72modeler

Sven, Outstanding photos- loved the bare metal one; never seen that before, just a few in silver paint. A very capable but very under-rated fighter. Thanks for sharing them! Mike

Fer cryin' out loud, Fuad- here's another one that was on my to-do list that is now back on the shelf! Yer killing me, my man! Seriously, I love what you did with this Fine Molds kit- the 'what-if' colors and markings look very believeable. Another outstanding model...you need to be locked up, for your own good- ha! You are a very accomplished model-maker, and I really do enjoy seeing your finished efforts- can't wait to see what's next! Mike

John, Have you tried here? Somebody on BM will know the answer to your query, I'm pretty sure...maybe Tony E or Graham B? Mike http://www.harriersig.org.uk/

Yep- it always me of an old Frog kit; basic outline and dimensions pretty much right on, but no scribing, no details, and coke bottle transparencies, but if you have a big spares bin and/or kits to rob better detail parts from, you make a pretty darned good model; I always felt a real sense of satisfaction when I built an old Frog or Airfix kit and people had no idea what kit is was! How are you doing, G? Mike Just got back from the airshow at Kelly AB- fewest vintage and modern aircraft on static display and aerial demos in a long time, but the F-35 demo was impressive and Happy Jack's Go Buggy, a gorgeous P-51D that is owned and flown by an ex- USN F-18 pilot here in SA, is always a feast for the eyes and ears. Our local ANG squadron, the 182nd FS Lonestar Gunfighters had two of their Vipers that are in special anniversary schemes on display. First link is to the 182nd FS F-16 Lonestar Gunfighters scheme, and the second link has great photos and history of our two best-known Texas ANG squadrons; I thought of you when I found it, Giorgio- hope you enjoy it! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/182d_Fighter_Squadron#/media/File:182d_Fighter_Squadron_General_Dynamics_F-16C_Block_30F_Fighting_Falcon_87-255.jpg http://silverhawkauthor.com/warplane-survivors-usa-texas_285.html

I agree! Love the XF, too! They are all great builds. Call the exterminator, the Scorpions are loose! You should see one in person- it is a BIG airplane! Mike

Well, here's another model on my list that you've done so well, I'm discouraged to even try building! All of your models are done to a very consistent standard of quality, a very high one, and that's pretty hard to do. Other than needing sunglasses to fully appreciate the scheme, you have done a bang-up job on the Heller kit- if you hadn't identified it, I would have thought this was the Valom or Special Hobby release. I might need to re-examine my Heller kit. Another great model, R! Mike

Stuart, The only other 1/72 kit that comes to mind is the Rareplanes vacform, which I have, and it's pretty good. I think there might have also been a resin FJ-4, but I don't remember who did it. I doubt that any of the Sword FJ-2/3 bits would work on an FJ-3, as the undercart and canopy were not the same, but can't say for sure about the cockpit and the seat. I haven't really thought much about crossover of parts, as the FJ-4 is not on my research/detail set/decal queue right now. I think the Pavla detail set/canopy is nice- I have I,t but haven't really compared it to TT's and Ginter's references to see how accurate it is...regardless, it's a whole lot better than what comes in the Emhar kit! Best I can do- sorry! (Like many of you, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the good folks at Sword will consider doing one at some point.) Mike

Yep- the pencil does a great job, especially in 1/72 scale; it is much better using one to highlight panels lines, access panels, and control surfaces, as it is so much more subtle and realistic than inks and washes, IMHO. Do it before the final flat/semi-matte/gloss clear topcoat to seal the pencil lines. It also works great on the edges of stiffeners and structural details in cockpits- the slight metallic sheen left by the lead is very realistic and can be applied more evenly than a wash. Mike

Bill, Regarding your concern about having the slats in on your model; on the ground they could be either in or out, as described in the article that I have linked below; Check out Gunter Rall's comments- the man should know what he's talking about! If you look at photos, there aren't that many that show the slats out when the aircraft is parked. So, you done good, as we say here in the Lone Star state! Mike http://109lair.hobbyvista.com/techref/systems/control/slats/slats.htm

