PMG Offramp

If only this kit could be CAD designed by Stratosphere Models (I hear they are very good at CAD designing) using station diagrams drawn in red and blue sketches by Robertson (and his immeasurable expertise), and the whole thing marketed by Brasil Decals (only PayPal gift option, thank you) ...

Hi Jackson, The A321 kit features chevron exhaust cones for the CFM56 engines & extra strakes for both CFM56 & V2500 engines. Regarding 2016 releases, a 787-9 is announced, they seem to have corrected a bit the fuselage fairing, test shot photos are already circulating. An Il-76 Candid is also planned (Ultimate Kit, with flaps and slats extended) but I don't think test shots are out yet.

Niki, Thank you for the decal link, it will come handy because I just started one. 757 mldg bogies are 216cm long (including wheels) vs 192cm on the bogie A320. In 1/144 the difference is 1.7mm, I'd say not huge. On the 4 wheeled bogies A320s, the gear bogie door (on the W/F fairing) is of a slightly different shape and 223cm long - 15.5mm in 1/144 vs 183cm long - 12.7mm in 1/144 on regular A320s. The mldg bay may very well be the same size but the opening is bigger to allow the bogie stowing. Out of curiosity, are you building the Zvezda or Revell kit ? Will be following this topic for sure !

Man, that's NIIICE, looking forward to this build ! I have a few early releases of the Airfix DC-10 but they don't have such sink marks, I guess you will get rid of them with thick surfacer ?

Darren, Will follow this build for sure, this MD-11 is IMHO one of Welsh's nicest kit in 1/144, along with their great 747SP. Welsh kits are very exciting to build, they just need more attention when separating the main parts from the vacformed sheets and sanding down the excess plastic, not forgetting strengthening the joints with plastic strips.

I find it GREAT !!! It's marred with prominent raised rivets but once sanded away, it makes the kit shine even more. Remember it's a 70s kit so some parts are devoid of any detail (basic and chunky wheels, basic ldg, no clear part for the windshield, 0.5mm deep recessed pax windows) but I think it's much much better than Airfix's -100 then -200 kits. I didn't see this reissue coming, I'll buy loads of them.

I can picture how incredible this Candid will be, plus if you imagine all the special versions that can be quite easily made from, we're in for a feast ! That's just my opinion but Zvezda should later consider the Mriya instead of the Ruslan, AFAIK the An-225 has never been kitted before and the An-124 is still easily available from Revell (beautiful kit). Anyway, I like that brand so much (I just got their 1/48 Pe-2, absurdly amazing kit) they could tool a 1/450 glider I would still be happy.

I'm dead certain they will, after all they brought a few corrections to their A321 kit (smaller correct pax windows, altered vertical stabiliser root, main ldg brake assembly runner gate better located, etc).I hope they will correct the wing/fuselage fairing, wing root thickness, rear fuselage belly compound curve and main ldg strut thickness on this new -9 kit. I was hoping on an "Ultimate Kit" tag for all of their new 1/144 releases but it looks like it's only on selected kits.

J... Jennings, is that you ?

Entirely true, however I'm absolutely certain the Asian brands (especially Tamiya & Hasegawa) would have done a better job. Nah, will try vacform it.

bbudde, you did the review ? Well done, great photos ! I prefer much more modellversium to ipmsdeutschland because your reviews feature more detailed photos which help appreciate the details. I'm just having issues with some of the Halifax's clear parts, especially the nose tip... so thick, just like on their B-17G kit.

Wonderful build, the wheels look splendid on your build. The only photo available of the stock Modelsvit wheels make them look very basic, now it's true the photo is pixelized but in such a detailed kit, I would have expected multipart wheels. Do you plan offering these wheels for sale or was it just a one-off for your build?

The following link gives you an insight of what's good on both kits, nearing the end of the page : http://www.72scale.com/aircraft/Lockheed/C-130.htm

The Heller Coast Guard ref. 80385 is the Italeri kit reboxed. I forgot to add that Airfix also played this game of reboxing other's kits and their ref. 09003 (GB, Sweden, Australia and New Zealand decals) is in fact also the Italeri kit. Mind you, the Italian kit is not a bad one, it actually looks more modern, better moulded but if I can choose between the Airfix or the Italeri, I'll go the 1st anytime as its fuselage cross section features a more pronounced "chin" at floor level and the windshield geometry is more accurate. The ESCI is another mould, not related to the Airfix and Italeri ones. It's fully recessed, feature a large 1 piece canopy that's too curvy (IRL the windshield is made of flat panes, faceted). Italeri reboxed it, ref. 1310, AC-130H Spectre. Basically, if you're after something that looks like a Hercules, all kits will fit the bill. If you're after a pleasant build, enjoy perfectly moulded plastic, reasonable detail level, beautifully printed decals on the recent rereleases, I'd suggest the Italeri kit. If you prefer a slightly more accurate kit OOB but are ready to endure more flashes, thicker trailing edges and inferior clear parts, go the Airfix route. I can't suggest the ESCI kit, I really don't like it.

