Sierra Mike Sierra

Today just just unboxing ...

Yes... I only had a bunch of photos of other F-4Es and the bottom side was dark gray, in some cases including the gun muzzle. Thanks!

Well, totday I am in the sign-up mood... Count me in here too. It will be a USAFE Viper... either from Hahn AB or Ramstein AB...

Count me in, please! An Italeri 1/48 A-10A from RAF Bentwaters or Alconbury ...

I am about to airbrush another of the many Hasegawa F-4s awaiting completion - before the Mengs and ZMs will take over... This time I wanted to do an F-4E (almost) OOB in the anniversary scheme of the 131st TFS. The kits instructions tell me to paint the entire undersurfaces in Medium Gray FS 36270 (or 26270), while the usual “Hill One” camo scheme of F-4s have the center and inner parts of the wings painted in Gunship Gray FS 36118. Reference pictures aren’t conclusive in my opinion. Inner Pylons seem to be Gunship Gray, but I am not sure of the rest. The front wheel bay doors look Medium Gray Anybody with better knowledge? Thanks! Stefan

While I am already in with an Alpha Jet, I am pondering an additional asset in the form of a F-117A (Tamiya), If I can get them, I would choose markings for an a/c that took part in Operation Allied Force. During this time, the participating F-117s where based in Germany (Spangdahlem AB) and Italy (Aviano AB) afaik.

Awesome! To me, you caught the mild weathered camo scheme spot on!

like e.g. jungle penetrator ? 😜I can't even figure out why Germany needs this...

Yeah! Happy New Year to all of you!

Hi there, I have a couple of the Kinetic F-16DG/DJ Block 40/50 kits (K48005) on my stash. Now, at the same time I am (as usal) tempted to buy at least one of the new F-16D Block 30/40/50 USAF (K48105) kits - probably just to add it to the others on my stash and have it age for a decade or so... 🥲 Prior to purchasing I made a concession to the stll function part of my CNS to ask whether or not the new kit is a new tooling or if there are other improvements over the old kit, or does it just have some additonal parts and decals to reflect Block 30 a/c (in addition to the Block 40/50)? Did anybody have a chance to look at both kits or is there anywhere a review that compares both kits (I did't find any on the Internet)? Thanks and Happy New Year! Stefan

As regards decals there is a small German manufacturer (maybe just one person, I am not sure) who offers 2 sheets for Luftwaffe F-84Fs and 1 sheet for RF-4Fs. F-84F Nr. I https://www.hahen.com/epages/64625185.sf/de_DE/?ObjectPath=/Shops/64625185/Products/48017 F-84F Nr. II https://www.hahen.com/epages/64625185.sf/de_DE/?ObjectPath=/Shops/64625185/Products/48021 RF-84F https://www.hahen.com/epages/64625185.sf/de_DE/?ObjectPath=/Shops/64625185/Products/48025 Some of these decals are sold out at the moment, but can be reprinted the website tells... (Zur Zeit nicht lieferbar. Kann aber auf Wunsch nachgedruckt werden.) Best Stefan

While having still a pair of Hasegawa F-16As and one B sitting on my stash with faded decals, I was constantly looking for (still) good USAFE F-16 decals. Speed Hunter Graphics has a nice 1/48 "USAFE Vipers" decals sheet, but they are all F-16Cs and Ds. Now I came across a new sheet by PK Productions "Early USAFE High Flyers" which includes a decent amount of early F-16As and Bs (50th TFW at Hahn AB, Germany), and some 52nd TFW F-16Cs and Ds.

Just beautiful! You made me pull out my kit from the stash and blow off the dust...

Hi guys, late but not too late it seems... let me join with a Luftwaffe Alpha Jet Cheers Stefan

Wow! Just amazing! I have the same kit and I have to admit so far I was a bit afraid to start the project, but when I see your master piece I am itching to start it.

I have asked myself the same question... I don't have a representative contribution, but I have a very old Hasegawa F-4E built in the late 1980ies painted (airbrushed) with Humbrol Enamels in the Euro 1 camo scheme and it was sitting on a rack close to the window and was exposed to sunlight from midday to evening every day (if there was sun 😄) and I cannot observe any fading. The white colour of another A-7A sitting next to it (for y couple of years less) has turned into smething creamy-white i.e. the bright white has become a bit yellowish. I am not sure though, what brand I had used for the the white, either Revell or Testors...

Yes, indeed. But I am not aware of any other air force fondly nurturing this niche capablities as the USAF.

So true. And the U.S. is the only (Western) country that prepares its military to be able fight very different kind of wars / conflicts.

Announcing a 5 Year Delay and Soaring Costs in the F-15 Program Somehow Tamiya's thin glue sneaked under the clamp...

This is great! 😆

Ha ha , same here. After repeatedly staring at the sprues for quite a whie, I managed to glue the upper and lower wings of mine...

That's a severe sacrilege!

Great stuff! Would probably qualify as a doctoral dissertation.

Yeah, I like this terminology! Pilots look already impressive. I will watch your production line and learn, as I have two Revell F-15Es in my stash and never built one so far.

Really stunning! Great job!