Tiger331
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Posts posted by Tiger331
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Another of your masterful Vietnam-War themed builds, Russ. I love the little O-2A Skymaster and you have done a great job, as always, with this kit.
Well Done, Sir !
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Superb !. I am looking forward to the day when I have the time to start on my own kit. I too have the live resin figures and other goodies to complete the model. As you have so amply illustrated with the quality of your build and finish, they really set off the finished model IMHO.
Well Done, Sir !
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Great job. Well Done, Sir !
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Lovely rendition of one of my favourite aircraft. I have both the Kinetic and Kittyhawk Super Etendard in my stash.....not sure which one to start with.
Anyway, Well Done Sir !
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Welcome to BM Luca. Very nice to see the Hawker Hunter in different markings. I'm looking forward to my own Mk.58 finished in the famous 'Flying Newspaper' special scheme.
Well Done, Sir !
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Hi Folks,
Not that many are contemplating foreign travel at the moment, but for future planning, here is some information on the current status of the Riga Aviation Museum, based on my transit through Riga on business earlier this week.
For those that may be unfamiliar, the Riga Aviation Museum was co-located at the International Airport and could easily be seen by anyone transiting through the airport since it was less than 5 minutes walk from the Arrivals Hall. It was a superb (but rapidly deteriorating) collection of Soviet-era military aircraft and helicopters. Many of the exhibits were unique. Sadly it's prime location has become its downfall since the airport is currently undergoing massive expansion and the Museum was given its marching orders on 31 March 2021. The Airport had offered to move the entire collection to the other side of the airport but the downside would be that no-one could actually then visit and would only be able to view from their aircraft window or at distance from the terminal. The owner quite understandably refused this offer and is currently seeking alternative accommodation but, as I observed, the collection has already been broken up and dispersed with a fraction left at the airport. I understand a fund raising campaign has been started but the current status is unknown. As soon as I return to Estonia I will check with my Latvian colleagues and see if I can get further information but in the meantime, I would advise anyone planning to make a visit to cancel it for now. It is a great pity since it was the only collection of former Soviet types of any note in the region.
An example of one of the rarer types (Yak-28R 'Brewer D') previously on display at the Riga Aviation Museum. I can confirm (from my transit on Monday) that this particular aircraft still resides at the airport although its future fate is unknown (the photo was taken in 2018)
Mark
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49 minutes ago, Harold55 said:
I really had thought I could avoid this but I have to get this kit now. Might wait for a shipping deal from Lucky Models but in any case I will get it. I am so impressed with Tamiya and what they have done with this! Their F-14 was very successful and this might top that offering as far as sales go. So what's next - can hardly wait!
You will not be disappointed....I can assure you. I actually find it quite surprising that it took Tamiya so long to introduce the F-4 Phantom into their 1:48 scale range, given the type's long-term connection with Japan (both with the USN/USMC and JASDF). In another way, I'm pleased they waited until 2021 so they could take advantage of stage-of-the-art tooling and design etc.
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3 hours ago, mr_stomach said:
Part 2 - Wings
So, looking at these photos, I can categorically proclaim that the Ark kit parts are for more accurate than those of the HB kit. The Ark parts are not perfect (in that they do not include all of the panel lines shown in the drawings here) but the 'reinforcement strips' are far closer in shape and dimension to those shown in the drawings.
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Received the first of my kits this week. I really did think that the Zoukei-Mura F-4 kits were going to be hard to top (notwithstanding the shape issue with the rear fuselage on the short-nosed versions), but Tamiya have now taken us to the next level with their F-4B. There is even more evidence of Tamiya's ingenious engineering in this kit, when compared with the aforementioned F-14 Tomcat and P-38F/G Lightning. As always, Tamiya will look to maximize the potential with these moulds (F-4N for example) but I was particularly intrigued (as, I suspect like many others) by the breakdown of the parts for the starboard fuselage with that curious break between the forward section. This, combined with the separate upper fuselage spine part leads me to believe that they have at least planned for the release of non-IFR probe equipped F-4s in the future too (i.e. USAF etc F-4C/Ds). The wing fold and 'seamless intakes' are superbly rendered too. While the armament and stores fit is not stellar with only AIM-7E Sparrows and AIM-9G/H Sidewinders supplied along with the three drop tanks, we do finally get separate and accurate outer wing pylons for some of those Vietnam-era configured jets.
