Michael louey

Hi, Finally found time to take some photos of my models today. This one is the earliest of them. It's an Airfix Mk 22 modified to a Mk 24. Help form a number of guys here especially Cookie regarding using parts from the Special Hobby kits for the props and rocket stubs. The plane is from 80 Squadron based at Kai Tak, Hong Kong in 1950. As well as the Special Hobby parts, I replaced the short cannon barrels with Master brass barrels. I also replaced the windscreen and canopy with ones from an Eduard Mk XVI as the Airfix ones were a bit soft in plastic and didn't polish well at all after removing from the sprue stub. The markings are from Xtradecal. Regards Michael

Hi Noel, Great model, especially with the lighting. I'm about to start mine (without the lighting) after seeing a great build of one by one of our club members a few months back. Cheers Michael

Great Cheyenne Mario, Our club had a rotary display last year at the Australian Expo and I would have loved one of these in the display! Cheers Michael

Thanks for the comments guys! I was surprised to see notifications on such an old topic. Bill (Navy Bird's) example is a much more accomplished build though I guess you've all seen that before visiting here. I'm still quite happy with the nice representation of a plane with a personal association. Cheers Michael

Has anyone mentioned the Kaman Seasprite? It's better than it's only competitor from Fujimi. cheers Michael

Great finish to the build Bill. The F111 does look neat in Navy colours. Cheers Michael

Another great build Libor. I've got Radu's book and it's great. Stangely I haven't got around to getting a kit since I sold my old Formaplane vacform Cheers Michael

Great build Lican. Looks real. Cheers Michael

Hi, Just to add to this topic. The comparison should be about more than length and width. I had a talk with the original owner of High Planes a long time ago and he told me he thought the Hasegawa kit was anemic. I.e. if you check the fuselage cross section, the Hasegawa kit will look a lot less "plump". He said he had built the Hasegawa kit to check the opposition but didn't display them together as there was so much disparity in look if seen side by side. I've added a post to another similar thread (post 23) with links showing the High Planes (which I think the Airfix looks more like) and the Hasegawa. I plan to start an Airfix kit soon so it will be an interesting 3 way comparison. Michael Cheers

Hi Whisky42, Your options appear to be 1. Get the High Planes Kit 2. Convert the Airfix kit (perhaps with the Alley Cat conversion) 3. Wait for the MPM boxing of the Hasegawa kit. Regarding each of these options. 1. - The High Planes kit is accurate but I wouldn't say it is "no harder" than the Airfix kit. I've built the Mk II and there is considerable work on it. I can't confirm it will be "no harder" than the Airfix but I'll find out soon enough as I plan to convert an Airfix kit to a Mk VI. Here's a link to the Mk II which has a link to another site with a WIP: Note: I cheated and stole a whole lot of spare parts I have with a boxing of a Hasegawa Mk X 2. I'll find out soon - I want to build a RAAF Mk VI and I think this path will be faster/easier than breaking open my High Planes kit. The High Planes kit also will need a bit of work in the interior and wheel wells if you want to match up the Airfix kit. Also the engines are half relief on the High Planes kit rather than full engines. I plan to try and fit some Resin Hercules engines in my Airfix build. 3. I've also built the Hasegawa kit. Mine was a Mk X but I expect a boxing of a Mk I would be similar. It will go together really easily and looks great. The only issues are availability/price (MPM boxing may fix this) and questions about it's accuracy. I've been told that it's a bit anaemic compared to the High Planes kit (This was straight from the mouth of the original founder of High Planes) and I expect also compared to the Airfix kit. Here's a built up Hasegawa kit for comparison. Hope this helps Michael

Hi Pierpaolo, You're right about the original clear parts. I had to juggle the canopy to get a reasonable "closed" location. In this way the Hasegawa kit is streets ahead but they don't produce an RAAF buffalo out of the box. The updated Special Hobby kit addressed this very issue - There's a review on the site: I bought one of these, if for no other reason than to get the nice set of RAAF decals that come with it. Your package of Buffalo parts arrived yesterday in the mail! Thanks a lot. Cheers Michael

Very Nice Pierpaolo! About the only thing I'd change would be the canopy. It's always difficult to get the right "sit" with an open sliding canopy over a rear spine. Usually the best solution is a vac replacement if it exists. Cheers Michael

Hi, I've been using "Ultimate" for a while on my aircraft. The effect is reasonably subtle in the photos but it does have an effect. Here's the latest post on Britmodeller - I find it quite easy to use. I tried to make my own washes using watercolours or artist oils but found the results were not consistent and if I made mistakes they couldn't be removed. The Ultimate wash is quite controllable and can be cleaned up (usually) if you make a mistake. They are probably even more useful for AFV's. I don't build targets normally but my son does and the wash made a world of difference to his last 2 projects. We used dirt and mud. Sorry, no photos of them as they are Nathan's models not mine. I believe flory sold his company and name but then started a new company with a modified formula. I've never used the original. Cheers Michael

Hi, It's both the decal and conversion bits. I could see resin and maybe a brass undercarriage. It was right next to a Pete's Hangar C130 brass undercarriage which I bought (for no good reason other than it was half price and it "might come in handy" ) Cheers Michael

oops sorry Bill - I posted on your Part 1 - Should really be here: Not sure if anyone is interested but I had to pop into the city Metro Hobbies store in Melbourne at lunch. This branch is closing down and is having a clearing sale. They still have a store in Box Hill. The city store is the old VHC mentioned in this thread. The reason for this post is that while rummaging through their decal sheets which are marked 50% off, I bumped into the 1/72 F111B Pete's Hanger conversion. They must have found one in the back rooms while clearing up. I know it's quite rare but I'm only really interested in F111C's and G's. There web site is here - https://metrohobbies.com.au/ The item doesn't seem to show up in their web site which I'm not surprised about but if you're keen, you could probably email (or phone them if you're in Australia) The shop closes Sep 1 and I guess this item will get sent to their other store if not sold by then. Cheers Michael

