redcap

An excellent all-round build. Gary

Absent the perspex rod, that could pass s a colour photograph of the real thing. Perfect build - superb! Gary

Cracking build Alan and the camo colours look spot on. Gary

Really nice clean build and also, well finished and presented. Excellent work! Gary

Given the quantum leap in kit quality by Airfix since their deservedly well criticised 1/72 Concord kit was released, if they were to revisit this subject in 1/72 and do it to the same standards as the current stuff they are releasing as military aircraft subjects, then it would be magnificent. The question would be, what would it cost and could enough buyers be found to pay for the tooling costs and then make a worthwhile profit..? Gary

First one I have seen finished and you set the bar VERY high - excellent model and finish! Gary

Tremendous builds and an excellent photo of the 2 pilots to conclude - great work. Gary

Excellent result on a challenging kit. Great markings choice too. Gary

How can you not like IDF jets and their attractive camo schemes and markings! Great build Tim and glad you got it finished. Gary

For those at the top of the game like you, then modelling should be an art form but sadly, many outside the hobby still ignorantly see us as "painting/building airfix kits" no matter what the genre. In describing your work as art, I say so as a member of a figure painting club where the difference between competent club figure painters (self) and those who have a more natural talent, flair and concept of colour theory etc. (your standard) are night and day. Once again, absolutely superb painting so far. Gary

This is the overt difference between 'an artist' and 'a modeller'...just jaw dropping work and skills here. Wonderful work. Gary

Fantastic kit build and overall presentation - great idea and dio. Gary

Hi Matt. Many thanks indeed for this epic reply and I am much obliged to you for the hard work and comprehensive assessment you have provided. Given the number of variables you identify (the red tail planes observation is a bummer as I have done those already and yet there are no mission markings are on the decal sheet!), then I think I am going to have to reassess this and may possibly even revert to the kit supplied markings. I need to think about this. Your observation on the complete bare metal tail in the S-S decals compared to actual photos of removed de-icer boots also brings into question now the accuracy of the entire S-S sheet's depiction of this aircraft. That is quite a glaring error and clearly a work of fantasy compered to how removal (in reality) of the de-icer boots left that area of the tailfin. My other option for the red tail markings & service era issue, may be just to get a cut mask of bomb mission markings made ( I have a good photo of this machine with them showing and a good friend of mine is a wizard with die-cut masks) and spray them on to represent a (very) late service machine and just before she was lost. Bottom line, I don't think (and must accept) that getting a 100% accurate confirmation of how she appeared is ever going to come to fruition. It's for my own collection not competition or a custom build etc. and I have spent some time and money using 'Master' metal 0.5 cal barrels, resin crew figs and engines/wheels etc. to improve what is in the box. As such, I will take on board all the stuff here and just represent it as I think was (likely) and I may even apply the more aesthetically pleasing de-icer boots and red tail markings to help break up the expanse of Olive Drab an Neutral Grey. Thank you as well for confirmation on the wing triangle size issue which likewise, is most helpful. Thanks again Matt and I am MUCH obliged to you for the wonderful reference photos and your informed feedback on this subject. Cheers! Gary

That's really kind of you - thank you. Gary

Thanks for the replies to date - John and Pat - No reasons were given in the articles that I could find and it just said that's what 8th AF service depots did with them with a few (unspecified) exceptions. TheKinksFan - I have seen the 3 photos you referred to and blowing up the third (before I asked the Q) it was impossible to tell one way or the other due to the blurred image. Georgeusa - Nothing is attached to your post but thank you for replying. Gary