alex

@johnny akes Thanks, in fact, no connection to a UK airfield. But the shadow in the announcement looked like from a F-14... Alex

Just checked the Revell homepage. Is it a F-14... but brick system? 😨 https://revell.com/en/products/mavericks-f-14a-tomcat-top-gun-brick-system I was on their site yesterday, and I can't remember seeing it then. Alex

Great, finally a use for all the spare rocket launchers! 😉 Alex

Ah, thanks! I also used a white, then yellow base for the red on other occasions, so I will do it again. Alex

Very nice so far, I built the Revell Super hornet myself a few years ago, and I liked the kit. Decals (by Daco) are excellent to work with! A question about the red stripes on the black fin of the academy Hornet: did you spray the red directly over the black, or did you apply a base of a brighter colour first? I have the same problem with the (red) tail of my Ki-61, which has a black base. If the tamiya red, which I also intend to use, is strong enough, I can do without a white base. Alex

Will be one of my next kits, so I watch carefully. Nice progress so far! Alex

Agree, a great model you built, and great photos too! But yes, fuselage (and top wing) roundels are the wrong way around. Alex

Oh, one more thing... in Japan, they are strongly focussed on SciFi, Manga/Anime and Gundam. You will be surprised that more than 50% of the shelf space looks quite strange to us! 😄 Alex

If you're in Tokyo, there is a Tamiya shop close to Ginza (where your miss can do some expensive shopping). In the same corner, there is Raku Modeling (https://maps.app.goo.gl/CmbbVPReX6rNJjZ29), a nice little store run by a guy who grew up in Canada. So he speaks perfectly English, if you fancy a chat! In Akihabara (which you should visit anyway), there are some modelshops like Yellow Submarine, Surugaya (https://maps.app.goo.gl/qpZsAuyS2AP4Z6DR7), and of course, Yodobashi Camera. A five story megastore with everything! If you need some break, go into their high end audio dept. and relax to some soft Jazz tunes form equipment which is more expensive than your house, probably! In the same corner, Radio Kaikan, a 9 or ten story building with some good model shops. And if you travel between Toyko and Kyoto, stop half a day in Shizuoka, the town where most model companies are located. Tamiya has a museum (need an appointment), and there is the Shizuoka model Square, a nice expo. I bought mostly some limited stuff, like the F-15J in special markings. You find them sometimes in shops, even if they are not available anymore online. Alex

Ah, thanks for the picture! It looks like for a show, the "real thing" is more like this: https://www.f-16.net/g3/f-16-photos/markings/P9220028 I did some research for my latest F-16, and I never saw a flying F-16 with all three GBU-12 attached. Or, ROC may have less strict regulations... Akex

Nice build from a not-so-good kit. The weapon load is a bit over the top, if the tanks are mounted, the inner GBU-12 is omitted (I think it has to do that it's too close to the tank for a safe separation) And bonus points for a version that is not seen very often! Alex

https://palermo.repubblica.it/cronaca/2025/05/06/video/pantelleria_scontro_tra_tre_frecce_tricolori_lincidente_in_volo_durante_lesibizione-424169789/?ref=RHRT-BG-P1-S1-T1-Spalla video Just read that three aircraft of the Frecce Tricolori collided, all survived, one pilot brought to hospital. They are talking about a bird strike (you see a bit of dark smoke a few seconds before the collision) Alex

Ah, thanks. So, some vanilla and chocolate will do. Alex

Looks great, what colours did you use? I'm building the VAB right now, and I struggle to find some good reference. Your colours match quite well, IMHO. Alex

As far as I know, from the operational point of view, they are the same as the single seater. The payload is heavily dependent on the mission, so QRA in peacetime would be a few ASRAAMS and AIM-120/Meteor. In angry time, protecting a high value asset like an AWACS or tanker, maybe a few missiles more. Tanks depending on location/penetration distance as well. So, if you stick to pictures, you are never wrong! (unless they are demo flights, which sometimes show odd configurations) Alex