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Airfixer

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Everything posted by Airfixer

  1. The B61 started replacing the Mk43 and Mk57 nukes beginning from 1975. Accordingly, a B61 would be quite appropriate for a mid/late-1970s timeframe. Strike-assigned GAF F-104G, four per JaboG as stipulated by NATO, were indeed requiring a particular degree of attention - logistics, personnel, subject to extremely strict and deviating (US) procedures, etc. Later in their career, QRA(N), Quick Reaction Alert (Nuclear), assigned F-104G retained their M61 gun installation. Compared to the 2100lbs of a Mk43 bomb, a B61 weighed only 750lbs and produced less drag. If a QRA(N) assigned aircraft was removed from its QRA duty ("rotation"), another aircraft replacing it would only require rewiring as well as the installation of the mission specific equipment. e.g. installation of a dual timer and DCU-9/A or DCU-117 weapon control panels, etc. Keeping the gun mainly was a measure to ease operations. On the plus side, strike aircraft retained some minimum self-defence capabilties during their one-way mission. How comforting, isn't it? I will try to dig out some relevant mid/late-1970s serials of GAF F-104Gs for you. Cheers
  2. What an eye candy! Just another treat from your bench to marvel at - a born-and-bred "Mr Hudson". Cheers, Erik
  3. Gentlemen, Thank you for your kind comments. Cheers, Erik
  4. Merci Thierry, So the instrument panel is still representing pre-SEM standard. Still wondering why the aftermarket has totally neglected such detail, given that the SUE has spent most of its career in various SEM standards. Erik
  5. Gentlemen, Having a really soft spot for the naval aviaition of the 1950s and 60s, adding a "Ford" to my collection was a mere formality. Since I was a kid, recularly spending some of my pocket money for Buck Danny comics, the shape of the F4D has been quite familiar to me - back then the delta-winged F4D looked so cool. TAMIYA's quarterscale F4D had been around for some years, when I eventually had the opportunity to tackle one of these kits. Douglas F4D-1, VF-213 "Blacklions", USS Lexington 1957 In order to further improve an already great kit, I added a CMK cockpit set and Eduard PEs. The kit's decals were replaced by an AeroMaster sheet - AeroMaster #48-542, "F4D-1 Skyrays Part 2" The paintjob was accomplished using Gunze Mr.HOBBY colour acrylics, applying only restrained post-shadings and subtle weathering effects. The AIM-9B Sidewinders were taken from a Hasegawa weapons set. Cheers, Erik
  6. You really did a formidable job on your SEM. Love it. Did you carry out any modifications to the cockpit? Cheers, Erik
  7. That is one mighty fine model of a really mean machine!
  8. So let's take 'em by their words... Sort of odd decision to release the 1/32nd kit first, somewhat contrasting to the common folk's predominant request for a quarterscale version. Anyway, I'm eager to see them progressing - another all-time favourite of mine forthcoming.
  9. That is one mighty fine piece of modelling! The unique grey camo in particular brings out the F-1's sleek lines soooo wonderfully. Great job! Cheers, Erik
  10. Really nice Stang. I'm afraid, the overall lighting conditions while taking these pictures do not thoroughly live up to your model's finesse, withholding quite a decent share of fine details. "Minimal" suggestion: Placing your model on two sheets of white (or blue) A2-sized card stock and taking the pictures in the daytime on a day with an overcast sky - homogeneous lighting and soft shadows. On the other hand, taking pictures in the glaring sunshine is almost just as bad as too little lighting. Cheers, Erik
  11. Your experiment positively suceeded, and t's really hard to believe it's "only" 1/72nd. Congrats, Paulo! Cheers, Erik
  12. Once more, really good job on this one, Didier. Vraiment extra! F-4J and S are my phavourite versions of the "Double Ugly" phamily. Cheers, Erik
  13. In a nutshell: drop-dead gorgeous! Cheers, Erik
  14. Gentlemen, Once again thank you for your comments. Glad you like it. Just in case some of the Sabre Dog aficionados didn't know: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234965709-132-scale-f-86d-coming-from-kitty-hawk/?p=1709250 Cheers, Erik
  15. You really did a formidable job on this one. I love your displaying it in clean "all-up" configuration. Cheers, Erik
  16. In the meantime I should create more shelf space and keep my fingers crossed the Sabre Dog aficionados among us won't have to wait for too long. I'd buy at least two of them... Erik
