Tiger331

Participated in a Battlefield Tour of Narva and the Tannenberg Line in North Eastern Estonia this week. The tour covered the fighting that took place between the Soviet Union and Germany (and their allies) between February and August 1944. We started at the Russian War Memorial that stands on the Western side of the river and less than 400m from the Russian Border. The Russians initially tried to drive their heavy equipment across the river (it was frozen and probably around -25C in February) but encountered problems so they did not establish a proper bridgehead until some months later. The T-34 memorial now stands on the site of one of the bridgeheads. Here are a couple of photos of the refurbished Russian T-43/85, which is Estonia's one concession in recognising the Soviet Union's contribution to the defeat of Germany. The Estonians were, of course, not too enamored with the prospect of spending the next 50 years occupied by the Soviet Union. Note the 75th Anniversary logo on the external fuel tank.

Excellent rendition of one of the most attractive contemporary AFVs IMHO. I remember that Balkans mud well ! Well Done, Sir

Not in my sphere of interest at all but I will be the first to admit this is a beautifully executed vignette. Well Done, Sir !

Remember it well.......the 'argument' over this whole issue with A-4K vs. F-16 formed a large part of my dissertation for my MA. I know there was a discussion about the laws of diminishing returns with such a small force (1+ Squadron) but 1 Squadron is better than none and I'm sure the RAAF would have liked some buddies 'next door' in times of tension.

Thanks for the advance warning, Bill. It just goes to show how valuable it is to obtain advice from modellers that have actually put one of these kits together. None of the 'professional' reviews I have read on ANY of the Z-M F-4 kits mention tight tolerances with elements of the construction sequence. I am aware of the potential fit issues with the Aerobonus sets......I've had these before, but its always good to have, once again, first hand knowledge based on personal experience. Mark

Part Two of the transplant operation is underway.... I managed to obtain a much cleaner cut with the second fuselage half.....possibly because I had taken the plunge and gained in confidence with such an expensive original kit !. As I said previously, I have deviated a little from the Hypersonic instructions and married up and glued the resin part with the taped up tail section. Putting the fuselage together like this will ensure there is no 'forward' step with the port forward fuselage when it is presented to the remainder of the fuselage. Among other things this will avoid a misalignment with the cockpit/cockpit canopy and the radome later in the build. In the second photo I had hoped to better illustrate the 'step' that appears between the rearmost edge of the resin replacement and the original Z-M kit part. After I have filled the seam I will sand back the Z-M fuselage to blend it in with the resin part, as I have done with the starboard side. Hopefully this photo illustrates the 'lip' issue a little more clearly. It takes quite a bit of effort to blend the two parts given that the Z-M plastic is quite hard and thick but in my view this actually helps with the final look. More to follow....

Hi Folks, Here's the start of another of my notoriously slow WIPs. Inspired by some recent research into Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) McDD F-4 Phantoms, I decided to use one of my growing collection of Zoukei-Mura kits to reproduce a well-worn IRIAF F-4D Phantom, colloquially known as 'Diesels' in IRIAF Service. Incredibly there are circa 6-8 of these jets still in Service with the IRIAF and in spite of the challenges associated with their age (first delivered in the late 1960s), extensive operational use, particularly during the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s and, of course, economic sanctions which effectively cut off all access to spare parts etc over the extended period since the Islamic Revolution of 1979. First the obligatory introductory shots For once, and given the quality of the base kit, I have kept the aftermarket tally way down for this project. Apart from the items shown above, I am also using the excellent Hypersonic Models F-4 fuselage correction set which is not shown, since I had already started work on this project before posting it here. I have decided to portray a well-worn jet toting British BL755 Cluster bombs, which were supplied to Iran in large quantities and used extensively during the Iran-Iraq conflict. The decals will come from one of the several sheets I have in my decal bank (more on this later). One of the main reasons for posting some preparatory construction shots so early was principally to allay other modellers fears over using the Hypersonic correction set. I must admit that I approached this particular part of the build with some trepidation and was a little nervous about butchering a £75 kit in such a seemingly drastic way. I had also initially questioned whether the Zoukei-Mura kit actually needed such a major modification. I am not a rivet counter and very much fit into the 'if it looks right, that's good enough for me' mould but I have to say that having now fitted the first section of the Hypersonic set, and comparing the end result with photographs of the real aircraft, I can already see the benefit of using this set. I can also confirm, for those that may be concerned, that Jeffrey has done a masterful job with the correction set and providing one sticks rigidly to the comprehensive instructions that accompany the set, you cannot go far wrong. I would definitely concur with the suggestion (in Jeffrey's instructions) to start with the Starboard fuselage side and use this as a reference point. I think I probably went one stage further and having sawn off the tail section taped this to the port fuselage side before marrying it up with the resin part, which could then also be aligned with, for example, the upper fuselage 'trough'. I was then able to modify the forward fuselage section and, again, marry this up to the rest of the fuselage taped together. One other helpful hint - The Hypersonic set includes some 'guide tapes' to aid the use of the razor saw but I reinforced these with some dymo tape which helps to guide the saw more firmly. Please also note that the accuracy of the Hypersonic parts also means that when they are 'presented' to the rear edge of the fuselage there is a lip at mid-section. This is not caused by a warping of the resin part. Again, this is clearly identified in the instructions although I deviated from the instructions by fitting the resin part and then very carefully sanding the rearmost plastic part of the fuselage to match the resin. The resin part is, very helpfully, not lying on a panel line and can be sanded back quite easily although the join is sublime providing you manage the straight cut. Since this is an Air Force variant, the doors to the chaff bays need to be filled. Again this is covered in the instructions. I've also made a start to the wings, drlling out the holes for the pylons and lightly sanding down the 'reference points' for the upper wing bulges that appear on USN/USMC jets with their beefed up undercarriages. More to follow once I make more progress but, like I said, this initial post was designed to provide those contemplating use of the Hypersonic correction set to go ahead and use it with total confidence. I should perhaps confirm that I am in no way connected with Hypersonic Models nor have I been sponsored by them although I obviously like Jeffrey's products. Thanks for Looking Mark

