Filler

Thanks Andy. I did get some good fortune with the weather, especially at Iwakuni and my first day at Iruma, and even though it didn't necessarily feel it at the time, at Komatsu too. It's still hard to get my head around the variety of types and schemes you can see in Japan. I still have to thank you though as without your advice I wouldn't be able to take advantage of the good weather and numerous types. On the modelling front, I didn't get to many shops in the end and just got this modest haul of tools and bits. Interestingly, the Mr Hobby Normal Blade for Modelling Saw I bought in the local hobby shop near my wife's family home cost 1600 yen, or £8.90. About a week after I bought it, by some coincidence I received an email notification from a UK online hobby shop that they were back in stock - at £27.27 inc p&p. Maybe next time I will commit more to the modelling pleasures of Japan!

A pleasure to meet and chat with you too. I hope you enjoyed your trio to Japan in all aspects. That's frustrating. I read recently that they deploy to other bases for about 100 days a year, so I guess a 1 in 3 chance of catching them at home. I'd definitely recommend visiting Iwakuni, but I'd advise checking the wind direction before going. You really do need stuff landing from the Hiroshima direction.

Following on from @Red Dot Andy's photos from Japan, I have a few to share as well. I was over there on a family holiday, but I have created a tradition where I leave my wife and son for a few days and make some base visits. I think my wife enjoys the break from me just as much, especially the rest from translating everything! Before I go on, I must say that I've made a few base visits in Japan over the years, and each and everyone has been made pretty successful largely thanks to Andy @Red Dot. I first private messaged him on here nearly 7 years ago asking for advice about visiting Hyakuri air base and maybe every couple of years since I have pestered him for advice and information to make worthwhile visits to Tsuiki, Nyutabaru, Komatsu, Iwakuni, Gifu, and Iruma. And on this occasion, by total coincidence, we just happened to be at Komatsu air base on the same day, so finally getting to say hello face to face. A top Britmodeller! Our journey was 28 hours door to door, Manchester -Helsinki - Tokyo - Oita. But with a rather mixed looking weather forecast, the first day there looked the best, so first morning I jumped on the train and spent over four hours making my way to MCAS Iwakuni near Hiroshima. I knew from Andy that it's a tricky base to photograph at because there is only one vantage point with the base sticking out into the sea. And that vantage point means you are looking into the sun until about 2pm. And also, if the wind is coming from the north, then they are taking off over you and are very high. However, I struck lucky in the main and was able to get some nice photos when the wind blew from the 'right' direction in the afternoon, after the sun had come round. Iwakuni is home to the US Marine Corps, US Navy and Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force which makes for quite a variety of aircraft. In addition to what's below, there were also US and Japanese C-130s, a very colourful Learjet and a USN P-8 that along with the Hawkeyes, managed to evade good photo opportunities. Anyway, the photos. Lockheed UP-3D Orion 9161 81st Fleet Air Sqn 812th Flt, JMSDF by Phil Childs, on Flickr Kawasaki MCH-101 Merlin 8655, 111 Kokutai JMSDF by Phil Childs, on Flickr Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet, 110 NF, 166897 VFA-102 'Diamondbacks' USN by Phil Childs, on Flickr ShinMaywa US-2, 9903 71st FAS, JMSDF by Phil Childs, on Flickr Beechcraft UC-12F Huron, 163554, US Navy by Phil Childs, on Flickr Lockheed F-35B, 04 DT 169918, VMFA-242 'Bats' USMC by Phil Childs, on Flickr Northrop Grumman E-2D Hawkeye, 168989, 600, VAW-125 'Torch Bearers' USN by Phil Childs, on Flickr Boeing E/A-18G Growler 505 NF, 168899 VAQ-141 'Shadowhawks' USN by Phil Childs, on Flickr Lockheed EP-3 Orion 9172, 81st Fleet Air Sqn, JMSDF by Phil Childs, on Flickr Lockheed OP-3C Orion 9135, 81st Fleet Air Sqn, JMSDF by Phil Childs, on Flickr ShinMaywa US-2, 9907 71st FAS, JMSDF by Phil Childs, on Flickr A couple of weeks later I made my trip to Komatsu (where I met Andy) and Iruma. Komatsu is not the easiest base for photography and the weather was not very kind at all. We were there Monday and Tuesday. It was very windy, very cold and there was not an awful lot of sunshine. Andy and his group made the wise decision to move on to Gifu the second day as we had sleet, hail and snow on the Tuesday. But despite that, I think we still managed to capture some decent photos. Mitsubishi F-15J Eagle 303rd TFS "Fighting Dragons", 12-8803, at Komatsu by Phil Childs, on Flickr Hawker Siddeley U-125A, 12-3028, of the Air Rescue Wing at Komatsu by Phil Childs, on Flickr Mitsubishi F-15DJ Eagle TFTG, "Cobras" 72-8090, at Komatsu by Phil Childs, on Flickr Mitsubishi F-15DJ Eagle TFTG, "Cobras" 32-8082, at Komatsu by Phil Childs, on Flickr Mitsubishi F-15DJ Eagle TFTG, "Cobras" 32-8082, at Komatsu by Phil Childs, on Flickr Mitsubishi F-15DJ Eagle TFTG, "Cobras" 92-8070, at Komatsu by Phil Childs, on Flickr Finally, Iruma. It's a great base for photography, but aircraft wise, it's rather losing its appeal. Before this year is out I think that the C-1, EC-1 and YS-11s will all be no more. There isn't much of them now. I was told the EC-1 hadn't flown in a month and that the few remaining C-1s an YS-11s don't fly a lot. Luckily I did catch the C-1 and YS-11 on my first day. NAMC YS-11EB, 82-1155, Electronic Intelligence Squadron, JASDF Kawasaki C-1, 08-1030, 402nd Tactical Airlift Squadron, JASDF by Phil Childs, on Flickr Kawasaki T-4, 46-5716, 2nd Air Wing, JASDF by Phil Childs, on Flickr Cessna U-680A, 02-3031, Flight Check Squadron, JASDF by Phil Childs, on Flickr Gulfstream U-4, 95-3254, 402nd Tactical Airlift Squadron, JASDF by Phil Childs, on Flickr Sorry that was very long and a bit wordy, but hopefully of interest to some.

