Tiger331
-
Posts
1,854 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
1
Content Type
Events
Profiles
Forums
Media Demo
Posts posted by Tiger331
-
-
No the CFT's don't line up , however the Blk 52's don't always carry CFTS's
What Tamiya kit are you looking at using?
I have all of the kits currently issued available for this project..............that's part of the problem....deciding which one is the best since I am no F-16 kit expert
-
I am starting to look at starting a Hellenic Air Force F-16C Block 52+, using one of the Tamiya kits as a basis. I know Kinetic do at least one kit but I want to use the superior Tamiya kit instead. Any idea what aftermarket I will need to complete this project ?. Thanks in advance.
Tiger 331
-
I am planning to complete a presentational model for a friend who used to fly the F-4E with the Turkish Air Force. I originally bought a Hasegawa (new generation) F-4E for this project but I already have a part built Revell F-4F. Having built both kits (the Hasegawa one before, for another project) I actually have a preference for finishing off the current Revell kit. I know I will need to obtain a different set of stabilators to replace the non-slatted variety that are a feature of the German F-4F but are there any other major changes that I need to take into consideration. Given that it is a presentational model, in 1:72 scale, and is not set for any competitions, it does not need to satisfy the rigors of a major 'rivet count' inspection but I would like the finished article to be as accurate as possible. Or.........should I just bite the bullet and get on with building the Hasegawa F-4E out of the box ?.....Any advice gratefully received.
Tiger331
-
I've glued Eduard (and other) photo etched parts before but I'm just about to embark on the Eduard MiG21 kit and it includes photo etched color parts that need to be glued together.....a two part main instrument panel, for example (both parts pre pained). What glue is best to put these parts together without ruining the pre painted elements but to ensure they stay together. Surely PVA glue is not sufficiently strong enough to stand the test of time ?.....or is it ?
Grateful for any advice
Tiger 331
-
Both are discontinued although, as Bill says, Hannants are still listing the FGA.9. The F.6 seems to be harder to come by since it came out first and I think many want them for F1 to F4 and Two seater trainer conversions. The Revell Hunter is deemed to be the definitive kits in 1:72 scale, though not without problems, in particular the intake trunking (or lack of) but they are very nice kits. I have several of each both in progress and in the stash. They are not particularly rare although I too have noticed them going for silly prices on EBay. I picked up three, from different vendors, at Telford two months ago for £6 each so they are out there. If you want the F.6 I suggest you try Kit Krazy or King Kits or put a wanted ad in the forum.
Tiger331
-
I believe there are ways to modify the excellent (and not yet surpassed) Tamiya 1:48 F-16 Viper to re-create one of the European F-16AM Block 15s ?. I have recently wrestled with the Kinetic kit and still prefer to go down the route of modifying the Tamiya kit. I've looked for backdate conversion kits and have yet to find any. DACO are scheduled to do one but I suspect it will be like their NATO Tiger Meet 2001 decal sheet for the German Tornado ECR, scheduled to be released 8 years ago and we're still waiting !. Any ideas/suggestions, gratefully received. I'm assuming I need the earlier Block 25/32 kits ?
Cheers
Tiger331
-
Managed to pour over my example at a local club meeting this week and finally got around to opening up the inner bags and playing with some of the bits. A word of warning - though I quantify this by saying that it may be an isolated example - the fit of the leading edge gun fairings is AWFUL. I have previously built the Hasegawa Mk 1 and this area was a challenge on that kit but this one looks to be a lot worse. If its consistent, its a great pity since lots of the other parts, on initial inspection, fit really well. We liked the fabric replication (better than Haegawa) but the jury is out on the slope built into the area of the fuselage immediately behind the cockpit canopy.
Tiger331
-
Can you help ?
I am not a Spitfire/Seafire expert but I understand the Seafire Mk XV is essentially a navalised Spitfire Mk XII. I have just checked the respective Airfix kits of the Spitfire XII and the Seafire 17 and I notice that the basic design is very similar......the mainplanes, for example, can be transposed. My initial analysis would suggest that if you remove the tail of the Seafire 17 at the angled panel line forward of the fin and repeat the process with the Spitfire XII fuselage then mate the navalised tail with the XII fuselage and also utilise the Seafire 17 mainplane set with the Mk XII fuselage, you have a Seafire XV (late model - with the 'stinger' tail). I'm not sure if its that easy but would appreciate some guidance/confirmation from the Spitfire/Seafire officianados out there !.
Cheers
Tiger331
-
What, the basic kit or the starter set? If the latter, any comments on the transfer sheet? Either way, pray share the source of these bargains.
