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As you can see in my 1/72nd Academy Dutch F-35A Anniversary bird topic, I'll have two of the Academy A kits to play with. First I planned to do a Dutch line bird, but since the late 2024 RoG kit will feature a brake chute housing, I'll use that kit for that. So, I will use one of the other kit decal options for the second Academy kit. At the moment I am leaning towards a ROKAF bird, since most other nations seem represented already but I haven't spotted a South Korean build (yet). Open for suggestions! Cheers, Andre

Here's what I'll be playing with: I'll be using the Academy kit with 323 Squadron 70th Anniversary markings. Cheers, Andre

In 2022 catalogue, Academy is to release a new tool 1/48th Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat - Battle of Midway - kit - ref. 12355 Despite rumours It won't be a rebox from the future Eduard F4F kits family (thread), dixit words from M. Vladimir Šulc, boss from Eduard–Model Accesorries ltd., as from M. Gustav Jung, boss from Wolfpack Design, who's close ties with Academy Hobby Model Kits - see here: link Source: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=4666693050091873&set=pcb.4666695563424955 V.P.

My build for this GB will be the Academy 1/35 Stuart "Honey". Not exactly something different. It will be built in the Western Desert Caunter scheme, as I'm sure will many other projects in this GB. I already have a Cruiser A9 and a Matilda in this scheme so I think the Stuart will go well with them.

Well, what better way to get started on the forum than by joining a group build? I'll be building the Academy 1/72 Me-163 kit, but the S variant in which the rocket engine was removed to make space for an instructor. It never entered service, only one was constructed and that was captured by the Soviets, who tested it and used it to progress their own (later abandoned) rocket interceptor program. Kit and plastic (with apologies for my limited photography skills!): It also includes a neat tractor that was used for moving the 163s around after landing - since they were without landing gear and had to be collected. I'll also be trying something new - some Quinta Studio 3D decals. Helpfully, their set for this kit includes both the 163B and 163S versions; they look a bit fiddly, mind. Hoping to get started very soon 🙂

Hi, Here's my Academy F4U-4B. I know that it is not fully accurate, but I'm not going to attempt corrections. I just want a model of a Korean war USMC F4U-4B. Cheers, Stefan.

Polish aircrews from 1586 Special Duties Flight, Royal Air Force, flew numerous missions over occupied Europe, delivering supplies and armed agents ("dark, silent ones") to various resistance groups. In this build, I've sought to capture Liberator VI GR-R, EV978, as it would have appeared months after delivery to the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations (MTO) in Brindisi, Italy, in 1944. Two Liberators were coded GR-R, but only one, EV978, survived the war. Jadran Hobbies produced a decal sheet, now out of production, for EV978 and two Halifax Mk1 and Mk1a aircraft from 1586 Special Duties Flight. Having gotten the sheet as a gift, I considered the possibilities of building Revell's Halifax Mk1 or GR.V with some minor mods versus the more difficult challenge of fashioning a Liberator VI with modified nose glazing and a Boulton-Paul turret in the tail. In the end, I steered away from the Halifax as too difficult to obtain. By happy coincidence, I received the Academy B-24J "The Dragon and His Tail" for free at a club Christmas party gift exchange, and that tipped the balance. I used a fair amount of after-market on this model, including the excellent Quick Boost engine set, Squadron/Falcon vacuum-form clear parts, Master gun barrels, and resin wheels (Eduard?). Paints were chiefly Vallejo and MiG. I had to prime the clear parts with Mr. Surfacer, but the paint still came off in many places with demasking, so I had to resort to decal painted in the camouflage colors.

Hola amigos, this will be my contribution, the Academy 1/72 PBY-5A Catalina: With the beautiful Argentine markings (bottom right) in this FCM decal sheet: The main fuselage colour is silver BTW, not white. Plus, the wings are yellow: She's a very colourful bird. Really looking forward to this one

