AntPhillips

Looking superb Dan, love the Polyfilla mud !!

In short, no, the kit doesn't include the RAF specific parts, e.g. chin sensors or RAF type weapons. You can get a conversion set from Flightpath but it'll cost more than the kit, but it really does add so much to the kit (even the GR.1 boxing). The RAF boxings do come up regularly on EvilBay but they tend to go for £30 ish. HTH Ant

Hi Mish, Great work so far, I love the Monogram Crusader. the kit is good OOB, there are a couple of faults in the basic kit though, the ejection seat provided is a MB GRU-7 as used in the Tomcat, it is the wrong type for a Crusader which originally had a MB Mk. F5 seat although some were later fitted with a Mk. F7 seat, the seat from a Phantom looks a closer match than the Tomcat seat. Also the main undercarriage legs are set at the wrong angle resulting in the finished kit sitting too low at the rear when built, Aeroclub do a correction set to cure this or you can just shorten the lower oleo and bend the upper oleo down to raise the rear fuselage off the deck. Having said that the kit looks good out of the box even without the corrections. Keep the photo's coming. Ant

I'm actually dabbling with a Dragon Firefly, it was bought as a bargain without tracks so I've been building Modelkasten working Sherman track, where each track pad consists of 5 parts in addition to the end connectors. However they work just like the real thing and are really flexible. As Neil says they are both therapeutic and at the same time. Happy modelling Ant

Heres one I prepared earlier :

Its a great set, superbly engineered and very simple to fit. The only cuts you have to make are straight lines, you then simply need to thin the trailing edges of the plastic after you cut. If I can do it anyone can, I've got some pics somewhere I'll try to post them later. Ant

Hi Anthony, Great build, you're right the ocean Grey does give a very realistic weathered EDSG finish, nice tip Cheers Ant

1 - A330 But I'm biased but that Hawaiian MD80 does look good BTW have the latest kits arrived ?

I'm sure I've got one of the earlier Isra sheets with markings for IDFAF F-15C and D Mig Killers, I'm not at home at the moment and won't be for a day or so, I'll PM Osher when I've checked. Ant

Hi Doug, Scale Aircraft Modelling included this scheme on one of their free 1/72 decal sheets back in the 80's, I've still got it somewhere, let me take a look over the weekend and see what I can find. Ant

Hi Jesse, Looks fab, can't wait to see what you do with the A330 that I just sold you, just know it'll be better than what I could have done. Cheers Happy modelling Ant

Hi Crash, Your original post didn't mention the scale, IIRC Model Alliance don't do 1/32, but I can recommend Tauro Decals, they do lots of generic Italian stuff and a few sheets for the IDS Tornado that you can use for data markings etc. Look >>>HERE<<< Happy modelling Ant

I've got one in the stash too, had every intention of building it for the old man who made several convoy runs as a Merchant Seaman during WW2, sadly Dads no longer with us and the kit remains securely boxed up in the garage. Another source of detail parts can be found >>>Here<<< Great looking build by the way Hacker. Ant

Hi guys, Draw Decal do this scheme, linky >>>HERE<<< Happy modelling Ant

Looks superb so far

"Rant mode on" It confounds me how they have obviously realised there's a market for the Lightning but steadfastly refuse to invest in a new tool kit, instead they repop first the Frog mould and now the Hasegawa mould (which was based on the Frog kit anyway). Come on Revell give us a state of the art multi variant new tool, you know you'll clean up. "Rant mode off"

Superscale 48-399 is a 1/48 sheet .

I seem to remember reading that both barrel lengths in the kit are incorrect, as even the short version is too long. The longer version represents the "Braveheart" variant the terminology 52 calibre refers to the barrel length at 52 x calibre.

Hi Ed, I've just checked the old Suerscale catalogue I have and decal sheet 48-399 has markings for several Gulf Air Arms including a Tornado GR.1 of the RSAF, I've only got the 1/32 copy unfortunately, but I'm planning on using it on my Revell Tornado. Hope this helps Ant

IIRC the first batch of Voodoos in Canadian service were as upnorth mentions in the NMF / silver finish, after a good few years and lots of hours they were traded in for newer low airframe hour aircraft from the USAF fleet, these wre finished in the Voodoo Grey scheme. Karl I have a couple of sets of decals for the Voodoo and the F-106 available PM me if interested.

All the Black Buck aircraft were "Sky Bolt" equipped, thats why they were chosen, they already had underwing hardpoints and conduits installed for the necessary wiring.

Very informative Jen, and I'm surprised no one else has commented on the quote above

Could be because every time Len posts one of his creations I'm struck dumb in awe of his abilities, and he makes it look so bloody easy. Great work as usual Len Ant

To quote the late great "Modeler Al" : "Build what you want, how you want, just have fun" Personally I'd leave the BDR patches, unless you're building it for a competition. I've got 2 of these kits in the stash, that I will get round to one day , its been a while since I looked at the kits, following your build has got me thinking about digging one out.

Hi Merv, Found an interesting article on LSP, its a conversion of the IIE to a IIICJ, but it just goes to show what can be done with this kit : Mirage IIICJ Conversion Makes me want to dig one of mine out, but got to finish the Tonka Tornado first and then there's the Italian Starfighter calling my name too. Decisions, decisions....