AEROGRAMME HOME  > AEROGRAMME #1 [Sent 07 September 2024]

Hello Friends

First up - the new name for the newsletter.

Received wisdom suggests that to encourage you to open an email newsletter, it should have a snappy, alluring and “clickbait-y” subject line.

Coming up with such a line every week is one of the hardest parts of the job, so given that I afford you all the intelligence to know the type of content contained in the VMC newsletter, I’m going to try a new tack.

From this week the VMC newsletter will be called Aerogramme.

If it’s an abject failure then we’ll return to the previous format!

Why Aerogramme?

Well, I’m becoming increasingly obsessed with the 1950s, in particular that decade’s design of everything from buildings, furniture and vehicles to advertising and product packaging (although I can take or leave the music!).

The Aerogramme or airmail letter was in its heyday during the 50s and there’s just something so charming about that light blue paper with dark blue and red chevrons around the edge.

It must have been so exciting to receive one in the post, given how few people had the opportunity to travel by air in those days.

I know this newsletter goes out to readers across the world and hope that it brings some joy - to aero-modellers at least!.

August, as usual, was a very quiet month for us with holidays keeping many modellers away from their build boards and flying fields. The laser cutters too have had a welcome break, only being called into action for emergency orders and “outside jobs”. 

September will be busier.

We have the new Andrew Darby designed Westland Lysander coming out towards the end of the month and as soon as we get some more balsa wood, the Chris Long revamped Balsa Basics Spitfire will be available.

Chris is currently tying up a few loose ends including making a new mould so that we can vac-form canopies for the long awaited Bluebottle Squadron Skyraider designed by Mike Stuart.

CLEARANCE ITEMS AND FACTORY SECONDS

During this quieter period, Yvonne in the workshop has been packing up Factory Seconds kits of the Magnificent Flying Machines range. We have a reasonable number of Spitfires and Tiger Moths and a fair few of the rest of the range. Not all models are available, however do check out the Clearance section on the website for what’s in stock.

Click here to go straight to the Clearance Section.

Amongst the factory seconds are two “end of line” Balsa Basics Spitfire & Messerschmitt Bf-109 kits, heavily marked down from £132.00 to just £78.00 - almost half price!

These have been superseded by the updated versions, however they still build into fantastic models and there is absolutely nothing wrong with them.

SLIGHT DIVERSION

Returning to the 50s theme, the following little beauty has found its way into the VMC stable.

Obviously it’s completely the wrong time of year for a marginally weatherproof British sports car but I simply couldn’t resist.

For those of you with an interest in such things, my Sprite has an engine uprated from the original 948cc to 1275cc with fast road cam, 5-speed fully synchromesh gearbox, disc brake conversion and uprated suspension with telescopic dampers replacing the original lever arms.

It goes like stink and sounds divine.

I absolutely adore it!

Rest assured that it will appear in this newsletter from time to time…

COMMUNITY BUILDS

Following my clarion call for help with display models earlier in the year, the builds for our 4th Christmas Market display cabinet are now almost complete.

Andrew Darby has built us a lovely Spitfire Nightfighter:

David Jeffreys has produced this superb Hurricane:

Andy Sephton’s Tiger Moth is resplendent:

Stephen Cross’ Corsair made it all the way from the Scottish Highlands undamaged:

Thank you so much chaps - we truly appreciate your efforts.

Finally, Barry Scollay is making incredible progress with his conversion of a pre-release Lysander into a micro-RC flyer.

What’s more, he’s managed to fit in the build of this magnificent, scratch-built model of a 1930s Caudron C445 Goeland Air France airliner.

Stunning isn’t the word…

That’s it for this week.

Back next week with some more aero-modelling fun!

All the best

Hadi & the VMC Team

This newsletter may contain offers/discounts and prizes that are now out of date. 
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