Kevin Callahan

This one was a bit of a struggle, owing to a combination of my native impatience and the short run nature of the kit. Avis does indeed supply the cockpit/passenger window masks, but they are provided in a medium that is basically a die-cut press-on label. Not only are they difficult to get to lay down on the curved fuselage (slitting the label judiciously and pressing it in is the key here) but they are tough to get off the model once painting is complete. I usually use WD40 (silicon degreaser) to get the gunk off the plastic and add a nice little shine to the clear parts as well. But this required, shall we say, vigorous scrubbing to get it all off. Not the greatest of result, but it's another one in the display case. Even the photos had issues - the Alclad copper paint job acts as a light sink and makes the result darker than the original is. This is completed aircraft #499 (16 aircraft, 1 ordnance, 5 vehicles for the year 2018), finished in November of 2018. You’ll note that there is only one more model to go (which is already pretty much done) to hit a historic milestone in terms of my model production. Stay tuned to see which type it ends up being.

I only rarely build multiples (P-47s, Hurricanes, A-4s, Eurofighters...) but I suspect there are a few of these in my future. All those squadron markings.

If this Fox Moth is injected, I'm in!

To be honest, that might be the best way to go if the windows are truly misaligned and it isn't just a trick of the camera or something. Not a big fan of decal windows, but a Mach 2 kit likely won't be in the front row of my display case anyway.

Never mind the cockpit windows, look at the passenger windows down the side. Unless that cheatline on the Dan-Air version is wonky, they are all over the place. I wasn't planning to use Mach 2's clear side windows anyway (Kristal Kleer instead) but straightening out the line of windows will take some doing. Still won't prevent me from getting an injection molded Comet though...

As noted, I did do a bit of a brown acrylic wash on it, but I suspected it really wasn't that visible. I'm not looking to weather the thing, which I think is quite overdone on a lot of armor models. But I do want to bring out the details. Next time I'll try a bit more of the wash and see what happens. Thanks gents.

This is a recently completed Sdkfz 222, a light recon vehicle. It is rather a complex little kit, but if you want more than 10 parts on your 1:72 armor pieces, that is pretty much what you can expect nowadays. Not a lot of pitfalls, even for the Profoundly Average Modeller like myself. I did add a brown acrylic wash to the lower parts of the model to try and bring out some detail and take away the impression of it being one big brown piece of metal. Whether I added enough is another question. Still, it didn't turn out too badly, and is an addition to my set of wheeled vehicles. This is completed vehicle #20 (12 aircraft, 0 ordnance, 5 vehicles for the year 2018), finished in October of 2018.

Jon, I only have 6 build reviews listed in the latest SAM (V40 #8). I can't give a reasonable comparison to the other articles in that mag since I don't track anything other than 1:72. I should qualify my comments, in that they are my impressions only, and your mileage may vary. To me, 6 build reviews just don't justify the $11 price tag, which is the hardcopy cost here in the US. Again, just my opinion.

The lack of a new-tool 1:72 C-130 in the last 40 years is an ongoing mystery of the universe. If we get one, I would think it most likely from Modelcollect or Trumpeter. I'm sure the rivet guys shudder at the thought of a Trumpeter one, but they do have lots of experience with larger models. I don't see Revell investing in the tooling any time soon given their recent financial issues. Airfix is always a (somewhat remote) possibility. I think the main thing preventing a kitmaker from investing in the tooling for a C-130 is the fact that virtually every 1:72 modeller on the planet probably has at least one ESCI or Italeri version in the stash. That, given the price a modern C-130 would go for, is probably enough to keep some people from buying the kit even if it was available.

Wonder Wire was produced by some place in Vermont, now (I believe) defunct. I miss it terribly. I thought it was the greatest stuff. Measure the distance and attach both ends with white glue. It might not have passed muster with an IPMS judge and a penlight, but it was perfectly adequate for what I was trying to achieve. No bends or kinks ever. If anyone knows of a replacement product - and a source - I'd be delighted. I know about the stretchy stuff, regular fishing line, and regular wire, but they all present problems. Mostly eliminating the kinks, having to use superglue, and having to drill holes in the wing. I have heard about Nitenol wire, but haven't mustered up the courage to buy-in yet. That's pretty expensive stuff.

Not sure if it's a duff part, or merely duff technique on my part! The wings weren't an issue itself, it was that center lower piece with the wheel wells that confounded me.

Still need a (non-resin) 747 first! But I'd still require a visit to the cardiologist if Modelsvit announced an A380 in 1:72.

Much as I'd love to have one in my display case, if only for the conversation factor, if I'm going to go deep into my wallet, the AModel Spruce Goose would still come first. Not that that is happening anytime soon, either....

I'm at the spot in my DH-91 where I am attaching the wings and am having loads of issues with connecting the wing center piece to the fuselage. It just refuses to fit. I finally got everything to stick, but there is lots of PSR in my future. Always scary on a silver airplane. Still, I'll use your build for inspiration and carry on!

1:72 C-124! 1:72 C-124.... oh who am I kidding....

I don't generally have any issues with hardcopy magazines (SAM, SAvMI, etc) except for one problem. With the changing demographics of the modelling world, they all seem determined to reduce to number of 1:72 kits to just about nothing. And given the MSRP of most mags, the cost-benefit ratio to a single scale modeller like myself hasn't made sense for years. Which is not to say that those of you of the 1:48 and 1:32 persuasion shouldn't be delighted - but my 1:72 soul is not warmed by photos of larger-scale models that I will never see on my workbench. So I opted out quite some time ago. Honestly, anything I need to find out about a kit I can discover with a quick online search.

I've always been an assembler and have no issue with the fact. And I guess I don't see why anyone would.

I too would love to see a 1:72 KC-10. Modelcollect does seem to have conojes to try the project - let's hope they have the financing as well!

As will I. I do love the interwar aircraft! Release date must be getting close.

Yeah, I thought the dates that were being bandied around at time of announcement were pretty aggressive. I'll be waiting for it to arrive, whenever it does.

Is the Mil Spec range available in the US? Does anyone have a source? Many thanks.

Anyone know if the towing truck and that tanker are available separately? I already have the copter.

I'd love to see something exotic for the FJ-2 as well. But this sheet will be winging its way to me as soon as it is released.

Never built one wheels-up in over 33 years of modelling. My backstory for the 500 completed models in display cases is that this is the world's largest aircraft museum. Most (though admittedly not all) aircraft in museums are on their wheels. Plus they just look weird in a flying position all crowded together on a shelf. But as we've established, this is a personal preference and one should build em how you want to, yes?

I can't add anything to the comments, except to say that that is one of the most impressive model collections I've seen. I'd love to be able to do that many odd aircraft in 1:72 at that level of quality. Definitely jaw-dropping.