Rosenberg92

Fantastic, thanks alot for all the information everyone. Just an area of interest to me, and currently Vietnam and the Arab Israeli wars are right up there, my knowledge of kits is not, though. I am mainly in the hobby for the fun over the accuracy but its starting to catch up on me these days, with all the reading I get done on the aircraft I feel as though I have to make them more representable. Either way, I am never sure of what I am getting for my money in a kit so it is nice to know so many people know there stuff around here. Thanks. All the best, Dan.

Hello all, Just saw the new Airfix Heinkel HE-111 on a shelf today, tight budget and such so could not buy one and am yet to have found a review, what is the kit like? Is it a new tool or an old Airfix offering in a fancy new box? What is the detail like etc? For the price, I would have been hesitant to have bought it had it turned out to be an old mould kit as I am under the impression that both Revell and Italeri do a version at less than the Airfix price? Thanks for any information here, All the best, Dan.

Hi Bert, Cannot completely help you, but I am sure others here can. It depends relatively on the theatre of war, the time period and of course the aircraft in question. If in doubt, check the theatre colours and period the kit is marked in and try and trace it down. I believe Sky was an early underside colour, whilst I think Azure was more used on the aircraft of the North Africa and Mediterrenean theatres, similarly Duck Egg Blue. Sky Grey seems to be a mid-late war colour for European theatre aircraft, but I am not an expert on this, so what I say cannot be taken as the best answer here and others will no doubt correct me. Black was also used, undersides of Night Fighters such as Hurricanes and Defiants, but also on the undersides of bombers, Lancasters and Halifaxs. This is just a rough guess off of old builds, though, I have seen a North African camoflaged Hurricane Mk.IIc with light blue undersides, Spitfire Mk.1a's with Sky undersides and late Spitfire Mk's with Sky Grey undersides. This is just giving me a hunch, added with some rough basic knowledge and a book I am currently reading. Sorry this is not a great answer, again, I am sure I will be corrected soon enough. All the best, Dan.

Hello, I do tend to have an liking for stranger kits, I am not sure what it is. Currently seem to be obssessed with aircraft from the Vietnam and Cold War era in general, so much mystery surrounds it and the whole situation, on a knife edge. One day the world could of just practically ceased to exist as we know it, becuase of a hunch or a false alarm. So paranoid where the Soviets and Americans. But I love it, I must say. It is always nice to learn something new and that is something I seem to do regularly here on Britmodeller. All the best, Dan.

Just a note, I realise in the pictures it looks patchy, I touch up as a final step before decals go on. All the tidying up gets done in one go, I dont know why I do it this way, but it does make it easier for me personally. Dan.

More progress. Tonight I got the camoflage on. The tan/brown looks a little light in the pictures, and the olive looks a bit too grey, but to my eye on the model they look okay. If in doubt I can mix up the olive again and put a quick coat on it to see what happens. I then put the paint to the canopy. This is done freehand using a brush and wiping away any excess as I go. It takes some time, but if you spend ages masking it off, then it is quicker this way. I then did a quick test fit of the canopy, and all appears well. I am still unsure if I want the canopy closed or open on this bird yet, as a wheels down modeller, I could do canopy open to display a nice cockpit, but I have never done this before, what do you think? Also, external parts have been added, aerials and such, as seen in picture above. I chose my ordanance at this point too, I think I will go for a fuel tank on each inner pylon, 2 Mk.82 Fuse Extenders on the middle pylons on each side and an SUU-14 on the end pylons. The Mk.82 Fuse Extenders did not come with the kit, they were spares, so if you dont think they go just let me know, and I can swap back in an extra fuel tank and LAU-3's to each side. This is all I got through tonight, the missus has gone away though so time can be spent on this, hoorah. All the best, Dan.

Hello, Cannot falter previous information, but for reference, World Air Power Journal, Volume 10 Autumn/Fall 1992 has the Dassault Mirage 2000 as its feature aircraft for that issue, covering everything from design to its use, weapons, systems etc. Invaluable source of information, if it is of interest that issue also has a French Air Power Analysis at the end. Sorry I cannot be of much more use, I will track down my copy from my Halls room and search through it for you, can let you know if it disagrees with the information given but from the top of my head it is correct. All the best, Dan.

