Recon

[COLIN SHIPTON-KNIGHT]

Cheers Mike got the PM, thanks anyway!

Slept since last post, so calmed down...also looking forward to pre WWII display this year, let alone prospects for next year, never thought events would unfold as they are doing, when I started on this journey of discovery.....but have to admit did not give much thought to how or where this would all go!

Quite happy with how it is going........more the merrier for me.

Any one got a friendly 'perspex bender'? Just got quote for what I would like to see for more, elegant shelving. Scared me! Would like to hear any replies on the theme.

Any ideas of how else models can be displayed other than on tables or shelves?

Any thoughts about how we lay the display out? Oldest in the centre? Left to right? Right to left? Biggest scale at back, smallest at front?

Colin

[MikeC]

Well this is not to everyone's taste, but our displays at Avon are laid out on one principle: If you've taken the trouble to package it and bring it, we'll find room for it. Other than that, we may shift a few models to balance things out, but we don't tend to do tightly regimented displays. Whilst somewhat anarchic, it suits us, and if I may lapse into PC-speak it means we're "inclusive" - albeit within "it must fit the theme" for SMW.

That does not suit everybody, and I greatly admire the displays at SMW which are obviously planned in precise detail with tightly bounded parameters. But I thought that last year's recon display was not far off the mark, so why not continue in that vein - "free and easy, so long as it fits the theme and the display looks right"? So one centre-piece (last year's SR-71/KC-135 was perfect) with perhaps, as you say, small at fromt and large behind, or large on the table and small on the shelves. The latter looks more balanced imo.

(Edit to correct typo.)

[COLIN SHIPTON-KNIGHT]

Cheers Mike, thank you for your views!

Hoping for others?

Don't want to bias things but unfortunately the SR 71-KC 135 will not be returning for 2007, as far as I am aware! But hopefully, (if Dennis's plans come to fruition), then we will have an obvious 'centre piece. Don't want to spoil the surprise.........

Come on folks any other opinions?

Colin

[sloegin57]

Colin,

your reply No.107 has made a decision for me. You any objections to me dropping one of the Hurricanes and substituting the BE2c (Roden) based on that superb review build in MAI Sept 2007. Mine will be based on a Mesopotamia based aircraft (I'll mail you a pic of the one I would like to do). I would also like to drop for this year the RF4C as half the bits I removed during the refurb seem to have gone adrift. This will give me more time to concentrate on "you know what" and if it doesn't do what we discussed then I have worked out an alternative position using flower wire. The Tiger and the other two Hurricanes are coming on well together with the RF-8. FE8 has had camera mountings (cut down matchsticks) fitted but am still trying to figure where Brisfit camera actually went. If push comes to shove then I'll mount it on a little trolly and let the viewer decide where it goes.

Even if the rest don't make it, "you know what" is coming down come hell or high water. Your views and others appreciated.

Dennis

[jonb]

Not much help but it may be an idea to see what is delivered before deciding on how to display it (not easy when things are arriving at different times I know) but two people can have completly different criteria for displaying the same things - I once had three spits Vs on display, two in desert camo and one in grey green so I set them out desert, europe, desert as I am intersted in colour shemes and how it looks visualy, someone else then moved them into chronoligical order so it went desert, desert, w europe. Who was right ? We, both were depending on the criteria. So you pays your money and takes your choice. As there will be such a varied mix and in diferent scales it will be an interseting exercise - the CAFFE SIG wont be displaying this year but I intend to be there on Friday and am happy to help you set up if required.

[COLIN SHIPTON-KNIGHT]

Dennis,

No problems completely understand, you go for WWI coverage and "you know what", goodness I feel like Rumpole of the Bailey and "she who must be obeyed" saying that.....................We have got Phantoms represented, so no problem. Good to hear you have a plan 'B' if "you know what", fails to perform..........

JonB,

Thanks for that, I know what you mean, it became quite obvious last year that we were going to have models from so many people, in different scales.....How the hell do you do it? Bless them all, they all turned up! Generally we put the bigger scale models at the back, and in groups of 'era', with an interesting centre piece....seemed to work.

For this year I am uncertain, we should hopefully be having an even broader selection of models by age, scale and modeler.....I am looking forward to the challenge.

Thanks for the opinion. Oh by the way, much appreciated offer of help on Friday, will no doubt talk further before time, but I am hoping to get there about 15:00hrs. Any help much appreciated.

Colin

[MikeC]

If our usual plan works out I'll be there Friday, however I think Avon branch stand has to take precedence as I'm OI/C theme this year. That said, I should have time to help out with recce SIG as well.

Branches/SIGs aren't usually allowed in befroe 16:00, so you may have a cold hour ...

[COLIN SHIPTON-KNIGHT]

Cheers Mike,

Any help appreciated, and if I can do anything for you! No problem. well lets face it 16:00 is probably more like it.....

Hey folks, I am going to disappear for a week....Going to Shetland Islands, having this year discovered that, thanks to my mother, I was adopted at six weeks!

Have over 53 generations of ancestors.....How the hell do you cope with it! Going to have a look at the ancestral lands.....

Say hi about 6-7 Sep.

Colin

[jonb]

As last years display looked good I shouldn't change the format, if it ain't broke don't fix it. Small at the front, big at the back, in sub groups as you did last time is emminently sensible and works a treat.

[COLIN SHIPTON-KNIGHT]

JonB,

Thanks for that..

Dear all......no more posts from me for a week! (audible sigh of relief).

I am setting out first thing in the morning to Shetland! That's the islands way north of Scotland...

Journey of discovery for me, only in last six months discovered my real family, (was adopted when young), and all the ancestry that goes with it...........! Seventeen generations all back in Shetland. Hoseason, family name, patronymic name, dating back to Danish Vikings......and then there's the more distant ancestors.....all 53 generations! Via Robert The Bruce and all the other Royal lines.

Should be interesting!

Take care, post again in a week.

Colin

[popeye]

Question re Valiant B(PR)1 camera cradle
Hello everybody.

Am presently preparing for a 1/72nd Valiant PR1 build from the Mach2 kit.

I would like to do the camera cradle on trolley as featured in one small pic culled from "Aeroplane Database" Feb 2002.
Wonder if any other pics of the camera cradle are known or available.

I do have the Aerofax and several clippings but no other pic of the cradle.

TIA, Rolf

[sloegin57]

Rolf,

when I was on 543 Squadron, it was generally accepted that the camera crate used by the Victor was adapted from the Valiant crate, the bomb bays being almost identical in volume. If you could email me the pic of the crate then I will be able to tell immediately if that is correct.

Cheers

Dennis

[popeye]

Dennis,

many thks in advance - will pull out the clipping to scan & send next few days - to yr e-mail address on yr homepage ?

Otherwise pls send pm address to [e-mail]

Rolf

[sloegin57]

Rolf,

email address on homepage or to [e-mail]. Either or; I'll get it. I don't know if the kit you are using has underwing tanks but 543's Valiants used them more than most other Squadrons. Also the next Warpaint, currently in preparation, will be on the Valiant.

Dennis

[popeye]

Hello Dennis,

pics sent to pm - looking fwd to yr comments.

Good news about imminent Warpaint on the Valiant !

Rolf