Blue Monday

Can anyone with experience of building the Kitech Blue Thunder kit say if there is any solution to the problem of the cloudy Kitech clear canopy? Is the graininess all the way through the plastic or is it just a feature of the surface? If that is the case, then a good sanding with a fine grade sand paper followed by a dip in Future might work. Has anyone had any success in improving the finish and clarity of the Kitech Blue Thunder canopy? Thanks. BM.

The strange look of the skid position of the OH-6A is probably down to the quantity of gas in the skid leg dampers. In an airworthy aircraft, the gas in the dampers will be checked during a major service and topped up as needed. In a well-maintained OH-6A, the skids will splay apart a few centimetres or maybe an inch or two as the weight of the aircraft transfers from the rotor onto the skids, BM.

Very nice Merlin. BM.

I'd be interested in signing-up for this GB. I enjoyed my limited participation in the Matchbox GB in 2022 and I'd imagine the craic will be just as good in this GB too! I'd like to enter with a Westland Lynx in Search-and-Rescue configuration as operated by the Koninklijke Marine. I'd imagine that will probably prove to be an overly ambitious project given my glacial build rate. Instead, I might tackle a Westland/Aerospatiale Gazelle in pre-production markings. I'll choose closer to the time. I haven't had a modelling desk available to me for over a year now and I won't have one till after the New Year so hopefully I'll have some pre-GB practice under my belt by the commencement date. 👍 BM.

Apologies for what is probably a stupid question. I am not particularly savvy when it comes to computers and tech. Can anyone tell me what format the Scale Aircraft Modelling digital magazine comes in? After subscribing, do I receive the magazine in a downloadable PDF format or is the digital magazine retained by Guideline and the subscriber logs in to their website to read the digital magazine? Thanks. BM.

I have the original AZ kit. It is basically a short-run version of the Italeri kit with all four doors attached. It also has the rain-drain over the doors which is something that was very rarely fitted. Only the Israeli Hughes 500M-D Defenders seemed to have it and just one or two other random operators. The original Italeri kit is probably the one to get if you are building an OH-6A. For an Israeli Defender, the AZ kit looks good. Out of the box, the AZ "OH-6A" actually builds up into a Hughes 500M, the export version of the OH-6A (Denmark/Japan to name two that can be built more-or-less from the box). BM.

Lovely result from what is shaping up to be the Kit of the Year! BM.

Well done on tackling this monster. It turned out lovely! BM.

Very nice Canadian collection. The Sea King looks particularly good. BM.

Yes, I did read what it said on the box. The problem I highlighted is the conflicting information about this set. Asking for assistance from someone who actually has one of these sets from Whirlybirds seemed like the best way to find out what exactly is in the box. BM.

The weathering looks to be done to perfection. BM.

Does anyone know if this item from Whirlybirds is a conversion set or simply a decal sheet? https://www.aviationmegastore.com/en/modelling/westland-sea-king-har3-22sq-raf-50-years-of-helicopter-operating--for-afv-kit-whirlybits-wba44008-159210.html The old Facebook page for Whirlybirds says the similar set, WBA44007, is a conversion set, as does the page above. Scalemates have it listed as a decal set only. Does anyone know the full story behind what's in the bag. At that price, it had better be a conversion set with Sand Box, Composite Blades, FLIR and six-blade tail rotor! Thanks for any info anyone can offer. BM.

Mark 1 Models have announced a new series of 1/144 scale kits of the De Havilland Canada Twin Otter. https://www.4pluspublications.com/en/produkt/mkm144139-dhc-6-twin-otter-in-america/ https://www.4pluspublications.com/en/produkt/mkm144142-dhc-6-twin-otter-in-civilian-skies/ https://www.4pluspublications.com/en/produkt/mkm144140-dhc-6-twin-otter-worldwide-military-service/ https://www.4pluspublications.com/en/produkt/mkm144143-dhc-6-twin-otter-holiday-season/ Great to see these lesser-known aircraft being released in 1/144 kit form. BM.

That's a very nice build of the Airfix Kate. BM.

Thanks for that information. Fine Detail Plastic it is! BM.

I'm not sure if this question has been asked before. I plan to purchase a 1/144 HH-3 kit from Shapeways. The plan would be to cross-kit it with some of the finer details from an AFV Club SH-3. I note that two different types of plastic are offered: "Versatile Plastic" and "Fine Detail Plastic". Can anyone say which of these two plastics is most suitable for scale modelliing - from the point of view of a smooth finish to the plastic and compatibility with the usual paints and glues that we use? Thanks. BM.

I plan to purchase the 1/144 HH-3 kit from Shapeways. The plan would be to cross-kit it with some of the finer details from an AFV Club SH-3. I note that two different types of plastic are offered: "Versatile Plastic" and "Fine Detail Plastic". Can anyone say which of these two plastics is most suitable for scale modelliing - from the point of view of smooth finish to the plastic and compatibility with the usual paints and glues that we use? Thanks. BM.

The Hasegawa kit depicts the Sikorsky SH-3 version flown by the US Navy and others. It depicts the American Sea King quite well, while the Airfix kit is 100% a Westland Sea King. There are numerous small detail differences between the Sikorsky and Westland-built Sea Kings. The Hasegawa kit is an accurate Sikorsky-constructed Sea King. Although they are both 1/48th scale Sea Kings, the respective kits depict two very different versions of this aircraft. Because they depict different versions of the (ostensibly) same aircraft, the Airfix kit tailor's to a slightly different market and so is unlikely to impact the currents prices of the Hasegawa kit. BM.

Should XV643/"05" be more correctly bearing the serial XV659? I believe this particular HAS.2 may have carried a certain Commander Bond during a special operation in 1977. 😉 BM.

What a superb model of the CH-124. Gorgeous. BM.

By all accounts, this is not a particularly good-fitting kit. You have done a great job with it. One to be proud of. BM.

Despite your troubles with the decals, it has turned out very well. BM.

Thanks for releasing this badly-needed model kit in this scale. Do you have any plans to release this kit in the markings of the UH-34D and CH-34C that the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army flew in the late 50's and very early sixties as "Marine One" and "Army One" while flying the President of the United States? I'd love to be able to build both! P.S. Please continue with the releases of helicopter kits in 1/144 scale. If you need suggestions for another, future release, you could do worse than produce a series of UH/CH-46 Sea Knight kits. It has plenty of decal options and would be a good seller, no doubt. BM.

Outstanding skill! BM.

OK. Thanks. I thought that might be the case. Hopefully this kit sees the light of day, along with the L188 Electra. BM.