

Des
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Via Ali Express UMa Model D1001 1/48 US AV-8B Harrier II Plus kit , after a lot of will I won’t I found an on-line offer for £48 including VAT and shipping which persuaded me , parts look very nice and the savings have gone towards ordering replacements for the very nice seat supplied (but Martin Baker for an RAF jet) and new intakes to replace the well presented but wrong kit parts . . . . . still wondering if I might need to find a replacement refuelling probe out there as the kit option looks to me as being a bit on the thin and weedy side.
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1/72 Fujimi Phantom FG.1 rebox by Hobby 2000 - released 2025
Des replied to matford's topic in The Rumourmonger
Remember Fujimi's release in the 1980s when the FG.1/FGR.2 competition was from Matchbox , FROG/Hasegawa and I seem to recall a pretty disastrous attempt from Revell , well not much competition as the Fujimi mouldings were in a different league entirely. Beyond the parts the first impressions of the very wide-ranging decal sheets with multiple choices and lots of stencilling were also very encouraging . . . . . . until you tried to use them , poor adhesion , silvering . . . . . . a real disaster , thank goodness for Modeldecals !!! -
1/48 - McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II by UMa Model - released
Des replied to Homebee's topic in The Rumourmonger
According to Royal Mail my kit will be delivered tomorrow and following receipt of my subscription copy of August Airfix Modelworld yesterday and reading the very interesting two page 'in-box' review which sets out the seat and intake problems I have just ordered the Rockit replacements. With delivery and VAT I saved £10 on the kit which went towards the £33 (including shipping and VAT) for the replacement 3D parts , price of the intake started off around that before additions but finding a vendor that was selling both parts little red discount advisories started to pop up and the price going down as I selected them. AMW article also mentions that the either/or gun fairing/centreline Litening option in the instructions can be resolved (as in real life on post-2010 aircraft) by a slight alteration to the ammunition feed tray. PS A day later and kit now arrived the really only obvious thing I have noticed is that the raised/lowered In-Flight Refuelling probe options look rather narrow-bore and flimsy. -
Some more reading material this week , in PDF and in print. From Blurb Publishing Some more PDF downloads of heavily illustrated print-on-demand photo book titles by Peter Foster for £10 or under each , these cover his air-to-air photography in a series of three books covering photo sessions with a wide variety of military types between 1982 and 2019. Rising Beyond Others - Camera Above The Clouds Volume 1 - Pre-Digital Era (2020) , 258 pages covering 1982 to 1999 Rising Beyond Others- Camera Above The Clouds Volume 2 - Toward The Digital Era (2020) , 226 pages covering 2000 to 2004. Rising Beyond Others - Camera Above The Clouds Volume 3 - The Digital Era (2021) , 202 pages covering 2005 to 2019. From Aero Research 1125 A-6 Intruder & Prowler Part 8 PDF Download , latest addition to the series with 154 High Res images. Via Amazon Texan Illustrated: T6/SNJ/Harvard book , by Lou Drendel , latest print-on-demand addition to the Aviation Art Inc. series published via Amazon , 132 page softback in the usual format for the series with illustrated history , author's original artwork , technical manual excerpts and contemporary promotional material , roughly a quarter of the book covers post-war warbirds , civilian teams , etc. From York Military Books Can there be such a thing as too many Lightning books on the shelf , so added another couple of 'as new' titles? RAF Illustrated – English Electric / British Aircraft Corporation Lightning Mks.1-6 book , by Kev Darling , published 2008 by Big Bird Aviation Publications , 260 page softback , 350+ images although other than 9 in colour on the covers all are black & white of which reproduction is fair tending towards pale with some , technical manual drawings are included along with a selection of airframe histories. Famous Airplanes of the World 80: English Electric Lightning book , published 2000 by Bunrin-Do , typical for the series (black cover with dustcover) , in Japanese throughout but with excellent photography in both colour and black & white , scale plans and variant drawings , tone camouflage and marking drawings. From The Community Charity Bookshelf At The Local Tesco’s Mosquito – The RAF’s Legendary Wooden Wonder And Its Most Extraordinary Mission book , by Rowland White , published 2023 by Penguin , as new quality 536 page hardback with two blocks of mainly black & white images relating generally to the individuals involved , focussing mainly around operations over Denmark in general and Operation CARTHAGE in particular.
