26/09/2014
25/09/2014
Vulcan over Wyton :: 25.IX.14
On it's "Cold War Tour - 2014", XH558 included RAF Wyton as one of it's waypoints - would have been silly not to try and catch a glimpse of the old bird! From the cars and people stationed around the local roads many others thought the same!!
14/09/2014
No room at the Inn….
Left home at 7.25am to go to Duxford for today's show (normally 25 minute trip). Spent the next 1½ hours parked at various points on the final mile of the M11(S) hard shoulder approaching the J10/A505 exit.
Once off the M11 and on the approach road to DX, traffic was flowing a bit easier, but by the time I could see the entrance to the "Meadow" car park, they closed it and announced that only way in now was by foot or Park & Ride.
With word that only a limited number of tickets were available through the main visitor entrance, and seeing the P&R buses arriving pretty much crammed to overflowing, I decided to head back home.(Trumpington P&R was declared full/closed on the local radio at about 11.30…)
I will stake out my windbreak against the garden fence, fill it with folding chairs, make myself a watery coffee and watch for anything flying around the local area!
I may strike lucky and catch a glimpse of the 2Lancs returning to base…
12/09/2014
Duxford :: 12.IX.14 :: Airshow Friday
With the prospect of the Sunday being packed to overflowing (or closed due to over demand more like) I took a trip in today for a wander around.
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| Spitfire HF MkIXe TD314 departs for practice display. |
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| On return she was producing puffs of black... |
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| …and as soon as the wheels were on terra firma, the engine was cut and the aircraft coasted to a halt. |
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| German registered T-6 D-FUKK took off for a DA practice... |
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| …that was interrupted by the arrival of Hunter T7 WV372 |
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| Approach to the AAM... |
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TFC's Curtiss P-40F Warhawk went up for some practice.
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| Aircraft removed from H3 for access... |
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| Knee pads on... |
31/08/2014
DIY mic wind muff or 'dead cat'...
From shooting video on various digital cameras wind noise on airfields can be a real pain. Plenty of solutions for external microphones are on the market but trying to find something for the small pinhole microphone openings on digital cameras is not so easy to find.
So, having sourced a piece of faux fur I set about making my own. I found some Scotch reusable clear sticky pads in my local Staples and, finding I'd only need to use a quarter of a pad on each mic slot, I made a hole in each one with a standard office hole punch. As each pack has 18 tabs that is more than enough for the foreseeable future.
From shooting a couple of sample clips with and without the muff, it does seem to cut down the wind noise by a large amount. Of course, just when I want a good stiff breeze to really try it, the weather gods decide to only provide a gentle breeze!
Thankfully the fur muffs/brows can be removed when not shooting video so saving me from any Duxford snaparazzi humour.
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So, having sourced a piece of faux fur I set about making my own. I found some Scotch reusable clear sticky pads in my local Staples and, finding I'd only need to use a quarter of a pad on each mic slot, I made a hole in each one with a standard office hole punch. As each pack has 18 tabs that is more than enough for the foreseeable future.
From shooting a couple of sample clips with and without the muff, it does seem to cut down the wind noise by a large amount. Of course, just when I want a good stiff breeze to really try it, the weather gods decide to only provide a gentle breeze!
Thankfully the fur muffs/brows can be removed when not shooting video so saving me from any Duxford snaparazzi humour.
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| No Muppet Show jokes please... |
24/08/2014
Once again....
...the roar of eight Merlins in tight formation, had me leaping from my chair, to catch a brief glimpse of the "2Lancs" wending their (low level) way northwards!
And again, no sign of C-GVRA on Flightradar 24....
And again, no sign of C-GVRA on Flightradar 24....
14/08/2014
What's that rumble?
Just spotted the two Lancasters heading in a southerly direction, passing just to the east of us, with a Spitfire/Hurricane trailing behind.
They were pretty low level so no chance of a photo and by the time I'd grabbed the camera they were obscured by trees!
Still, impressive to see these two together - quite stirring...
They were pretty low level so no chance of a photo and by the time I'd grabbed the camera they were obscured by trees!
Still, impressive to see these two together - quite stirring...
11/08/2014
North Wales Detachment :: 2-9.VIII.14
Spent the last week in and around my childhood "stomping ground" of Llanuwchllyn, visiting relatives and sightseeing. Frustratingly, it's an area used by the Brylcreem Boys on a regular basis as they blast around "The Mach Loop", the northern entry/exit point to the "loop" being along the A494 which runs along the valley floor and right over the cottage.
The first I'd know about it was the sound of the aircraft lifting the tiles and usually I was in the wrong place! Hence the frustration!...
So, the Hawks, Typhoons, Tucanos and Tornadoes managed to slip by when at low level but they spent some time dog fighting at higher levels.
A family of Buzzards seem to occupy the area between the valley sides and often soar at the height the fast jets transit through at - wonder how often they suffer bird strikes...
The first I'd know about it was the sound of the aircraft lifting the tiles and usually I was in the wrong place! Hence the frustration!...
So, the Hawks, Typhoons, Tucanos and Tornadoes managed to slip by when at low level but they spent some time dog fighting at higher levels.
