Tiger331
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Posts posted by Tiger331
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Hi there,
I have a problem with ascertaining the colour used for the overall Grey F-5E Tiger IIs used by the Brazilian Air Force. Two highly acclaimed South American decal manufacturers (including one from Brazil !) seem to disagree on the FS number of the grey colour used. One quotes 'Blue Grey' FS36375 whilst the other quotes the colour as FS36463. I would normally be inclined to go with the Brazilian recommendation but the real aircraft appears to be more akin to the alternative shade quoted !. My FS Colors fan shows little difference between the two shades but I would still like to get it right. Of course, its perfectly possible that two different shades of grey were used at different times but I am not a Subject Matter Expert on this particular Air Arm/Type...
Can anyone shed any light on it ?.
VMT
Tiger331
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I've just embarked on an Airfix Nimrod project, utilising the A2Zee engine/intake conversion parts. These resin components are quite sizeable and heavy and I am concerned that 'normal' CA glue will not be strong enough to hold them in the longer term. I have seen a recent build article for the Nimrod/resin combo on this forum with what appears to be a glue that sets clear holding the various parts together. What I need is something strong that does not need a considerable amount of sanding afterwards.
I have seen some discussion about resin epoxy glues (such as Araldite) but they are a real problem to sand afterwards.
Any ideas/suggestions gratefully received.
Tiger331
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Recently started a 1:48 Buccaneer S.1 using the Heritage intakes......I need some motivation to continue with it so it looks like the GB may be the answer. Hope to finish it in the overall white scheme (what else ?) with 809 NAS markings.
Tiger331
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Oh....................One other thing.........................This may temper your complaints about pricing in the UK..
Price sampler from my local Hobby Shop here in Norway.
Hasegawa 1:48 P-51D Mustang 42.00 Pounds
Airfix 1:48 BAC Canberra B(I)8 60.00 Pounds
Airfix 1:72 BAE Nimrod 70.00 Pounds
Trumpeter 1:32 BAC Lightning 110.00 Pounds
Cheers
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This is down to pure economics (with a capital E) period. We saw this in 1991 and, to a lesser extent, in 1999....all linked to downturns in the world economic markets. Three years ago you could pick up brand new re-issues of the Hasegawa 1:48 F/A-18C Hornet for 25-26 Quid in the UK. In 1991 (when this kit first hit the streets) it cost 16 Pounds MORE !. Check the prices in your stash (particularly for Hasegawa/Fujimi kits)....you may be surprised. 3-5 Years ago some kits were wildly over-produced by companies such as Hasegawa, which is why the likes of Antics and Wonderland could give us all some great bargains on a fairly wide range of great kits....Remember the Hasegawa 1:48 F-104 for a tenner and 14.99-19.99 for a F-4 Phantom. World's changed, production has been cut and there are simply not the same number of kits around. A cursory glance of the back-catalog for the likes of Hannants or Roll Models paints a vivid picture. These large scale MO Houses are not keeping the stock they used to, simply because A. Its not being produced and B. It costs too much.
Hasegawa (and others) have cut back production so economies of scale (pardon the pun) have been reduced and unit costs rise. The Golden Age of cheap kits (particularly from Japanese manufacturers) in the UK is over, for the foreseeable future. A cursory glance st the prices of Trumpeter kits (and others) reveals a similar story...Even those closer to home (Italeri) have risen steeply in the last 2 years....so don't lay the blame entirely at the door of Hasegawa.
Bottom line...Two choices...Put up with the prices and be a little less ambitious in building up your stash...
or go back to basics....get a supposedly 'inferior' Airfix or Revell offering and put in the extra detail yourself. The latter two companies make some great kits and for the price of a Hasegawa offering, you can buy a kit plus all the resin/photoetched you need to correct/improve it.
And...before you ask......I don't work for Hasegawa or any of its distributors.......I simply maintain an interest in the market effect on our hobby...We can't assume that we will be 'protected' from issues that affect every sector of the rather dire world marketplace.