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Have visited the islands a few times and while the landscape is dramatic and often unique it is only fair to say that the television series uses a little bit of licence in some of its background settings especially if they are not integral to the 'Shetland' brand. e.g. if there are very many trees probably not on Shetland , if there are long streets of terraced buildings probably not on Shetland , it it is a picturesque seafront with another picturesque seafront across the water probably not on Shetland , some building styles and backgrounds in incidental shots are quite recognisably from other parts of Scotland (apparently the Ayrshire coast is a frequent substitute) so presumably interiors such as a museum would share similar compromises. You would probably find that Shetland Museums and Archives - [email protected] - would be more than happy to answer your query if it is theirs.
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Plod Pension Day splurge covered a number of future projects and pre-orders. Via eBay SGS Model Store - Airwaves AEC48014 1:48 F-4 Phantom Canopy Detail etch. Lee4783 - Wolfpak Decals 48-004 1/48 Choppers Galore decals , another step towards my MH-53M Pave Low IV along with markings for USAF Twin Huey , Osprey , Pave Hawk and Army Black Hawk . . . . . anyone got a scan of the instructions they could share ? From Hannants Cut Then Add Decals No.76 1/48 Skyhawk Adversary Pt.1 decals , for one each of A-4E/F/M and TA-4J , CTA do tend towards pricey but this is the most expensive and smallest of their sheets I have bought too date. Star Decals 35-C1438 1/35 The Troubles In Northern Ireland – Ferret Mk.2.2/3 & Saladin Mk.2 decals , following the Ferret just waiting for Airfix to nail the Saladin (wheels from Stalwart + new everything else - could be in the shops for Christmas . . . . . or probably not) and finish both in Bronze Green/Brown camouflage. Via Amazon WARchive Photo Series 2 - A-4 Skyhawk - Douglas’ Famous Scooter book , by Chris Banyai-Riepl , recent print-on-demand release through Amazon , 96 page softback with 110 captioned colour images taken 1950s-2000s by the author’s father Will A. Riepl ('WAR') and the start of what is advertised as an extensive series to follow. From Key Publications Aviation Archive No. 80 – Attack Helicopters bookazine , subscription copy in the usual format with a mix of images , six archive cutaways ( UH-1B Iroquois , AH-1F Cobra , Mi-24P ‘Hind-F’ , Lynx AH.9 , YAH-64 Apache , A129 Mangusta) and twelve specially commissioned colour sideview profiles ( UH-1F , OH-6A , OH-58B , AH-1W , Bo-105P1 , Lynx AH.7 , AH-64D , AH-1Z , A-129CBT , Mi-28N , Eurocopter Tiger , UH-1Y ) , next issue will cover Dassault Aviation. From Jadlam Models Airfix A05143 1/48 Supermarine Spitfire TR.9 kit , pre-order of latest release . Jadlam price was roughly in line with Hannants pre-order or Airfix with club discount however free shipping made a not insignificant difference.
