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Post by mumbles on Sept 5, 2011 0:03:40 GMT 12
Some interesting people with aviation connections were killed in the tragedy. Graham Ashton had been in the Territorial Air Force before WWII and served in General Reconnaissance squadrons during the war. I don't know if he was an employee of Air New Zealand or just a passenger. The very famous pilot Sqn Ldr Dave Allen was killed in a well known accident in 1940 when he fell out of a Tiger Moth during a loop. His son and grandaughter were onboard. Three generations killed in air tragedy. The well known pilot Gerry Burton who'd flown Vincents and Avengers in WWII also told me he and his daughter had tickets forthat flight and had to pull out as something else came up. He was very narked to miss out, at first. Don't forget Graham Lucas, crew member and ex-RNZAF Canberras. The piece tonight was quite biased, and didn't bring up anything new, but still raised the valid point that for many the aircrew still cop the ultimate blame for the crash as per the Chippendale report, which having done a fair bit of reading around the subject over the years I don't think is entirely fair. That said, is there any precedent (or even ability) for parliament to overturn the findings of an accident report? As I understand it the report is still the legally binding account, and the inquiry is legally opinion only.
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Post by mumbles on Aug 31, 2011 23:47:54 GMT 12
Close-up on the Wellington nose art for Dave. Sorry it isn't sharper, but I only have so much resolution and it is 1/72!
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Post by mumbles on Aug 31, 2011 23:46:21 GMT 12
Watching the strobes and navigation lights was amazingly realistic then the engines lit up - brilliant[/quote] Yeah, I wonder if the owner is ever tempted to fly it at night or dusk
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Post by mumbles on Aug 31, 2011 23:37:41 GMT 12
Thanks for the photos Sam. There are some impressive models there. What was the nose art on that Wellington? I cannot make it out. That F-15 with the engines running looks really awesome. Did it make noise too? Did that F-16 in RNZAF markings win first place?? It has hi viz markings - I reckon that is wrong. Forgot to mention the F-15 and Spitfire are RC Flyers. The F-15 is powered by a single jet with a split duct to the exhausts. It wasn't started at any point over the weekend (my hopes it might get taxied around the stage notwithstanding ). I know the guy who built it, and the F-16 was finished as a retro-futuristic what-if, deservedly winning first place in it's category as it is a very tidy build. Subject accuracy isn't really a judging criteria (unless the wings are attached upside down or something), as it would require an unfair level of specific and very subjective subject matter expertise for the judges, with huge scope for argument. As it is a what-if, accuracy is something a moot point anyway, and given that there is a slight trend back toward higher vis markings in some operators (e.g. USN) it isn't that unfeasible to me. Watch this space for a couple of RNZAF F-16's of my own in the near future...
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Post by mumbles on Aug 30, 2011 20:59:08 GMT 12
Nice to run into/catch up/meet various members over the weekend too
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Post by mumbles on Aug 30, 2011 20:46:20 GMT 12
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Post by mumbles on Aug 24, 2011 15:55:23 GMT 12
Wow, you got to go inside Fifi, how cool is that! It's like the cockpit of the Millenium Falcon! It is an intentional resemblance, as Lucas was influenced/inspired by the B-29 and other aircraft when conceptualising his vehicles. I think the B-29 was pretty much exactly the look he was going for when coming up with the MF office.
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Post by mumbles on Aug 22, 2011 22:38:08 GMT 12
The point I am making about price is model manufacturers and distributors are killing themselves with such outragious prices. In the days when we were kids you could go to the modelshop and buy a 1/72nd scale kitset for less than $5.00 and that was in the realms of a few weeks pocket money saving. Or half a week for the rich kids. Kids got into the hobby this way, honing their skills on cheap and not-that-great kitsets, learnin along the way about modelling and about the history that the model represented. Once they got good and became interested in better detail they usually moved on to 1/48th and now as adults those kids enjoy the 1/32nd scale stuff as it's far superior in quality and their pocket money has usually gone up as they grew up. Now though, kids of 10 or so will see the choice of either buy the tired old rubbish 1960's moulded kits that we got for less than a fiver - but now through inflation and greed go for closer to $45 apparently. Or get a new kit in 1/72nd that's highly details but costs a lot more and because you're inexperienced you don't want to ruin it. So only those adults with the big income who've been through the process of growing in modelling already can afford those new whizzy-do kits and the kids will rather go and buy two or three video games for the same $200 price, and ultimately they will be lost to the hobby. Hence the reason why many of the model shops across the country have either shut down or have next to no stock. Kids used to swarm into those shops and spend their pocket money but now they cannot afford to. The tooling for new models is done by computer programmers who are probably more highly paid than the old phantom rivetters of the 1960's who had to do it all the hard way by hand, but the models are now almost all produced in China where labour is cheaper. I would think the plastic in each 1/72 kit comes to less than $5.00, maybe another dollar for packaging, so basically the end user who pays $200 for a 1/72nd scale kit is completely mad. You may think you're paying for the design and tooling too, but only for the first few thousand made and it then pays for itself and if history coninues the tooling will be used for another 50+ years with mostly clear profit. Maybe, maybe not. I remember the bigger 1/72 and 1/48 kits I ogled as a kid being well out of pocket money reach 25 years ago. For my money, taking inflation into account, most of the entry level 1/72 kits are just as affordable as they ever were, and these days are mostly better quality too. We were giving away 1/72 Spad and Camel kits at the expo over the weekend free to kids coming in the door, even at retail they would still be less than $10, with other Airfix and Academy single engine 1/72 props (the latter in particular mostly excellent kits) still around the $12 or less mark. I think there are other factors driving the change in modelling demographics beyond simple pricing. There are unusual high prices going on with particular manufacturers at the moment, but if people think a new tool 1/72 Sunderland is worth $200 they will pay for it (and if they don't, it will end up in bargain bins or being extorted on eBay). And worth is a very subjective thing.
