Flankerman

Just delivered - courtesy of Hannants and Royal Mail - Mikro-Mir's latest 1/350 scale submarine USS Parche SSN-683 - Late Version. Box art - note the divers lockout chamber on the aft casing - disguised as a DSRV.......... The instruction sheet is a flimsy A4 page folded in half ........... the first page gives a brief potted history of the boat and a painting guide (!)... The reverse is the construction diagram....... The hull is split horizontally..... The only other sprue provides the upper and lower decking, sail, control surfaces etc.... note that it DOES NOT include the DSRV !!! The package is finished off with a small decal sheet for the depth markings and escape hatches - plus a small etched brass part for the propeller and towed-array sonar. This is another nice kit from the prolific Ukrainian enterprise of Mikro-Mir - but they are being a bit naughty not including the DSRV - as it is already provided in their (Early) version kit.... Note the DSRV at top left. As I have already scratched a model of this version :- http://www.flankers-site.co.uk/model_submarines_USA.html#USS_Parche_SSN-683_ it will be interesting to compare mine with MM's kit - they probably had more info to hand - I couldn't find much about the 'Hush-Hush' undersides at the time - but I have just found this cutaway drawing... https://i.pinimg.com/originals/fa/70/a6/fa70a6ef6d59cc1e12d33ca39229e447.jpg All my 1/350 scale subs are here :- http://www.flankers-site.co.uk/model_submarines_link_page.html Stay Safe... Ken

Sorry ModelMonkey - but I don't have any other 1/35 scale tanks to compare it with....... Ken

I'm not a tank modeller - but ever since I photographed it at Kubinka, I have been fascinated by this unusual tank... So when Panda Models kitted it I added it to my stash - and have just got round to making it.... More images here :- http://www.flankers-site.co.uk/model_object-279.html The 'weathering' is a bit naff - but I've done my best - so be gentle with me..!! The Wiki entry is here if you want more info... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Object_279 Stay Safe Ken

Amodel do it in 1/72 scale......... The fuselage fuselage and wings are in fibreglass - there are a few fit issuse - but the build is not too difficult.... http://www.flankers-site.co.uk/modl_be-200.html I agree with your wish for an A-40 though - that would be nice ! Great model in 1/144 scale Daneel. Ken

Great progress Nikolai (and Johnny) If they are any use to you, I have some walkround photos of the Mi-24A - taken at Samara State Aerospace University airfield ..... I managed to get the sliding door open and got inside.... More photos -( including interior shots and some taken at Monino) are here :- http://www.flankers-site.co.uk/m-24a.htm Hope these help.. Ken

Excellent model Dimiter Great build and stunning finish..... I didn't know that Amodel had done this kit - I built the Avis kit of the La-200 with Korshun radar.... The worst part was the main undercarriage - realistic but very weak... I had to put a clear-plastic prop under the fuselage to support the weight...... Did you have any problems with your excellent build..??? Happy New Year Ken

Two more photos of Maartens conversion......... It looks great Maarten !! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.... Ken

There is no such magazine...... It's either ...... Scale Aircraft Modelling (published by Guideline Publications) or... Scale Aviation Modeller (published by SAM Publications) (which, worryingly says 'Address Not Found' when I click on it...(?) Have a Happy and Safe Christmas...

Will do......... Ken

Some more in-progress photos from Maarten..... he writes...... Three picures with the first paint on. It was my intention to make it look a bit tatty, but, blast, the paint was probably too old, it didn’t work out quite well. OK, I can camouflage it later on, now it looks far too tatty! ☹ But still, it looks very much a Churchill now it’s black. and.... Note: the propeller is a Los Angeles class example, which suffered some battle damage. Works fine as a stand-in until Mikes 3D example arrives! .... and from Mike Fuller who is making these propellers - 7-blade versions.... .... and 9-bladers... Great work as usual guys.... Ken

