Hi All,

I am Derek Bradshaw (Widow61). I live in the outback known as Barton upon Humber (don't worry - everyone asks where that is! - south end of the Humber suspension bridge). I guess that qualifies me as a Country member, as I don't get out very much.

I started modelling about the same time that Noah scaled up the plans for his Ark. My basic history is air cadets for three and a half years, then the Royal Air Force for another twelve years, as a Survival Equipment Fitter - started on Lightnings at Binbrook, then onto the Red Arrows, followed by two and a hlf years as a professional model maker for the RAF EPF at Henlow, then a final one year tour at Hullavington.

Next up was joining British Aerospace (now BAE SYSTEMS, with whom I am still employed) in 1988 as an aircraft inspector (Phantom, Buccaneer, Hawk, PC-9), then a Metrology Engineer for five years or so, and finally, my current post as a Hawk aircraft Senior Airwothiness Engineer since 1998.

Modelling wise, I have modelled (mostly aircraft) in all scales, and still do when the whim takes me. However, I have got into 1/32 scale over the past two years of so. I tend to hang out on the Large Scale Planes (LSP) website most of the time (although I hardly have time to make my own models these days - I still haven't finished my first 1/32 kit as yet!).

I have made master patterns of aircraft for several small cottage manufactures for over 20 years now...this takes up most of my free time these days. As if that were not enough, I am also the training officer for Grimsby air cadets as well.

Nice to meet you all, and if I can help in any way, please ask.

Best regars

Derek

Gday Derek and welcome along!
Although your primary interest is aircraft and mine is armour, I'm sure our paths will cross at some stage



hehe that's gold... So England has an outback? I figured the closest you'd come would be where they filmed 'Heartbeat'... :-)
Just kidding...
You mentioned Large Scale planes... What scale would they work on?
Cheers
Brad

Hi Derek welcome to the big"A" I dabble in the odd wingy thing mainly Vietnam stuff but I do the odd Spit and Lanc got a Tornado in my stash so I might be calling on you.all the best.

Welcome Aboard Derek.

Hi,

Welcome!

I know what you mean about finishing 1:32 scale kits - I'm just about to start my first one and it looks daunting - I hope I get it finished because its for one of the campaigns on Aeroscale - an F-4C in Vietnam colours!

From a 'Parachute Packer' to an airworthiness engineer - thats a bit of a career change! Still, I cant talk - I was in the RAF myself for 10 years, spent most of it at Wattisham and Brize as an aircraft engineer. I now own and run an online modelshop!

My step-dad works at Brough which I guess is were you are - he's a manager for one of the sub-contracted companies that BAe use - they look after all the computer systems (the big stuff not the PC's).

Grimsby ATC huh? Isn't cammogirl (an active member of this site) a member of the ATC there?

Regards,

Lee

Gday Derek

A very warm welcome to Armorama from the colonies - New Zealand.

I think 1/32nd is a great scale to work in.

No matter what your interest armour, planes, figures or ships this sight has something to offer everyone.

So pull up a keyboard and spend sometime enjoying this site and its fellowship as a member.

Regards


Sean

Lee.

Both Camogirl and Tomcat are members of the Grimsby ATC, along with choirboy and others who i've forgottten. They had a big chat with Mal (holdfst) at SMW 2006 and have had the pleasure of Mal's company for a modelling workshop.

Hi Guys,

Thank you all for the very warm welcome. Yes, I know Camogirl and Tomcat 31 (Sam and Allen respectively) well, they are at the same ATC Squadrom (I was on duty this evening, so I saw them there)...both are excellent modellers and people to boot.

Brad: :-) It's only a very little outback I work (these days) mostly in 1/32, which is primarily the main aircraft scale for LSP (and larger scales as well, like 1/24th scale, etc). I still make smaller scales occasionally, but my modelling time (for my own stuff) is very limited due to air cadets and pemanently making kit master patterns.

Lee: You're correct, I do work at Brough. Nice to meet another ex-forces member...it looks like there may be many on this site. Nice sig lines
Hopefully, I shall be launching my own line of products in collaboration with Model Design Construction (MDC), who are specialist resin parts and kit manufacturers, but it is still early days yet.

Hi John: Call on me all you want mate...can't promise to be the font of all knowledge, but I shall proffer what I can for you.

Sean: Thank you for the very warm welcome...Nice to see the Commonwelth connections going on here.

And to all, once more, a big thank you to you for your welcomes.

Best regards

Derek

Hi Derek, Welcome to Armorama Glad you found this site, its loaded with great information, and even more nice people. So, tell us, did you help noah with the ark? If so, perhaps you could let us know where he parked that thing. There is this controversy about Mt. Ararat and............. :-)
Cya around!

Gary

Derek,welcome aboard! I also frequent LSP as I do 1/32 aircraft to 'unwind' from armor,so to speak.-And I'm only one up on you as far as builds in large scale.A Tiffy is in my gallery, very soon to be joined by a bf-110 G ,if I don't shove it into a wall first,that is .Very happy to see you here and will send you a pm soon with some questions.
Cheers!

Welcome Derek. I can't remember where that is exactly but I lived in Fulham near Putney Bridge for a short time many years ago and the only country side I remember near there was Sherwood Forest, I think?!

The best,

Gary

Hi Gary,

:-) Thanks for the welcome. I din't help Noah directly, he kept dividing everything by two. I think that he left the Ark on a moutain somewhere, however, when he went back for it, all he found was a penelty notice informing him that it had been clamped and towed away! :-)

Hi Rick,

Thanks also for the welcome, always nice to meet another LSP'er. Please feel free tp PM away and ask anything you wish. I'll have to check out your Typhoon...good luck with your Bf-110 (just hit the wall too hard with it! ).

Hi Gary K,

Although Britain is small in comparison to the good ol' US of A, Puntney bridge is in the south of the Country compared to where I live. The river Humber (the mucky brown one) is situated on the Nort East coast of England. There is a large suspension bridge across it close to Hull (it was once the world's longest single span suspension bridge at one time, well, at least back in 1981 when it was opened!).

Best regards

Derek

Thanks Derek. Of course you mentioned the bridge which I absurdly assumed meant near London. I think I have actually heard of your suspension bridge! At any rate, welcome again and the part you wrote about Lightenings and Red Arrows is certainly interesting.

Cheers,

Gary