Dej

I rather like Pro Patria Mori, for sure it's commonly enough known as a phrase. And course it echoes Wilfred Owen and the hideousness of the War that he conveyed... again, commonly enough perceived. Although one could drop the Mori and just have Pro Patria which features on many a motto and monument.

Very nice work indeed Lou. I particularly appreciate the silken sheen of the inside lid... it's such little details as make the difference.

Rowan Atkinson Billy Connolly John Cleese Ronnie Barker David Jason The fourth and fifth were a magnificent team, shame they didn't work together more. And favourite clip goes to David Jason, absolute perfection... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=la0f0pJOIXs&feature=related

Never mind that, dig those crazy ailerons on that Sopwith Camelport 28 on the second cover!

6. It's an anagram of O! FFOOC! which sounds rather like a phrase I've often resorted to whilst playing.

How about satisfying part of Lou's sudden lexical OCD amd imparting too some of Creaghorn's 'Immersion' suggestion... 'OFF:Evocation' a calling up of the spirit of WW1 aerial combat?

Ahem. You're getting your Yeats and Yeates confused Wodin. W. B. is the poet and V. M. the author of 'Winged Victory', respectively I do like the theme though and any of those WW1 pilots' autobiography titles that Lou listed above would work as would others. On behalf of the B. O. C. though I feel compelled to suggest 'Over Flanders Fields: Contact! Clear!' restraining myself from the 'tink... tink... tink...' on account of the possible detriment to sales.

I propose a radical change to something that nevertheless has a familiar ring and that evokes an element of the sim which all have experienced, namely: 'Under Flanders Fields'

P4 landscapes notwithstanding... rum, brandy, whisk(e)y... that's the kind of 'immersion' I'm talking about! Welcome back, BH, good to have you here again.

As you've stunned all with your collection, Lou, your modest task is now to say which you would particularly recommend. I'd hazard Grinnell-Milne, McCudden, Arthur Gould Lee and Cecil Lewis go without saying, as would the unparalleled HitEB... but of the others, for those looking for an immediate extension to their own collection which ought already to include those I've just listed? Et aussi, I notice you're missing 'Ace of the Iron Cross' - any particular reason?

It was evening. Your point is as mine.... too much 'yellow' in the landscape for the level of light in the sky.

In places they are not, true. But overall, what has been done is quite remarkable and it makes a surprising difference to see familiar clips in colour... one loses a 'buffer', of sorts. The clip that ODB use in OFF, of pilots chatting and smoking as they walk out to their machines, for example... much more poignant in colour.

Alas, satellite only now. Lou's been enfranchised. Bought out by HBO. So, whilst on the one hand the story line may diminish somewhat, on the other hand Paul's clothes shall be a lot more fashionable! And the shoes... to die for!!! Contact (tink... tink... tink...) Clear!

What is the purpose of WW1 Aviation Art... or any pre-jet age air combat artwork for that matter? Is it meant to be a rivet-counting accurate depiction of some historical encounter or other, or is its intent to convey an emotion, a sense of the visceral heart-in-mouth oh-my-god nearness (relatively) of aerial combat? I feel 'tis the latter. In that respect Anderson's painting is a good effort. The various descriptions of the battle speak of the SEs' attempt to box Voss in, and of his mastery of the Triplane's manoeuvrability - turning on a dime. This must have led to a almost claustrophobic atmosphere by comparison with 'normal' combat, exacerbated by the fact that Voss was inflicting damage on almost every SE that crossed his sights. This the painting conveys. I have reservations about the work... one or two of the machines depicted lack a sense of movement; the palette is lacking in breadth and the lighting of the aircraft does not sit comfortably with that of the landscape, but the distances between the aircraft is not an issue for me - it's not a sim screenie, it's art.

Si on veut le voir en Anglais, on peut l'acheter á Amazon: £5.99. C'est trés bon.

Absolutely! Levity aside, let me say that these are the finest bathtubs of any flight sim. And worry not, Olham, Pol has promised that the rubber duck will be there as an Easter Egg in P4, along with... I'm not allowed to say. Contact (tink... tink... tink...) Clear!

My Dearest Mother, today we... ... took a couple of our bathtubs over The Lines (being so desperately short of proper aircraft, you see). The bally Hun came up in force, of course, and a few gentlemanly shots were exchanged but no harm done... although Farthington-Smythe did lose one of his rubber ducks over the Ypres Salient. Contact (tink... tink... tink...) Clear!

No harness, peut-etre, but there ARE stirrups... hey ho.

The DH2's office is fabulous. I shall be spending a lot more time in No. 24 Sqn. come Phase 4.

Huzzah! That, Sir, is uncommon good.

Well, I'm one of the crazy ones for sure. Not only would I happily have joined the RNAS (preferably) or RFC, but if I win the Euromillions jackpot tomorrow I'll be ordering my replica Sopwith Triplane build in practically the same breath.

ne of my favourite artists and, as you say, Olham, a rare topic. Thanks for bringing Al Forbes work to more people... there's a whole load more over at The Aerodrome and Al is very amenable to being approached for HQ prints... should anyone so desire.

When I get around (posthoumously!) to writing my best-selling WW1 aviation novel, minutiae such as that are exactly what is needed to convince the knowledgeable reader and to stop folks like these here and over at The Aerodrome dismissing it out of hand Very interesting factoid there. Yes, great painting and certainly a landscape I'd not fancy navigating by printed map.

Are you perchance confusing 'Pilot never dies' with 'Invulnerability'? PND will only guarantee that your pilot is never deceased following a mission or QC, it does not mean that you won't have your ass handed to you if you don't fly as if your life were at risk.

Very nice! That oil/water/fuel stain on the underside and undercarriage plane of the Albatros is perfect detail for those who like their skins 'dirty'