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From The Aviation & Military Book Centre Three of the recent releases by Phoenix Publications , all by Andy Evans. Airmark Profile & Scale Series Number 5 – A-1 Skyraider - US Airforce , Navy and Marine Corps Versions book , 66 page softback with illustrated history including French , Royal Navy , RVNAF , Gabonese and Swedish use , 14 colour sideview profiles , close-up detail images of preserved aircraft (uncaptioned) , 4 modelling articles ( all 1/48 – 3 x Tamiya , 1 x Monogram). Real to Replica Red Series Number 11 – American Harriers book , 110 page softback with illustrated including Italian , Spanish and Thai use , 22 colour sideview profiles (all ‘Harrier II’) , close-up detail images (uncaptioned) , 6 modelling articles (2 x 1/72 Airfix AV-8A/S , 2 x 1/48 Kinetic AV-8A and Hasegawa AV-8B , 2 x 1/32 Trumpeter AV-8B). Airmark In Profile & Scale Modeller’s Airguide Number 32 – Douglas F3D Skynight book , 30 page softback with illustrated history although only 9 of the 34 images are captioned , close-up detail images of a preserved example (uncaptioned) , modelling article on the 1/72 Sword kit. From the East Neuk Modelling Show in Cupar From Various Trade Stands Service History Of The Gloster Javelin Marks 1 to 6 - and - Marks 7 to 9R books , written and published (1975 and 1980 respectively) by Roger Lindsey , both 32 page softbacks , illustrated throughout in black & white with 1/72 tone camouflage and markings artwork, histories of user squadrons and individual airframes by variant. Second-hand and being sold by Alex Crawford (author of MMP Javelin , Combat Meteors among others) who had a notice on the stand about his forthcoming history of the Bristol Belvedere which he hopes will be available before the end of this year. Kits-World KW148152 1/48 British Research And Development Establishment Buccaneers decals. Kits-World KWM481021 1/48 Buccaneer Canopy And Wheel Masks. Model Alliance MA-48013 1/48 Westland Sea King In RAF And Royal Navy Service decals. Skybow TP3504 1/35 WC63 Big Shot US 1.5 Ton 6x6 Personnel Carrier kit being cleared for £10. Skybow TP3505 1/35 US 0.25 Ton US Army & Marine M38AIC with M40A1 106mm Recoilless Rifle kit being cleared for £10. From The Club’s Stand (one member now £90 better off) Hasegawa PT33:2600 1/48 A-4M Skyhawk ‘USMC Attacker’ kit. HobbyBoss 81754 1/48 A-4E Skyhawk kit. Hasegawa JT60:2400 1/48 Typhoon Mk.IB With Tear Drop Canopy kit. Eduard 82125 ProfiPACK 1/48 Tempest Mk.II Late Version kit.
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Are you aware of the various 3D Printed Andover kits from One Man MODEL in Japan - https://one-man-model.main.jp/ - bought a 1/72 C.1 kit from them a few years back although never found the time to start it yet.
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From HobbyCraft , Dundee Wife was in getting some items for a craft project so while I was wandering and resisting their overpriced kits came across Citadel Plastic Glue and Citadel Liquid Green Stuff which I thought I might give a try. From Scoonie Hobbies , Kirkcaldy Not over in that corner of Fife very often since we moved north and for a long time when we have been across there have always seemed to pass the shop out of hours so it must be over thirty years since I last managed to go in (and bought a Heller/Bobcat 1/72 Harrier T.4 I seem to recall) , very friendly place and very kindly rounded my total down to the nearest tenner for - Airfix A1386 1/35 Ferret Scout Car Mk.1 kit which was released in the past week or so. Tamiya Extra Thin Liquid Cement and Tamiya Extra Thin Liquid Cement – Quick Setting. Have been using Mek-Pak for a very long time and having read about the Tamiya liquid cements thought I might try them.
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Via eBay Kinetic K48127 1:48 Lockheed CF-104 Starfighter kit , always wondered why Kinetic have never been as ‘generous’ with stores for their Starfighters as they are with some other types. (MisterCraft MCF33 1:48 SA-342L Gazelle kit , same plastic as the KP kit which in turn was originally the Heller (still stamped in fuselage halves) release with HOT & sights so 1/50 scale , has a very busy decal sheet for German Police/Cypriot National Guard/ Syrian Air Force (captured by Israel)/ Yugoslav Air Force/ Royal Navy/ British Army/ French Army options. From Airfix Pre-ordered BUNDLEA65 Airfix A11009 1/48 Fairey Gannet COD.4 + Collectors Coin , with Club discount and Reward Points worked out pennies under £49 with free shipping. From Raymoco Raymoco R48.154.00 1/48 RF-4E/C Phantom II Radar AN/APQ-99 3D Printed parts for internal bulkhead , radar mounting , scanner , radome and hinge brackets.
