eng

I've got a 737-500 in Braathens markings that I've had in the stash for a long time now, purely through not being ready/in frame of mind to build it. I've always viewed it as being a long term detailed project with a lot of scratchbuilding and the kit really just being a base for this. What I've got is a vac-form fuselage that is fairly thick and sturdy plastic. All the tail surfaces are in resin, wings in resin that are split just outboard of the pylon giving you an inner section and an outer section. The inner sections join in the middle and the fuselage sits on top of these (similar to the way the real thing is built up in the factory). The engines are in resin as well, split into a forward section and an aft section with the pylon moulded between the wing and engine sections. The cockpit is a resin section with white metal seats, columns and the gear is in white metal. Some of the panel lines on the wings are incorrect, and some are not there at all (I have access to both the 737 and A320 through work, so picked up on this straight away), all the flap track fairings are integrally moulded and the join between the inner and outer sections will probably require a bit of work to keep nice and clean. The white metal castings will need a fair bit of tidying up but should be fine if care is taken. Only one set of markings is supplied but I dare say someone out there could help in producing alternate schemes if reqd. There are no windows cut out on the vac fuselages obviously, but they are marked up. there's also bulkheads for strengthening the fuselage on the vac-form sheets. I'd love to be able to afford to purchase one of the A320's as well to go with my 737 but they're just a tad out of my price range these days. My kit is buried up in the loft but I could try and dig it out for some pic's if you are desparate to see it. Feel free to ask any further questions, or PM me if I can help anymore with pic's or info. I'm sure they will build into nice kits and as far as I'm aware are the only way to go for 1/72 kits of the 737 or A320. Rgds, Eng

Wow thats quite a different profile altogether. I wonder if carefully cutting the windshield into 5 separate panes and gluing them into place individually then filling the gaps where the pillars would be will be an alternative solution? Window's 2 and 4 (counted from either side) are sliding DV windows that open outwards and aft, these could be posed open if the helo is to be modelled on the ground. The panes are thick in real life to, check out the 1st pic here - http://www.aviastar.org/helicopters_eng/mi-26.php Thank's for posting the pic's, gives me time to think of the best fix for this, Rgds, Eng

Wow that MiG-21 looks hot, and then "BLAM", what a pair of kits, your Phantom is stunning. Nice work. Eng

Flippin eck, ONE whole CM too wide!!! How the heck did that slip past QC! I wonder if the aftermarket brigade will maybe produce a vac-form replacement. I hope there's a relatively easy fix, I'm afraid thats the sort of thing that would put me off buying a kit at £20......well, normally, in this case I might still cave in and get one. Thank's for the heads up, will be interesting to see if this is in all kits and how modellers will get around this problem. Have you seen any artwork of the Begemot sheet, I've seen the sheets themselves but not artwork for each option? Eng

I found the fit of the Zvezda Tu-154 to be superb, the only problem I still have is that one wing has the perfect anhedral, but unfortunately the other is almost a perfectly match but in dihedral!!! I'm hoping a pan of very hot water and a bit of patience will sort the problem out. I was totally blown away by the Mil-26 yesterday (in case you hadn't noticed!) and I found the Begemot decal sheet thats still to be released last night on t'internet - http://begemotdecals.ru/showpos.php?〈=2&id=57 Stebos, Will be interested to see how you get on with your Mil-26, are you starting it straight away, or is it a future build? Rgds Eng

Yeah, read somewhere Revell are to re-release it in March 09. Don't think I could hold out that long, not now I've seen one!! Eng