I think the Tamiya kit has now also taken over the other No.1 spot from Zoukei-Mura; that which relates to price. If you pay the standard RRP it does work out to be the most expensive of all 1:48 Scale F-4 kits but as the saying goes "You get what you pay for" and while I also have no doubt there will be a plethora of aftermarket detail/enhancement sets released in the future these are really not necessary IMHO. This is going to be an expensive time for me, with at least five USN/USMC F-4B projects planned covering VF-84,VF-111,VF-161,VMFA-251 and VMFA-531 but I already have another two of these superb kits on the way !
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On 6/30/2021 at 6:13 AM, 28ZComeback said:
I think the ARK detail is finer shape is more refined, but then again, I am half blind.
I agree. I have just done a comparative check between the two sets of sprues and the only issue with the Ark kit (if it is, indeed, an issue, after several coats of paint) are the deep panel lines. In every other respect the Ark kit looks superior. I think those 'reinforcement strips' (if that is what they are) across the wings are too pronounced on the Hobby Boss kit when compared with the Ark version. I also prefer the wheel hubs and propeller in the latter kit, since they also appear more accurate and are more finely detailed. The aileron surfaces on the Ark kit are also nicer, so I will stick with this one and add the Ark La-9 to my collection too. Looking forward to the new decal sheet from Begemot for these two aircraft as well !.
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Nice Job on that VF-1 F-14 Tomcat. I seem to remember seeing this particular jet on a post-Gulf War 1 visit to USS Ranger during her port visit to Hong Kong. It was a target rich environment with a whole host of aircraft (A-6Es in particular) spotted on deck, all sporting mission markings and, in some cases, artwork too.
Well Done, Sir !
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Brilliant model !
Well Done, Sir !
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Excellent model of the Bucc.........brought back memories from the early 90s. Being buzzed by a pair 'roaming in the gloaming' on our way up to Strathallan one evening from Edinburgh in a Sea King HC.4. I was then fortunate enough to get up to Lossiemouth for the Farewell to the Buccaneer event back in 94......For once the weather behaved itself and we were able to see and photograph almost all of the remaining airframes before being treated to some impromptu air displays on the day - a memorable event.
Well Done, Sir !
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On 6/24/2021 at 3:00 PM, redracer said:
Referencing Tiger331 about accuracy. There was a certain manufacture in California who was going to produce a kit of a 1/32 Spirit of St Louis or Ryan Special. Design work was finished and moulds were cut, test shots produced, corrections made, more test shots. I have seen the build up and it was absolutely stunning. This was 15 years ago. Have you ever seen the kit on the market? No, because the manufacture was so intent on absolute accuracy that the tool maker said no more at some point and all money was lost. So doing a kit with a balance between accuracy and affordability is just good business. Raymond's F-104's are a good case in point. Perfect? No, but very accurate and they are affordable.
AT LAST !......Someone who understands precisely what I was talking about. I also have a good friend in the business who now realises that he has lost thousand's through a very noble quest for accuracy, which is great, but has not paid his bills or, more significantly, provided the funding for other projects he is desperate to do. As I said, its all about balance without making obvious compromises.
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Just ordered my first two.............Looking forward to this one though potentially a pricey project.....I have at least 6-8 individual F-4B projects to complete !
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20 hours ago, reggie78usmc said:
Thanks bro! I am on the lookout for 29 Sqn decals in 1/48 for an FGR.2!
Reggie,
First and foremost, great build with your 892 NAS bird. I like the pose, for sure.
Funnily enough I have a desire to do the 'reverse' scheme - one of those infamous VMFA-531 'Grey Ghosts' F-4Ns that had to sport 892 NAS tail markings during a cross-deck exercise in order to disguise their presence aboard HMS Ark Royal during a port visit to Malta in the 1970s (At the time the Maltese Government had taken a very Anti-American stance).
I may be able to help you out with 29 Sqn decals for your FGR.2. Let me know if I can help
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We don't see many 1:48 C-47/DC-3s actually completed so this makes a very nice change. Wonderful job, clearly thoroughly researched, to incorporate even the smallest of details.
Well Done, Sir !
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Nice one, Nasos.......I remember seeing these flying around Singapore in the 1960s when I was a schoolboy living there.
Great job !
Well Done, Sir !
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Superb............One of my favourite aircraft and a very attractive colour scheme.
Well Done, Sir !
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Stepping out of this conversation since a). I have neither the time nor inclination to explain further and b). my points are clearly not well understood. ho hum.