Tiger331
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Don't forget the FAA version of the Westland Lynx (HAS.3) and that at least two variants of the Wessex were used...The 'junglie' HU.5 and the ASW variant.......There's one of the latter, called 'Humphrey', in the FAA Museum at Yeovilton.....I think it was on HMS Antrim and was used in the action over South Georgia.
HTH
Tiger 331
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Love it or hate it....EBay is Ebay and it's no different to any other form of auction house. People will pay what they think is good value for an item. If it's the only one they have seen in a while and they really want it, they'll pay but its not 'over the odds'.....it's what they think is good value. In general, I think the vast majority (at least 95% of those using EBay) are honest and I agree with the view that the hidden bidders system is designed to fend off 'unauthorised approachs' by watchers hoping to make a quick killing. Ebay can be highly erratic and an item which fetches 60 Quid today may go for 20 the next.....It's simply down to who's on at a particular time. There appears to be a 'panic' on Classic Airframe single-seat 1:48 Scale Meteors (F4 & F8) right now with some recently going for 65-75 Pounds yet I bought two for an average price of 28 Pounds just over a month ago........Similar story with Revell 1:72 Westland Seakings and Airfix TSR.2s.....I sold one of the latter for 16.00.....I didn't mind.....I got back what I paid for it in the first place and you just write it down to experience.....On the flip side, I've managed to pick up Hasegawa 1:48 Hurricane Mk Is for a fiver (try and even find one of these right now !) and Hasegawa 1:48 F-4 Phantoms for a tenner so it works both ways....
Value is very subjective and purely individual....What one thinks is good value another will believe is a rip off.....It's a free world (TG)....Relax
Tiger331
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So, Hannants delivery times have improved of late.....I DONT THINK SO !........Before the Website update, I used to wait on average for 7-10 Days for my orders.....Thats now gone up to at least 21 days and two of my recent orders have gone missing. I e-mailed Hannants (twice), so far without reply to enquire about the procedures for missing orders. Further, I am now paying almost double in shipping for my orders.
I'm still not convinced that Hannants have improved....the Jury's out....Pity, since I have had excellent service from them in over 20 years of patronage but its not good right now. I think they are just too big and no longer offer the 'personal touch'. I will give my full support to Graham at Relish Models on this one. He is between a rock and a hard place with the Hasegawa Sea King price....but he delivers great prices on a host of other goods and GREAT service. I get my stuff in 7 days or less so I'll back him on his 'policy'....I think he is doing the right thing in protecting his interests right across the board....Sure, he could cut the cost of the Sea King, incurring big personal losses, reducing his profit margin and then going out of business...thens who are the losers ??.....
Let's get real
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Yep,
End of an era......I clearly remember the 203 Sqn jets at RAF Luqa with my father in the late 1970s and individual aircraft at VASF RAF Changi some years earlier. Interesting distribution of airframes - I simply cannot understand why the Scottish Museum of Flight didn't get one, given the types' long and historic association with Kinloss and Scotland ?. Anyone know why ?......Is this another 'victim' of the MoF's obsession with the Concorde ?.
Tiger331
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Yep...............I think you did well.
I discovered a boxed Airfix Capri in a shop in Italy two years ago and, not being a car modeller, took a gamble on buying it to sell on Ebay. It was complete apart from the driver figure that had obviously been robbed to complete another project. At the time, I had no idea how much the Airfix classics were going for............It eventually sold for 75.00UKP to a Ford Capri nut in France...not bad for a kit that cost me 8 Euros !
Tiger331
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Is that all your'e paying for Japanese kit ?........My local shop has Hasegawa 1:48 P-51Ds for 42 Pounds and Airfix 1:48 Canberras for 60 Pounds !
Tiger331
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Tiger
The best way to get to a DJ is to either use a Hasegawa DJ kit. If not you can use a B/D kit from Hasegawa or even the E kit from Hasegawa boxing P8. The E boxing is nothing more than a D with "additions" to make it an earl E prototype. You get correct instrument panels for a B/D in the box.