Polish aircrews from 1586 Special Duties Flight, Royal Air Force, flew numerous missions over occupied Europe, delivering supplies and armed agents ("dark, silent ones") to various resistance groups. These were extremely risky missions, flown chiefly at night by single aircraft, and vulnerable to FLAK, fighters, weather, and crew fatigue. 1586 Special Duties Flight took huge losses during the Warsaw Uprising of August - October 1944, during which its crews pushed themselves beyond even the extremes of wartime necessity to deliver needed supplies. In this build, I've sought to capture Liberator VI GR-R, EV978, as it would have appeared months after delivery to the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations (MTO) in Brindisi, Italy, in 1944. Two Liberators were coded GR-R, but only one, EV978, survived the war. Jadran Hobbies produced a decal sheet, now out of production, for EV978 and two Halifax Mk1 and Mk1a aircraft from 1586 Special Duties Flight. Having gotten the sheet as a gift from a Polish-American friend, I considered the possibilities of building Revell's Halifax Mk1 or GR.V with some minor mods versus the more difficult challenge of fashioning a Liberator VI with modified nose glazing and a Boulton-Paul turret in the tail. In the end, I steered away from the Halifax as too difficult to obtain. By happy coincidence, I received the Academy B-24J "The Dragon and His Tail" for free at a club Christmas party gift exchange, and that tipped the balance. The Academy kit is well known to this forum's members. It builds well and is relatively trouble free. Having never built a B-24 previously, but knowing that the deicer boots would be difficult, I that I would assemble the tail and wings first, sand the seams, and paint them as separate parts before joining them to the model.

Too much choice for this GB, as previously discussed. But the new Wolfpak F-5E still has no issue date, a Vietnam GB looks likely for next year, I have just finished the second F-104 of the year and I quite like the NMF on the tail of my current F-100 WIP, so I am going to do this Academy F-84G with the only FM being decals (bought years ago) for a Misawa based example that I have found a few photos for, middle option. Chris

Hughes AH-64D Apache Block II 1:72 Academy The AH-64 Apache was developed from the US Army's Advanced Attack Helicopter programme in the early 1970s. This stemmed from The US Army need to fill its anti armour role, following the cancellation of the AH-65 Cheyenne programme. This was designed to find the replacement for the AH-1 Cobra. Hughes Helicopters developed their Model 77 which became the YAH-64. The YAH-64 first flew in 1977. It features a nose mounted sensor suite containing targeting sensors and night vision equipment. A 30mm chain gun was carried under the forward fuselage and stub wing pylons provided four hard points for carrying AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and unguided rocket pods. The helicopter was introduced into US Army service in 1986. The AH-64D or Longbow Apache identified by the Longbow radar system carried on the mast head entered service in 1996. This was produced now by Boeing as they had acquired McDonnell Douglas, who themselves had acquired Hughes. The US Army is the primary user of the AH-64. The primary identifying feature of the D model or The "longbow" Apache is the AN/APG-78 Longbow millimetre-wave fire control radar located above the main rotor head. This allows the simultaneous tracking of upto 128 targets with the ability to engage 16 of these at one time. This data can also be shared to ground units by means of a radio modem. The Block II airframes were first delivered from early 2003 and featured a digital communications upgrade. The Kit Academy have brought us Apache kits in the past, and these have been very good, in fact some would say the best in 1/72 scale. The new AH-64D kit is a new tool kit, this is not as some manufactures would be tempted to do and that is stick a AH-64D radome into an AH-64A kit. There is a choice of early or late sensors and access panels, along with the correct instrument panels and MFD's. A great touch is the one part main rotor in the kit so you wont have the often problematic job of aligning the rotor blades to a main hub and stopping them from drooping down! The kit also features fine engraved panel lines, great detail throughout and slide moulded engine pods which are basically one piece. Construction starts with the main fuselage halves. Holes must be opened up for various parts to attach later on in the build. Once this is done construction can move onto the cockpit. Control columns are added to both cockpits, along with the main display panels. There appears to be a cyclic control only and no collective. The one part moulded seats can then be added. Coamings are then added to the front and rear panels. The next step is to make up the mount for the main rotor blades. Once this is done the completed cockpit assembly and rotor mount can be added into the fuselage and the halves closed up. Next on the list of jobs is to make up the wings for mounting the weapons systems. Once made up these are attached to the main fuselage along with the top cover for the engine area. A five part assembly each side is required each side for the front landing gear. Once made up these too can be added to the main fuselage. The next major step is to attach the fairings down both sides an underneath which house a lot of the electronics carried as well as the feed system for the 30mm canon. Once the underside part is on the 30mm canon itself can be added. The tail wheel is also added at this point. Rocket pods and/or hellfire missiles can be added to the weapons pylons next (though I suspect these will be left to last by most modellers). Next up are the engine pods. The engine fronts and heat shielding exhaust parts are added and then pods can be attached to the main fuselage. Following this the main sensor package can be assembled and attached to the front of the helo. Now that the man parts of the helo have been assembled it is time to add the myriad of aerials, sensors, handles etc that seem to festoon the exterior. The last steps in construction are to add the main and tail rotors. The main rotor is one part while the tail rotor is a more complicated four part affair. The last item to be added is the mast mounted radar system, though check your references as often this was not carried to save weight in a lower threat environment. Canopy The canopy is a one part one which is a shame you cant open it up and show of the cockpit more. It is clear and distortion free. Decals Markings on these helicopters tend to be sparse so Academy have managed to get six options onto the sheet. A full suite of stencils and weapons markings is also provided. Decals are by Cartograf and should pose no problems. 07-7029 "Archangels" Camp Humpreys South Korea, 2010. 07-7031 "Slayers" Camp Humpreys South Korea, 2010. 99-5188 "Vipers" Iraq 2003 (Shark mouth). 99-5102 "Vipers" Iraq 2003 (Shark mouth). 02-5289 "Avenger" Iraq 2003. 01-5241 "Sidewinders" Iraq 2003. Conclusion This is thoroughly modern tooling of the latest US Army Apache and should make up into a great looking model. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of UK Distributors for

