Blue Monday

Floyd will be able to answer your questions better than I can but the Kiowa in your first photo is actually a late-service upgraded Kiowa. The helicopter in the second photo is a mid-to-late service Kiowa. It looks like it is on an airbase in Afghanistan. Kiowas had both types of engine fairings in Afghanistan, often at the same time, but I think particular units opted for one configuration or the other, rarely operating both configurations at the same time. And so the Kiowa Warrior was flown with its standard engine cowling configuration, was upgraded to incorporate a new redesigned engine cowling, then reverted to the original engine cowling late in its service! Thankfully, the kits available all allow a late configuration Kiowa to be built relatively easily (!/35 and 1/72) while the 1/48 kit from Italeri has the mid-life engine cowling. I hope this helps. BM.

The weathering on it looks good. BM.

Nice work. BM.

Great build of an Airfix classic. It would be amazing if they did a modern tooling of this early version of the Harrier. A new-tool P1127 along with a Kestrel would be great to see but sadly might not prove overly profitable for Airfix. BM.

There is no book dedicated to the OH-58A Kiowa, as far as I am aware. There is an old monograph written about the Australian OH-58A so that might help when it comes to some of the technical details of the OH-58A. I'd imagine the specs for the licence-built Australian Kiowas is pretty much identical to the Bell-built OH-58As. The ironic thing is the OH-58A was produced in far greater numbers for the Army than the OH-6A and yet the Loach has garnered far more attention. Hopefully the OH-58A gets the attention it deserves. As you mentioned, Floyd Werner Jr's OH-58D Kiowa Warrior book published by Squadron Signal is the only reference for that version of the Kiowa. BM.

Can't beat an early Harrier with a high-viz scheme. Very nice build. BM.

I wonder is this kit based on the Tiger mock-up that appeared at various airshows in the late 1980's? Nice build nonetheless. I have this kit in the attic too. BM.

One of the best Twin Otter's I have ever seen. BM.

Thanks tempestfan. I have the D&S book on the way so will see what that says about the two kits. The Italeri kit is certainly looking like a good option. The F-16/YF-16 is also on my radar. Hasegawa seems to be the only true option for the YF-16. I do have the early F-16 kit from Revell released in 1976. I don't know if it is close to being an FSD F-16 or is an early-production F-16A; https://www.scalemates.com/de/kits/revell-4434-general-dynamics-f-16--140054 . I see this is the H-222 kit that you referred to, tempestfan. Thanks for the tip on the Aerofax book too. I might have to add that to my library too. 👍 BM. Edit. My Revell query has been answered by Hook. Thanks.

I have to admit that I know very little about fixed-wing aircraft in general. Helicopters are my main area of interest if I'm being honest with a particular interest in prototype and experimental flight test helicopters. However, I also have a keen interest in prototype airplanes and these FSD aircraft like the F-18, YF-16, F-14 prototypes, YA-10 prototype and so on. I need to broaden my modelling horizons with some fixed-wing models and anyway, I like the colourful paint schemes if I'm honest! I think the posts that followed yours will probably answer your questions, and mine! It looks like the dedicated FSD kits that I listed in my first point is the place to start with the Hasegawa kit appearing to be the option for a single-seater while the Italeri kit is the only option for a two-seater FSD Hornet. BM.

Thanks. I found a copy at a good price on ebay so look forward to reading this book. BM.

Thanks for all the info so far. It looks like the Hasegawa tooling is the best option, with the Italeri and Airfix kits next in line. The Italeri kit is probably the best option for a TF-18 FSD aircraft, from the looks of it. BM.