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Notification received this afternoon from DPD that Hornby have notified them that my Gannet COD.4 pre-order is being despatched.
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From Hannants Some after-market odds and ends for various projects. Eduard FE340 1/48 RF-4C Phantom II Cockpit Detail etch. Eduard FE1430 1/48 F-5E Seatbelt etch. Eduard FE1402 1/48 Mi-17 Seatbelts etch. Quickboost 48004 1/48 Martin Baker Mk.7 Ejection Seats resin (pack of 2) Aerobonus 480055 1/48 USN Style F-4 Inner Wing Pylons resin (pack of 2) ResKit 48-0094 1/48 F-4 Phantom II F/RF-4B/C, D & N Engine Exhaust Nozzles (pack of 2). From Books etc. McDonnell-Douglas F-4C/RF-4C Phantom II book , by Gonzalo Ávila and Roberto Yáñez , published 2014 by Schiffer , 48 page landscape softback covering mainly Spanish Air Force service to compliment the Double Ugly title on the same subject that arrived last week. From Spencer Pollard Skyhawk – Ed Heinemann’s Hot Rod book , by Spencer Pollard , self published and released this week , pre-ordered 70 page landscape softback covering builds of 1/72 Airfix A-4Q , 1/48 Hasegawa and Magic Factory A-4Ms and 1/32 Trumpeter A-4E. From Amazon P-39 AiraCobra Illustrated book , by Lou Drendel , latest release in the Aviation Art Inc. series , 92 page portrait softback in the usual format with well-illustrated history , author’s own artwork , technical manual excerpts and contemporary promotional and recruiting material , oddly while the US , RAF and USSR are well covered French and Italian use is covered in one page with three captioned black & white images. From We Buy Books The Ships And Aircraft Of The U.S. Fleet – Thirteenth Edition book , by Norman Polmar , published 1985 by Arms & Armour , 560 page pre-owned landscape hardback for £5.06 with free shipping , heavily illustrated in black & white throughout , includes names/hull numbers for ships in each class along with squadron numbers/tail codes for aircraft types in service.
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Turbine powered Westland Whirlwind helicopter in 1:48 scale?
Des replied to bootneck's topic in Aircraft Cold War
I was in touch with them this morning and they are working on a vac-form window set for the 1/48 Whirlwind HAS.9 so will be watching for that to replace the resin windows and order the kit. -
Turbine powered Westland Whirlwind helicopter in 1:48 scale?
Des replied to bootneck's topic in Aircraft Cold War
Already available - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/135709361459?_skw=1%2F48+belvedere&itmmeta=01JVTB35ZBBZATAAWFVHT0PXVJ&hash=item1f98e88533:g:mf0AAOSwXHtmKMA5&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA8FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1fXBHVOEm0f4MZq9gM2Bma53QUr67pJ3PoVBPaN%2F8T0bIQEYxAabVSO4ljzWKkOVzjLAZ5Gl7dj5SW0U%2F0ned5wC0mXgxhgfiQxc2%2FyZAYZKQ2Vb3k%2BZWedF8aWSCWVWZtC2sIUmnbeTE8rK8BFgnOJNJA%2FtXIRLh8inADKMbEE8kgty3aRqL7aeJYdy9%2FsC%2FxK9Mu6Ceukeh5Tsx5vQYPC1o3k9%2Fb0pwJDFUkYpUrLo9eKoA2EFptvLXrCvQ21XDXJi70HAlbR4SlW6NwVzs0%2ByM7QesObGQ4Cu44zeEHGvg%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR_bfjMveZQ - bought a set a couple of weeks back and looks good. -
Turbine powered Westland Whirlwind helicopter in 1:48 scale?