Great choice, I'm almost 100% sure it's a rebox of ESCI's very good kit. I also have Airfix's new kit, while it's great (but too deep recessed details to my taste), I see no reason binning the ESCI kit.

Same here, I'd say the ancient Airfix kit is the way to go, its fuselage cross section and nose geometry is better than Italeri's. The Italeri kit, however is better moulded and detailed (still raised, but more and better details). To me, it's still all the way Airfix. Btw, very nice camo you plan doing, great choice !

Reminds me of Fujimi's new tool F-15E released about 2 years ago that turned out to be more or less 1/66 instead of 1/72. CAD-designing a new kit from scratch, printing out 3D mockups, machining the mould cavities, pumping out test-shots, attending big meetings where they all think they are so smart and hope for this new kit to sell well... ... but NOT measuring the thing to make sure basic dimensions like overall length/span are spot on (not talking about recessed details 0.05 or 0.06mm wide or details like this) ? And they plan releasing other variants ?? Quite sad because most of HB's kits are beautifully molded, almost no flashes or short-shot parts, beautiful distortion-free clear parts, nice packaging, interesting subjects. Pilot Replicas, need my money ? ;-)

I guess you're meaning the new Airfix Beaufighter ? The thing is, I was looking for nicer Bristol Hercules XVI and their cowlings to improve the Revell new Halifax B Mk.III kit, that's why I thought of the Hasegawa Beaufighter engines. I didn't think of the Airfix Beaufighter and Lancaster kits because, as much as I love their new releases, I still find their engine parts basic and cowlings a bit clunky. I was under the impression the Revell new Halifax B Mk.III cowlings were too big but it now appears only the front opening is slightly too large so maybe all this part stealing won't be necessary. Anyway, I'll still check the Hasegawa parts to see what improvement they can offer. Guys, thank you very much for your advices on what corrections to bring on the Revell new Halifax B Mk.III kit. Regards, Steven

Yes, you'll upset Hombee ;-))) ! Great subject, tiny little jet with loads of decal possibilities, very looking forward to this one... no, very looking forward to any of your projects !

Graham, thank you for your message, I probably misread an early post, believing the whole cowling was too large. I'll look into this more seriously. I don't plan building a squadron of Halifax so the only Hercules-powered Halifax I'm building, I'd like to get it right. Wez, you're right, it's like comparing a kit to a plan or station diagram which's accuracy isn't guaranteed. I didn't know the Hasegawa Beaufighter was that smaller than its competitors, I'll pull it from the basement next week, measure it's length/span and compare with the official numbers. Thank you for the hint !

Hello Chris, Thank you very much, that was the answer I was secretly hoping for, MUHAHAHA (Dr Evil laugh) ;-))) I just bought Revell's superb HP Halifax B Mk.III kit but read the engine cowlings were presumably slightly too big, now I want to check them against the Hasegawa Beaufighter cowlings. Thank you again !

Hello, I'd like to know if the engine and cowl sprue is common to all Beaufighter versions released by Hasegawa ? I read Beaufighters had different versions of Bristol Hercules engines but I don't know if the basic dimensions differed (diameter, length, cowl geometry, etc) and if it's the case, did Hasegawa tool different engine and cowl sprues? Thanking you all in advance, Steven

I'm making a start on that model, the molding is absolutely superb, no flashes, gorgeous recessed details, if only Revell could maintain such quality on all their new kits.

Same here, plus we're now getting realistic pax windows decals from Authentic Airliners and other brands, I like this trend and the 1st ones are especially well designed and realistic as well as beautifully printed. AA's Tristar kit will most certainly be very accurate but I still think there's a market for EE's cheaper kit.

The very early Tristars had narrow doors 4L/4R, early engine afterbody and long exhaust cone. Perhaps that's the reason they tooled a separate rear section, to allow for a 2nd rear section for later "long" Tristars that incorporated the whole deal (wide 4L/4R doors, late engine afterbody, short exhaust cone and freezbee fairing)? Or it's moulding limitations, for example an injection machine which do not accept big enough mold cavities, resulting in multi-section fuselage parts, "à la Eastern Express Antonov An-22 C o c k". Anyway, even if it is a copy of the Otaki kit, I'm still interested, the recessed details look like an improvement over the Japanese kit.