I am looking for some advice in relation to the F-18 FSD Hornet in 1/72. Can any of the resident Hornet experts say which kit in 1/72 is best for building one of the early and colourful F-18 FSD Hornet aircraft in the serial range from 160775 up to 160782 (Prototype No. 1 and FSD test ships 2 to 8)? Looking at Scalemates, quite a few kit manufacturers released kits with FSD markings from 1979 onwards. Sunny were the first to release a kit in 1979 with the same kit being released by Entex in 1980. Hasegawa were next to release a Hornet kit, again with FSD decals. This one seems to have an air data boom included, so would be useful in building ships 1,2,4,6 and 8. This was also released by Minicraft. Monogram had a snap-tite kit so perhaps this can be disregarded. Next up is Italeri with boxart that looks like a YF-17 in FSD markings! This kit allows a two-seater FSD aircraft to be built too. Esci were next with a kit that included markings for ships 5 and 6. Some comments I have read about this kit are less than positive. Then along comes Airfix with their F-18 FSD kit. I'd imagine this is similar in quality and detail to the Airfix Panavia MRCA kit. Also released by MPC. Idea released a two-seater FSD kit in 1984. I think that's about it for true FSD Hornet kits in 1/72. I have seen some favourable comments made about both the Airfix and Hasegawa kits while I've also read some negative press on the Hasegawa kit too. When looking at kits of this vintage, I know we must remember that these are no longer the state-of-the-art, but these kits do represent the FSD aircraft, which makes these particular kits of value and interest to the modeller who is interested in prototype aircraft. And so, can any say which of these kits are the most accurate? Which kit lends itself to an enjoyable, relatively hassle-free build? Has anyone built any of these kits in the past and is in a position to comment on how satisfying (or not 😬) they found the building experience to be? I am one of these modellers who is interested in building prototype and early test-ship versions of various aircraft and so am destined, it appears, to build these older and less popular (subject-wise) kits. Thanks for any advice anyone can offer. BM.

Nice job on that Wessex. BM.

There have been a few other fast-jet prototypes and demonstrators displayed here in recent times so it's good to see another one added to the list. Really nice build of this Eagle. I have a photo of this aircraft in an old "Born in Battle" magazine from the early 80's so your model brings back good memories. BM.

That is a serious amount of modelling output! BM.

Get the box top framed and have it preserved for posterity. In time, donate it to a suitable museum. They would probably appreciate the model too! BM.

Is this the MH-53 you were thinking of? This video only has a few shots of the helicopter's exterior but it sounds like the helicopter you are referring to. It is 66-14433, the Pave Low III prototype pictured in the late 1970's. I am looking for decent photos of this helicopter in this paint scheme myself. BM.

Yes. BM.

Excellent work so far on your Chinook and its base. BM.

I received the Academy re-release of the old Fujimi CH-53D kit in the post this week and it looks like you can build more than just a CH-53D from the components in the box! The versions that can be built from the Academy boxing that I received are the following (decals for most of these versions will have to be sourced elsewhere); CH-53A. The kit has the early engine intake arrangement without the EAPS air filters. The CH-53A can be built from the box with the earlier engine arrangement as can the German CH-53G. CH-53D. The USMC version can also be built from the box as you get the clear nose without the mid-air refuelling probe, the EAPS filters and the large fuel tanks. RH-53D. The kit comes with the air refuelling probe and in particular the rear-view mirrors unique to the RH-53D. The kit doesn't have any of the internal counter mines equipment that fills the rear cabin normally. The frame associated with the mine countermeasure role that sits outside the rear ramp is also not included. That will have to be sourced from the Italeri MH-53E or scratch-built. HH-53C. The kit has the EAPS, winch, correct early-style fuel tanks and under-fuselage lights cluster for the HH-53C as well as the IFR probe. It also has the domed fairing that is commonly seen on the belly of the HH-53C. MH-53J Pave Low. The kit includes the large radar and FLIR fairing that sits under the lower nose. The kit doesn't include any of the associated additional antennae or the disco lights fitted above the fuel tank mounts on either side. If you combine all the parts for the HH-53C (smaller fuel tanks) with the Pave Low nose, you can model one of the early Pave Low helicopters from the late 1970's/early 80's. I hope this is of interest. BM.

Any chance of getting a few photographs? Would be interested in seeing the current spec. Is it fitted with NightSun and FLIR? Thanks. BM.

The thing is we have known about the existence of the B-21 programme for a long time. Artist's renderings of the design have also been released and so the finished article was a known quantity to a certain degree before last night's unveiling. The days of the aviation world being in awe of stealthy new designs is probably gone. Nothing will compare with the first appearances of the F-117 and B-2 back in the late 80's. The other classified projects that we get tantalizing glimpses of, like the unknown design photographed over Amarillo some years ago, still create excitement, as do the other classified test articles that are known to have flown at Groom Lake in the past and have never been revealed. Maybe someday they will be revealed and they will certainly cause a stir for those with a keen interest in these aircraft. Nonetheless, the B-21 is likely to be the most technologically advanced aircraft on the planet right now. Hopefully Russia, China and others sit up and take note, and put any ideas of further needless wars to the back of their minds. BM.

I wonder how long will it take for a kit manufacturer to issue a kit of the B-21 Raider? BM.

Proper modelling. BM.