Lejgo_inc

Hello everyone! This is Mikro Mir kit, which I really like and highly recommend. I'd venture to say it is the crispiest and most delicate short-run kit I've seen. Mikro Mir's Tu-22 comes close, and I am looking forward to building that one. Having checked the gear details I had serious doubts whether designing PE details for it makes any sense (in the end it did - there are still some tiny PE bits that can further enhance it). I like the slightly irregular, hair thin panel lines, sharp trailing edges of wings and tail; the plastic is good to work with, no big fit issues and it is so lovely tiny. The scene is loosely based on a monument airplane that used to be displayed on a square in Świdnica, Poland. I wanted to build two-seater variant of Yak-23, however Polish Air Force never used two-seater Yak-23s which instills a major and obvious historical inaccuracy. Having this one already onboard I was less worried by some other bits that may or may not fit any particular reference photos. The airplane on display was easily accessible, kids favorite, and as such subject of slow but steady decay and settling on one single "proper" state of the airframe to reproduce is nearly impossible. (decals are custom printed, PE parts used in my usual prototype fashion, some scratchbuilt elements) Here are couple of period photos from Świdnica: And here is the model: Thank you! Leszek

Some time ago I was designing turned/PE missiles that are now Shelf Oddity mainstay. I also did the design for 3d print of Sparrow I missile back then. The F7U Cutlass or F3H Demon that would best accommodate the early pointy Sparrow are still on wish list. At some point however I bumped into the following pictures: Here we are: late 1940s / early 1950s, Point Mugu Test Center - Naval Air Station west of Los Angeles. First Sparrow missile, named XAAM-N-2 (X for experimental, A for air launched, another A for air target, M for missile, N as Navy and 2 - well - number two) is casually tested on F6F Hellcat, one that is well outside its color comfort zone (as indicated by further research). Perfect, isn't it? After theWW2 the dawn of jets saw Hellcats quickly shifted to secondary/support roles. Fortunately the aircraft was designed in traditional Grumman fashion - sturdy, tough and capable of taking abuse. The test machine was F6F-5K (drone) converted back to be piloted. Steel blast shield was added to the cabin wall in expectance of test missile bahaving unexpectedly. The regular centerline fuel tank was substituted by a pod containing cameras, pylon fitted to the right wing and there it was. The (X)AAM-N-2 Sparrow I was much more pointy than its later variants. Much faster looking. Hugely cumbersome homing process required the pilot to maintain the target locked throughout the whole flight of the missile. It found very limited use in late 1950s on F7U Cutlass and F3H Demon but was quickly phased out and replaced by semi-active homing Sparrow III (AIM-7B). This is Platz kit which means good fit, good detail, whatever's faulty is my own contribution. Of course no manufacturer does such exotic one-offs, therefore own input was required with regard to: - missile (3d print) - pylon (plastic sheet) - centerline pod (plastic sprue+some small bits) - lengthened tailwheel leg (brass rod) - decals (custom printed in MF Zone) - blast shield (aluminium foil) The model: Thanks!

Thanks for taking a closer look! Glossy streaks coming from various spills and follow the airflow (the largest obviously being from aerial refuelling) - these are intuitive. The more dull ones are less so. It would seem they have something to do with structure of the wing. This can be noticed on the first photo in post - starboard wing. My other source photo shows them on starboard wing (again): something is also happening closer to the root of port wing. I noticed Ronald MacDonald really fancy working on F-117 - he even ditched his extravagant hairdo to stay on the job (cannot tell from this photo about the red nose though):

Hello everyone! There is a locked subject somewhere in dungeons of kampfgruppe144 forum where I enthusiastically begin "quick build" of this kit ....around 2014. Then there was this idea of adding photoetched details to it. No one was doing PE for 1/144 F-117 so I ended up designing it myself. Thus, instead of a quick build it became prototyping tool for one of initial Shelf Oddity releases. Same goes for the decals. Looking at it from perspective - of the two: decals and photoetched - decals have far the more impact on end result. All this inevitably led to material fatigue, and the F-117 was lingering on WIP shelf for quite long. Prototyping aspect of the model can be noted by comparing left and right main undercarriage doors. There are two types of the doors and I am here at my laziest by doing only one of each type. Main u/c wheels have been replaced by res-im bits - the kit wheels are twice the required thickness. This was in my sights: ...and where my journey finished: Thanks for watching!