A family of Buzzards seem to occupy the area between the valley sides and often soar at the height the fast jets transit through at - wonder how often they suffer bird strikes...
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| Overlooking Llanuwchllyn and Llyn Tegid (Lake Bala) |
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| Tucano |
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| Typhoon dogfighting... |
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| Tornado |
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| Resident Buzzards (or bird strike in waiting)... |
31/07/2014
Mustang III
Not having sufficient beer tokens to buy the real thing, I spotted a future release by Hobbymaster of a 1/48th scale Mustang III announced a few months ago. FFWD to this week and the postman delivered it today.
It's my first die cast model (and probably last!*) and is pretty good quality with options to configure the u/c to be either up or down and bombs or long range tanks under the wings. It's got a bit of weight and has a lot of detail on it. A stand is provided to allow for the 'in-flight' display option.
It represents a Mustang III FZ190 of 441 Squadron RCAF from May 1945.
If I still had the steady hand and hawk eyes of a teenager I'd probably opt to build a plastic kit of something from the RAF Mustang 'inventory', but age has taken it's toll!
I've viewed footage of 441 Squadron gun camera film, mostly from 1944 when they flew Spitfires (MkIX), so not an unknown squadron to me.
I got the model from Flying Tigers and they have quite an interesting range of aircraft to choose from.
*only due to lack of space!
It's my first die cast model (and probably last!*) and is pretty good quality with options to configure the u/c to be either up or down and bombs or long range tanks under the wings. It's got a bit of weight and has a lot of detail on it. A stand is provided to allow for the 'in-flight' display option.
It represents a Mustang III FZ190 of 441 Squadron RCAF from May 1945.
If I still had the steady hand and hawk eyes of a teenager I'd probably opt to build a plastic kit of something from the RAF Mustang 'inventory', but age has taken it's toll!
I've viewed footage of 441 Squadron gun camera film, mostly from 1944 when they flew Spitfires (MkIX), so not an unknown squadron to me.
I got the model from Flying Tigers and they have quite an interesting range of aircraft to choose from.
*only due to lack of space!
24/07/2014
Space saving tip...
Got a couple of small lenses rattling around in your camera bag?
Spotted this tip in a photo mag - using double sided tape, or one of those thin foam sticky pads, stick the end protective caps together and then place back onto lenses.
Here I have joined my 9-18mm and 15mm Body Cap Lens together and the combined length is about the same as 12-50mm 'kit' lens that came with the camera.
Spotted this tip in a photo mag - using double sided tape, or one of those thin foam sticky pads, stick the end protective caps together and then place back onto lenses.
Here I have joined my 9-18mm and 15mm Body Cap Lens together and the combined length is about the same as 12-50mm 'kit' lens that came with the camera.
15/07/2014
"D-DAY RAF" - WHSmith special...
A "bookazine" (as I call them) available as an 'Exclusive to WHSmith'
entitled "D-DAY RAF - The RAF's Part In The Great Invasion" by S/L Clive Rowley MBE RAF (Retd) has a
4 page feature, "D-Day Survivor 1", starting on page 24 about Flt
Lt Tony Cooper of 64 Squadron.
Priced at £6.99 it covers the work carried out by fighters to bombers to transports and coastal command ops during D-Day.
Priced at £6.99 it covers the work carried out by fighters to bombers to transports and coastal command ops during D-Day.
12/07/2014
Duxford :: 12.VII.14 :: Legends Saturday & Sunday
Started out as another grey day with low cloud and as a result many gaps on the flight line from missing aircraft 'locked' in over the Channel.
Got to midday and the sun started to burn off the cloud - and it soon got hot!
Some images from the few I took today - decided to sit back and just enjoy the display via the ol' Mk1 eyeball…
..::SUNDAY 13.VII.14::..
A few shots from today - no apologies for the Spitfire overload - how much longer will there be four Mk1s together in one place?
Weather was a bit wetter today - almost monsoon-like at a couple of points during the flight line walk - thankfully the weather god decided to look kindly on the afternoon!
Got to midday and the sun started to burn off the cloud - and it soon got hot!
Some images from the few I took today - decided to sit back and just enjoy the display via the ol' Mk1 eyeball…
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| The shiny P-40C |
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| Connie |
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| Spitfires forming up north of the airfield... |
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| …and around again. |
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| P-26 display |
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| Bit late for the Balbo?…. |
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| Joker slot... |
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| A reduced Balbo - 16 aircraft and one crow... |
..::SUNDAY 13.VII.14::..
A few shots from today - no apologies for the Spitfire overload - how much longer will there be four Mk1s together in one place?
Weather was a bit wetter today - almost monsoon-like at a couple of points during the flight line walk - thankfully the weather god decided to look kindly on the afternoon!
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| Shelter from the downpour - Spitfire wing... |
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| Show opened with a Spitfire Balbo - a Spilbo?... |
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| MK912, ML407, MH434 |
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| TD248, BM597, EP120, SM845 |
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| P9374, X4560, P7308, N3200 |
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| Fly Navy… |
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