OK,
I have now got both kits in front of me. The decal sheet in the 'Starter set' is, as suggested elsewhere, much simpler with only some basic stencilling (although some Harriers boasted this towards the end anyway so it may be 100% accurate) and markings for a 801 NAS example with BofB codes on the fin. The decals, in my two 'SS' examples, were in register although it should be noted that both of the Harrier kits feature the 'older style' slightly thicker matt decals rather than the more glossy ones that have previously appeared in the Canberra and Nimrod. I am not sure how they will go on the kits but there will, inevitably, be another raft of new releases from the aftermarket boys so I doubt this will be an issue for many. For what its worth, the quality of the two paint brushes included with the starter set is much better and you do get some fairly useful acrylic paints and liquid cement so, on balance, the 'SS' kit may be better value. Thy certainly seem to slightly more competitively priced than the 'standard' kit right now. Hope this helps.
Tiger331
-
It's economics, pure and simple. 'We' (yes I'm a Brit) had it pretty good between about 1998-2008, with good prices on most kits from most brand names. I have been fortunate enough to have moved around Europe a fair bit in the last 7 years and I can tell you that we are still pretty well off. I lived in Italy between 2005-2008 and Italeri kits were, on average 1/3rd higher than UK RRP....and they are made in Italy !....How does that work ?. Back in those days, you could buy a 1:48 Hasegawa Hurricane for around 24 Euros, which was broadly similar (at 2007 exchange rates) to the UK Prices. I was back in Italy recently and similar sized kits (you cannot get Hurricanes for love or money !) were nudging 50 Euros....and that now goes for ALL brands in Italy, including Airfix and Revell. Although Italy are not (yet) in the same league as Greece or Portugal, inflation and the Euro is taking its toll right across the economy.
I am currently living in Norway.....If you REALLY want to complain about kit prices come over here ! My local hobby shop 'boasts' Hasegawa 1:48 P-51Ds for roughly £45.00, the Airfix Nimrod will set you back £65.00 and the Trumpeter 1:72 Tu-22 Backfire or 1:48 Su-24 Fencer will relieve you of £110.00. A Hasegawa 1:48 F/A-18F Super Hornet retails for 825NOK (roughly £90.00 at the current exchange rate). It's no wonder we take advantage of Norwegian.AS (Norwegian Easyjet equivalent) offer to have an extra suitcase for £6 one-way when we make our annual pilgrimage to the IPMS Nationals in November (we're already booked).
Yes, I agree that we have seen steep price increases in the UK but lets keep it in proportion. The Hasegawa 1:48 F/A-18 Hornet was £39.99 when it first came out in the UK (1991) and, taking inflation into account, I would argue that it does'nt cost that much more now. What has happened at home is that many of the pile 'em high, sell 'em cheap merchants (Antics, for example) have had to scale back because the likes of Hasegawa and Italeri are no longer producing kits in bulk....Less kits vs similar production costs increases unit cost. Hats off to Airfix and Revell for maintaining great kits at great prices although it just goes to show how valuable a historic 'name' associated with the hobby is.....Hornby knew this which is why thay have invested so heavily in Airfix.
Anyway my tuppence worth, for what it's worth
Tiger331
-
I'm looking to start a 1:48 F-86F Sabre project soon......Looking for the best kit in 1:48 scale. Both the Academy and Hasegawa kits have good reviews although they are quite different...I know, for example, the Academy kit caters for the split fuselage with engine detail. Which kit is considered the best ?. Not too interested in cockpit detail since I will almost certainly use an aftermarket set. I'm more interested in overall accuracy etc. BTW, I'm not doing an RAF/RCAF example - probably opt for a FAP F-86F 1960s era.
Cheers
Tiger331
-
Just to add....
Aztec do a nice set of decals for Mexican F-5E/Fs....interestingly, it's the two-seat F-5F that carries the more colourful anniversary markings (AZD48-020). Continuing the Latin American theme, FCM48-033 has some nice markings for standard F-5Fs, which includes light grey examples with full colour national markings and some low-visibility grey/green aircraft - both F-5Fs. Finally, the Isra decals Middle East F-5s sheet (IAF-84) is targeted principally at single-seat examples but the layout and content of the sheet provides multiple serials/letters to be able to complete two-seat examples for most of the air forces represented, using references.
HTH
Tiger331
-
Some advice please from helo fans on the UH/MH-60 family of helicopters. Which is the better kit ?....Academy or Italeri or are they the same kit ??.....With so many re-boxings around it's difficult to tell these days.
I'm looking to do a standard UH-60 Blackhawk and a SF MH-60K or similar
Thanks
Tiger331
-
Got my hands on a copy of the new Italeri re-release of the Esci Dassault Mirage F.1C....one of my all time favourite aircraft. The original kit was one of Esci's better efforts although some work is needed in certain areas including the undercarriage, air brakes and cockpit, all of which are a bit basic. Panel lines are, however, engraved.