Des replied to bootneck's topic in Aircraft Cold War
Don't recall any reading about future plans for the AMP kit but would seem odd if it was not developed into other variants but when would be the question (three years between their Kaman HOK-1/HUK-1 and their HH-43) However , there is a 1/48 3D printed kit of the HAS.9 available now through The Dorset Print Man on ebay -https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/135213322477?_skw=whirlwind&itmmeta=01JVSZGCDCGSJ8R8JBZ7RFKMRV&hash=item1f7b5790ed:g:tr4AAOSw8IJmzN0T and they also do an HAR.3 and HAR.10 in 1/72 so might possibly upscale at some point. Have not seen the Whirlwinds but did buy a 1/48 Belvedere from them last year , weak point at that time were the transparencies which were rather very thick and cloudy however more recently the Belvedere has been improved (both the complete kit and as an upgrade to the original) with a clear vac-form insert for the cockpit and vac-form sheets with the other windows which would make the Whirlwind more attractive if they do the same there. -
Also re-boxed by Revell
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Still buying far too much especially books although at least the digital purchases do not take up shelf space. The Model Centre Italeri 2818 1/48 RF-4E Phantom II kit , took the plunge for my RF-4C project (etch & resin expected next week) cost with shipping was around that of the cheapest I could find elsewhere before shipping was added. From Key Publishing Arma Hobby 70024 1/72 Hurricane Mk.I Allied Squadrons Limited Edition kit , Airfix Model World Subscription Renewal bonus , looks like a very sharply produced little kit. From The Dorset Print Man 1/48 Belvedere Vac-Form Window Replacement Set for The Dorset Print Man 3-D printed kit of the same , I bought the full 1/48 kit almost exactly a year ago and had set it aside hoping for a solution to the rather thick and off-colour resin transparencies. The producer has now come to the rescue (offered in scales from 1/144 to 1/35) with a fix offering a new 3D printed cockpit frame with one-piece windscreen/side/roof window clear vac-form insert , clear vac-form lower cockpit bubble , new 3D printed cabin door plus small vac-form sheets with clear fuselage/cabin door/and separate cockpit side windows , one less excuse now just need to find some time to start it. The Aviation Bookshop Courtesy of their ‘25%OFFNEW’ online sale promotion running throughout May which more than covered the postage cost (despite the code wording offer also includes second-hand books). The Modeller’s Guide To Aircraft Finishes & Markings #005 – SPANISH PHANTOMS – The F-4C & RF-4C In Service OF The Ejecito del Aire Espanol 1971 – 2002 book , by Salvador Mafé Huertas and Lee R. De Haven , published 2023 by Double Ugly , 132 page softback , exceedingly well illustrated throughout but like other books in the series the very nice colour multi-view artwork is limited to one set per variant – no problem with the F-4C which remained fairly constant but the RF-4C had four different ‘standard’ colour schemes during its service. From Aviation & Military Book Centre Ships in detail 001 - Aircraft Carrier Juan Carlos 1 of the Spanish Navy book , part of the Duke Hawkins series , published 2020 by HMH , 106 page softback to the usual high standards of photography , the only 'Duke Hawkins' book I had never bought as only around half is dedicated to the carrier air group and aircraft visitors but now reduced to £4.90 and even with postage added still works out to 1/3 cover price (or around £1 more than this months copy of The Aeroplane when I bought that on Thursday) , still on special offer at time of posting. From The Hive Famous European Aircraft - SEPECAT Jaguar: A Development and Operational History book , by James Jackson , released this week by Crecy , pre-ordered at just under £15 instead of almost £40 RRP , first in a new series following the format of their long-established ‘Famous Russian Aircraft’ titles , rather weighty 336 page hardback with around 350 images and 60 drawings as well as production lists with brief histories. Hercules – Inside Story Of An RAF Legend book , by Scott Bateman , released this week by Penguin , 393 page paperback with two 8 page image sections , written by a former RAF Hercules loadmaster and later pilot and a very readable 'Hercules Boys' style rather than detailed history. From Blurb Books I came across a series of print-on-demand books of Peter R. Foster’s excellent photography while researching the RF-4C , print copies range from around £40-£140 but most are also available as PDF downloads for £9.99 which seemed like a good place to start until the next round of family pressie-giving , so with more purchases to follow in the months ahead my first three downloads are - McDonnell RF-4C Phantom II – Reconnaissance Slick Chick PDF download , by Peter R. Foster , copyright 2020 , around 160 pages heavily illustrated (mostly in colour) history of mainly USAF service plus South Korean and Spanish to a lesser degree and tantalisingly two small B&W images of a pair loaned to the Israelis 1970/71. Desert Cats – Almost Extinct PDF download , by Peter R. Foster , published 2012 by Blurb , 88 pages on Omani Jaguars and while there is another more general title covering the RAFO it is not available on PDF. Vickers VC10 Queen Of The Sky PDF download , by Peter R. Foster , published 2012 by Blurb , 104 pages relating almost exclusively to RAF use.
