Rob G

Apologies if I offended, none was meant - reply was dashed off on the phone. It could have been presented a bit less harshly. I have the 1/200 Dragon kit (mostly built) and the 1/72 Trumpeter (unstarted, because I don't live in a hanger). One day, I'll get 'em both finished.

The Tu-95 isn't piston powered... it's a turboprop. It's also huge and quite magnificent.

I haven't used them, but I do have a different set in the stash. They look good, in register and solid colour. Online reviews say they're nice indeed. Your friend will need to know that the decals don't come with instructions, they have to be downloaded from Tigerhead's website (saves production costs - smart use of technology IMO). There's no indication as to who actually prints them, but at least one set on the website has a note that they were printed by Microscale. I'd say go for it, but maybe buy from a real dealer - there's a list on Tigerhead's website of stockists.

re the funnel - if she finds out, she finds out. It's plaster, not strychnine. And if all else fails, you can buy her a new set of funnels. Or flowers. Or both, depending on her annoyance level.

Drew, the general rule with GBs is that you can enter with an unstarted* model right up until closing time (if you think you're hard enough to finish it that quickly). * 'unstarted' usually means 'less than 25% complete' negotiated with GB hosts if there's any doubt about eligibility.

I'm sitting here shaking my head in amazement. I'm not one for chucking kits out, but this one... it would'a gone by now. Good onya for persevering! Talc is important - stops chafing &c. Keep on going Tony, the end is nigh! (In the nicest possible way.)

And to prove that it's so easy that even a numpty like me can do it, here they are, with the set from the twin seater to show what's been done. Because this stuff is important doncha know. The outside trailing corners were square, but the micromeshing has rounded them a little - a touch of sanding should set them to rights again. By the time you read this, they'll have a coat of Tamiya white primer on them (I know this because they already have; hahaha aren't I clever!) and when they're dry (in the AM) I'll be giving them a quick micromeshing to check that the new corners are tickety-boo, then they can go back on and I can keep on building this 'quick and nasty build' - like the Great Wall, it keeps on getting bigger.

Small update, just because it may save someone a lot of typing. I had a look at the stabs, and decided that there was no harm in attempting an in situ modification program. Thankfully, I'd modified them to line up where they should be if they were large versions, and that put them in the exact right place for having bits cut off and still lining up where they should. Amazing. In the process of cutting, the port side came adrift, so I managed to persuade the stbd side to do the same, which made it a lot easier to finish. (So much for 'secure' gluing.) Basic shape correct, I applied a large file for general airfoil shape, then fine tuned with 400 grit. The rear outer corners were left with a small angle on them, which has been filed out and a chunk of Evergeen glued in place. Once that sets up, it'll be finished to shape and et voila, small stabilators from large. They look ok. Easy as. And I still have the Revell ones as spares.

Thanks for popping in Col. No worries about the late arrival, stuff all is happening. Beer might be more rewarding than popcorn though.

Topic for today's exam: Research is the enemy of progress. In a 1000 word essay, discuss, giving reasons for and against the premise and a final conclusion based on your reasoning. Essays will be marked out of 100 and count for 75% of this term's final score. You have 5 minutes. AKA 'Going backwards to go forwards'. Sigh. In an effort to make this at least believably accurate, I decided to look at some photos of this bird to see what varied protuberances were fitted and when. Now, I knew when I started that this was delivered as an early Block 10 airframe. Which fact I then promptly forgot about/ignored/didn't pay attention to (delete as appropriate). The first photo I looked at today was taken in 2001, after she'd had her MLU. Aaaand.... immediate issues with what I've built thus far. She has the early small stabilators, just as she should have, hanging out there at the back end, loud and proud. Italeri conveniently forgot that detail in the instructions, didn't they? They also forgot to provide a small stabilator, didn't they?(And I, apparently, didn't remember to remember to work it out as well mumble mumble etc durn clodhoppers...) So what I have is an F-16 with a large stabilator securely glued in place, when it should be a small one. And finding references online to do a conversion is somewhat like a lottery. Dilemma. I dug into the stash (all praise the stash!) and extracted a Revell F-16 to use as reference, hoping that it had a small stabilator in the box. Wonder of wonders, it did (I also found YET ANOTHER Italeri F-16 - are they breeding in there?). It also had a supplementary sprue in the box with the large set on it, making the small ones surplus to the boxed markings. Saved! Except that the Italeri one is glued securely in place... Do I attempt to modify the parts already installed, or do I pull them off and use the Revell ones instead? Revell parts underneath, with a sticky note cut out of what needs to be changed. While I ponder the options, here's a bit of glamour. Cockpit (shame about the naff goldfish bowl effect canopy, but eh.) And all in all, not looking too bad! (except for the wrong bits...) Now, what to do with the aft end... Research. Just say no! (It poisons your brain and destroys your fun - you've been warned, kids. It's worse than drugs.) EDIT: Yes, I know it's missing a wingtip missile rail - the durn thing popped off again, and it can blinkin' well stay off until just before paint. Or possibly forever.

