balalae.html

Hi, i'm assuming that there are no production versions of a 1/32 Hercules? I did find some custom builds online like these http://uncleles.net/2018/05/08/1-32-raaf-c-130h-hercules-maybe-a-redux-is-due/ Also, Lockheed seems to be sprouting a range of uses, other than just palette haulers ie: http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/naval-exhibitions/dsei-2015-naval-show-daily-news/3113-lockheed-sees-its-sc-130j-sea-herc-as-the-affordable-solution-to-answer-uk-future-mpa-needs.html A C-130 gunship would be great to build, or even a palette hauler, modellers could combine armour with aircraft quite justifiably here. On modelling big, even a 1/72 C-4 Galaxy or C-17 would fill a shelf, and I have yet to see any accessory models like an Oshkosh 40K Air Cargo Loader However, I did find a 1/9 scale C-17 (R/C) http://www.gsal.org/Photos/c17/c17.htm that would require a double garage to house

il-28 Beagle I've not seen anything bigger than 1/48. Although I do remember building one from an Airfix kit in the UK ( see era box lid )

Good suggestion, making the point that, one could be a serial philanderer chasing multiple girls in bars and clubs, or alternately one could be a serial collectors not going out frequenting bars but frequently chasing model kits from the shed / basement or garage.. I'll have to try that one.. but may need carefully re-wording.