Not sure if anyone is interested but I had to pop into the city Metro Hobbies store in Melbourne at lunch. This branch is closing down and is having a clearing sale. They still have a store in Box Hill. The city store is the old VHC mentioned in this thread. The reason for this post is that while rummaging through their decal sheets which are marked 50% off, I bumped into the 1/72 F111B Pete's Hanger conversion. They must have found one in the back rooms while clearing up. I know it's quite rare but I'm only really interested in F11!C's and G's. There web site is here - https://metrohobbies.com.au/ The item doesn't seem to show up in their web site which I'm not surprised about but if you're keen, you could probably email (or phone them if you're in Australia) The shop closes Sep 1 and I guess this item will get sent to their other store if not sold by then. Cheers Michael

Hi Pierpalo, You're progressing well with the kit. I built this kit a few years ago and I recall the major issues I had was closing up the fuselage as the cockpit parts (especially the cowling combing) were too large for the fuselage. I ended up shaving heaps of plastic off bulkheads, cockpit parts and combing to get everything to fit. Here's my completed one - http://z15.invisionfree.com/72nd_Aircraft/index.php?showtopic=2988&hl= I noticed you're building the Navy version so I was wondering if I could bother you for some of the parts not required for this version. I've managed to lose my spinner from my Hasegawa kit (It was a combo so I robbed the second kit) and some of the props and tail cone are required for RAAF versions but not in the Hasegawa kit. I'll send you a PM Cheers Michael

Hi Tony, I thought one of the Australian sites had info on the colour of the Matildas but the closest I could find was on the Mouse House Enterprises web site (They do a lot of accessories and even paints for Australian Armour). This article has info on markings and marking colours - not sure if the "service colour" is meant to be the overall green on the tanks or not. http://www.mheaust.com.au/Aust/Research/Matilda/Markings WW2.htm Regards Michael

I noticed this first on the other main site I post on - 72nd scale aircraft. After hearing from others there and here, I've moved to postimage. It is quite a bit of work reloading and linking photos. The other difficulty is remembering which pictures I originally posted if I didn't individually caption each (I usually have more pictures than I actually post of each topic) however it does mean the posts may have a different set of pictures to look back on! I've started redoing all the pictures progressively. Fortunately I never rely on online storage as a main location. I usually have the masters backed up on an external hard drive and dvd's. External Hard Drives do crash as well. Hope the other hosting sites don't go the same way. I wonder how they do make money without ads.

Hi Wombat, I nearly forgot - There is the High Planes kit. Here's a built one - http://www.aussiemodeller.com.au/pages/Gallery/Aircraft_I-O/Jarvis_SpitVc.html It has the advantage of having RAAF decals too but an easy build it probably isn't. It would also have vac canopies. It does have the advantage of being available. Not sure if it might be better for accuracy on the items mentioned by Finn. Regards Michael

Hi Wombat, Dave's right, the best kit currently is the Sword kit. I did a review a while ago on Aussie Modeller - http://www.aussiemodeller.com.au/pages/Reviews/acft kit/Louey_SwordSpitVc.html I was at the Melbourne Model Expo and was sure I saw some on some vendors stands but since I wasn't looking for one I didn't pay much noticed. Since you're in Australia, these should be affordable if you can only find them. It *may* have been Aeroworks from Adelaide or then again it could have been one of a couple of vendors I didn't catch the name of. Best wishes searching. Michael

Hi Cookie, Thanks for the suggestions again. I looked at my Mk 21 though and there only appears to be one spinner backplate, so I would transfer the problem of completing a set of aligned props to that kit. I suppose you are using your SH kits as cannabilization subjects so it may not be an issue for you. I'll think of what to do next when I get back to the Mk 24 soon. (I have 2 projects I have to do for club displays which need to be finished in the next month - One of them is a Spitfire but not as we know it Cheers Michael

Hi Tony, Thanks for the clarification - I haven't looked at my copy for a while - I only recall it came with an extra cowling and the single seater fairing. As this is an early version I thought the new cowling would be the one for the early airframes. I've seen the photo of the "Secret Weapon". I'm pretty sure it was in one of my AHSA (Aviation Historical Society of Australia) journals. I'll try to find it and if so, I'll pm you to see if you want a scan. Cheers Michael

Thanks Cookie, I'll probably go with the lengthened props and the original u/c covers. I'll also use a spare Eduard canopy like you suggested. Cheers Michael

Tony's covered the details pretty well. Just a few comments - The MPM kit has a major outline flaw in it - the fuselage sides taper from front to back when looked at in plan. They should be parallel. The SH kits are correct here. The 2nd SH boxing (Rabual) has extra resin to cover the different early cowling type and a fairing for a once off "single seater Wirraway" The other kit available is the High Planes kit which is very accurate in outline and has a nice vac form canopy (which may need to be trimmed down for height based on experience from a friend's build). It's a limited run kit (actually High Planes first kit) and needs a lot of small detail scratched but ends up looking very nice. Cheers Michael.