Tiger331

Yep......It's a real puzzle since the Aviation Megastore in Amsterdam had a consignment just before Christmas. I've ordered all of mine (in the absence of getting them from the UK) from Hong Kong and they work out at around £46 each.....Hobbylink Japan were recently listing is as 'Discontinued' !.....Not sure if they had had a dispute with GWH over distribution but I've just ordered the '9-13' through HLJ so maybe they sorted it. It's conceivable that the first batch sold out but they are clearly onto the second batch since the inner packaging on my most recent kit has been changed....They now encase the upper fuselage moulding in a neat little cardboard box, which has replaced the card 'top tray' seen on the earlier kits. As I understand it, GWH are imported into the UK by the Airbrush Company so maybe you should contact them for clarification. HTH

Scheduled for release end of May/Early June although it's not clear which location (Far East or Europe)....judging by the mis-aligned release of the Kittyhawk Mirage F.1B (should have been in Europe in late January and its now first week of March) could be July/August before we see it here. Tiger331

Hi there, You know, I would have sworn that I had seen photos of 57th FIS Eagles regularly flying without the conformal fuel tanks but I've just scanned some of my references and they all show the jets with the CFTs !.....I'll keep checking for you but you may need to invest in some.....I'm not sure they are the same type found on the F-15E.....If they are, you may be in luck as several kit manufacturers include them in their F-15E/K variants and I think Wolfpack do them too. HTH Mark

Yep.......sounds very similar.....Do you see the disparity between the actual resin and the drawing (or maybe I have the wrong instruction sheet - although everything else looks OK....with the possible exception of the throttle)... Thanks for your continued interest Mark

Julien, I'm not really questioning the accuracy of the Black Box products....As you correctly state, they tend to be very accurate...the issue is whether what I have in the box is actually the right pit, given that it does not match up with the diagram in the instruction sheet. The pit features a quite distinctive 'bridge' forward of the rudder pedals and a quite extensive rear decking (with some kind of LOX bottle or similar). Neither of these features are shown in the accompanying instruction sheet.... Cheers Mark

First one ordered earlier today.....It will be finished in Royal Norwegian AF markings to reflect the fact that Sola-Stavanger is my nearest military/civil airfield and the type used to fly from there in the 1950s. Mark

I've just dusted off a potential project and I'm looking through all the aftermarket bits to complete it. One of the items is the Black Box F-8E Crusader cockpit detail set for the Hasegawa kit (Item BBCS48073). I've had to do some minor repairs to the resin that broke off in the packaging but on inspecting the parts against the instructions there appears to be a major mis-match between the actual resin tub and that shown in the drawing. The tub is far more extensive than that shown on the drawing (in particular the area behind the ejection seat). I've yet to measure the item up against the intended kit but it was bought new. If it was second hand I may have more inclined to think that it had swopped out, either accidentally or deliberately. Has anyone used one of these sets and experienced similar problems ?. Do Black Box instruction sheets have a reputation for not being particularly accurate ?..... Thanks for any assistance you can provide. Mark

As I understand it, the only major external difference between the M and the MF is the canopy framing. The MF variant has a metal frame running down the centre of the main canopy, effectively dividing the glazing into two parts....on the M variant this is not present with only the mirror assembly 'disturbing' an otherwise clean cockpit canopy. that said, I'm sure there will be somevminor differences with aerials etc too. Mark

PM sent re Starfighter

Mark, I may be able to help out. Ill send you a PM. BTW nice build, I've had one of these on the go for several years and just never got around to finishing it off....don't know why since it's an easy build......Your example may just prompt me to dig it out. I was originally going to do a Yugoslavian example withba large black shark motif on the nose but i'm now very tempted by one of the Greek Air Force schemes off the new Icarus decal sheet....decisions.....decisions ! Anyway....well done Mark

Nice job.......you have captured the look of this machine very well. Brings back memories of clambering over one of these in Cyprus in 1973. The USMC had been sent in to cover some evacuations of civilians from the Lebanon and deployed (IIRC) a couple of Phrogs, a Ch-53 and acouple of AH-1s. They were parked up at the British Army base at Dhekalia and the Americans kindly invited those that they had disturbed with their night flying to have a look over the, then, exotic aircraft which we had only ever seen on TV footage from the Vietnam war. Well done !