This is, to my knowledge, the third re-release of the kit by Italeri....The last combined paints, brush etc and, for some reason, was not widely distributed hence the often ridiculous prices reached on EBay. All that is behind us now, with Italeri re-popping the kit and its all GOOD news. Inspite of 'encouraging' the modeller to build an early generation F.1C (or export equivalent) the kit still retains the additional sprue that was included in the F.1CR/CT re-issue. For those not familiar with the original kit, the additional sprue includes the later stores pylons, MERs, bombs, ECM and Chaff pods, ejection seat and recce camera fairing etc associated with the CR/CT variants.....so if you have the right aftermarket decals you could build the two later variants out of this kit too.
The piece de l'resistance though is the SUPERB silkscreen quality decal sheet, produced by Cartograf. It is easily up there with the very best of aftermarket sheets and offers no fewer than 7 Armee de l'Air choices, when their F.1Cs all wore attractive tail markings. There are also options for Hellenic, Spanish and Jordanian examples. My copy was in perfect register and includes a very comprehensive set of stencils and safety markings.
Have no doubt, this is one of the better re-releases we have seen in recent months with some inspired decal choices, which is more than can be said about the RAF options in the re-released Tornado F.3 from the same stable !.
Highly recommended to all
-
Title says it all really. I've heard both kits have some issues (Revell - represents pre-early production - Hobby boss - some accuracy ?) so which is considered the best ?. Keen to find out so I can begin a project.
Thanks
Tiger331
-
I'm after a little help, please since I am not an expert on the F-105 Thunderchief. Right now I have examples of the 1:72 Trumpeter kit and the 1:48 Hobby Boss version. Both look very nice in the box but I am still wary of accuracy issues with kits from these two companies. As an RAF enthusiast, I have been disappointed with certain aspects of the Trumpeter Lightning kits and Hobby Boss's Tornados (to name but two) so I have every reason to be cautious about just how good these F-105 kits are. I can only make the one (the perennial problem of time and space) but would hate to make the wrong decision and opt for the less accurate of the two kits. Anyone got any ideas on which I should opt for ?. Any advice from USAF experts gratefully received. Incidentally, I looking to do one of the ANG/AFRES machines in wrap around camo from the early 80s, so if one of the kits is better suited to the later period that could also be a consideration.
I remember walking past them on the flightline at Nellis during Red Flag, towards the end of their service....great looking aircraft.
Thanks
Tiger331
-
This may be news to 3sqn who are currently flying Typhoons at Coningsby, 41 who are flying GR4s at Coningsby, 54 who are technically operating E-3Ds, Nimrod R1s & Sentinels at Waddington as the ISTAR OCU & 92 who are now a non-flying unit at Waddington AFAICR.
Yep.....I had a brain f%$t over 3(F) but the others are not what you could call 'proper' flying units in the same sense as 617 Sqn. Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking 617 Sqn per se but I do find it strange that they are retained at the expense of other, equal, if not more illustrious, former flying units that have been largely relegated to secondary/non-flying status. There are, of course, others out there such as 19(F) flying Hawks and 72 flying Tucanos......It's just the principle....
-
Can someone please explain why 617 Sqn have been allowed to survive ?. Yes, I know all about the Dambusters...blah...blah...blah but that was ONE raid. They have been constantly retained at the expense of other, equally famous Squadrons that have
A. been around much longer and
B. A far more prolonged and successful war campaign - Battle of Britain, Battle of the Ruhr, Atlantic Campaign etc etc
When you look at the number of famous Squadrons that have had their standards placed in the rotunda at RAFC Cranwell (as a final resting place for most) it just does not make any sense.
3 (F), 41(F), 54(F), 64(F), 74(F) & 92(F) Sqns (ALL Battle of Britain) are all recent 'Casualties' and yet 617 Sqn STILL exists !
WHY
-
Yep....The colour used for the two RAFG specials was RAF Roundel Blue.................Not sure who does this colour now but Xtracolor used to have it in their enamel range and White Ensign might do it....Not sure about acrylic paint manufacturers (Lifecolor maybe ?)
Tiger331
-
Yes there are fit problems, the best way to fit it is to thin the side walls of the fuselage till they are wafer thin!
But the key is to sand then test fit, sand and test fit, until you are happy!
HTH's
Adam
Adam,
Thanks for this...................Sounds like the same problem that I had with the F-104 and A-4. The former was ridiculous......The fuselage sides AND Aires pit sides were sanded until they were both wafer thin and the fuselage is still 'stretched'.....just as well I had planned this project with an open cockpit or there would have been a definate ledge. The Cutting Edge F-104S cockpit, on the other hand, fits one of my other F-104 projects a treat.
