dukdalf

I really should get started on that 1/72 scale version... Very good progress report!

The 1/72nd scale boxing of this kit is in my stash so I'll be following you on this build, if I may.

Neither an expert or French, and if it will help you is uncertain, but I did find this picture of 2/33 'Savoie' Thunderflashes in Crosnier & Guhl's book "La Chasse a Reaction": Have fun with the build!

Thank you for the information, Rui Silva. Interesting stuff. And no, I'll not call you a shipbuilder. The IMO may do so, but seeing the people at Wigetworks baptised their craft "Airfish" I can only conclude they're not certain either as to what exactly it is. Looking forward to your next reports on the build of the beast called Lun.

Ah, the "Monster of the Caspian Sea". Fascinating machine and a wonderful choice for a build report. I'll follow your progress with interest. If I'm not mistaken the use of ground effect is the reason for the IMO to classify 'ekranoplans' as ships. Much the same argument could be made for calling them aircraft, it seems. Or flying boats. Would you perhaps have a link to the disputes you refer to? Enjoy the build!

While struggling to digest the move from sheep to cattle, I uncovered this: The L-150 number on the bow of this airship is obviously a fib. My hopes of it being L-15 and so helping out Martian on his styrene journey were unfounded: this tatty booklet contains an embellished (and very anti-British) version of L-50's wartime log of a raid on London in 1917.

Just a nudge to take this thread away from farm animals, but with my sincere respects to the general.

Nice work so far, Chief. As for your concerns about the rigging, on my shelf of doom is the Classic Airframes kit. If I remember correctly, that does include a rigging diagram. Right next to it lies a copy of Naval Fighters #84 on the Duck which may also prove useful. I'll try to post photos tomorrow.

Beautiful Mosquito. I have the same Hasegawa kit under construction, destined for the same livery. As for the Bordurian Bf-109 from Ottokar's Sceptre mentioned earlier, that is a true mongrel. It features the broad, early style chin intake seen last on the D-series, it lacks the struts on the horizontal stabilizers that all E-series aircraft had, it has the rounded wingtips of an F or G but an earlier aileron arrangement, etcetera.

Always nice to see a Tintin theme, and your Hare looks great. I've built the MPM-boxing, which I suspect is the same as the Gran. As for reference, this site: http://richard.ferriere.free.fr/aerotintin.htm is quite useful as well.

In the picture above is a Mosquito FB Mk.VI operated by the French airforces from their base at Rabat-Salé (Morocco) and in the picture below an aircraft in Indochina, I think: There seems to be a heat shield fitted behind the 'siamesed' exhaust for cylinders 5 & 6. Does anybody have any more info on this?

Perhaps you've seen it already, but several good pictures of Dutch Starfighters can be found here: https://www.ipms.nl/artikelen/nedmil-luchtvaart/vliegtuigen-l/vliegtuigen-l-lockheed-f104 Good luck with the build, and with the same kit in the stash I'd like to watch closely...

The Bordurian airforce operated a mongrel version of D-E types, so we have to look elsewhere I think.

Sorry for the late response, James. This P-63 has indeed spent the last twelve months or so or the shelf of doom for reasons outside the realm of modeling. Having put those troubles behind me, it will get finished as a Normandie-Niemen aircraft.

Whether all Mastercraft/Mistercraft kits are Heller-reboxings I don't know. As for that shock, you may want to brace yourself. I have their Su22 which requires a vast amount of work to make it anywhere near presentable. I agree with The Wooksta: ask to check them out before buying.