Chris, I'll second this.....I've just taken delivery of the Flightpath set. I didn't realise it had as much in the pack as there is. You get a pair of resin drop tanks (nicely moulded) with photoetched fins etc, a TIALD pod and a replacement AN/ALQ-101 ECM Pod, as carried in the Gulf. You also get replacement over-wing AIM-9L rails (albeit sized for the Airfix kit and not the eagerly anticipated Italeri/Kittyhawk Jaguars), two white metal/photoetched AIM-9L missiles and an ACMI pod, also commonly seen on the RAF Jags. All of these items originate from the PP Aeroparts stable (although some were never released under that label) so their quality and accuracy are assured. David has very wisely continued to produce them. Model Alliance had also started to produce some 1:48 scale ordnance to compliment their quite extensive 1:72 selection but sadly they went out of business before the range really established itself and they are very difficult items to source. HTH Mark

Hi Folks, Recently bought a Black Box 1:48 AV-8B Harrier II resin cockpit detail set to fit to a Hasegawa kit. I've just discovered that I have bought one designed for the Monogram kit . Anyone tried to fit one of these to a Hasegawa kit ?. Is it an easy job or should I give it up and persevere with an Aires tub...?...really don't get on with Aires stuff after my recent experiences with both the A-4 and F-104G Cockpit sets. Any advice gratefully received. Mark

Madcop Your rather offensive rant achieves very little. As a previous corespondent has already said, why not save your energies for explaining what is precisely wrong with this kit. I've studied a fair few Mirage F.1s in my time, having regularly worked alongside them, and I have to say that I'm finding it difficult to have serious issue with what I see. I can see a few issues with shape but nothing that appears too bad in my eyes and, once again, 'we' are all judging the kit before it actually arrives in our hands !. It is certainly way better than the previous FM kit so there has to be progress. Moving on, I also do take great umbrage at your sweeping generalizations concerning reviewers and particularly those on this website. If you want to take a moderated 'pop' at some of the reviewers that populate our (UK) printed modelling media then fair enough....I too have watched in dismay as the vast majority of our modelling magazines have become glorified monthly kit, accessory, and decal catalogues with poorly researched articles and rather shallow and often inaccurate reviews. Fortunately we have some lively internet forums and whilst we sometimes have to temper our considerations and opinions there is very often a healthy balance between the normally very comprehensive initial reviews (such as that just posted on BM for the Meng ME 410 B-1) and those that take the time and trouble to conduct build reviews.....these are extremely valuable given the 'virtual' way in which they develop and often lead to others highlighting inaccuracies etc (such as with the current Kittyhawk Jaguar A build review) .....so please do not have a go at 'our' reviewers (and I am not one of them). Please respect the time and trouble they take to help us all. I respectfully suggest you use your energy to highlight shortcomings to the various magazine titles out there.... Tiger 331 (Mark)

Not my scale but Ive been asked to make one.....Can you tell me the best kit of a F-15C Eagle in 1:144 scale ? Many thanks Tiger331

Laurent's comments at the beginning of this post are, quite possibly, THE most sensible I have ever read on this website and completely echo my own sentiments. Look at the fiasco with the Hobbyboss Tornado family....though thankfully Revell now seem to be willing to take the risk of developing and releasing a hopefully more accurate Tornado (IDS at least). Whatever anyone says, the market is 'overheated' at present with far too many subjects being released at too fast a rate. Quantity does not mean quality and given the main market for these kits (middle-aged enthusiasts) who demand accuracy, something has to give. Like Laurent, I do not blame Mr Song or his compatriots working for other companies....they should be left the time necessary to properly research their product and deliver a high quality item that is 95% accurate (they need to leave some room for the aftermarket manufacturers !)....oh and lets have less of these open panels, spoilers etc...... There is only a fraction of the market that really want these. They are an unnecessary expense. Mark