Good day, After the complex Hasegawa B-24J Liberator Assembly Ship that I recently completed, I wanted to “dip my toes” into something much more simple and of course, less complex. Here are the highlights of this kit……………. 1. Colors used : A. Airframe - Vallejo Ocean Gray FS36176 ( BS629 ) #71.273, Tamiya Flat Black XF-1, Flat White XF-2 B. Engines - Fan blades : Tamiya Gun Metal X-10, Tailcone : Gunze Burnt Iron, Leading edge : Gunze Silver 2. Weathered with Vallejo Light Gray ( airframe ), Vallejo Black ( movable surfaces ), & Tamiya black washes. Dark gray pastels I found this to be an excellent kit given the size and scope of it. Most of the parts centered around the main landing gear and engines. I painted the cockpit windscreen gloss black on the inside as no cockpit is provided ( there`s no real need for a cockpit especially in 1/144 scale ). The fit between parts is excellent. I used the provided decals and discovered something unusual about them. The decals were sliding off of the paper within 10 seconds of dipping them into water. I left one of the “McConnell” tail bands sit too long in the water and it came off of the backing paper in short order. The problem was that the decal then curled up on itself and I had a devil of a time getting it back to sit flat. I had never experienced decals coming free of the backing paper so quickly before. The decals did adhere well with setting solution. With the ease of construction and superb detail along the airframe, engine pods, and landing gear, I would highly recommend this unsung hero of the USAF from Academy. Thank you in advance. Respectfully submitted, Mike

Academy 2023 thread - link Waiting the new catalogue expected in February 2024. Newsletter Q1 - 2024 Source: https://academy.co.kr/article/공지사항/1/1480/ The aircraft kits: - ref. 12636 - Tupolev Tu-22M3 "Backfire-C" - (ex-Minicraft Model Kits) - ref. 12637 - Lockheed EC-121 Warning Star - USAF - (ex-Minicraft Model Kits) And the targets V.P.

Academy is to release a 1/72nd KAI T-50 "snap tite" kit - ref. 12519 Source: http://www.academy.co.kr/1p/1p_plaview.asp?pView=PLA0000001&pCode=1289&pScale=SCALE00003 https://academy.co.kr/product/172-12519a-대한민국-공군-t-50-고등훈련기/492/category/26/display/1/ V.P.

As I mentioned in my SBD-1 build thread, as I had reached a slight hiatus on that build whilst I awaited some Eduard etch parts, and with the mojo fully jump started, I made a start on another Acc. Miniatures favourite in the shape of Grummans tubby F3F-1 fighter, here's the pre-start photos: With the SBD-1 destined to be in USMC markings, this one's going to be in a regular USN scheme, not sure which unit yet but it definitely won't feature Felix the Cat. Thanks for looking Ant 🐜

One of the more iconic symbols of the D-Day Normandy Invasion, the Douglas C-47. Over 1000 of these aircraft took part in the opening days of the invasion, playing a crucial role of delivering paratroopers to capture specific targets in the hours before troops began landing on the beaches. C-47 42-92847, "That's All Brother", led a flight of over 800 C-47s carrying the 82nd and 101st Airborne to the interior of Utah Beach. This aircraft has a storied history, including taking part in Operations Dragoon, Market Garden, and Varsity. Her restoration started in 2015 and was returned to flight in 2018. As of the time of this post, That's All Brother with 5 other US-based C-47s have flown to the UK to take part of the 80th Anniversary. They'll once again load up and drop Paratroopers in Europe. Academy recently bought Minicraft, so its no surprise to see a rebox of this kit. Your basic kit shots:

Joining you with this kit, £21 from Hobbycraft last year. With a £5 voucher that they sent for my birthday, brought it down to £16 - Bargain! And my hunt for 3-tone camo Catalina decals, yeilded these FCM decals for Brazil. The US was keen to have influence in that region, to operate U-boat patrols out into the Atlantic, and ferry operations to Morocco. I've built the Academy PBY-5A previously, as a US Navy, Cat based at Guantanamo, Cuba. Similar U-Boat patrols, reaching into the Atlantic.