They are superb photos Andy. Pity I couldn't follow you to Gifu as it looks like you had a great time there. The C-1 FTB shot is absolutely beautiful and you certainly got a very good selection of the ADTW aircraft flying, and in lovely sunshine. The weather in Komatsu remained rather harsh, but you clearly still managed some good shots on the Monday. And that kit/tool/book collection is something special. The price of our hobby in Japan is remarkably less than here, but my wife had already filled our cases with hand me down clothes from our sons cousins and half a supermarkets worth of Japanese foodstuffs. I did get one kit as a gift (unfortunately a kit I'd sold a couple of years previously!) and bought a few tools and a couple of books. It was really nice to meet you and some of the lovely people in your group too. I'm glad you all enjoyed your trip.

Thanks, that would be fantastic if you could see if you have anything. I’m looking for the Euro1 green/green/grey scheme ideally from around July 1987. Being crew chief on Phantoms must have been amazing.

That's good news about the Top Aces aircraft still being there. I did see them at RIAT, but haven't seen them at Lakenheath and I'd like to have seen the brownish Alpha Jet. There is still hope!

Great photos and great information Mark. I made a trip down there late last month and managed to snap the Hawks. Whilst there I was told by someone else at the fence that the A-4 had not flown in quite some time and the Alpha Jets had gone home last year. Does this mean that they won't be seen again at Lakenheath? (Apart from the A-4 departing I guess). Even though these types are an upgrade on the Hawk T.1s, I do wonder how far short they fall in replicating Su-27/35s and the latest Chinese types. And I wonder if we'll ever see modern US types as Red Air in the UK again. It would be great to see a mix of USAF F-16 and F-35 aggressors based in the UK again. A quick Google tells me that the 527th Aggressor Squadron was transferred to the United States Space Force in 2020. But at least they're still going though, unlike Alconbury and Bentwaters.

Is that good? Has someone finally got these intakes right? If so, roll on the A version.

That’s a beauty.

