niki

One of my favorite exotic subjects (and on my 1/72 to-do list). It looks very nice indeed with all those little details you put in there! Bravo! Please feel free to show us the F-7 also

I can only concur with what has been said about John! There is one recent build of an A320 Air New Zealand that goes like this: http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=271227 ...and there are a couple of interesting notes on how you can expect the decals to behave. Otherwise it's a splendid scheme

Hi Fernando, I envy you! Köln is a beautiful place [or at least it used to be 20 odd years ago when I lived there]. As far as hobby shops are concerned there is as far as I know strictly only one option left these days: Lindenberg technische Modellspielwaren Blaubach 6-8 50676 Köln Around the corner they have a second space devoted to discounted/ SH (?) items: Fundgrube Lindenberg HP4 Hohe Pforte 4 50676 Köln That should keep you busy And anyway, you can always get in your car or take the 45 min. train ride to Essen and visit these guys: Modellbaustudio Rhein-Ruhr/ Classic Plane-/Luedemann kits ...no, you definitely won't get bored Cheers, Niki

Guys, There is one manufacturer (PDT - Polish Decal Team) who does these: http://www.aeroscale.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=10218 Please be so kind and place your orders with Martola, as I have been put on stand by with mine for some 5 weeks now with the assurance that restock (they had 1 pc. available and I am looking for at least four pcs.) would come "end of September". Mind you, I didn't have to pay anything up front. I am waiting for news of availability and a PayPal invoice. So, please, push the 'Add to cart' button so they see modelers mean business and make them hurry up with the replenishment of stocks http://www.martola.com.pl/en164/produkty37521/schody_lotniskowe_typu_fhg Cheers, Niki

Lovely, indeed! And finally I do get to see those clear cockpit windows put to work and not wasted on decals Not likely during normal turnaround operations, but for some flight line maintenance and systems check (did occur usually at night so the aircraft could be in tip-top shape for the early morning departure) you sure can have door open, flaps lowered and mechanics running up and down the stairs, tickling the aircraft inside and out.

The Parcmodels decals are most likely printed by the same outfit that does/ did print Begemot decals. That being said, they are matte and are easily laid down on the model even without special Set/ Sol treatment. Just your average decals. About the coat of arms: the double-seater performing in Kecskemet belongs to one of two RoAF units operating the LanceR B (twin seat) and LanceR C (single seat - Air Defense). The LanceR A fleet (single seat - Fighter Bomber) has been withdrawn from service quite a few years ago. Back to nowadays, the blue shield on '176' is the unit emblem of Baza 71 Aeriana at Luna, Campia Turzii: http://www.cartula.ro/forum/index.php?app=core&module=attach&section=attach&attach_rel_module=post&attach_id=99749 The other emblem you might come across is the one belonging to Flotila 86 at Borcea, Fetesti (momentarily detached at M.K. [or Mecca :-) ], on the Black Sea coast: http://www.cartula.ro/forum/index.php?app=core&module=attach&section=attach&attach_rel_module=post&attach_id=100286 The colourful decals from the Parcmodels sheet replicate upgrade programme logos that were present on prototype/ presentation aircraft: http://www.oocities.org/pentagon/barracks/5297/aircraft/mig2112.jpg http://www.oocities.org/pentagon/barracks/5297/aircraft/lancer.jpg http://www.f-16.net/forum/download/file.php?id=4184&mode=view http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/photos/3/9/6/0305693.jpg As far as I know, only RV Aircraft has produced unit insignias in its 1/72 LanceR C boxing. Hopefully Parcmodels will follow suite with an 1/48 edition of these "new" markings. But that may take a while... Cheers, Niki

I can relate to your experience regarding the F-Dcal stuff. It was equally for me a sizable amount of money thrown out the window (note: I have ordered again from F-Dcal, so this is nothing to say against its business ). Wombats says the lack of coating should "prevent the decal from yellowing if stored away for too long a time before using". They may have a point there!(?). About the "good money" part, I don't know. At about 5 Pounds a sheet and speaking strictly of subjects you can really relate to (and not just bought to thicken the stash), I suppose one could give it a go. But I may be subjective since my search for Blue Air decals was going on for several years at the time of this find and I really couldn't care less if the sheets were coated or not. I had invested two Pounds in a bottle of decal film a couple of years ago anyway

