1POB

I very very rarely post here but after building a Hunter T.7 a few years back I decided to get another pair of conversions- went to the site and them was immediately worried when I saw the out of stock! Relieved to come here and see the reason. I put my mail into to be reminded of when they can be produced again and I'll get another couple (and a few O-2/OV-10 bits). GL with the move. BR, Ed

Not something I know anything about personally but I saw these recently: https://www.ulsteraviationsociety.org/short-tucano-enniskillen-zf378?pgid=mjrdk1gd-b3bbf02d-77e9-46f5-a4d6-fb26f61a5b3c From here: https://www.ulsteraviationsociety.org/short-tucano-enniskillen-zf378 BR, Ed

Thank you! I have one underway as we speak (also with Ben's CBLSs) albeit the later cut down versions suitable for a later Jaguar !

Very Nice! What colour did you paint the CBLS units? They look exactly like they often do in real life but wondered what type of green this is. Cheers, Ed

Hi all. I'd like to build a 631 Sqn Spitfire XVI as per these photos: https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/view/1391465?fbclid=IwAR2KQ_YvhGPx5Fjkax7dF95oXv09re_deU0k9GbtWf1RqOPz7JelTJ4bnZk https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/view/1695804 https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/view/1390066 I see Xtradecal have decals for a camouflaged aircraft but I'd like to do silver if possible. Can anyone advise on a good source for the serials and fuselage codes? This is not really my era at all but assume the codes are 24inch. What size are the fuselage and underfuselage serials? They seem to be of a "segmented" font like these: https://www.fantasyprintshop.co.uk/product/raf-8-serials-numbers-letters-1-48-scale-decals/ Also, for TB858 as over, the spinner looks to be a different colour. Would this be Red as per the camouflaged aircraft Xtradecal depict? BR, Ed

Yes I think there is obviously subjectivity in colours but the problem is, when you get two colours together that are not "balanced" correctly you can get something that really doesn't look right (such as my friend's Hunter F.6 I posted). AK airbrush well thinned with Mr.Color self levelling thinner but also I've used the AK thinners. MRP airbrush even better really as they are pre thinned although you could thin a little more with Mr.Colour also if required. MRP are my favoured paint now if they do the colour I need. I'm not expert though.. that Hunter T.7 was my first model in over 10 years and the first I'd painted in something other than enamels... BR, Ed

Thanks Pjotr- much appreciated that you search for this (and Koen of course...). It makes sense entirely. I guess there are multiple covers and they are easily bolted on hence the differences here even between the same types. Cheers, Ed

Sorry this is what I am referring to: https://ibb.co/mqmt5KN

Hi. I don't think so actually. I bought them for a project last year. Luckily I painted a spare model first because I really did not like either colour especially combined they looked nothing like the real thing. I then repainted in MRP colours which were better but I still felt it was not perfect. I tried Mr Hobby DSG but it was slightly too purple before settling on MRP DSG and Tamiya XF-81.. Painted with AK Colours: https://ibb.co/TYDsNNh And my test model. Nearside wing in Mr.Paint DSG. The rest in AK Real Colours. https://ibb.co/YLYHdkd Nearside stabiliser repainted in MRP Green: https://ibb.co/7VdQ6xG Same but with the near wing and fuselage overpainted in Tamiya XF-81 https://ibb.co/kQx30cs The finished subject I was testing this for: https://imgbb.com/2k06rFP Appreciate its hard to convey via photographs and things can look different in person but this was what I decided on. BR, Ed

Hi all. I am building the 1/48 Tamiya F-16C/N as 86-0272 which is a Block 32. The fit of the kit is excellent except the front of the canopy which is a little proud of the recess. In looking at how to deal with this it looks like there is some variation on real F-16s in this area. This is not really a quest for ultimate accuracy more wondering about the shape of the Tamiya canopy, how I might correct a small issue and general curiosity on the F-16. I did google this but cannot find any reference to variances here but without knowing the correct search terms it would be hard to find... These photographs shows a prominent fairing just head of the canopy and behind the IFF antennae (where fitted): https://www.reddit.com/r/Surface/comments/2puvld/awesome_hires_f16_background_32_ratio_5472x3648_i/ https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/45/A_U.S._Air_Force_Airman_from_the_169th_Fighter_Wing_conducts_post_flight_tasks_in_an_F-16_Fighting_Falcon_aircraft_during_a_phase_II_operational_readiness_evaluation_at_McEntire_Joint_National_Guard_Base%2C_S.C._080412-F-WT236-013.jpg These both seem to be Block 52s. Tamiya's model here seems to lack this fairing (and this seems common to all boxings of the Tamiya kit). https://foxtwomodels.com/model-showcase/tamiya-f-16cj-block-50/ Then looking at other versions. This Italian ADF has nothing here: https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/6850939 Whereas this one certainly does have a fairing here, albeit not as prominent as that on the first two I posted: https://www.airteamimages.com/general-dynamics-f-16-falcon_MM7239_italy---italian-air-force_103307_large.html This is a USAF Block 40: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USAF_F-16C_Block_40H_(90-0710)_canopy_at_MCAS_Iwakuni_May_5,_2016.jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c2/18th_Aggressors_Squadron_F-16_Fighting_Falcon_aircraft_during_Red_Flag-Alaska_14-1.jpg Block 25: https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-26CNAHco3-w/XO4REGs4_SI/AAAAAAAAQww/AY_tncNFt_Uzhd49HaKStiIbEEyQ4CoBACLcBGAs/s1600/Ghost_Aggressor1.jpg And finally the Block 32 I am building: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/86-0272_Lockheed_(GD)_F-16C_Viper_(5C-378)_57th_Wing_64th_Aggressor_Squadron_(38393947572).jpg And finally for completeness and comparison, the Hasegawa kit: https://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/Gal4/3401-3500/gal3492-F-16-Bey/08.jpg So does anyone have any opinion on what is being shown here? I guess I don't have a very easily verbalised direct question other than that. I think my conclusion is that: -There is some variation between blocks or even individual aircraft in this area but I've looked too long as this to see clearly how many permutations there are! -Tamiya did not include this in their Block 52 kit in 1/48. -Even without this prominent fairing show on the BLk52 photos, the Tamiya kit doesn't quite convey the "scabbed on look" of this extra piece. -Hasegawa just makes the whole area simpler and also omits it (in the models I've seen built) Like I said- I'm not knocking the kit or anyone's builds of it or earlier kits and if I didn't have a minor issue to correct I would not be looking to modify the kit. Just interested really and I only recently learned the difference between some F-16 blocks so I don't know a lot about them really... BR, Ed

Good job Dale ! Good luck on the next project :). BR, Ed

Thanks Des. Do you know me? . Thanks. I did see this boxing but in the end I got the House of Phantoms decals sheet which looks good.

Excellent information. I think because I also like Phantoms (who does not..) I will get the HoPh sheet :). Thanks both.

Markus- Thank you very much. I now have a decision to make (but a good one). Thanks again. Regards, Ed

Hi JayBee. That is perfect. Exactly what I needed to know and some nice detail I think that not many people would know. Thank you so much. BR, Ed