Given where the thread’s got to, and not to dismiss Mr C’s input, rather than any more bald publisher* recommendations, let’s have suggestions with background – it could be good experiences (such as prompt, pro-active responses like Jay’s) bad (if repeatable!) or even publishers you rate because…

*I know what I meant, and have my own hair.

I can thoroughly recommend MMP in that case – I was a first-time writer when I first approached James, and am very happy with my relationship with the publisher. The whole outfit is very supportive, encouraging and helpful in practical terms also, and work with the author on photos, illustrations, proofing and editing etc. I also found that once word got out that the publisher was preparing a book on the subject, sources came forward with more information making the research easier and more comprehensive.

You don’t have to hang around wondering if communications have vanished into the ether and I was delighted with the book.

MMP titles tend to get universally good reviews from the aviation and modelling press as well, so it’s not just my opinion.

Brilliant images. The light looked just right for those shiny NMF Mustangs. Nice to see two Sea Furies too.

There was an announcement at the Abingdon air and country show at the weekend, saying that a fellow had amassed a lot of Mosquito parts including two zero-timed Merlin 25s and would like to know if there are any restoration projects that could make use of them. Apparently Planes TV know who he is.

Any suitable FB.VIs kicking around?

Just like to say a big thanks to the VTTS team at Abingdon yesterday, especially Phil O’Dell (Rolls Royce test pilot and XH558 second stick) who was great to talk to about what it’s actually like to fly the thing and seemed to have time for everyone whether they were spending money or not.

It was a great display too as usual, I’m glad I made the trip. Nice show Abingdon, first time I’ve been.

If you want to go to war you have to pay for it, if you don’t want to spend the money you don’t! If this governemnt had been in power in 1982 they would have sent the Task Force but with only one carrier and half the support and troops, one to keep costs down and two because the other half would not have existed.

Demonstrably untrue. It was the slash-and-burn Knott review of the titular Tory Secretary of State that emboldened Argentina sufficiently to invade. We’re lucky we didn’t have half the carrier strength as it was – Invincible had been sold and was shortly to be on its way to Australia.

What’s worried me about the debate on military spending in the UK has been the politicisation of senior military figures – Dannett in particular, who has spoken out in an unprecedented way for someone in his position and is now signed up as an advisor to the Tory party. Inter-service rivalry is as old as the hills, but what is new is the way it’s playing out in the public gallery. The result is that the army gets what it wants, more hairdryers, and the other services will have to pick up the tab whether it is the carriers that suffer or Tranche 3 of Typhoon.

The Ministry of Defence has committed to programmes worth £36bn and it will not be able to afford all of them. What the UK military needs to do is to decide on one or two areas where it wants to lead the world and accept that it won’t ever act alone again. I’d like to see JSF cancelled but am not sure what could replace it more cheaply. Navalised Gripen anyone?

http://www.martin-baker.co.uk/getdoc/2a91e122-802b-4908-8b03-f5617dfe6976/MB5_history.aspx

I’d be interested to hear more about the MB3. There seems to be a relatively decent amount of info on the MB5, but less on its predecessor which had it not been for the fatal crash of the prototype might have been in a position to enter service during the war.

The only reference seems to be the comment that it was ‘very manouvrable and easy to fly’ and another very subjective comment from a member of ground crew that it seemed ‘very fast’. I should imagine as a relatively small aircraft wrapped around a Sabre, and with a fair amount of aerodynamic commonality with the MB5, it should have been 400mph+ capable?

According to the Whirlwind AP only the rearfuselage skinning was made of magnesium alloy. Not the whole airframe. The rudder pedals were the same as on the Lysander. So find yourself some Lysander rudder pedals and we have a flyer;)

Cheers

Cees

Ah, you have a couple of Peregrines stashed in the garage then? 😀

From the recovery of the Skua in 2007, it seems that finding an aircraft in substantially complete condition underwater is one thing, recovering it in the same state is quite another. It seemed to me that a structure immersed for so long can erode to almost nothing but still look sound – as soon as you try to move it, however professionally and gently, it can disintegrate.

I still want to know what happened to the Roc that was discovered off Orkney in the 80s.