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When it reduced from tabloid newspaper size to magazine format with glossy colour cover still under Alan Hall there used to be a listing on the rear cover with plan subjects and their corresponding issue number for back-issue sales , cannot remember if that continued when it was bought by Key and then incorporated with Air Pictorial whom they had also acquired . . . . . and is still in print as Aviation News. If anyone's memory is in better shape than mine and confirm that the back-issue listing did continue into Key ownership then it might suggest that they still have the rights to the plans.
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From Wells Prop Models via eBay Wells Props Models WP48018 1/48 CBLS-100 3D Printed , bought two packs of two of these single piece CBLS each with 5 practice bombs (four and a spare) for future UK fast jet projects. Wells Props Models WP48007 1/48 Harrier Intake Fan 3D Printed For Kinetic Kits and Wells Props Models WP48007 1/48 Harrier Intake Printed For Kinetic Kits , had stocked up on these just over a year ago for my existing Kinetic Harrier kits then a week after they arrived I went and bought another Harrier so included them when ordering the CBLS. From Series Españolas Decals SE948 1/48 Ejercito Del Aire ALA-12 -123 Escadron RF-4C Phantom decals , covers full decaling for one example with options where relevant for SEA/Euro 1/Hill Grey or Air Superiority Grey schemes - national insignia including two styles of rudder cross , serial number runs , full colour and low-viz unit markings , set of walkways for the grey schemes and extensive stencilling blocks in full colour for SEA/Euro 1 , two-tone grey for Hill Grey and black for Air Superiority Grey. Excellent service with delivery from Spain via Royal Mail in under a week. Got the decals . . . . . Got the bolt on AAR probe . . . . . Now just need a kit , reckon that notwithstanding weaker cockpit & seat detail the Italeri RF-4E and replacing the slotted tail planes , longer jet exhausts and curved inner wing pylons will be an easier and cheaper route than tracking down the not quite ideal Hasegawa RF-4C.
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Ordered mine Friday and they arrived Tuesday (Bank Holiday Monday got in the way of Royal Mail) and they are absolutely lovely.
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A mix of new/pre-owned books ordered during a recent buying binge caught up with me this week with each of the hardbacks costing less than a monthly print magazine. From Naval & Military Press Soviet Air Power Of The Cold War , by Michael Green , published 2023 by Pen & Sword , new condition 224 page hardback heavily illustrated throughout mainly in colour. Soviet Cold War Fighters , by Alexander Mladenov , published 2021 by Fonthill (reprint of 2016 original) , new condition 317 page hardback heavily illustrated throughout in black & white with a 32 page colour section. The Argentine Flying Fortress – The Story OF The IA-58 Pucara , by Santiago Rivas , published 2023 by Air World , new condition 272 page hardback heavily illustrated throughout in black & white. Lockheed F-104 Starfighter – A History , by Martin W. Bowman , published 2019 by Pen & Sword , new condition 320 page hardback heavily illustrated throughout mainly in colour. Via eBay (World of Books) RAF Lyneham: Hercules Super Station in Action , by Wilf Pereira , published 1990 by Foulis , pre-owned 192 page hardback heavily illustrated throughout in black & white with a 16 page colour section. (Mark Bradford) RAF Strike Command 1968-2007: Aircraft, Men and Action , by Kev Darling , published 2012 by Pen & Sword , new condition 296 page hardback heavily illustrated throughout in black & white. (We Buy Books) Antonov's Turboprop Twins - An-24/An-26/An-30/An-32 (Red Star Volume 12) , by Yefim Gordon , Dmitry Kamissarov and Sergey Kamissarov published 2003 by Midland Publishing , pre-owned 128 page softback illustrated throughout in black & white and colour with scale plans and variant comparison drawings. (Aviation Books) Antonov's Jet Twins - The An-72/-74 Family (Red Star Volume 21) , by Yefim Gordon and Dmitry Kamissarov , published 2005 by Midland Publishing , new condition 128 page softback illustrated throughout in black & white and colour with scale plans and variant comparison drawings. The seller Tiang Shia also included a free issue of Air Power International Magazine which he edited and produced during the mid-1990s and set high standards for its colour photography. From Guideline Publications Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusha / Oscar (Warpaint Series 147) , by Daniel Kowalczuk , latest in the series published by Guideline , 50 page softback illustrated mainly in black & white with preserved and detail images in colour , 1/72 scale plans and variant comparisons , 36 colour sideview profiles.