Also remember that you need bot vertical stabs to have the small bullet fairings on top of the stabs. The only Hasegawa boxings with both small are the J and DJ boxings if memory serves.
You cannot get s DJ out of Revells E model as it is strictly an E with all of the changes to the airframe that the E has.
HTH
Mike
PS Tiger, if you need anymore help I spent a good portion of my young adult life in and around Eagles so I am sure I can answer some questions for you.
Mike,
Thanks, you confirmed my suspicions.....I guess you cannot always rely on aftermarket decal manufacturers to provide the right recommendations !.....Two Bobs definitely quote F-15Es in their sheets even though I had an inkling there was more to an E tha just the conformal tanks. I had also picked up the dual small bllet fairings issue but thanks anyway. I have bought the right kits...that's the main thing !
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I'm currently doing some research prior to emarking on at least one JASDF F-15DJ in an Aggressor colour scheme. Clearly Hasegawa market several F-15DJ kits with these markings though I have read elsewhere that you are actually better off with the original Hasegawa F-15D or the Revell F-15E.....!. I know the latter kit is a newer mould and is, apparently, an easier all round build, but can it really be used as the basis for an accurate F-15DJ ?. Obviously the conformal tanks go but there must be other differences ?....not too worried about jet nozzles, cockpits etc since these will be aftermarket items but not being a Eagle afficionado I would really appreciate advice on the base kit.
Thanx
Tiger331
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Thanks Guys...............I'll steer clear of the JASDF F-4EJs then and look for USAF/ANG F-4Es
Tiger331
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Personally, I wouldn't do any of these since there are some much nicer one's out there (Last year's RAF special with the Union Jack markings is hard to beat), but with the selecion provided, it has to be the RAAF Special in light grey with the black panther.....Sorry, 'period' schemes on fast jets just does not work for me ..............THT 19(F) Sqn special, the US ANG F-16 in the ridiculous inter-war colours with blue tail and yellow wings etc etc......
Go Aussie Go !
Tiger331
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I am about to start planning a couple of Greek and Turkish 1:48 F-4E Phantom projects and need to know which kit to use. I have elected to go for Hasegawa and have seen some discounted JASDF F-4EJ variants for sale but I know the JASDF examples carry the un-slatted wing seen on early USAF F-4Es.....Trouble is, with both the Greeks and Turks receiving both new and 'secondhand' F-4Es from the US (including ANG examples) I do not know if they used aircraft with the later slatted wing or not ?......Or is it a case of having to research each individual aircraft based on its origin ?.. Help...............please..............before I buy a couple of kits that I cannot use...
Thanks
Tiger331
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Yep.................I would go with this...............
Don't forget that SAAF Buccs were also subject to considerable wear and tear, with environmental conditions having a major effect on the colours. If you are modelling an aircraft later in it's service, the SAAF no longer had the time to maintain the bright and shiny scheme of the 1960s. The colours (particularly the upper surface) were badly faded in the harsh sunlight and austere conditions during the elongated Bush War....Having seen a couple of SAAF Buccaneers up close I would suggest you add a little light grey or even white to the mix to lighten the colour and then do some 'fading' using some of the excellent weathering sets now on the market.
HTH
Tiger331
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Hi Tiger,
The F Mk. 6 is the best start point - no need to correct the ailerons, has the correct flaps for vast majority of two-seaters and the Fisher conversion provides the new tailcone with para housing (this is smaller diameter than FGA Mk. 9 as the T7 has the 100 series Avon, rather than 200 series (based on the F. Mk 4 airframe).
Iain
Iain,
Thanks for this.......I did not realise that the Fisher kit had included the para housing........