Maarten has sent me 3 new photos - and this short text.... Now it goes faster, I’m refining the details like the shape of the bow, added the forward diving planes, refined the contour of the upper casing in a gentle S-curve, and so forth! Fantastic work Maarten - it really looks the part..... Ken

Some more photos from Maarten..... Over to you Maarten.... it's looking great so far...... Ken

You are not wrong....... Take a look over on ARC at Gabor's comments on the weird double curvature at the wing root trailing edge..... (scroll down about half-way).... http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?/topic/315206-148-mikoyan-gurevich-mig-15-mig-15bis-fagot-by-bronco-models-released/page/2/#comments Ken

Great photos Mark - thanks for sharing them.... which reminds me.... During a group visit to Boscombe Down in the early 80's, we where shown round a Tristar in a hangar. Our host informed us that they were doing FR trials with it - and also mentioned that it had originally been intended as a three-point tanker - with Flight Refueling HDU's under the outer wings as well as the centreline unit. But.... due to the Tristars 'Active Ailerons' (ACDS) it had proved impossible to fit anything under the wings. At least I think that's what he said - I'm getting old and the memory is fading... Ken

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/profile/31456-maartenschonfeld/ Belgian modeller Maarten is converting the MikroMir 1/350 scale HMS Resolution SSBN kit into a Churchill Class SSN. As he has no means of posting WIP photos on Britmodeller, I offered to post them for him.... Over to you Maarten........ Ken

Great idea Maarten - something I have been thinking about for a while. Do you have any photos of work-in-progress ?? I would be interested in exactly how you go about the conversion. I'm not sure I understand you on this - if you leave off the separate missile deck you get the circular hull shape - but you would still need to fix the raised section at the bows.... I'll be following with interest... Ken

As I understand it, they are to align the panels - so that ham-fisted conscript groundcrew can't fit the removable panels the wrong way round. They just have to line up the coloured dots - and the panel will be correctly fitted. Ken

I find it amusing that the Pilatus PC-9 was rejected all those years ago in favour of the Shorts Tucano - and here we are years later purchasing the Texan - which is, essentially a warmed over PC-9 !! Full circle... Ken

My nomal fare is Soviet/Russian aircraft - but I also have a soft spot for the Scorpion - so much so, I built SIX of them..... More here.... Ken

You can see the twist in this photo - wot I took at Zhulani, Kiev...... You can see that intakes (and whole rear fuselage) are offset to starboard just behind the rear canopy... Ken

I recall that Zactoman had something to say about that at the time...... Ken

There's one in the Monino collection...... (in completely ficticious camo).... Great model BTW Tom - well executed and painted. It certainly looks much bigger than 1/72 scale. Ken

Great photos Serge - I think we visted the Gzhel pottery during one of my many aviation trips to Russia - on the way to an Aeroflot training base somewhere..... Other 'Pretty' tanks are available..... These two at the Great Patriotic War Museum in Kiev - photographed in 2006...... (now covered in graffiti)........ and... the Russians hold an annual 'Tank Biathlon' for crews from Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Armenia - with each country having a different coloured tank.... This is my attempt at modelling them..... Tanks for looking... Kyen

The Aleksayev Lun ekranoplan ..... has been moved from its dry dock in Kaspiisk ( https://igor113.livejournal.com/51213.html?page=1) to a new location ........... http://translate.google.com/translate?prev=/language_tools&u=https%3A%2F%2Fzen.yandex.ru%2Fmedia%2Flanasator%2Fekranoplan-lun-proekta-903-v-derbente-udalos-oboiti-ohranu-i-popast-vnutr-5f30e9b9bbe8572b801cebe9 Interesting story of a fascinating machine.... Ken

I hope you don't mind me butting in ......... It's the only surviving Civilian Aircraft Company Coupé. One of only five built - the 1929 vintage Coupé still flies on a 100hp 5-cylinder radial engine. I took these during a visit to North Weald in 2014..... Great selection of photos Alpha Delta - thanks for sharing... Ken