Very nice model and excellent presentation. A great result considering it is on the back of your return to the hobby, as I understand it. Nice job with the weathered panel detail although from my recollections the RAF Phantoms at Stanley (and later Mount Pleasant) got considerably more grubby in the harsh South Atlantic climate in which they operated. Well Done, Sir !

Great work and great model. I must say that I much prefer the 'stripped back' Warrior without all that mesh (though I fully understand the rationale for it in certain environments). The boys here on the NATO Battle Group certainly appear to enjoy zotting around the Estonian forest tracks and swamps in their Warriors. Once again, nice model. Well Done, Sir !

Alan, You will not remember me - we met briefly at SMW'19 and one of my club colleagues bought a kit from you (Blackburn Buccaneer IIRC). Yes, the kit will take a lot of work to produce something that is akin to a standard Tamiya 'shake n'bake' but the basics were very much there and accurate too, which is more than can be said for a lot of the 'mainstream' stuff on the market. I get very irritated with those individuals who have little idea what goes into producing these limited edition/run kits but having dabbled in the business myself (mainly with decals) I know very well how much time, dedication and hard work goes into realising these projects. I am very sorry to hear that you have been subjected to some abuse (for that is what it is - what I have seen is NOT constructive criticism which would be far more beneficial to everyone but abuse - pure and simple). I do hope you eventually regain your mojo and start planning on those projects that are both interesting and innovative to many of us. In the meantime, Stay Healthy and Safe during these difficult times for many.

I am part way through a build of the aforementioned GWH MiG-29.....one thing I would say is do not be fooled by all of those glowing reviews that have appeared in the mainstream press over the years. Don't get me wrong..... it does eventually turn out to be a very nice model but it is no 'shale and bake'. I found it to be a bit of a curates egg with the fit....for example, the fit of the intake 'louvres' and associated photo-etched grilles on the upper surfaces of the intakes is sublime but I lost count of the number of plasticard shims I had to insert in all sorts of odd places (wing joints, slats, air brake fairing etc) and the main intakes leave a lot to be desired in terms of fit. I followed the instructions and fitted the fully detailed engines (which are then completely hidden) but I have read elsewhere that some have left these out to help improve the fit of the rear engine fairings. I also needed several shims to 'close up' some of the flying control surfaces otherwise there would have been some unsightly gaps. I'll see if I can post domr photos to show you what I mean. As I say, it eventually comes together nicely. I should also say that your photos of the AMK build fill me with some trepidation too. It does not seem to have the fit quality of the Tamiya kit and reminds me somewhat of the Dragon aircraft kits from the mid-1990s....Looks very nice in the box but when you start to put it together, the result is a little less impressive. I am a modeller rather than an assembler of parts so I don't mind the challenge but it does slow up the process somewhat. Anyway, good luck with the GWH build when you start.

Nasos, Well......I can safely say that you are well ahead of me in this 'race' to finish an IRIAF Tomcat !. I am nor sure that I have actually got a lot more done since I last posted on your thread......I have been somewhat distracted with a Zoukei-Mura kit which I intend to complete as an IRIAF F-4D in a very worn Asia Minor scheme......One of the last 'Diesels' as I understand they now call their surviving examples. Anyway, your build will help with my own, once I have rejuvenated it and notwithstanding that I will be doing the Blue/Grey scheme. The hints and tips from other co-respondents on weathering etc, with your own very candid comments during the build and finish sequences will be an immense help. I look forward to seeing the model in the RFI section in due course. Well Done, Sir !