All I can say is your knowledge of kits astounds me, I honestly take my hat off to you here. I seem to struggle once I go past most mainstream manufacturers and can reel off a bit about the lesser known but even then cannot tell you what you got with what kit. Fanastic, thanks alot. Aside from the aftermarket decal sheets and such from smaller kit manufacturers for Arab States (no offence intended to KP and PM models, I have just googled their ranges and seen you are correct, they did issue and still do large numbers of kits with markings for these) but perhaps as smaller manufacturers they are often forgotten as such, if you catch my drift here? So, it is correct in saying ones own background can determine the sorts of markings or types of aircraft one would model? This makes alot of sense. I am wondering why larger kit manufacturers do not follow on with giving more extraoridnary markings as options to kits, take Airfix's new tooled MIG-15, the options aside from the Soviet were North Korean and Hungarian. Similarly the Airfix Il-2 had options for a Mongolian Sturmovik. These are nice touches, it gives you the option to build someting completely different to the normal array of kits you would expect to see of subjects. I have done further searching, and it appears Airfix have a history of doing this, too, with the Hawker Hunter kits of vintage coming with Kuwaiti markings and EE Lightning having Saudi options. I understand your point, that as a Brit one would rather see them in RAF colours, but the odd one or two builds from far off and unknown countries is always a tempting one. Having something to stand out from your display cabinet/shelf. I was just curious, as for the scale of something that is as much of a conflict as the Arab-Israeli Wars, and the impressive hardware on display of recent times from the Israeli's as well as the innovative use of tactics and skill (taking the 6 Day War of 1967, 5-6th June the Israeli Air Force wiped out most of the Arab nations jets before they could even take off, securing mastery of the skies). I know from a Western perspective it could perhaps be a forgotten conflict, and one in which the general public would possible know little on, but surely there must be more people that would be interested in something ''out of the ordinary''? Again, the post was just a thought for conversation. All the best, Dan.

Hello all, The Arab-Israeli wars, maybe the unsung ''Hot'' area of the Cold War? We all know it got hot for America in Vietnam arguably the Soviets too, and for both the Soviets and America during the Korean War. But maybe we all overlook the battlefields in the Middle East? The Soviet Union put its backing into the exsisting Arab States, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq and Syria. America and France (Western Powers) into Israel. This is clear when you examine the sides equipment, Israeli F-15's, Mirage III's, F-16's and the like, and the Egyptian and Iraqi Mil Mi 2's, Syrian MIG's and all those to boot too. Perhaps a few too many to sit here and name. The Soviets even supplied the Egyptians Sagger Anti Tank Missiles during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, which were used against Israeli M48 and M60 tanks, supplied by America. So, we have Americans against the Soviets. This causes tensions during the Cold War, no doubt that it could have gotten even worse when it was revelead that during the Syrian attack in the Golan Heights on 6th October 1973, had the Syrians broken through (coincidentally in Soviet Tanks) then Israel could have been pushed to use Nuclear Weapons. Unknown at the time and still disputed is the quantitiy of Israeli Nuclear Weaponry. Just as a thought, the Syrians were based so much on Soviet ideas, the army even ran the same field manuals and tactics. (If they had capitalised on their successes in the Golan Heights they could have broken through, but, Russian Tank Field Manuals stated that one must not outrun his own Anti Air Defences). As we now know skilled handling of Israeli Tanks allowed the IDF to push Syria back on the 10th-11th October 1973. Anyway, this got me thinking. For a conflict that has been raging on and off for the last 70 years, and arguably is still today, why do so few kits actually offer options to create aircraft from this geographical part of the world. I have probably missed some kits and not seen them but, it got me thinking why do kit manufacturers not include these? As well, why are there so few kits of these types, I.E. Kfir and Nesher's, Mil Mi 2s and 4s, as well as 8s, SU-7's and such? Granted, they are small airforces (although Egypts now is quite large) and perhaps more unknown, but does this not make modelling them all the more interesting? How many Iraqi Sea Furys or Tuploev Tu-22's have you seen? Egyptian Spitfires? Jordanian Hawker Hunters, F-104's and Mirage F1's (during the late 1970's) or Syrian Gloster Meteors, Macchi 205's and Spitfire F22s? How about Israeli P-51's and Gloster Meteors or Dassault Mystere's? This though is just a small thought, I do not mean to have caused a ruckus, just merely a debate as to what we all thought. All the best, Dan.