Bill, Regarding your concern about having the slats on your model in, check out this great article I found recently; looks like you can have them in or out on the ground- check out Gunter Rall's comments; the man should know what he's talking about! If you look at photos, very few show the slats out. You done good, as we say here in the Lone Star state! Mike http://109lair.hobbyvista.com/techref/systems/control/slats/slats.htm

That's just one reason why I stay away from modern weenie cookers! Mike

Hoping this one hasn't already been posted- some classic piston-powered classics. Enjoy! Mike

That's the Airfix kit? No way! What a beautiful job! Noticed you got the ailerons drooped with the flaps down! Well done, sir! Perfect choice of markings and a perfect paint/weathering job! Mike

I have the Falcon triple conversion and the FJ-2 fuselage scales out to be pretty much on the money in length and the upper nose contour from the base of the windscreen to the intake has the correct downward curvature- much better than on the kit! (I think I posted this on one of the other FJ-2/3 topics, but don't remember offhand.) Mike

Wonder if it can be airbrushed? Mike

It appears to me, but I'm probably wrong, that in some Sea Fury photos the sliding hood seems to flare out a lot more than in others- I don't know if this is because the original hoods were not as 'blown' as a new-tool hood, due to better molding machinery and materials nowadays, or some other reason. P-51D, F-86F, and F4U-4/5/7 canopies also had the 'fishbowl' shape and the bubble did bulge out quite a bit from the base. I do know it's very difficult for an injected kit canopy to be molded with a significant bubble or flare due to the limitations of the molding process, but slide molds now seem to be able to achieve this, with a very faint raised line on the injected canopy that is easily polished out, F-14, F-16, and F-18 injected canopies are examples of this. Dunno if this helps or muddies the waters- sorry! Mike

R, Oh, my goodness! I would have not known this was the old Airfix kit- what a magnificent job, and an 80th FS 8th FBG F-80 on top of that! Thanks for taking the time and trouble to shoot the photos and share them with us! Now, how about Col Walter Benz's F-86F-10 'The Dirty Old Man,' or Col. Woodrow Wilmot's F-86F-30 'Miss Teena?' They were both C.O.'s of the 8th and had very colorful Sabres- see below. My father was with the 8th in Korea and Col. Wilmot was a guest at our home on many occasions and I had the thrill of sitting in his Sabre and wearing his helmet at an Armed Forces Day display in '55 when I was seven! I treasure that photo! Keep 'em coming! Mike https://www.pinterest.com/pin/328410997805354640/

Jim, if you don't have this site bookmarked, it's a very good source of F-16 information! Mike http://www.f-16.net/

Max, Do these help? Mike https://www.google.com/search?q=Hawker+Sea+Fury+canopy&tbm=isch&source=iu&pf=m&ictx=1&fir=loNLkdr5i5KNeM%3A%2Cf15LRcaQhBZ3nM%2C_&usg=__LYri9LBfmjYgAmTbUy5KfRNa6QE%3D&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjrubj31aPXAhVB7CYKHYzDBhwQ9QEIKDAA#imgrc=loNLkdr5i5KNeM https://www.google.com/search?q=Hawker+Sea+Fury+canopy&tbm=isch&source=iu&pf=m&ictx=1&fir=loNLkdr5i5KNeM%3A%2Cf15LRcaQhBZ3nM%2C_&usg=__LYri9LBfmjYgAmTbUy5KfRNa6QE%3D&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjrubj31aPXAhVB7CYKHYzDBhwQ9QEIKDAA#imgrc=Qdxe0n2mqsXJbM:&spf=1509755639025 http://www.carrierbuilders.net/articles/20050616_Seafury_WA/FuryFB10canopy.jpg https://www.google.com/search?q=Hawker+Sea+Fury+canopy&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj-3Lrr1qPXAhWIQyYKHftSBWsQ_AUICygC&biw=1280&bih=654#imgrc=ysQlKc1GqDWLnM:&spf=1509755890038 https://www.google.com/search?q=Hawker+Sea+Fury+canopy&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj-3Lrr1qPXAhWIQyYKHftSBWsQ_AUICygC&biw=1280&bih=654#imgrc=I5ei1Z3lmUGE5M:&spf=1509755890038