Hi everybody, I found out about them while looking for information about the quite ill fated Sólyom Airways (the one trying to step in after Malev’s demise). This is a pretty new outfit from Hungary, run by a couple of enthusiasts who design 1/144 scale decal sheets for ‘not your quite ordinary airline’. The quote marks are my doing simply because looking at their continuously expanding product list one can discover quite a range of low-cost and other exotic airlines from across the globe, many of which aren’t covered by other manufacturers. The decals are inkjet-printed [nicely too] and require a couple of coats of your preferred lacquer or – as the manufacturer recommends – a single coat of Microscale Decal Film before being put them into water and then onto your scale model. They are also compatible with Microsol and Microset should you find their usage necessary. An interesting aspect in my opinion is the way they design their sheets with logos being separated from the window decals. That way you have the choice to use window decals on your model or go straight for [own made, Kristal Klear] clear windows, something that other manufacturers’ sheets won’t always allow you to do. https://www.facebook.com/WombatsModels/photos_stream Wombats doesn’t have a proper webpage/ web shop yet but is reachable on a number of other platforms (wombatsmodels@gmail.com amongst others). Should you try to get in touch with them, please bear in mind that this is mainly a hobby for the guys over there and they tend to all matters related as their spare time allows. Based on my personal experience, I would say you should not think the worst before perhaps a weekend has passed between your enquiry and the lack of a reply. Seriously though, Jozsef is very nice to deal with, speaks (writes) perfect English and will gladly try to help you out. He accepts PayPal and will make sure your decals are properly packed. Also, he is quite open to suggestions and ideas as Wombats is looking to expand their product range. With most of their current offering addressed to the Classic 737 and to a couple of A320s, Wombats says to be working on some sheets covering the BAe 146, Fokker 100 and Boeing 757. And I have just spotted it as I wrote this: what about that humongous A380 in that colourfull Fifa World Cup livery (Emirates A6-EEQ)??? Cheers, Niki (…not in any way associated with Wombats Models, just drooling over a couple of their freshly, this morning by post delivered sheets) **** This should explain the amount of Blue Air sheets I ordered

Excellent! It looks pretty enough for me to look forward to its release Please keep us posted!

Yes, the parts and plastic are delicate throughout the kit and I am so scared of trying to straighten that wing that I don't even want to think about it I hope some [very] warm water will be able to talk sense into the styrene... L.E. Agreed, the SAC parts are anything else but appealing. They are a copy of the Revell ones, aren't they?

So, my four examples arrived in record time thanks to [the affordable price and] the great service of Hobbyland in neighboring Bulgaria! What I have learned: 1. In a single box I encountered this bent in one of the LE slats; 2. In another box the was this single occurrence of severe warping in the lower part of the wing; 3. The main LG legs are indeed a bit thinner than the ones in the Revell box (apologies for the blurry image ); 4. ...and compared to the SAC white metal ones; 5. The nose LG leg is a three part affair as compared to the Revell one and looks really flimsy in its lower part; 6. ...here compared to the SAC white metal piece. The other two plastic parts should however strengthen the lower piece. I just don't know if the dimensions of the Zvezda parts are a micro-metric result of reducing the actual nose LG leg to scale or if indeed they turned it up too thin!? As for the shape of the V2500 engines, there is a slight kink as the cowling runs back towards the exhaust as compared to the Revell parts. In how far this spoils the look of the engines? I will most likely use the V2500 out of the box. And boy, do I love the crisp look of the cockpit clear part! Cheers, Niki

Thousand thanks, Jeff! I think I will go ahead and order the kit(s). For the too thin landing gear I might grab another SAC set (14404 "Revell 1/144 Airbus A318 A319 A320 A321 Landing Gear White Metal" - I already have one and it's a two examples affair, meaning each set contains enough gear legs for two aircraft). A couple of ladders I also already have and just the other day I pinpointed some figures, buses and other ground equipment. Ah, and Wizzair decals are already heading my way! Thanks again for the insight! Cheers, Niki P.S.: will have to see what to do about those funny looking V2500 engines... Perhaps source them from the Revell kits I have and build those with the CFM engines (and appropriate liveries)!?

That looks really promising, Aleksey! Looking forward for them to come out

Please Jeff, from what you're seeing, does the 'too big' theme carry on from the cabin windows also to the cockpit transparency? I am so disappointed by these initial reports because I have really been looking forward to this release. Not necessarily for the open slats/ flaps option, but for the open door and proper sized [cockpit] windows because I also dislike using window decals... Since my Revell stash only comprises three 320's, a couple 321's and also a couple 319's, I am still considering buying the Zvezda kit for I do plan to build four 320's sitting next to each other in a diorama [some being serviced] and I would want them to look all the same. There's also a price issue: in eastern Europe Zvezda kits tend to be somewhat cheaper than in the UK, for example and cheaper than Revell's 320's right now anyway...