Have been promised this kit for Easter instead of an egg by the other half, and must say I cannot wait. Seeing yours here makes me want to have one more! How does it build together? The parts look the job I just hope the decals in this aren't as bad as some of Academys others. All the best, Dan.

Thanks for the recommendations there, In the end I have gone for a topcoat of 68 Dark Green, 88 Ochre Brown and a mix of Olive Grey and Greenish Grey (which has been mixed to a sort of Mid-Olive colour, looks okay compared to photographs I have seen). For the underside coat I have gone for Stone Grey mixed with white. In the end, has turned out a little bit darker than I'd of liked but it looks the part. In the end, if it looks right to me, then I am going to be happy and as long as I am enjoying it, thats what really matters. Am not normally too worried about accuracy, such as that if I do not have a shade at hand I am happy to mix to something close, but for this project I have seen so many pictures and references I would hate to get it wrong now. All the best, Dan.

Progress. Finally. Have gotten some free time and started putting the undercarriage doors on, weapons pylons have been attached and the wingtip drop tanks added to the undersides. Painting has also commenced, with 3 thin coats of Revell Aqua Light Stone on the undersides. On the topside I have attached the front probe and added 3 thin coats of Revell Aqua Dark Green. This was after I had turned it over only to hear a clank... clank... One of the weights in the nose had come unstuck... Or moreover, one had avoided the glue and blu-tac in there. This wouldn't be much of a problem as it is going to sit on the shelf, so you would not hear it or know of it. However, handling it to work on it means hearing it again and again. So, took the knife to the join line and yanked her open, reglued the weight and closed back up. Small amount of sanding the join to seal it and then on with the paint. Some areas need a slight touch up, most noticably is the dashboard which needs some more Black after I caught it with my finger trying to wedge it open. I will get this done next time out before I start on other bits. Other than that, some touching up along the camoflage join line to the base colour of the jet and some slight patching up in the cockpit should suffice. Hopefully this will get done this evening and pictures will be posted (again hopefully) sometime tonight. All the best, Dan.

Yes, have been caught out on both before (with the missus and poor Academy decals). I think it is a shame, they produce some lovely detailed kits and then ruin them by supplying decals you just hate. All the best, Dan. How did you go about the camoflage? I tend to go freehand but have seen people use masking tape and blu-tac before. Also, what colours did you go for, in terms of the Vietnam 3 tone camoflage? Dark and mid/light green and tan/sand are my choices but picking the shades is another thing. All the best, Dan.

Hello all, Have joined on with Academy's 1/72 A-37B Dragonfly. Actually started to put this on here a few days ago and thought I had posted it here... But it seems I haven't. Sorry about that. Will be doing the USAF version OOB. All the best, Dan.

Thanks all, for some extremely wonderful information here. To take it slightly off topic, and I do apologise, if one was using Revell Aqua paints, what colours/numbers would be best suited for Vietnam Era Camoflage. I.E. Green/Light Green/Brown? Currently I am going to experiment using Dark Green/Greenish Grey/Olive Brown over a Light Grey, Revell numbers 68/67/86 over 75 respectively. Though at first appearing too dark, Revell 75 Stone Grey does dry a bit lighter and looks fine for the undersides of the aircraft. Would other opinions do people have here? All the best, Dan.

Yes kit decals, USAF and South Korean are supplied and I will be doing the USAF version. This is for an A-37B, 8th SOS., 14th SOW., Blen Hoa AB., Vietnam 1970. Upper 3 tone Vietnam camoflage lower USAF grey. Today there has been no progress as the missus had me round her Mother's... Sigh. All the best, Dan.

Ok so I got some work done this morning, everything I do is brush painted and using Revell Aqua Acrylics. I dont have any filler here so no filler to be used. Here goes. Dashboard was painted in Black, drybrushed several times with White and then picked out with Yellow and Red. The I put together the tub and assembled the cockpit. Seats were 3 piece and painted in Mouse Grey, the pads were Greenish Grey and the headrests Red. I have never added seatbelts before so thought I would give it a try, using masking tape. Who knows if it is correct but it looks okay. Painted those in Olive Brown and put it all together. Washed it all over with watered down Black before drybrushing back on the original colours to highlight. Then I painted up the cockpit interior with Mouse Grey, shoved some nose weight in the front (it said 5 grams in the instructions, but from obeying instructions before I have an Airfix Strikemaster at home that sits nose high, so from now on I overload a bit). Wheel wells were painted out white, a couple of coats gave a nice finish. Finally, for today as I have to keep some work going, I pulled all of my efforts together and got the tub into place along with the dashboard, the wings on and the halves together. More to follow. All the best, Dan.

