Vulcan XH558 Engine Failure Update.

XH558 was scheduled to take off at noon on May 28^th for a crew currency and display training flight. Just after the start of the take-off roll, she experienced problems with two of her Olympus engines. The crew immediately shut all engines down and everyone is safe. 

At this stage, we don't have any further information but we will keep supporters informed via Twitter (@XH558), Facebook (Vulcan XH558) and the news section (here) of the charity's website (www.vulcantothesky.org).

Unfortunately, this means that she will not be able to fly for at least two weeks, although we will not know exactly how long rectification will take until the problem has been thoroughly investigated.

We will provide further updates when we know more.

Many thanks for supporting Vulcan XH558

http://www.vulcantothesky.org/news/352/82/Engine-Failure.html

Pictures of the recently repainted XH558.

Century Wings response to reports of demise.

This is a response to the reports from Century Wings to UK distributor Tiger Hobbies.

As a Xplus/CW Distributor we have had a responce to an email we sent them about what has been reported on forums and some diecast company websites

In June/July the relationship between Xplus and Century Corporation will end, so it is not the end for the Century Wings brand at the moment. At some time in the near future a new partner will start to produce again under licence from Century Corporation, but I don’t think we will see new releases for a while.

So as you see it was only the ending of a Business relationship not the end of the brand.

Century Corporation still owns the CW Tools and both companies are not out of business just gone their own ways.

I will let you all know if there is further development and if we will still be the distributor (UK) when production starts again.

The latest Corgi release information.

AA39303 Boulton Paul Defiant Mk.I 307 (Polish) Sqn EW-K, N3437 Jun-12
AA31605 Handley Page Victor B2 139 'Jamaica' Sqn RAF Wittering 1964 Jul-12
AA32314 English Electric (BAC) Lightning F6 5 Sqn, RAF Binbrook 1984 Jul-12
AA39702A Hawker Hurricane Mk. IIc - BN230, FT-A, 43 Sqn RAF, Sqn Ldr D.Acklington 1942 Jul-12

AA39103 Westland Whirlwind HAR10, XP330, 'Z', 230 Sqn, RAF Wittering, 1969 Aug-12
AA36807 Westland Lysander Mk.IIIa V9289, 357 Sqn, Burma 1945 Aug-12
AA36310A Fairey Swordfish MkI, L2742, 81 NAS, HMS Courageous, 1937 (floats) Aug-12
AA36310B Fairey Swordfish MkI, L2742, 810 NAS, HMS Courageous, 1937 (wheels) Aug-12
AA34604 DeHavilland Mosquito FBVI - HX922, EG-F, RNZAF 487 Sqn, AmiensRaid, February 1944 Aug-12

AA39403 Vickers Valiant B Mk.1, WZ404, 207 Sqn, RAF Luqa, Malta, Suez Crisis 1956 Sep-12

AA39603 Hawker Audax, K4853, No.28 Sqn, Kohal, India, 1941 Oct-12
AA39205 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IIa, P7308, 71 'Eagle' Sqn, RAF North Weald 1941 Oct-12
AA31209 Avro Vulcan B.2. XM598, 50 Sqn, Ascension Island 1982 "Falklands 30th Anniversary" Oct-12
AA39602 Hawker Demon, K2905, 41 Sqn, C Flight, RAF Northolt, Autumn 1934 Oct-12
AA27001 Westland Puma HC Mk.1 ,XW219, 230 Sqn, RAF Benson, November 2009 Oct-12
AA32618 Avro Lancaster B MkI LM220, RAF 9 Sqn 'Getting Younger Everyday' Oct-12
AA39502 Shorts Stirling MkI, OJ-H - 149 Sqn, Middleton VC Oct-12
AA37608 Westland Wessex HU5 XT480 847 NAS Coded X-Q BLUFF Cove, Falklands 1982 Oct-12
AA39801 Panavia Tornado F3, ZE763/HD, 111 Sqn, RAF Leuchars, Scotland 2010 Oct-12
AA33713 Heinkel He111 H-5 1000kg 'Herman' Bomb A1+AH 1./KG53 Legion Condor 1942/43 Oct-12
AA34409 North American Mustang Mk.IV GA-S 112 Sqn RAF, Italy, May 1945 Oct-12
AA33825 P47G Thunderbolt, SNAFU, Preserved at Duxford with the Fighter Collection 2012 Oct-12
AA33713 Heinkel He111 H-5 1000kg 'Herman' Bomb A1+AH 1./KG53 Legion Condor 1942/43 Oct-12
AA34409 North American Mustang Mk.IV GA-S 112 Sqn RAF, Italy, May 1945 Oct-12