As I suspected, it looks like I'll have to treat both the donor kit and the detail set with 'respect' and test fit all the way.............deep joy......but then, that's modelling...it needs the odd challenge here and there............
Tiger331
-
Hi there,
I feel sure this may have been asked previously but I have not noted it. I have a Hasegawa FGR.2 with the Aires resin aftermarket cockpit detail set. I'm anticipating trouble fitting it - My previous experiences with Aires cockpit sets "designed for the Hasegawa kit" have not exactly been trouble-free. My F-104 Starfighter and A-4 Skyhawk are proof of that. Can anyone tell me if the same goes for the Phantom combo and, if so, can they provide any useful tips for fitting the Aires set, which looks superb, I have to say.
Many thanks
Tiger331
-
You mean this one?
In which case yep, it does include a pile of resin and a ltd-ed decal sheet... MSRP in Japan equates to about 40 quid, still seems a lot for a 1/72nd single-engined aircraft, but whats the resin and decal set worth? If you went aftermarket I reckon you'd be looking at 15 quid for the resin and around 10 quid for the decals... so 15 to 20 quid for the actual styrene in the box...
I wasn't going to get into this, but all the same some of the arguments here about relative prices are so full of holes I'm surprised they ever made it from the brain to the keyboard.
Tamiya kit prices have steadily risen in recent months, I bought a 1/48th Mk.I Spit last Christmas for 13 quid in my local MZ, this Christmas the self same kit is 17 quid, not a huge increase but still roughly 30-odd%, its worth bearing in mind that Tamiyas production numbers are much higher than Hasegawas, its also worth remembering that Tamiya have more than one iron in the hobby fire, thier R/C lines make far more money than thier scale kits and those profits underwrite the scale model output, that isn't a luxury Hasegawa have, indeed Hasegawa are a much smaller operation, Tamiya by comparison are pretty much the Microsoft of Japanese kit manufacture.
Revell and Airfix prices are comparably lower for similar sized products probably because they don't have the shipping, import and distribution overheads of a small firm like Hasegawa, Airfix and Revell do thier own distribution and aren't hit by import duty being based in the EU.
Finally, and I know there are plenty of naysayers clamouring to disagree, exchange rates are in constant a state of flux, if the Yen is up against Sterling goods imported from Japan are going to be more expensive, as are the shipping costs to the UK. If the Yen is down of course you'd expect prices to eventually fall, though you have to balance that against Hasegawa having to spend more on raw materials and sundry costs such as printing and packaging.
Its all very well bitching about Hasegawas prices, but if you are going to compare them to Tamiya, Airfix and Revell then its probably best to get all your ducks in a row first.
TG we have someone else that's done a bit of research...bravo. Before we all start complaining again, I vividly recall paying (in the UK) around £36 for the (then) brand new Hasegawa F/A-18 Hornet in 1:48 scale - That was 20, yes 20 years ago !. You can still pick them up for around the same price now, if you shop wisely. I know some of the re-pops are now going for considerably more but its all relative. We had it good in the UK for a long period (2000-2007) when we were picking up Hasegawa kits for a fraction of the cost in other countries....I know, I was living in Italy and Norway at the time - Italeri kits cost more (and still do) in their country of origin than in the UK. Right now, my local model shop has the Airfix 1:48 Canberras for £75 each, A Hasegawa P-51D will set you back £42 and the Trumpeter 1:32 Lightning will set you back a cool £140, so quit you're complaining.
Tiger331
-
Got my Finnish Air Force version today.....As if to add authenticity to the claim that they had been "found" it had a thick layer of dust on the box lid when it arrived.....Not sure Hannants are that sophisticated as to have a 'dusting machine' in their warehouse. I was a bit curious though....When I ordered the Finnish example, the Luftwaffe version was listed as out of stock. A day later they had 20+ again so I ordered this one too. Should be on its way.
Tiger331
-
After some help please...
I think the market has changed since I last dabbled with 1:72 Scale MiG-29 Fulcrums....I seem to recall there were issues with both the Fujimi and Hasegawa kits and that the best of the bunch was the Italeri kit.......Is this still the case ?.......I was wondering if the ICM kit (or others) were better. 1:48 is my 'normal' scale and the ICM Spitfires and ME Bf-109s are nice but not sure if this is followed through with their 1:72 stuff.
Any assistance/advice gratefully received.
Tiger331
Another F-14 Tomcat Question !
in Aircraft Modern
Posted
I'm not an expert on F-14 Tomcats but I would like to know if you can use either of the current Hobby Boss kits (F-14A and F-14B) as a basis for the later F-14D Tomcat ?. I'm quite happy to adapt existing F-14D improvement/conversion sets designed for other makes of Tomcat but need to know if I can use either of the Hobby Boss kit first........since they don't seem to be releasing the F-14D as far as I can tell.
Thanks
Tiger331