Around 10 years ago I was going through a WWII FAA phase and had built a Fulmar and an Albacore together with converting a Spitfire and Hurricane into their seagoing versions, and had also built replacements for my ancient Frog Firefly and Barracuda. I then built the then new Airfix Martlet, and also both a modified Corsair and a Hellcat in FAA colours, and bought this with a view to building a British version. I glued together the cockpit interior then it went back in the box for some reason, so maybe I should finish it off now as a US version. Scalemates say it is actually the old Frog moulding but I seem to remember that several fellow modellers are not so sure. Certainly it has a far more detailed cockpit interior than the Frog kit and also engraved panel lines so it must have been at least partially re-tooled. More as and when I get started. Pete

Today in the Gustav Jung - from Wolfpack Design - Facebook page. It's reported as a Academy Hobby Model Kits project. 1/35th - ref. ? - Bell UH-1Y Venom But it's still a long way off until its release. Source: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=5767824333312067&set=a.136945053066718 V.P.

Being currently a lot into Helos, it is almost inevitable that I come across the Boeing AH-64. Also, as it followed the AH-1 in the service of various armed forces and the related tenders around the world, it's only consequent it will follow it on my workbench. So it will be the Westland build incarnation of the AH-64, and Academy has a nice kit in 1/72 available, and since quite a while, me in my stash. It's this: It includes decals for the one Capt. Harry Wales, Prince of Sussex flew at RAF Cosworth Airshow in 2013, and I am tempted to do this. You know, a little bit of glamour on the shelf, not always just blunt plastic in olive drab without any personality, but some glitz of the real world red carpet airfields we so rare get close to. And here's the chance - what a rare occasion for us in the airplane section...

Hi everyone, This is a kit I was not supposed to enter. In fact I was not even supposed to join this GB... And then I realized that it may be a very long time before I can build a good-fitting kit with panel lines already scribed. So here I am, hoping to find this kit ridiculously easy and rewarding. First, a few photos: This is the box art: And now the plastic: And last, the decal sheet: I will not be using this sheet, but a Xtradecal decal sheet. More later on that one. Have fun, all of you. JR

Hi everyone, just finished this Academy P-51B, modeled in the guise of a Mustang III of 450 Sqdn, RAAF, in Italy, 1945. It was a fun and easy build, just what the doctor ordered to get my mojo back. Here is the WIP, for those interested: Here are a few photos. I am actually quite happy with the outcome. I really love the paint scheme, and of course the Southern Cross which I see above my head every night. Thanks for watching. JR.

Hobby 2000 rebox from the ex-Accurate Miniatures/Academy 1/48th Yakovlev Yak-1B kit: - ref. 48033 - Yakovlev Yak-1b - 1. PLM "Warszawa" 1944-45 Sources: https://hobby2000.pl/index.php?id_product=101095&rewrite=p101095-hobby-2000-48033-yak-1b-1-plm-warszawa-1944-45&controller=product&id_lang=1 https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/H2K48033 - ref. 48034 - Yakovlev Yak-1b - GC.3 "Normandie" 1943 Sources: https://hobby2000.pl/index.php?id_product=101096&rewrite=p101096-hobby-2000-48034-yak-1b-gc-3-normandie-1943&controller=product&id_lang=1 https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/H2K48034 V.P.

Good day everyone, today I want to show you this ancient Academy 1/16th scale kit of a Morgan 3 Wheeler I recently managed to finish. The kit was lying around in a cabinet in our showroom and one day I just asked my boss if I could build and later display it. And here we are a few months later. The Morgan Motor Company started with 3 wheeled vehicles back in 1909 and the kit depicts a 1935 V-Twin 3 Wheeler Super Sport. I painted the car in a color combination that exists on a real M3W but on one with a different body style. I used Tamiya spray cans - TS47 Chrome Yellow for the upper half and TS4 German Grey for the sidewalls and sealed it by airbrushing a few coats of Tamiya's gloss varnish over it. Details were painted by brush with various Vallejo colors. The build was quite nice despite some fitment issues around the Matchless V2 engine. What surprised me was the finesse of some of the parts, like the wire wheels or the engine. Mind you, we're talking about a 50 year old kit. So here it is in all its funky glory. Thanks for watching!

Another spitfire. Nice simple kit to put together. Painted with Tamiya and finished with Flory’s wash.