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On 6/6/2021 at 7:09 PM, Thomas V. said:
What does affordability have to do with accuracy? There is a long list of Kinetic doing it wrong, thankfully their F-104 is truely Gold standard, unlike some other of their kits that claim/ wear that title, given complexity of F-104 everyone sceptical has every right to be sceptical about, not easy to capture all the differencies.
Quite a lot actually, my friend. It's a reference to that determination between absolute accuracy and the affordability of a particular project. In my many years of working in the industry, I have seen individuals (manufacturers (big and small)) that have become so obsessed with accuracy for the few that they have missed the boat in catering for the vast majority. There is no point striving for absolute accuracy over many years if another manufacturer comes along and produces a 95% solution....this will satisfy all but the most fastidious of rivet counters (in other words the 'If it looks right, it probably is right and I'm happy with that' brigade who probably make up most of those interested in a particular subject) and leave that manufacturer striving for the 99-100% solution, blowing around in the wind. Like I also said (if you care to read the post more carefully) Kinetic do not always get it right but they are better than many of the others out there that have quite simply ignored friendly and helpful advice, even when it is so painfully obvious that their project development simply does not look right.
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Slightly bemused while reading about all of the fretting over the accuracy (or otherwise) with the 'new' Kinetic F-104G/S issue. Based on personal experience, you can be sure that Kinetic are one of the better companies when it comes to seeking out or taking advice from SMEs during the project development phase. Granted, they do not always get it 100% right but, in general, they take on board a fair amount and then balance this with affordability etc during the production process. I had every confidence that they would get most of the F-104S idiosyncrasies right given that they also had a major hand in the production of the DACO Productions correction/update set for the Hasegawa F-104 Starfighter family and many of us know how fastidious Danny Coremans is when it comes to the accuracy.
I also have little doubt we will see more boxings of the Kinetic F-104 to cater for some of the special-to-type equipment fitted to Canadian and Dutch F-104s to name but two.
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41 minutes ago, John Thompson said:
Accessories for the La-9 and La-11 from Quinta Studio - vacuformed canopy (La-9/La-11) and cockpit 3D decals (La-9):
John
Yep......I got the Cockpit 3D decals as an unadvertised extra in the kit I received from Russia last month. Very nice and up to the usual Quinta standard. Overall, a surprisingly nice kit too.
On 4/19/2021 at 7:34 PM, John Thompson said:I don't think it's the vendors you need to worry about; it's more the messed-up transportation system. FWIW, I got mine from this guy:
https://www.ebay.com/usr/ekatsmir?ul_noapp=true
John
Yes, I would second that.....I got mine from Ekatsmir (eventually)
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On 2/20/2021 at 8:13 PM, lasermonkey said:
That's very sad news indeed. I knew he had been battling cancer, but had hoped he was winning. He was a legend in the guitar world too. A well-respected luthier, his Make Your Own Electric Guitar book inspired generations of professional and amateur luthiers alike and that book had just been released as a new edition.
Blue skies, Melvyn and rest well.
I've had a busy couple of months with career transition and relocation etc so only just catching up with the news. I was extremely sad to hear this news. I first met Melvyn almost twenty years ago when he commissioned me to produce a couple of books. During one of our discussions he mentioned his guitar book to me in the context of my deciding whether to take a one-off payment or go for royalties for my own books. By way of warning, He relayed his own tragic story regarding his 'Make Your Electric Guitar' book and I'm sure he will not now mind me repeating it here. Evidently he wrote the book when he was an impoverished student and the publisher 'suggested' that the book may not do very well and given his financial position he should seriously consider the one-off payment. This he did, only to discover years later that the book had sold in the 100's of 1000's and been published in many languages !.
I only met him very occasionally after than since I have spent most of the subsequent period working overseas but it was a pleasure to meet him and his enthusiasm for all things aviation was infectious.
RIP Melvyn.
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PHANTOM FGR.2
in Ready for Inspection - Aircraft
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Brilliant Work, Angelo. You have really captured the look of the early RAF Phantoms extremely well and the finish is excellent. My only comment would be with regard to the weapons fit. The early RAF Germany based Phantoms (including those operated by 14 Sqn) were primarily optimised for Strike Attack missions and I don't think (though I may be wrong) that they were ever flown with AIM-9 Sidewinders. They were more commonly observed with SNEB rocket pods, 'Iron' Bombs, BL755 Cluster Bombs or practice bomb carriers (CBLUs).
Otherwise, very well done, Sir !