Hi All! This is my latest finished build in 1/144 scale. Why ”NOTSnik”? Because of the Sputnik. In 1956 US Navy Naval Ordnance Test Station was developing various unmanned vehicles. One of them being air launched vehicle propelled by motors from SUBROC antisubmarine missile. Following Sputnik launch this idea was successfully sold to high authorities as simple and low-cost way of achieving satelite orbits. Originally known as ”Project Pilot” it quickly gained nickname NOTSnik. Douglas F4D-1 Skyray was assigned as a carrier, effectively acting as missile ”first stage”. Under a lot of political pressure, in summer of 1958 six launches were attempted. All of them failed due to technical difficulties. The program was classified until 1994. The model depicts early aerodynamic test vehicle, later missile would be much larger, consisting of four SUBROC motors wrapped together, somewhat similar to first stage of Nike-Hercules SAM. I used Miniwing kit upgraded with Shelf Oddity photoetched details and decals.

'Crisp' - was the word I was looking for while commenting at kg144.

Hello everyone! This is P-42 (former T-10-15 Su-27 demonstrator modified to set time to climb records) in 1/144 scale. Base kit is Trumpeter, with some chopping done to align with the original airframe. Anything that was not essential to the very basic purpose of flight - including paint finish - was removed. Tips of vertical stabilizers, ventral fins, IR dome, tail sting - are all gone, so are most of antennas. In 1986-7 the P-42, equipped with uprated engines which along with other modifications gave thrust to weight ratio of ~2.0, set series of time-to-climb records, beating those set in 1975 by likewise lightened and stripped out F-15 Streak Eagle. This model served as a prototype for Shelf Oddity brass Time and place: Thanks for watching! Leszek

While this model has many outstanding features, my favourite is the gloss finish, which convincingly captures the vibe of Vulcans seen on reference photos - all this in unforgiving environment of 144th scale.

Chronology failed me with this one - this is my first attempt at 1/144th scale, from some 5 years ago. The model represents first produced (second flying) X-15 in its earliest stage of life. This offers the opportunity to present XLR-11 intermediate engines along with boom nose. This airplane logged rather low flying hours, having its propulsion replaced to XLR-99 in 1961. No chance for spectacular wear and tear then... To make the model more attractive visually I did some cheating. Or speculation. Or both. I used well known X-15-2 photos for reference of surface wear and panel color variation. As for blue/green wingtip containers - the X-15-1 flew with them in 1964, and I found no reference against flying them earlier in life of this airframe. So there you have me... Dragon chose to best Matchbox in panel lines department. I must admit they succeeded, especially if you compare this kit to, say, latest Eduard, or Platz releases. They also badly misinterpreted the back of the airplane. Those were two main gripes I tried to tackle while building this model. I dealt with panel lines by spraying several coats of primer and sanding it down to bare plastic. Looking at finished model I cannot say this was a successfull attempt. The back of the model is where almost all of the things happen. This had to be improved, because Dragon got everything wrong: the XLR-11 location, depth of nozzles, shape of fuselage, landing skids... To deal with this I used some putty, 1.2mm diameter brass tubes, injection needles and thin wire. I also used several items from Brengun PE set (front gear cover, aero-brakes actuators and blade antennas). Nose boom was made of needle, wire and PE vanes. Paint job consist mostly of multiple layers of Lifecolor Tensocrom smoke, burnt brown, kerosene, rust over black and rubber-black base. Frost at the bottom of the fuselage is simple white Tamiya acrylic. Decals provided by Dragon were quite good - thin and with minimal film around markings. Looking at it now I would seem therre is very little photos from front quarters. Hm, well. Thanks for watching!

Rarely do I post a finished build, but perhaps the amount of builds started would leverage that.... No. This Draken has been ready since about June, but other commitments (some of them can be applied as decals to 1/144 F4D, F-14s, F-15Es and F-16s - if one would follow the Shelf Oddity trace) stood in the way of doing proper photos. The kit is F-Toys, sripped of the factory applied paint with the help of Wamod Acrylic Cleaner. Underneath the original paint you will see crisp panel lines, some fine details and loads of potential. The weakest part of the kit (or of all F-Toys kits in general) is the canopy. Recently Brengun began to release vac-formed replacements, so this is less of an issue. Gear doors in this kit had been replaced with prototype PE parts, some antennas added from the same fret, pitot and fin spike from Master. I scratch-built the main undercarriage legs, which ...kinda shows - I took the liberty of presenting only the photos that do not display this unwanted feature. Tail bumper-wheel were also scratchbuilt. The Danish art of mantainence was the desired end effect: RLM02 from Valejo used as base and Hataka Blue Line B025 Interior Green for extensive touch-ups. Selected touch-ups received glossy highlight. In 1/144 two additional layers of paint, applied with the brush produce some noticable bumps.... Some panel lines were accented, some smoke stains added (a little too much?)... The finished model goes like this: And well, that's it, really.