I expect this might have been done before, but I couldn’t find a similar thread when I searched. I’m sure we’ve all seen them, kits for example that typically go for thirty quid being listed at twice or thrice that, be it buy it now or an auction starting price. I just spotted this one for a 1:48 Revell Chinook. £150 is a very optimistic starting price to put it mildly. I’d say getting 40 to 50 quid would be a reasonable auction result for one of those.

I had a couple of very pleasant hours there today and really enjoyed it. Picked up one bargain kit and slightly regret passing up on a couple of others. I do like the Bolton show. A good number of clubs and SIGs, a nice range of retailers, a good amount of space and definitely not Telford rammed and only six quid and free parking. A big thanks to everyone involved.

Well, there’s definitely a lack of submarines, for starters.

I bought this, Set me back forty quid. Looks a nice book at a glance, but it covers development and RAF, German and Saudi use of the Tornado as well as Italian. I did take a flyer buying it online, hoping it would be packed with images of camouflaged Italian Tonkas. Sadly there are not an awful lot given the 200 plus pages. Why are photos of 80’s Italian Tornados so hard to come by? Still, it is a nice book.

My guess is that Mike may have sensibly been economical with his time and reused some images and text from the Navy version review. In the review, frame E has gone and been replaced by frame F (with a slightly different shade to the blue background, suggesting it was taken at a different time). The image showing frame E accompanies text talking about the arrestor hook and rotating bomb bay that are more conveniently adjacent on frame E than on F.

Lovely work and especially the spot on paint work. I really do think that the old Hasegawa F-16s are still great kits.

I’m sure some of you are cheating. Come on, tell us where you get these shrink-rays from! That is absolutely flawless modelling and painting. And believe it’s even a bit of a tricky kit to build too.

Crikey @paulsbrown, I can imagine your relief, but that is some incredible work that you’ve done. Doubt the kit renditions will actually be as good.

Thanks chaps. And that’s sounds like a good explanation. Quite a nice idea by Oz mods, assuming someone produced the decal options I guess.

Thanks for posting all these responses to my musing. So, I guess in conclusion it is pretty fair to say that we can all improve by building more models more frequently. And if we have time and patience to take great care and we have good motivation, we can find improvements there too. And also, having the right/best tools and environment can lead to some further improvements here and there. But for all that, there are limits from our varying degrees of health (steady hands, eyesight etc) to simple God given talent. My takeaway is that I should enjoy everyone's work, regardless of how sublime it is, but not use it as a target or a stick to beat myself with. And that I should enjoy my own work and if I do see improvement in what I do, take it as a bonus.

I was just wondering exactly what the ‘trophy tail’ is in regards the F-111. ‘Ive seen Oz Mods do a ‘trophy tail ‘for the Academy kit. Is it a correction piece for the kit part or is a trophy tail a special variation on the standard tail? Or is trophy tail just the common term for an Aardvark tail?

Excellent photos of interesting types in fantastic sunshine. Especially love the Canberra. Must be amazing to see one flying still. And flares too!!! If only RIAT was able to have flares.

Totally random musing as I take a few minutes break from playing with my three year old and his Christmas presents. I’ve been totally in awe of some of the finished models in the RFI section. Have to confess that I do tend to look mainly at and comment on RFIs of subjects I’m interested in and in my preferred scale. Anyway, I was then wondering if I could ever build a model to those high standards. Can I even get anywhere even close to those standards. Ok, if I was to build a lot more kits then I expect I would see some degree of improvement - probably. Unfortunately the aforementioned three year old makes building anything difficult at present. But given my limited output to date has always been blighted by struggles with many aspects of modelling, I just wonder if it’s more a case of my natural ability is a limit to how good I could ever be. I was an ok footballer, but if I’d played 24/7 I’d never have played for England. So is modelling a case of without god given talent, all the practice in the world won’t get you to competition winning standards?

Wow! Another older kit tackled with the skills to make it look the best model ever produced. Brilliant!

Yet again I am both in complete awe and hugely envious of the incredible skills possessed by many Britmodeller members. It really is an example of the highest level of modelling. It’s also another fine example of an older kit being built and finished to a standard where you realise you don’t necessarily need the latest state of the art kit to get the finest of models.

In 1/48 scale, three off the top of my head; Hansa Jet Jetstream EAP And fat chance of any of them. But hey, I’m not exactly short of things to build that have been kitted!!