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Post by mumbles on Aug 22, 2011 19:07:17 GMT 12
$200 for a 1/72nd scale (the one true scale)?? What is the world coming to? Fixed that for you (unless I missed the memo saying I mostly make kid's toys!) ;D It isn't the scale that counts, it is what is in the box and $200 for a large complicated kit isn't that unusual. It might be pricey, but it will be well beyond the 1960's Airfix moulding in terms of outright quality. YMMV. One of the guys in the Wellington club is building the new He-111, and it is indeed on the large side from what he has said.
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Post by mumbles on Aug 18, 2011 19:36:51 GMT 12
There is an informal nationals get together for those interested at Fin Bar on High Street, about five to ten minutes walk from the show venue, from 6:30 pm on the Saturday.
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Post by mumbles on Aug 17, 2011 22:38:11 GMT 12
I'll be minding one of the display tables on Saturday at least, shooing away grasping fingers and answering questions (hopefully more of the latter).
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Post by mumbles on Aug 14, 2011 21:42:43 GMT 12
Which weekend is this cold spell meant to hit? I am in just a T-shirt and feel a bit warm. It's like Spring here. Probably yet another balls up at the weather office? You were saying Dave? ;D Here is what it looked like at my place above the Hutt Valley a few hours ago: Still on the ground now and lightly snowing/sleeting on and off. Never seen anything like it around here.
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F-111
Aug 8, 2011 23:41:47 GMT 12
Post by mumbles on Aug 8, 2011 23:41:47 GMT 12
That looks just great Sam, well done so far. Did any RNZAF pilots fly the F-111 on exchange I wonder? Thanks Dave. I don't know about exchange, but I am pretty sure one or two moved on to the Pig after the Skyhawks were withdrawn.
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F-111
Aug 8, 2011 23:32:24 GMT 12
Post by mumbles on Aug 8, 2011 23:32:24 GMT 12
Not quite RNZAF, but they were here often enough (and even left a couple behind in bits) so I thought it could go in this section. Something I've been working on for the last few weeks, Hasegawa 1/72 F-111C supplied to me courtesy of forum member kb clearing out his stash recently ;D Interesting kit. Has a great reputation and some parts of it are brilliant, while other parts are mystifyingly average.
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Post by mumbles on Aug 8, 2011 21:04:33 GMT 12
Sorry-just fell asleep reading that... With minor wording changes it is a standard statement for any government department, civil or military. Has been for some time.
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Post by mumbles on Aug 8, 2011 18:53:35 GMT 12
Is it just me or does the dragonfly look like a squashed down strikemaster? I've always thought that, from as far back as when I was old enough to tell them apart (around 5 ).
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Post by mumbles on Aug 8, 2011 17:44:35 GMT 12
Thanks guys. Seriously if you do notice any typos or errors let me know so they can be corrected in a future print run. I picked up a few typos as well, but have just lent my copy to my dad to read, so can't detail them at the moment! It was minor stuff, nothing serious.
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Post by mumbles on Aug 8, 2011 17:37:45 GMT 12
As one who did a lot of fundraising to establish and maintain the Ohakea Museum I am saddened to see our old buildings being used for this. I hope the RNZAF Marae project has paid for those buildings as they didn't "own" them to start with! Or alternatively, existing assets that are (rightly or wrongly) standing idle are being used. Has anyone figured out which sector of the budget this is actually coming out of? While the timing in the current climate of cut-backs and civilianisation could be better, as a civilian taxpayer I don't have any issues with this. I'm surprised they don't have a marae already to be honest. I don't see it as an introduction or change, more an acknowledgement. As others have already pointed out, Maori culture has been a part of the RNZAF for decades (Project Kahu anyone, or the names on the Corsairs on Dave's signature among others). To be happy to use elements of a culture without acknowledgment or awareness of it's origins is cynical, and verging on disingenuous. Maraes are a part of NZ culture, why shouldn't the RNZAF reflect that? This isn't PC bullshit, it is simple pragmatism. Forcing the culture on those who don't want it is obviously a waste of time, but there is nothing wrong in this instance I think with giving the option to those who are interested.
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19
Aug 5, 2011 10:09:09 GMT 12
Post by mumbles on Aug 5, 2011 10:09:09 GMT 12
( and may stir a few memories , for those mature enough to remember when it first came out ) I like the way you put that I remember arguing with a girl in my primary school who was convinced the lyrics were mentioning "Chaigon". My understanding of the '19' myth is that it is accurate if you include ages from the time of enlistment and basic training, rather than solely those deployed in theatre. For those actually doing the fighting it wasn't true.
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Post by mumbles on Jul 31, 2011 23:26:19 GMT 12
The series The Colour of War which was 100% coloured footage, mostly previously unseen, with very well written and often heartfelt narration, and poignantpersonal letter and diary entries, was so, so much better. I just wondered if this currently rerunning show has got up other people's noses too? I reckon it's false advertising. It should be called World War Two in Watercolour. Agreed. 'Colour of War' was the real deal, and much better for it. The colourisation on 'In Colour' is just terrible.
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