Its called 'variety' and these sheets seem to have done well in the past and there are quite a few others out there doing them, with a mix of fast jet and rotary wing etc. A lot of Hannants 'standard' Xtradecals range focus on single-type subjects and whilst they clearly sell well these are not to everyones' taste. I would suggest that having a second range that is distinctly different from their main one adds another string to their bow. As some on this thread have suggested, there is a healthy market in trading part-used decal sheets and I suspect some will resort to this. I doubt the sheets will bomb since quite a few seem to like variety rather than a sheet that offers 15-20 Phantoms, Hornets or Vipers.

Finally received two of these beauties yesterday when our post office re-opened after a long holiday break. I do find it a bit odd that Kittyhawk sought to release the French A model first given the potentially wider appeal of the British Aerospace variant with the chisel nose which has been the standard export variant with more international appeal ?. Could it be that the 'new' Italeri mould of the GR1/3 is actually going to be the Kittyhawk kit in 'disguise'. Incidentally, please check your kits for parts breakage. My two kits came from different sources and one arrived with a broken canopy and windscreen. On tackling the kit supplier, he mentioned that mine was not an isolated case and it has been created by KH trying to pack too many parts into a marginally small box (makes a change). Like i say not an isolated case so if you have more than one or have not opened the kit yet (unlikely I know !), please do so. Cheers Mark

I so like to read all those comments on the US websites about Far Eastern kits and their various inaccuracies etc......I'd like to take a closer look at my ten favourite US-manufactured 1:48 scale kits of WWII and Post-War subjects that have been produced over the last 12 months to see if they have any flaws....but wait......only ONE (IIRC, the Ventura) has actually been released !!! People in glass houses...etc Mark

Thats assuming Italeri go ahead with their own kit..........given the current way the market is, i would not be surprised to find the italeri kit is actually a variant of the KH kit..........they have a deal with Kinetic right now and it does not seem so far fetched that they may have developed the same with KH.....as you say, time will tell.... Cheers Tiger331

I really like this.....a very imaginative display of the Gnat and an inspiration to get my own kits of the Yellowjacks team leader and CFS aircraft finished....doubt it will be during 2012 though ! Congratulations on a fine display piece... Tiger331

Michael I have the decal sheet from the Revell Typhoon and can let you have the code letters.......let me have your address PM sent too Tiger331

Which of the Eduard kits was used to produce your lovely Nieuport 17 ?.......or were the decals from an aftermarket sheet....I'm looking to do a Russian aircraft but cannot find any Eduard issue of the kit that includes these decals....? Cheers Tiger331

Here's my vote..... Trumpeter MIG 23 or A -4E/F Skyhawk or the Academy F/A-18 Hornet. All can be built OOB with minimal requirement for any aftermarket, with the possible exception of decals......those in the Trumpeter kits are a bit bland unless you go for the rather whacky Czech Flogger G in NATO Tiger markings..... Enjoy Tiger331

Ah.....more whining and whingeing from the great British public......and before you issue any retorts or ripostes I'm from the UK myself. I would recommend that you go back and read Bill Clark's excellent email which is pretty much spot on. Appears no-one will be happy until Hannants go under and then where will you be ?. Fortunately that won't happen anytime soon...they still have legions of loyal customers in spite of their "vastly over inflated prices". We all have our crosses to bear with local prices. Try living here where my LMS is currently stocking the Kinetic 1:48 F-5A for 36 pounds and we can look forward to paying 65 pounds for the new Academy F-4B when that turns up. As a result we do the maths, work out the best Internet price and make a risk analysis on whether we will get stung for import duties or just bite the bullet and pay the local price, secure in the knowledge that the box will not arrive crushed and that we will not have to pay shipping and /or customs/import duties. A little more time spent researching on the Internet and making a purchase elsewhere when it is advantageous would, IMHO, be a better use of your time than constantly knocking Hannants and other UK retailers that are only trying to provide you with a service. Tiger331