I know South Front had one of these out earlier this year but I was in Jamiesons in Glasgow this morning and saw this - http://www.scale-rotors.com/news-reviews/z...mi-26-halo-7270 and I just HAD to have a look in the rather huge box! I'd already purchased earlier in the year a Tu-154 from Zvezda and was really impressed with the quality of the moulds. The Mil-26 "Halo" is awesome, a beautifully detailed interior, cockpit, both main and tail rotors are superb, the main rotors are moulded on 'bent' sprues to simulate the droop of the blades. Cargo and access doors can be left open or closed, and there are 4 nicely moulded crew figures. There's only 2 decal options an all white UN machine (anyone whose read "Joint Force Harrier" will know what I mean), and a Russian camo machine, but apparently Begemot are to produce a sheet with plenty more options. Anyway to get back to the point, after having had a good look at Revells C-17, Airfix's 1/48 PR.9 and all the other nice new arrivals in the shop.....I asked the guy's to put a "Halo" aside for me til Xmas!! My lovely wife has already offered to get it for me for Xmas . Just think of the diorama you could build with this beastie.......I don't really build choppers either. Here's a linky to some sprue shots - http://scalemodels.ru/modules/myarticles/a...oryid_1272.html Anyone already got one, or taken a shine to this? Looking forward to Xmas!! Eng

Had a look at it in Jamiesons in Glasgow today, still not commiting to buying one though, I thought the gear struts looked a bit on the flimsy side and I had actually expected the kit to be a bit bigger. Moulding looks quite tidy though, although Stephen has said his has a section by the cockpit thats moulded short. Hope to see some built here soon! Eng

Hope this helps - http://www.f-15estrikeeagle.com/ Eng

Looks cool so far, can't wait to see finished article. There's something bizarrely attractive about this heli, but I do like the drab green schemes. Eng

Beautiful job, some of those Academy 72nd prop kits are lovely. I've got a P-51B and a T-6G in work just now. Cracking job. Eng

Great build, what crackin job! Eng

Jamiesons in Glasgow had a huge stack of the 1/48 PR.9's and the 1/144 Revell C-17 this morning! I didn't partake of either, got an Xtrakit PR.9 already, and am hanging out for some reviews on the C-17 first. Eng

Pardon one's french but that is F***in sweeeeeet!!! What a stunning bit of painting. I'm defo keeping an eye on this beauty. Eng

A340! Eng

Wow, what a beautiful paintjob! Looks stunning, and very nicely weathered too. Looks like a cheap Japanese Jag thou!! Looks like you've put alot of effort into that and been well rewarded, nice one Eng

Looks lovely mate!! Nice decals and the paintjob looks pretty good as well. How did you find the kit to build? I've got one in the stash for another day! Nice Kitty! Eng

Wicked pic!! Lovin that idea... Eng

Hi Jesse, I've got decals from F-Dcal - http://www.f-dcal.net/pages/laser/14068.html They do stacks of airliner stuff and are great decals, well worth a look. The guy's that run the company are very helpful and will answer any questions via email. Should be able to get some pic's if reqd but as mentioned earlier, we don't see the 321's anywhere near as often as the 319/320's as there's far fewer in the fleet. I'm very (very!!) slowly working to do a 319, 320 and 321 all in BA livery as above. The 320 and 321 using F-Dcal sheets and the 319 straight from the Revell kit, which has an awesome decal sheet if you haven't seen it already. Drop me a PM anytime if you need any Airbus or 737 info/pic's Rgds, Eng

Watching with interest Al, had one of these when I was about 10 and remember it being bloody huge! Looking very nice so far. Rgds, Eng

Great stuff Tom thank's for posting the extra images - well worth it! Eng

That's a wee cracker, what a beautiful, flawless finish. Superb! Eng

Beautiful builds Darius, really struggling to pick a favourite! Love the Bucc's, the Wessex, and the Scimitar and Flycatcher are just stunning. Nice one, Eng

Good info Spike/Pete thank's, Oh and ref.... Just keep your weap's away from Glasgow and Edinburgh there's BritModellers holed up in there!!!!! LOL, Eng

Never noticed this Dave! And was just about to point out the typo on the instruction sheet re. the "9 Sqn" gaff, but been beaten to it. Not wanting to take anything away from Dave, but I'd also happily part with my Canadian and Aussie markings (less the "ROYAL AIR FORCE" text) if anyone want's them. Eng