I must say I do find the Tamiya instruction leaflets/booklets to be some of the easiest to follow. Don't get me started on Kinetic (although they do seem to be improving a bit) or Zoukei-Mura, which appear overly complicated...I get the whole design concept piece, which is all very nice, but I would just like to get on and build the kits with clear, concise instructions. I envy your visit to the USS Midway Museum......I can still remember my trip aboard that carrier in the late 1980s. Maybe one day.........

Matt, I'll follow this with interest having flown on BA 747s for many years in the 80/90s on the Hong Kong/London route. I well remember being on one of the first non-stop flights (with a -400) when that was quite an achievement. I'll refrain from making any comment on your chosen scheme. Fully appreciate the sentiment but it's not one of my favourites. Nice theme though.....one day I'll get around to completing my Hawks, Hunters, Gazelle, Scout, Wessex, Sea King HC.4 and SH-2F Sea Sprite. Good luck for the future too.....difficult times for the airline industry, for sure.

Another great model for your growing Indo-Chinese collection. I'm tempted but I have so many other Indo-Chinese projects to start, I better leave it !. Great model and great finish, Russ (as usual) Well Done, Sir !

Great model and great finish. In addition, a very useful summary for me since I have both AMK and Tamiya F-14D kits in the stash. I'm 25% through a Tamiya F-14A so I would echo your comments and agree the comparison between the two. Well Done, Sir !

Love it............If my VX-31 project (with a rather challenging 'Have Grey' scheme to apply) comes out half as well as this, I will be happy. Great model, great finish. Well Done, Sir

Your perseverance has clearly paid off....great model, great finish ! Well Done, Sir

I remember all the excitement when these Fujimi kits first came out in the late 1980s which coincided with my posting to Hong Kong . I've lost count of how many of these kits I have bought over the years and although most have been passed on as I have largely moved up to 1:48 scale I simply could not part with all of them and kept a couple back. I'm glad I did since the Airfix kit has not fully met with my expectations. After all these years the Fujimi kit stands up to the test of time and you have done a great job to reinforce this view - to factor in the use of a brush for the finish is equally impressive. I had a chuckle too at the photo showing the 228 OCU jet with the Blue Tail. I produced this very model as a retirement gift for one of my former colleagues who had spent many hours as 'ballast' (as the pilots used to call them) in these jets. Anyway, great models, great finish....Well Done, Sir !

Diego, This is all enormously helpful to me in determining the way forward. Coincidentally, I already have the TuAF RF-4ETM from the Hi-Decal sheet on my project list but had 'allocated' a standard Luftwaffe RF-4E kit to complete this one, with planning underway to allocate a JASDF RF-4E kit to the IRIAF project (probably the two-tone blue one 72-0267/2-6502). Now all I have to do is swop the kits around !. I was aware that some of the TuAF RF-4Es had slatted wings but, again, your confirmation regarding the RF-4ETM was helpful and I am fortunate enough to have a 'spare' Hasegawa F-4S kit which will become the wing donor for the TuAF project. Thanks again for your clarification. Mark

Yep...........add another AMEN to that

Hi Folks, I'm contemplating a Balkans War era Croatian HVO T-55 for my next 1:35 armour project. I see that both Takom and Mini Art have this version of the tank in their catalogues. Mindful of the very recent release of the Mini Art kit (which some may not have seen), I wonder if anyone can provide advice and guidance on which of these two kits I should go for ?. Thanks

Kristjan, Greetings from a fellow Estonian-based modeler !. Great Result. As others have said, very true to the scene in the original image and superb modelling. Mark

The first issue FG.1 (with the 892 NAS jet about to launch) and the FGR.2 shown above (with the 56 Sqn 'Firebird') had 'straight' wings (i.e. no separate flaps) and fairly basic one-piece exhaust nozzles. IIRC the two 'royal collection' kits had the same parts but included those awful plastic vinyl tyres and white metal hubs. The later issue kits (including the aforementioned 892 NAS jet overflying the rig) and the second issue AD Grey FGR.2 had the modified wings (with separate flaps) and new two-part exhaust nozzles which were much better than the original. IIRC they also did some improvements to the internal detail underneath the auxiliary intake doors (on the rear fuselage). Although the box art was awful (poorly reproduced photographs) my favourite re-issues were the two Limited Edition kits, including the 111 Sqn special which contained Cartograf standard decal sheets.

Alan, It's always good to read about the experiences of modellers (as opposed to kit assemblers) that have actually put a kit together - I no longer take any notice of the vast majority of reviews having built kits which 'were a dream' when they actually turned out to be quite the opposite (GWH MiG-29 anyone ?) or 'unbuildable' (the Tamiya 1:32 DH Mosquito, would you believe !). It's not a subject that interests me in that scale (I do have a 1:48 F/A-18F in the stash however) but you have done a great job with that kit and even if it was a challenge in parts - so what ? - that is what modelling is all about - a challenge. Given the overall price of this kit (when compared with some offerings from the Far East) I think it is value for money and certainly looks the part in that highly attractive colour scheme, which has been beautifully executed. Well Done, Sir !