AA31208 Avro Vulcan B2, XH558, 230 OCU, RAF Waddington, 1960 Nov-12

AA35413 Sepecat Jaguar GR1, XZ108, RAFG 2 Sqn, Laarbruch, Germany, 1987 Dec-12
AA39703 Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk.IIC, 835 NAS, HMS Nairana, 1944 Dec-12

Pre-production photos, HA3804, KF-16C, R.O.K. Air Force.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series, HA3804, KF-16C Fighting Falcon, R.O.K Air Force.

Pre-production photos, HA1018, RF-104G Stargazer, ROCAF

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series, HA1018, RF-104G Stargazer 4378, ROCAF, Taiwan.

Pre-production photos, HA8301, Spitfire Mk.IX, Johnnie Johnson.

Hobby Master 1/48 Air Power Series, HA8301, Spitfire Mk.IX MK392 / JE-J Wing Commander Johnnie Johnson, OC No. 144 Wing, June 1944.

Pre-production pictures, HA3405, T-2 Red 27, Aggressor Sqn.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series, HA3405, Japan T-2 "69-5127" Red 27, Aggressor Sqn., JASDF, 1988.

Pre-production pictures, CF-101 Voodoo, "Hawk One Canada".

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series, HA3704, CF-101 Voodoo No. 409 "101057" Hawk One Canada, Canadian Armed Forces, May 1984.

Pre-production pictures, HA3803, F-16C Polish Air Force.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series, HA3808, F-16C Polish Air Force (Poliskie Sily Powietrzne) 31 Baza Lotnictwa Taktycznego (31st Tactical Air Base) Poznan-Krzesiny, Listopad 2010.

SAAF Museum "Black Widow" Mirage IIICZ by Falcon Models

Falcon Models has announced a South African Mirage IIICZ in the form of No. 800, the "Black Window", ZU-DME of the SAAF Museum Historic Flight.

Maybe not the first choice of scheme for many but the aircraft is significant in being the last airworthy Mirage IIIC currently in existence. Hopefully we will see some camouflaged examples in future.

Is Century Wings no more???

News from a Honk Kong based retailer seems to suggest that Century Wings is no more. Yes, they did have issues and they were expensive, but they did make some very good models.

Century Wings did the F-14 Tomcat, F-8 Crusader, A-6 Intruder, A-7 Corsair II and the SR-71 Black Bird in 1/72 scale and some of these models in 1/144 as well. According to the report Century Wings is going to stop releasing new models.

Some of the last few releases were special commissions, that is something to consider. Could it be a marketing ploy? 

If true, and if Franklin Mint is anything to go by, these models will only become harder to find and more expensive.

So, if you were contemplating a purchase... 

Pre-production photos, HA3312, F-5E Tiger II, Patrouille Suisse.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series, HA3312, F-5E Tiger II, J-3901, Swiss Air Force, Patrouille Suisse, August 2011.

Final product photos, F/A-18D VMFA(AW)-332 "Moonlighters"

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series, HA3505, F/A-18D BuNo.164967, VMFA(AW)-332 "Moonlighters", Feb 2007.


In 1953 VMA-332 adopted the polka dots, top hat and cane when they replaced VMA-312 “Checkerboards”. Mocking the black and white checkerboard painted on VMA-312 aircraft cowlings VMA-332 painted their cowlings with red polka dots on a white background.

Their 2 letter identifier “MR” looked like the abbreviation for Mister and the pilots considered themselves gentlemen so the top hat and cane were adopted. In early 1960s the name “Moonlighters” was adopted and the tail letters changed to EA. In 1993 the unit became VMFA(AW)-332.

Shuttles birthday visit to RAF Museum Hendon.

I popped along to Hendon yesterday to see the new Grahame-White Factory & Watch Office Restoration:

http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/c...toration-1.cfm

There were some new exhibits also on display including the Gloster Meteor F9/40 (which was originally on display at Cosford), the Sopwith Dolphin and a full scale model of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. 

The Watch Office Restoration is superb and very evocative. Well worth a visit. Here are some photo's.

 Shuttle