John Thompson

I was wrong - my parcel was only shipped yesterday (18 April), according to today's email which actually includes the tracking number. I can hardly guess what Armory and other Ukrainian suppliers are going through, trying to fill orders under the current circumstances. You have "supply chain" problems, buddy? Ha - try keeping your business running while you're being bombed and shot at! Slava Ukraini!!! John

Double post - sorrrrrreee!!! John

Hmmm - no; good point. I got the "finished processing" email, but nothing specifically about shipment. That was on March 27. I remain optimistic... John

Mine has been shipped; I'm hoping to receive it this week or next week. Fingers crossed, of course... John

Interesting, and thank you for the link, but it seems just a bit primitive that you can't click on the images to enlarge them in order to get a better look at the kit parts and instructions. Are they available elsewhere? Sounds like cannibalizing the control stick for substitution into a "big boys and girls" kit with a warped/damaged one isn't an option; I wonder if the landing gear will fit, since so many have complained about defective ones in Airfix's standard P-51D kit. John

1965, a monstrous-big (by today's standards) 1965 Chevrolet Biscayne 4-door sedan, on loan from the local Chevy dealer to my high school for drivers' ed. But I had an advantage which I think wasn't allowed in the UK - automatic transmission! I still remember how I nailed the parallel parking part of the test - it was like an invisible hand guided that land yacht into a parking space on the main street of Bracebridge, Ontario, and I was all set! Bought my first set of wheels not long after - a rusted-out 1956 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan for $200. John

Excellent, but where are the floats?! A Norseman without floats is like, well, a Norseman without floats. No doubt there'll be a subsequent Canadian bushplane reboxing with them included; if necessary, the ones from the Matchbox kit should keep me happy for now. I wonder if other, earlier marks are planned. I seem to recall reading (maybe even in this same thread) that the differences were enough to make that financially impractical. But a brand-new kit of any version from such a high-quality manufacturer as Dora Wings? Believe me, I'm grateful! Now let's see some aftermarket bushplane decal sheets! John

Maybe Eduard will branch out into producing aftermarket decal sheets for their kits. They already make every other kind of A/M accessory. John

I just received notification that my order has been shipped, so apparently the kit is now available! John

You never know what might happen - actually those would probably be easier for CP to do, based on the type 5 - my wish is for the type 10, but it has more in common with the types 18/24/28 than with the type 5, so it's a big stretch. A type 29 would be nice, too, but that's even more different! John

FWIW, in 1/72, it was the Spanish Civil War version (CP72023) that contained both the early (11 ribs) and the late (22 ribs) wings. John

Aaaaannd - <click!> - order placed! John

Once the supplies are used up, the leftover cat can be sent in to deal with unexploded ordnance. I like it! John

Interesting - they're branching out from printing decals to printing full kits. I wish them all kinds of good luck with that - the Voisin looks good in the renderings. John

I've heard it referred to among some AC staff as "Lav-water Blue". if that's any help... John

Aha! Unputtied panel lines - fatal flaw! John

I was watching a program about the Convair XP5Y-1 last night which included period footage of A-1 Skyraiders. late Corsairs, and F8F Bearcats in flight. What struck me was how plain and featureless their fuselages looked - no rivets no panel lines. Very sleek, but also kinda boring, finished in a slightly weather-dulled Glossy Sea Blue. OTOH, I also thought, "What beautiful aircraft these are! Why do I not have one of each on my workbench?!". John

Really a beautiful build of a very good-looking aircraft! The proportions might require a nose weight of depleted uranium and a small balloon filled with helium in the rear fuselage, though! John

Hah! My choices didn't even make it onto the ballot! OTOH, maybe that means my choices are the two new kits already in progress to be revealed this Spring! John

I don't understand - buying anything as a "collectible" expecting it to increase in value is always a gamble. That's the risk you take. Eduard makes nothing off the speculation of their customers; Eduard's source of income is the sale of new product, so if something sells well, why not bang out a few thousand more? That;s their business, not guaranteeing the rarity of any kit as a favour to owners of that kit. The builders among us would be outraged if Eduard said, "Oh look - collectors are getting twice our original MSRP on ebay; let's slash the production, double the list price, and grab some of that gravy for ourselves!". John

I agree, absolutely! John

Hmmm - dumb question time: In the Airfix Bf-109F starter kit thread, it seems to be assumed that the kit will only be available in a set, with a few paints and a brush, and maybe some glue. Is this correct? If so, will the Mustang be similarly burdened? I already have far, far too much paint on my hands (speaking both figuratively and literally), so that might affect my decision regarding how many I buy! Ummm - Auntie Joan sounds kind of cool - is she seeing anyone these days... 🎉 John (it is Valentine's Day, after all...)

A special boxing with a set of Edo floats and a decal sheet full of Canadian bushplane options would be nice! (So also would be a 1/72 version, and a 1/72 DHC-3 Otter! ) John

Thanks for the memories - yes, that noble project didn't go very far. Although, I know exactly where the wreckage is, and with it are the references, as well as the Begemot La-9/-11 decal sheet, so who knows? It may live again! John

I find myself drawn toward this kit simply because it's, well, simple. I will probably buy any 1/72 P-51D superkit that gets released by Eduard or Arma, but lately I've been thinking that the more parts (large or small) a kit has, the more possibilities for things to go wrong during assembly and require extra time and effort to correct the damage, to fill the joints, or whatever. Or to try to dig a near-microscopic part out of the carpet. So, I don't hate "easy-assembly" kits, especially if they're accurate! John