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Had decided well in advance against attending the Scottish National this weekend (health niggle) so had a bit of a mainly on-line spending spree instead , much of which turned up this week although one or two still to come . . . . . but so far - Via Ali Express (ModelFans Store) KittyHawk KH80104 1/48 Sepecat Jaguar A and KH80105 1/48 Sepecat Jaguar T.2/T.4 kits. Been a sort of will/won’t I since they were first released , then KittyHawk closed shop during Covid and they were a bit like hen’s teeth , now back in production and I reckon that as it will be at least a year until Airfix rebox their Jaguar and even then I would suspect a GR.3 or International will be their least change choice so I decided to take the plunge. Via eBay (flyingpiper28) Xtradecal X020-48 1/48 Jaguar GR.1 75th. Anniversary Schemes for 54 and 6 Squadron Aircraft Based at RAF Coltishall decal sheet. Options for half a dozen GR.1 and one T.2 in variations of official and unofficial special markings 1979-1991 , all grey/Green except for ‘Buster Gonads’ and some of the constituent parts will help with an option not included with the new sheets planned From Jadlam Latest releases from the HMH ‘Duke Hawkins Series which with free shipping and the use of some reward point took another couple of pounds off each. 038 Dassault Super Etendard - Flying With The French And Argentine Navies book and 039 Republic F-84F Thunderstreak – Classic Jet With Air Forces Around The World book. Usual format with a mix of full aircraft and close-up detail walkround images. SUE images are mainly of operational aircraft although only two are Argentinean whereas the F-84F is a mix of operational and preserved aircraft (Belgium , France , Germany , Greece , Italy , Netherlands , Turkey , United States) with the close-ups from preserved airframes. From Key Publishing Aviation Archive No.79 – US Airflifters Since 1945 bookazine , latest subscription copy , usual format with a mix of images and cutaways from the archives and some contemporary colour profile artwork. Cutaways for – C-54A , Hercules (title and key for AC-130E/H ‘Spectre’ but drawing for C-130H) , C-141B , C-5B and VC-25A. Colour profiles for – LC-47H , VC-121A , VC-118B , C-124C , C-12C , C-21A , C-9B , LC-130H , C-135B , C-141B , C-5A , VC-25A. Next Issue will cover Attack Helicopters. From Amazon F-22 Raptor Illustrated book , by Lou Drendel , latest Aviation Art Inc. series release published on demand by Amazon with usual mix of images , authors own artwork , promotional material including manufacturer’s drawings instead of the usual technical manual excerpts. Local Newsagent Military Aviation No.1 – B-52 Superfortress – Giant Of The Skies – America’s Iconic Strategic Bomber 1955 – 2025 bookazine , by David Reynolds , recent release by Kelsey Publishing Ltd. , 130 pages with 190 mainly colour images for £9.99 but nothing in the publication or on the company website about the frequency or content of future issues. Luftwaffe Bombers – German WW2 Designs – Colours And Markings From 1939 To 1945 bookazine , by Claes Sundin , latest release from Morton’s Media , usual format with over 200 colour sideview profiles and a generous understanding of ‘Bomber’ to include several single-engine ‘Fighter-Bombers’ , however as always the drawings are printed across the width of two pages and disappear into the centrefold. From Aero Research 4019 Hercules Part 2 PDF download , latest addition to the series with160 High Res. images.
