Where To Start!

I guess to start I should introduce myself … i am Mark Stringer – mentioned on Page 3 of this thread by Shaharom.
So, for the modellers amongst you wondering about my username, i am an RC Modeller and owner of Ratby Aeroplanes (Don Stothers Jabberwocks if that means anything to you – traditional kits that used to exist before the ARTF models killed my trade off – so now it is just a hobby and I have a real job!)
My father is Terry Stringer, Sgt Navigator of Brigands who has clocked up over 950 hours in Brigands and is still with us.
After much nagging all round we finally have him putting pencil to paper and from that it is all going into html (or is it asp!?)
So for those of you wanting more information and to set all of the facts straight about Brigands just visit http://www.brigandboys.org.uk/ where he has started to tell his story of his days with 84 Squadron in Malaya and other places.
He is able to give so much detail as he not only has his log books but kept a daily diary during his time in the RAF. Our next aim is to get more of the “stories and tales” from his times out there to put more personal touches to his life story – so the web site is a work in progress and a constantly changing living thing – hope you enjoy it and the photos on there.
Next item .. the Brigand fuselage remains … very sad!
It is at Cosford (not far from where I live) so I thought it would be good to get access to it during a recent visit to Cosford with my father and the family – the result … No Chance!
It is in a hanger that has some sort of issue with the material it is built from … the hanger is owned by the RAF, the fuselage is dealt with by the Museum .. the museum cannot get access without lots of permissions and permits from the RAF, the RAF cannot grant access without the permission of the Museum and the museum wont give access due to health and safety because of the state of the hanger!
I tried for weeks with both the museum curator and Squadron Leader of the base but all to no avail – massively dissapointing although the curator did have a nice chat with my father about things and plans to stay in touch so if things change i will be able to update you all.
Next item .. plans for the Brigand .. my father has obtained almost the whole set of blue prints via, i believe, the museum at Hendon – a few left to get but these do seem to be slowly forthcoming.
I hope to get enough details from those to put a model together but for now am thinking of doing a fairly simple version having been inspired by the Beech 18 in last months RCM&E magazine – hard pink foam and depron with twin electrics and 44″ (I think) span – just to have a Brigand flying to show my dad – when he visits next time – must ask him for a few more cross sections to help me with this – wanted to do it as a surprise but i guess he will find this entry anyway so the cat os out of the bag anyway – Hi dad!
So that is it for now – great to be a part of the community – not sure what more i can add but will update as and when i get anywhere with the model or hear anything about the fuselage.
Feel free to get in touch – or contact my dad via the Brigand Boys web site.
Of course if you want to start a petition to demand my father is given access to the Brigand Fuselage please feel free – i have failed to acheive my aim in relation to that one!