Timmy

Apologies for any misonformation. I built the P1127 kit a long time ago and know it's not the same machine as a Kestrel. The result of a quick browse and post whilst on my break!

I've seen reference to it so I'll elaborate but the Hasegawa FRS1 isn't very good - the forward fuselage is poorly proportioned and looks squashed. Also I recall that the classic Airfix Kestrel is going to be reissued this year and may be interesting contrast to the production machines. The kit moulds are probably at least 50 years old and is pretty basic and would require substantial scratch building to bring it up to the standards of the Esci first generation Harrier models. But at least there is a kit.

I really enjoyed seeing the photos of your models and modifications and reading the story behind the aircraft. Glad to see an Australian connection in there too. Thanks for sharing

There were also P-40F resin noses produced by Airwaves which I think predate the 2008 SH kit.

The Hasegawa kits suffer from too short u/c legs, like the aircraft is war weary and heavily laden with fuel and weapons. It also has a bare cockpit compared to the more recent Academy and Tamiya kits. But they can be picked up on the secondhand market very cheaply. I think Academy has decent detail and cheaper than the Tamiya kits. The u/c legs are too long but can be easily shortened as Trev mentioned above. The kit decals are rubbish though.

Beautiful model. I had the opportunity to see her sister NZ1803 at the museum at Wigram a few years back

I would avoid the 1/72 Hasegawa FRS.1. Looks good on the sprues but the forward fuselage is noticeably inaccurate.

I've often seen them referred to as Bird Slicer IFF antenna, installed when the RAAF's Hornets underwent the HUG upgrade. So your model may or may not need them depending on the time period or markings that you wish to base your model on I think this is a good reference: http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/raafhornetpg_1.htm

Well done on making a beautiful model out of the Heller kit! I also would like to build an Indian AF Mirage 2000 but using the Heller single seater kit and decals from the Modelsvit kit however the roundels in the Modelsvit kit are more red than orange so will need to find replacement roundels.

I really like your model and what you've done with the kit! Did you get the scheme from a decal sheet or piece together the decals for the model from your spares? Tim

I've seen this kit on the shelves of the local Toyworld here in Adelaide, Australia. Unfortunately it's around the same price as the more detailed Vc kit of which I already have a couple so didn't buy one.

Hopefully they will have a subsequent release that will cover RAAF and Republic of China subjects.

Hi Nick, Nice to see a fellow Adelaidean here! My main interests are 1/72 aircraft and 1/700 ships. Cheers Tim

I recently bought the Mistercraft 1/72 Mirage 2000 and looked at the 1/72 Rafale and both are reboxings of Heller kits so I would assume the origins of the 1/48 kit would be Heller? Tim

+2 please. I don't want to make my Academy kits out of the box with the cowlings uncorrected.