Tiger331
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Iain, keep up the good work, which is proving to be further inspiration for me...........I am eagerly anticipating the arrival of the Fisher models 2-seat conversion I recently purchase, so I can start work on WV318 in the overall-black scheme it wore in the early 1990s. This was the aircraft I took my first fast-jet trip in from Lossiemouth, chasing Buccaneers....Those were the days. I must admit to getting slightly confused over which kit I should use for the conversion ?. I'm guessing the FGA.9 issue because of the brake-para housing but have been in this game long enough to realise it probably isn't as simple as that !. My second Hunter project will be a RSAF FGA.74. I spent 6 years in Singapore during the late 60s and early 70s and well remember these aircraft zotting around the island from Paya Lebar and, later, Tengah and Changi when the RAF handed these bases over.
Tiger331
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John,
Recently embarked on a Airfix 1:48 Buccaneer S.1 project, using some aftermarket stuff including the Heritage intakes. Your build and finish has really inspired me to get on with this. I particularly like the finish on the undersurfaces....that uneven, semi-gloss sheen is so typical of in-service Buccs.......a really good job, mate, and I look forward to seeing more of your work in the future. If my S.1 turns out half as good, I'll be happy...
Cheers
Tiger331
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Not yet convinced this will happen but I have just ordered one..................I'm a born pessimist so I suspect I will get some kind of "Order Cancelled" message nearer to the estimated delivery date (currently 4-10 May 10).........Not that there is any rush to get the kit.......It's just another for the stash
Tiger331
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Yep..........The revell kit is a re-pop of the old Monogram kit........Not too bad considering it's age.......I clearly remember buying the first Monogram version in Bradlee's (a TK Maxx type department store in the USA) during my first ever trip to the States back in 1984 !. The kit is based on pre-production models of the original so needs some work done on it, even if you are building an early-service variant. Thankfully, the work is not major. FSM did a good article detailing the necessary modifications, which I have in a cuttings file somewhere. Let me know if you would like a scanned copy of this and I will see if I can dig this out.
HTH
Tiger331
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Its all a little odd since Airfix were scheduled to produce a B2/B(I)6 variant this year. In line with their 'staggered' approach to Canberra releases, they were always going to launch the B(I)8 and PR.9 first and then do the 'Bomber canopy' variant around 12 months later. Yet, only last week I finally managed to access the Airfix 2010 catalogue only to find that the B2/B(I)6 does NOT feature in it, which suggests it has been dropped. I'm not sure if this is due to less than anticipated sales of the first two but if so, it is, IMHO, a flawed concept since I suspect the B2/B(I)6 variant would probably sell more copies than the other two put together. Certainly this correspondent would be one of those guilty of this.....I can think of at least 6 projects I would like to complete with a decent 'bomber canopy' variant in 1:72 scale.
Tiger331
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Not suprised to hear about your woes with Wonderland Models and their 'great' MO Service......i am somewhat surprised that they have not featured more in the 'trader' section of the forum. They have a bad habit of advertsising quite a lot of stock which I don't believe they have. I have been a regular in their shop over the years and always found it strange that what they advertised on the website was rarely available in the shop.....I'm afraid they are a shadow of their former self since Niven left the Plastic Kits Department over 10 years ago....
Anyway, I digress....As my co-respondents have quoted, Lucky Model are a good, reliable company but be prepared to run the risk of getting stung for extra customs duty if you go this route. I actually bought my Tu-22M-3 from a UK trader via EBay in December for £55 (Buy it Now option) and I have seen several pop up since. I think if you are patient, you may get lucky and obtain one via this route. You are sensible to hold out for the M-3 variant. According to a well-respected Russian aircraft expert on this forum it is much more accurate (and easier to build) than the earlier variant......There's a very nice decal sheet just been released by Authentic Decals which may also be worth considering. I haven't started the kit yet but it looks good...
HTH
Tiger331
Italian Air Force F-16s in 1:48 Scale
in Aircraft Modern
Posted
I'm looking to start putting together a project to build one of the Aeronautica Militaire Italiani (AMI) F-16s - I am assuming one of the Kinetic examples (F-16AM ?) will fit the bill but I'm not sure - Maybe the Tamiya Block 25/32 can be downgraded ?
Any advice gratefully received.
Tiger331