Slater

Not sure where to put this so mods please move if appropriate. This is (presumably) a US or European Patriot missile unit morale patch or possibly just a fantasy creation. Anyone recognize it?

I rather like Qatar's desert camo scheme:

What (if any) are the external differences between the "E" and the older "D"?

It's a pity that they're changing to a grey finish. I thought the three-color desert camo was one of the most attractive paint schemes around.

My hat is off to British bomb tail construction. The No 117 and No 118 tails are/were built like tanks and were able to resist demil operations stoutly.

GBU-15 climbs during a loft attack (sorry, probably wasn't clear) and can be manually guided by the WSO or locked on to the target.

I believe the location of the target is known/predetermined by the aircrew prior to takeoff. GBU-15 has a mode where the bomb can be released at low altitude and then makes a climb to a higher altitude. At the apex of it's trajectory, the WSO acquires the target in the TV display and then can manually guide the bomb to impact or select lockon, and the weapon will guide itself.

GBU-15 came in large wing (MXU-724) and small wing (MXU-787) versions, and the powered (AGM-130) version. The large-wing version (in my opinion) looks better when hanging on an aircraft. GBU-8 is long gone, and I think was phased out by the mid 1980's. It was an early generation weapon that was never that reliable.

USN (IIRC) never used the GBU-8 or GBU-15. Possibly GBU-10 to some extent, but I would think that 500- and 1000 lb. class weapons would be easier to handle/store/load on a carrier deck.

This has been released in various iterations over the years. Have any of the releases been supplied with external pylons?

This kit is a bit older, but how is the overall accuracy and fit? And does it include the bulged landing gear doors of the "G"?

Compared with the correct shade of grey, is the as-molded color darker, lighter, or fairly accurate?

With all the teething problems that the KC-46 is experiencing, the KC-45 (the USAF's original choice anyway) is probably looking better and better.

Not sure what they're trying to do here. Since the USAF is committed to the Boeing KC-46, would this be some sort of Airbus/Lockheed contracted services offer (in the event the US is short of air refueling capability in the future?) https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2018/12/Lockheed-Martin-and-Airbus-sign-aerial-refuelling-Memorandum-of-Agreement.html

Does anyone have any positive/negative comments on this particular kit? Some have commented that the RAM panel joints are a bit overdone.