  17. Beautiful job on your Mossie. Hard to believe it's "only" 1/72. Cheers, Erik
  18. Gentlemen, Frankly spoken, Sabres are my favourite jet aircraft with a particularly soft spot for the Sabre Dog variant. Accordingly, it was more than a happy event when both Monogram/ProModeler and Revell of Germany released a new-tool F-86D in 2001. Monogram released the earlier "round tail" version and Revell the later version featuring a distinctive parabrake housing introduced with the F-86D-45. 53-1001 in its 1956 livery when being deployed to Yuma AB for live fire training. "Texas Terror" was the personal mount of Col. Grover Wilcox. Later in 1956 53-1001 was converted to an F-86L. The kit offers a wealth of finely recessed surface details and overall fit is outstanding, safeguarding an enjoyable build right out of the box. Nevertheless, I replaced the kit's cockpit with a Black Box office. IP and IP coaming came from an Eduard PE set. The decals came from an Eagle Strike sheet. Item #48069. In order to replicate the natural metal finish, I used three different shades of Alclad II: Duraluminium, Airframe Aluminium and Semi Matte Aluminium. In order to highlight individual panels and joints I used Gunze Smoke. The model was finished with a final coat of satin varnish "à la maison" consisting of Polly Scale flat varnish, TAMIYA X-20A thinner plus a whiff of Future floor finish at a (by approximation) 60:35:5 ratio. Having another dozen of these kits in my stash, definitely not the last Sabre Dog taking off from my workbench. Thanks for looking! Cheers, Erik
  19. Bloody good job on your Viggie! I was on the verge of selling mine (1/48) with all the aftermarket stuff. In view of your really nice model I should seriously reconsider it. Cheers, Erik
  20. Flat out one of the best Hurricanes I've seen for a long, long time. Flawless build, great attention to detail, an excellent paint job and a wonderfully balanced overall weathering. Cherry on the cake: excellent photographs. A treat! Cheers, Erik
  21. Great job! Love the faded overall appearance in particular. Cheers, Erik
  22. Gentlemen, thank you. I've got Hasegawa's 32nd scale P-47M in my stash, so there is a good chance of building another one somewhere along the way. Cheers, Erik
  23. Gentlemen, I'd like to present one of the most relaxing builds I've ever tackled - TAMIYA's P-47M. I have to admit that the P-47 has never been my bag, but when TAMIYA released their P-47M back in 2005, I couldn't turn it down any longer. The opportunity to depict Bostwick's mount in its highly unusual livery was far too beckoning. Republic P-47M-1-RE, TAMIYA 1/48 Maj. George E. Bostwick, 63rd FS, 56th FG, Boxted, UK TAMIYA's range of quarterscale P-47 kits has enjoyed an excellent reputation as to accuracy, overall detailing and ease of assembly. And citing from my experience, it thoroughly lived up to its reputation. The kit was built straight out of the box, except for LionRoar photoetched seatbelts. Painting and weathering: My goal was to achieve a rather clean, yet slightly faded overall finish depicting only very little wear and tear. The P-47M's career was quite short and being initially hampered by severe teething problems, many of the new P-47M were kept grounded nicknaming them "hangar queens". During the last weeks of the war, they just didn't have the time to "patinate". The 56th FG's non-standard colours are subject to recurring discussions among modellers, so I tried to replicate the colouring solely relying on my Mk.I eyeball and rough estimation based on a few poor-quality photographs, hence mixing the shades from TAMIYA acrylics. Being an "ad hoc" project, I conducted only little research on the subject. Accordingly, a small but distinctive detail escaped my eye: a large matte black trim right aft of the cowling's red nose band. The model had been finished for months when a fellow modeller (rightfully) rubbed my nose in my mistake. I didn't fix it, and by now it's too late anyway - the model didn't survive my latest house move and doesn't exist anymore. The NMF undersurfaces and leading edges were painted using Aclad II "Duraluminum". Fuel stains and streaks on the belly tank using Gunze Mr.HOBBY COLOR "Oil". Maybe she lives on as a yoghurt cup... Karma, baby! Cheers, Erik
  24. Gentlemen, Thank you for your kind and encouraging comments! Cheers, Erik
  25. Just another great Spitfire to marvel here at BM. You really did a great job on this one. Cheers, Erik
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