Is that 8th FBG F-80 the Sword or the Airfix kit? Either way, it's a beaut! My father was with the 8th during Korea, so their Mustangs, Sabres, and Shooting Stars are near and dear to my heart. Your F-107A looks great, too! Nice collection! (We lived in Wiesbaden for three years in the sixties when my Dad was stationed there...loved going to the Nurburgring, especially when the Chevy Chaparral won the 1000k in 1966!) Mike

Wow! I would have thought it was a 1/48 kit! That is one colorful Butcher Bird! Mike

Replicant, Ausgezeichnet! Another excellent build! Sure do like your choice of colors and markings, too. Sehr schon, mein freund! Now you need to do the Sword TF-9J! Mike

I pulled volume 3 of John Elliott's USN and USMC Aircraft Color Guide, 1950-59, and found MIL-F-7179, dated 4/16/51 that stated that interior structural spaces that were previously finished in tinted zinc chromate primer of no standard color, were to be finished in zinc chromate primer to match non-specular interior green, so I guess that would mean that the natural metal Banjos would have their wheel bays painted thusly. I could not find any decent photos in all my references that showed the wheel bays, but it does appear the interior and edges of all gear doors and flaps were painted insignia red. I have no idea if the flap wells were red or were the zinc chromate matched to interior green. Best I can do, but I'm betting TT will be able to find better documentation- I have all three of his Banshee monographs, but I couldn't find any definite confirmation. Mike

My understanding, as well. In the Schiffer book on Bf-109F/G/K's it states that F-2's had the squared-off wheel openings and almost all of the F-4's had the round ones. Mike

SC, KitsWorld does several B-29 decal sheets- both WW2 and Korean War; True Details makes resin wheels, but they are too flattened and bulged for my taste; Eduard and Airwaves both did etched sets, but both are OOP and probably hard to find (IIRC, the Airwaves set has been re-released.); there was also an aftermarket etched set that had the correct louvered panels around the turbosuperchargers, but I forget the company- they were too pricey for me, but they certainly dressed up and corrected that area of the kit; Squadron also had a vacform canopy and nosecap, with both the B-29 and B-50 style nosecaps being provided; I also think CMK or Resin2 Details did a set of R3350 engines, but they will set you back a King's ransom and you can't really see anything except the crankcase cover and the magnetos, anyway. (Be sure to fill and sand the air refueling receptacle doors behind the canopy, as Academy used the same fuselage sprues for their B-29 and B-50 kits, and only the B-50 had this installation!) Eduard did an etched set, 72-204, that had the louvers, cowl flaps, and cockpit, but it is an old, non pre-painted set, and will probably be hard to find. Good luck on your project...get ready to go through a few bottles of silver paint, as it's a big mutha, even in 1/72 scale! See the links for some of the available detail sets. Mike http://metdetails.com/catalog/metalic-details/aircraft/172/md7204-detailing-set-aircraft-model-b-29 https://www.google.com/search?q=1/72+Airwaves+B-29+set&tbm=isch&source=iu&pf=m&ictx=1&fir=YIuyv4YcGHtNUM%3A%2CJtslz6y6715B8M%2C_&usg=__P_5BRno4YjG6fER4VL0FW8WadIE%3D&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjp6avgyZjXAhVHZCYKHdOWBMYQ9QEIPjAA#imgrc=YIuyv4YcGHtNUM