Hi Stix, and thanks. Re the injury, things is progressing - I think I had a combination of a strain and gout (the one setting off the other.) The gout is gone, the strain lingers yet. But I'm mobile and getting on with all the things I didn't manage to do while I was laid up ie modelling, processing photos, housework, grass mowing etc. More importantly, re the JSU - things is progressing. Currently doing the uninteresting donkey work of cleaning up parts and doing initial assembly - wheels, return rollers, drive sprockets, various small tanky-type gubbins etc. The supplied DShK AA gun is a work of art - about a dozen minute plastic moudlings. Fiddly, but I think it'll be good enough when done to not need brass or etch (It'll have to be, it ain't getting any!). Fuel tank assembly is as boring as anything of the sort (2 halves, sand the seam, add the ends), but I've decided that the solidly moulded block handles on the end caps need replacing (why, oh WHY do I do this to myself?), so I'm in the process of making a jig to enable thick foil to be bent to shape for the 8 I need, and the moulded on securing straps will then look very ordinary indeed, so.... more thick foil to the rescue again. Plus all the associated securing bolts &c. Tanks... they're supposed to be less fussy than airyplanes. Apparently nyet! The sponson filler plates are in and filled, with just a touch of final sanding to finish them off. And hopefully I'll get a bit more done before I head off to work on Sunday for the whole of next week. Photos. First up, that BFG. I'm quite happy with how this turned out - careful assembly, left to set up properly, then a rough seam removal with files and sanding sticks, followed by spinning it in the lathe with wet 1200 grit wet and dry has left me with something not too bad. If I spin it slowly in my fingers, I can feel that it's not quite round, but... there's only a couple of thou in it, and that's close enough for gov't work! and then the underside what appears to be a gap is actually full of superglue. Fuel tanks - you can see how bad that strap looks - it may get plastic strip there instead of foil, depending on how thick it appears in photos (more flippin' research!) And the DShK - the part bottom right is actually made up of 4 bits. Finally, the whole thing thus far, gun just sitting in place. Impressive bit of kit (in both senses). That's it so far. More as the advance continues!

I don't even have to make it look good, it'll be buried in mud!

Looks like I'll be starting this one in my 'remote modelling facility' - I've got 3 weeks away at work starting just before this kicks off, so that will be a good time to bash away at the starring artillery piece. And maybe do some initial work on the figures, too.

Someone had an S&M one here last year(?) It looked pretty good, and it should be searchable.

I've only just seen this. I have the Model Alliance 72nd sheet for this bird. Aircraft Illustrated's August 2007 issue has an article on painting the thing, written by the Sgt who designed the scheme. Also present is a short piece by the unit's CO. There's a goodly number of photos, as well, including a quite magnificent centre pull-out. Well worth chasing down if you can. The MA set has the rings and rips only, it's up to the modeller to do the orange - looks like an each way bet as to who has the more difficult task! Following along.

Lovely! They also list a rather tasty F6F-5 Hellcat in 48th. But ouch, the price burns a little.

Britney. (For some reason, I'm reminded of the scene in the movie 'Ted' where Marky Mark lists all the white trash girls names. Best bit of the whole thing.)

The struggle is real. Keep on keeping on my friend, you'll get there! (I'm going to stop complaining about my Italeri F-16s, which have used very little filler at all.)

It looks OK to me. Keep on tanking man!

Thanks for that, David. I was aware of the different colours, because while I was chasing around trying to work out exactly which of the colours listed on the paint chart went were (Italeri's instructions being, shall we say, bloody confusing) I happened upon a website listing all the colours used by all the countries that fly the thing. However, it's great to have a second source to cross reference against! Thank you. This one is being built pre-MLU, so hopefully the colours still match... I've got some photos of her in service and I'll be using them to finish off, but I'm not going to stress about exactness - the kit really isn't worth too much trouble when there's much better available. Should still look presentable when done though.

Troy, I have a HC kit AND a Cooper Details set... it's all on the 'one day' pile. Made up, it's quite a lovely pile of bits. Thanks. Edit - having read through the linked post, it may have been the upside-down wing thing that I remembered. Age is catching up and well... you know.

Update: Those of you who have been following my other current build will know that I've been laid up for a week or so. Cabin fever makes one do odd things. I've added some cheap and nasty printed copies of Eduard cockpit interiors to both aircraft, added belts and the ejection handle thingummy to the single seater (the twin will be done soon) AND added a scratched HUD to the single seater as well; not sure if I can stand doing it to the twin, but it looks odd without it. I've also added the spotlight that Danish airframes have - drilled a hole, painted the end of a bit of clear sprue silver and glued it in place, then polished the outside - easy! As I said, cabin fever makes one do odd things. Photomathingies. Cockpit interior (not a recommended way to do it, but the kit wasn't worth spending money on). Seat (ordinary, but oh well - it'll look ok under the pants canopy.) HUD (don't ask. Seriously, DO NOT ask!) Two bits of bent heavy gauge foil and yes, that other bit is clear. Now shut up. I told you, cabin fever makes you do crazy stuff... Oh, and I drilled out the gun muzzle, sort of. Spotlight. (I'm actually kinda chuffed about this bit. I'll mask it with a small dot of tape and it'll be the best bit of the whole durn thing.) That's it for now - next task is to stick on the canopy, mask it up (somehow) and give the whole shebang a white undercoat. And then go about fixing all the ugly bits that'll show up before I can get the grey onto it. More later.

I was of the understanding that the Hobbycraft kit was slightly underscale. I'll admit to not having measured it or checked references, but I'm sure I read that somewhere (even if that is an issue, it still seems like the pick of the bunch. Sadly.)

And right there is an object lesson in why you should never, ever trust a colour that you see on your computer monitor. Mine's properly calibrated, and while the Valentine isn't bright yellow, it's certainly yellow. I'd say it's yellow with a hint of green. No doubt on the original picture, it's some sort of dark green with a hint of yellow. (Not picking on you Sgt, just using you to reinforce a point that I keep on making in this and other forums.) Steve, the T-34 is looking bonza mate!

Very nice. I'll have to keep my eyes open for this one!