Thank you! I am still wondering if my decision to leave bomb bay door in place of Blue Steel missile recess has any basis in fact - does anyone know? (Victor will be making public apperances at Wrocław Model Show, Poland (1-2. April, we hope to have larger group of 1/144 models on display there) and three weeks later at Moson Show, Hungary)

The blisters are made of 1mm plastic rod cut diagonally and sanded to get approximate shape. After this generous use of black paint did the smoothing. Actually there was no varnish at all. I used Gunze Mr. Base White in multiple layers and then soft felt for polishing.

My white 1/144 whale is ready to go public. GWH kit with my pe fret and refueling probe and pitots from Master. This is XL164 B.2, Blue Steel aircraft. Modelled without Blue Steel. With no evidence to the contrary I assumed that when no missile was carried, the bomb bay doors had been replaced. This is an important factor/excuse, as I tried to be reasonably accurate, but still be able to finish the model within a decade. The base is supposed to represent Cottesmore taxiway after storm, drying quickly in scorching tropical sun of England. Why the aircraft itself is dry? - you may ask. Well it has just landed after good weather flight. Post-flight ministerial inspection is about to begin. The Conways were known for their power output and reliability rather than cleanliness: It took some effort to photograph the subtle effect created by polishing panel centers and leaving panel lines matt. As mentioned - it is very subtle, and easier to spot when moving around the model. Shaprer lighting helps to bring out sheen variations (a little)

It has been in the works long enough. Resin, vacu canopy and decals from Miniwing. Cannon fairings courtesy of Master. Brass by Shelf Oddity, which means it is the test article for the brass parts - an awkward way to promote our product and equally awkward way to excuse imperfections. First two photos with my trusty companion, who did the part chopping: and lent a helping brush: Now, the Attacker himself: "We there yet?" Thanks for watching!

On a rare occasion I do finish a model. This time it came out like that: (some final adjustments:) and here we go: Ok, enough. Off to the scrapyard Full story can be found here http://www.kampfgruppe144.com/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3271. Short story: Panel lines (Matchbox-style) were filled, some brass bits from upcoming Shelf Oddity set added. And then there was miserable process of filling and sanding and filling and sanding and filling and sanding and filling and sanding and... which seemed to have no end. But finally I got to dust off my airbrush. Metal parts are AK Xtreme Metal (easy and foolproof). Kit decals turned out to be excellent (save for NACA tail band), panel lines were reinstated using pencil and shaky hand and this is it.

Thank you all, Marek your research is as thorough as it gets! But it looks as there are still more questions than answers Continuing work on Victor - she became white. I cannot tell if it is Snow white, Arctic white, Anti-flash white, Pure white or Sparkling white. Combined with Victor shape it is definetly Imposing white. I replaced mesh aero-screens with solid ones. I also removed rail-type antenna. Less spectacular, but closer to fact. More photos as soon as I start to break this paint job with colors other than white. Decals for XL164, printed by Meliusmanu are on their way. BTW - There might be some surgery still, as I have news that Master-Model is planning to release a refuelling probe and pitots for Victor.

I stumbled upon a photo of XL161 flying without bomb bay doors (via airliners.net): http://www.airliners.net/photo/UK---Air/Handley-Page-HP-80/1227642/&sid=a7c339b25485c4de63f8fadd5206ec41 (Blue Steel B.2 with large fairing ahead of tail). Maybe there is someone out there having/having seen a photo of Blue Steel Victor B.2 in configuration with regular bomb bay doors? PE set provides additions in areas that are actually visible, not something like cockpit interior or undercarriage bays. Installing aerials is a breeze thanks to locating pins; most other parts are simple add-ons. The hardest part is entrance hatch, which requires careful shaping.

Hi everyone, My name is Leszek, I am writing to you from Poland. This is my debut on britmodeller forum. You can check examples of my earlier work here: https://imodeler.com/members/lejgo_inc/ Some time ago I unpacked the GWH box with Victor inside and decided it is a good kit, that can be further improved. I did that by designing this set Good overall fit (intakes being the only exception), nice details (u/c doors, speed brake are fine straight out of box) and well thought out parts division... I plan to build XL158, XL164 or XL512 B.2 Victor in anti-flash white. This is the Blue Steel aircraft. Two questions are bothering me. 1. While Blue Steel was carried, fairings were installed in place of bomb bay doors to fill the gaps. I suspect the missile was not carried at all occasions - my guess is bomb bay doors were replaced and the aircraft assumed the look of plain non-BS Victor. Is my guess correct? 2. Antennas at the top of fuselage. Which ones should be present on an early 60's airframe? The rear blade antenna is visible on most photos, but then there is a photo of XL161 in camo and white belly carrying all those aerials. Are there any rules when and which antennas are used?