I say you should go ahead and drop them a line at aerodeka@rambler.ru Perhaps they can help you out. My experience with contacts in that part of the world has been primarily positive. We fellow plastic kit gluing guys do tend to treat each other nicely Otherwise, markings for the Ural A320 you can also find in the Pas-Decals web shop. They accept PayPal. http://pas-decals.com/index.php/product/view/7/219 And there is another fellow doing SSJ100 decals (well, a couple of options only) and I can vouch for his 100% positive feedback in the bay - I got a couple of Tarom An-24 sheets from him: Revaro Decals Please, let us know how it works out for you. Cheers, Niki

The Orkney episode is one of my favorites from the entire book and this is one carefully built and nicely weathered Spitfire Cheers, Niki

Aleksey, I have just come across this and for whatever it's still worth these schemes would be nice: - Iberia Regional - Airzena - Malev (even if it's no longer with us... ) But whatever Lufthansa Regional scheme you will go for , I can hardly wait for a couple of 144th and one 72nd scale kits to become available! Cheers, Niki P.S.: your first edition 732 is still one of my most priced possessions

Lovely, sharp looking builds regardless of whatever errors you may be referring to... I am always extremely pleased to see a Romanian plane being build, but I can agree with you and applaud the very nice Free French Hurry also! Great job overall! Cheers, Niki

Very interesting point on attacking the taxiways and hardstands instead of the runways. Thank you for clearing that up and also for explaining what the rationale is behind this way of doing things! Apparently a parked aircraft - even if unloaded - pushes more firmly and also over a longer period of time against the surface it stands on. I am sure there could be physics brought into the discussion here [not one of my strong points, mind you ], but this is why on some airfields the aprons are all concrete while the taxiways and runways are asphalt. Asphalt may not be as strong as concrete but I believe the cost factor plays a decisive role in the end:

Check it out (I suppose there would be no much difference between an A2A and an A2G load as far as pylon angle is concerned ): Courtesy of: http://www.primeportal.net/hangar/louis_chang/mirage_2000-5_walk_1.htm

I would have to dig quite deep through my memory to check if I have ever seen such a great result coming out of the KP MiG-21! Kudos for taking on such a challenge in a time when a couple better [kit] alternatives are available

But Peter, have you found a [really] cheap source for Eastern Express 737s? I see Dany has his announced at under 25 EUR apiece which wouldn't be much more expensive than the EE Boeings. I also have a budget [and storage space] issue, but owning examples from both manufacturers, I plan on replacing my couple of EE 737s as soon as the new batch of DACO kits becomes available. I would say that except for a price difference of more than 35-40%, it is not worth trading in all the qualities of the DACO kits. Cheers, Niki

There is the Flightpath set containing the ladder: Royal Navy Sea Harrier FRS.1 Detail and Weapons Set For the Tamiya kit - this very large set includes canopy framing, and cockpit, undercarriage, airframe and weapon parts. The set also contains Dual Rail Adapter units and four AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles, an ACMI round & a 1,000lb bomb. This set features diorama parts, including an access ladder, FOD guards, R.N. wheel chocks, and tie-down points & hooks. http://www.djparkins.com/acatalog/1_48th_Post_War_RAF_RN.html Brengun has a stand alone ladder apparently suitable for both the Hunter and the Harrier (?): Brengun 1:48 Step Ladders for Hunter/Harrier (BRL48018) http://www.modelsrgo.co.uk/brengun-1-48-step-ladders-for-hunter-harrier.html https://www.modelimex.com/1-48-step-ladders-for-hunter-harrier-pe-set Nice project you got there planned! Although what's with the small face and the giant helmet on those figures?! Cheers, Niki

Hi Gary, I was facing the same problem as you back in the summer of 2012: being "stationed" in Europe and wanting a new Avro Arrow. A fine chap from ARC directed me to a hobby shop on the other side of the Pond: Hornet Hobbies Toronto's Hobby Store For All Your Aftermarket Modelling Products 416-755-4878 www.hornethobbies.ca I did drop an email at their stated address (info@hornethobbies.ca) and a very nice lady (Trish) got back to me and I was finally able to obtain the object of desire. Price was 30 Dollars for the kit and about 23 Dollars for P&P to this easterly corner of Europe. It's been a while since then, but lacking alternatives an inquiry email would not harm Cheers, Niki

Excellent work on both the model and the base! I wish I had the patience and skill you have. Speaking of which - and I am only saying this because I can clearly see that you have the means to pull it off: since the aircraft is on the move, blurred runway markings would have surely added that extra drop of dynamic But in this case the surrounding landscape itself would have had to be presented in a blurry manner, I suppose... Once again, great job! One of the nicest presented airliners that I have seen Cheers, Niki