Hello all, As the title says, I will be doing Academy's excellent A-37B Dragonfly in 1/72 scale for this groupbuild, by first ever groupbuild too. The kit looks fantastic, so, here are some opening shots to look at whilst I slowly work my way into this photographing ever step I take. Kit has had major comonents removed and masked together to get a feel for overall look. I tend to do this with every kit I get (not so many these days) as it makes me less excited to rush the job to see it finished. Second shot of the sprues, alot of plastic for the pricely sum of £0.99 on ebay although alot of it is for weapons sprues. (Who says you cant have too many weapons, anyway) I look forward to showing you my progress, will probably have an update tomorow night after work has started (or later today for those who note the time). No work to commence this early in the morning. All the best, Dan.

So, do modern toolings of any F-105 variant seem hard to come by? I mean, most that I have now been made aware of seem to be old reboxings of old mould kits. I opened up the Trumpeter kit in the shop the other day to see what it was like (not buy, mind you, my student allowance was at a stretch for the bus ticket into town let alone the kit). The kit though, was superb. For a late war camoflaged F-105, of which I would love love love to build, it seemed to be by far and aware the best kit choice out there. My knowledge of kit makers and kits themselves is limited so please correct me if I am wrong. All the best, Dan.

Oh how I would love to. Only problem is I am struggling for room to place the Mil Mi 2 I am currently building in the gaps of the F-5 for this project, and its probably a bit smaller than a Lynx in 1/72. If I were at home it would be a different perspective, I may already have a few... Least if I can napalm up the F-5 now then I can be happy for another week. Until the next one comes out. All the best, Dan.

I did indugle in purchasing the Hasegawa weapons set for this particular project. What a shed load of kit you get too for the money. There is something about seeing those 'nam aircraft though, laiden to the brim off on another bombing run over the North. Especially when you compare the history of the conflict, as the total dropped on North Vietnam was greater than the entire dropped during the entire Second World War. Another interesting point is the F-4's of the time were not equipped with a cannon, using the new and still developing sidewinders instead. Not proving to reliable, the opposing MiG's had cannons and could cause trouble. To put into perspective, the F-105 had a cannon and even managed air to air kills, and look at it, big lumbering poor maneuvrability. Just out of interest, would the US F-5's have carried napalm tanks at all... I have yet to seen images of them doing so, mostly carrying small iron bombs and a centreline tank but with these smaller aircraft often on for close air support to the ground forces and napalm being as effectice a weapon as it was, it just made me wonder. All the best, Dan.

Hello all, I think my modelling ability is way below being able to hack something apart and convert it. I use the odd bit of filler here and there and sand it smooth but thats about as far as I can go. When I have expanded my collection and rarer more unusual planes attract me more I will definately give it a go. As a new point if anyone is able to answer, ordanance for Vietnam era, would jets or props have carried Mk.82 Fuse Extenders or Snakeyes? Napalms a definite as are LAU-10 and LAU-3 rockets, simple iron ordanance I have seen loaded onto aircraf too, but what else is there about thats ''common'' for the Vietnam era, so to speak? All the best, Dan.

Thanks for all your lovely comments, It was a smashing kit to build, an absolute joy and I have really considered getting more 1/35 scale armour. Only problem is the price, for some kits I could have several 1/72 aircraft for my collection. All the best, Dan.

Hello all, Been looking about, what do people think about the follow kits? All 1/72 any comments welcome as to go for it or pass. Airfix A-7 Corsair II Airfix F-105F Airfix F-111E Hasegawa A-6A Intruder Revell A-7 Corsair Revell F-11A Revell F-8E Crusader (Code 4346) I am aware some of these may have been mentioned before but of these could anyone go into much detail? All the best, Dan.

Hey there, Thanks alot for the advice, my photography skills are somewhat lacking and I need to get them up to scratch. Have seen some photos on here of stupendously good models, but also that have been photographed crystal clear and in perfect focus, and I am guessing it does the model more justice. Thanks alot. All the best, Dan.