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From Jadlam Some ICM acrylic paint to try. 1026 Oily Steel / 1069 Extra Dark Green / 2001 Varnish Matt / 2002 Varnish Satin. Via eBay Some second-hand books , each for far less than the cost of a monthly print magazine. (webuybooks) McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II : Production and Operational Data , by William R. Peake , published 2004 by Midland Publishing , essentially an almost 300 page softback production list with two colour sections containing 170 good sized colour images of mainly US operated aircraft. Aircraft Versus Submarine , by Alfred Price , 1980 re-print by Jaynes , hardback covering mainly the growth of ASW during WWII , around 40 black & white illustrations and some charts. Ship Strike: History of Air-launched Anti-ship Missile Systems , by Peter C. Smith , hardback published 1998 by Airlife , again covering mainly WWII development and use with final chapters bringing the subject up to date (1998) , illustrated throughout in black & white with a centre colour section. (awesomebooksuk) American Eagles : The Greatest Photographs of the USAF , by Riccardo Niccoli , 144 page hardback published 2000 by Chartwell Books , 25 year old journey into current misuse of Greatest , fly-leaf explains that all were taken at USAF 50th. Anniversary Airshows in 1997 , nice-enough but hardly the greatest collection of colour images and not very well captioned but only cost £3.28 , final 20 Appendix pages give organisational date and brief descriptions with thumbnail black & white images of then current aircraft. Flying Boats and Amphibians since 1945 , by David Oliver , published 1987 by Airlife , 144 page hardback illustrated throughout in colour and black & white covering a focussing on 12 major types of the period. Via Ali Express (Teaegg Resin Model Shop) A couple of unbranded 1/35 resin figure sets for £18 including VAT but with free shipping , as is not uncommon items have odd titles and website ad shows box-art but carefully avoiding manufacturers details however delivery is made in anonymous ziplock bags. 1/35 Resin Figure Model Kit 11 Figure & Stower Paper Unassembled 947 which is a set of 11 US Vietnam-era US Army/Marines figures in seated or other relaxed poses with weapons , helmets etc. as separate parts and a couple of bundles of packs , boxes and the like , advert photo shows them as crew and passengers in a truck and has the title ‘The Tourist. Diecast Resin Figure Model Kit, Modern Military Tank Crew 3 Person Diorama Toy1/35 Scale which is a set of three 1970s style UK tank crew (two standing and one head and shoulders bust) in berets with headsets , separate heads and for the standing figures arms.
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French Jags would also need different shrouds around the gun barrels.
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Via Etsy Natanel Deri Workshop 1/48 IAF F-4E/RF-4E Phantom Aerial Refueling Probe , Double Pack of 3D Printed single-piece parts , might eventually get an F/RF-4E to fit under the second but the first is for an F-15A(UK). From RAYMOCO RAYMOCO R48.102.ST 1/48 Harrier Engine Pegasus 11 MK 103 with Stand 3D Printed kit , first purchase from RAYMOCO last month was via eBay but the seller now has his own site , idea (without really looking) was that this could be towed by a Kinetic Royal Navy Deck Tractor that I have but the style of trolley provided does not have a tow bar so need more research to see if some of them did. From The Aviation Bookshop Couple of book releases from Phoenix in their AIRMARK In Profile & Scale Series both by Andy Evans , Modellers AIRGUIDE No.28 – Cessna A-37 Dragonfly & T-37 Tweet (the latest addition) and Modellers AIRGUIDE No.21 – North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco (2024 release that I seemed to have missed) , both 38 pages and in the usual style with well illustrated history , detail walkrounds and modelling content all without captions.