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Well, decided. Will be building the Mitsubishi F-2A. Could only get the XF-2A boxing here, but all the sprues and parts for the production version are present. Will have some white metal bits for the spares pile. Box art: Sprues: Still bagged and in white plastic. Not my favorite but cest la vie. Goodies! Got a DXM sheet so can do the funky blue the JASDF use. An Eduard PE fret from antiquity and a set of Reskit wheels round out the options. And of course a printed instruction sheet to make sure I don't mess things up...

Hello again. Its been a while since my last post and here is the my first airliner model for 2022. Hasegawa 1/144 Embraer E-170 Saudi Arabian Airlines livery. The kit is a generic Hasegawa kit, which is no problem in the building, with very little sanding and filling required. Only addition to kit is navigation lights in the wings. As to decals, it was a complete disaster! I used Gio Decals set which is known to be very brittle and not responsive any decal solution. This one is no exception. During the application cheatline completely destroyed. So I had to make my own cheatline by using decal paper spaying gold and cut it 1mm wide. Other elements of the decal tended to silver after dry. Lots of careful trimming away the clear film took care of the silvering, not perfect but a lot better than without. So, I am not satisfied the finish in term of decaling however, I decided leave as it is. The windows are from Authentic Airliners as usual. Paints used were mixture of Mr. Color C44 and white for the upper fuselage, Mr. Color C316 for the lower fuselage and engine nacelles and MRP Boeing Grey for the wings and stabilisers. Metals are a mix of Alclad. Its in my opinion not quite up to my usual standard due to the problematic decals but it looks good. Hope you like it. Cheers! Berk.

Calling this one done! P47D-28-RE, 44-19798, SX-I, 352nd Fighter Squadron, 353rd Fighter Group. Based at Station 157, Raydon, Suffolk in Summer 1944. Assigned to Lt. Frank H. Bouldin and named “Miss Mary Marie” by him. This is the old 1/72 Hasegawa kit which I made in 1986 and rescued from my parent’s loft. Originally I just planned to use this as a test bed for some home printed decals but once I’d cleaned it up and given it a paint job it looked OK so I persevered with it and this is how it ended up. Brush painted with Revell, Humbrol and Citadel….

A total of 651 Swedish made SAAB Drakens were manufactured between 1955 and 1974. In addition to the Swedish Air Force, these fighters was also used in Finland, Denmark and Austria, and a couple were also exported to the United States. The first 12 Drakens entered the Finnish Air Force service in 1970 and in total there were 48 Drakens in the FAF service during some 30 years. My model depicts the Draken DK-215 in the markings of the Lapland Air Command. It made its first flight in February 1975 and the last flight of that fighter took place in August 2000. I built my model from an excellent 1/48 scale “shake and bake” Hasegawa kit and the decals for the Finnish Draken are from Gal Decals. I also used an Eduard masking set for the canopy and a Finnish made photoetch set for the cockpit details. I wanted to build the Draken with the earlier large blue and white roundels and the fighter has been painted in the three colour camo of the FAF. The following shades of Xtracolor were used for the camo: X136 light compass gray, FS16375 X121 gloss sea blue, FS15042 X111, olive drab, FS14084 I also used Vallejo and Humbrol colors to paint the smaller details.

Here's my entry, an old school legacy Hornet from 20 odd years ago. Will be giving the box art machine a bash. Going to use the mixes suggested in the instructions, but I found the FS numbers (I think) during some online browsing for anyone curious (from light to dark): FS 30279 FS 30219 FS 30140 Box contents. Not worked with white metal in years! A small PE fret is included for the instrument panel, HUD, wheel bay wiring and ladder I think. I do have an Eduard masking sheet on its way to me, due sometime before the universe suffers heat death. My Hasegawa weapon sets will be here sooner, the kit only includes drop tanks. Hasegawa ❤️ ...

Given the number of planes I could build for this GB, I have to make a start somewhere, and as I have just finished a batch of USN/Marine planes in Hi-Vis gray and white and the paints are on my desk I thought I might as well build this alongside the A-7D I am about to start in the Matchbox GB. The kit first came out in 1967 and I built it a few years later after it became available over here, but this is a 1999 re-boxing with some rather loud markings! It is a fairly basic kit with minimal cockpit and a few inaccuracies according to the review in D&S, so I will have do do some "improving" I guess, particularly in terms of the armament, using the Hasegawa weapons sets. Here is a little very basic background to the plane. The USN was more than happy with the A-4 Skyhawk light attack plane when it was introduced in 1956, but by the early 1960's it was apparent that its small size came at the cost of a fairly modest payload - around 8500lb over shorter ranges. As the older improved Essex class carriers with their short decks were phased out and replaced, there was scope for a larger plane and, having overcome those who inevitably wanted a supersonic light attack plane, they issued a request for a new plane with performance similar to the A-4 in terms of speed, but with improved bombload and range. LTV offered a sort of smaller and simplified version of their F-8 Crusader fighter, with no variable incidence wing and a less powerful engine, and as this seemed likely to be quicker and cheaper that starting from scratch, they were awarded a contract in 1964 as the A-7. I don't know how the cost worked out but it was certainly quick, with service entry in February 1967, as the A-7A Corsair II. Getting consistent comparative figures is somewhat difficult due to the usual variables - what payload/fuel load was in place for the quoted speed/range etc, but it seems it may have initially been a little slower than the A-4 with no big increase in range, but with a payload of around 14000lb, at least in theory, although the A model was a bit underpowered so it had to take a reduced bombload when taking off from a carrier. The A-7B had a more powerful engine which was slightly better, but externally seems to have been identical to the A-7A. The next major version was the A-7D built for the USAF, who were still concerned about the power so insisted on having an Allison built R-R Spey engine fitted. This bumped the power up from around 12000lb to 14000lb whilst at the same time considerably increasing fuel efficiency, and the Navy were sufficiently impressed to order a navalised version as the A-7E (after the first few were built as A-7C with the old engine due to shotages). By that stage quite a few extra/improved electronic gadgets were being fitted to further improve the capabilities, and the in-built cannon were replaced with a Vulcan rotary one. The A-7 gradually replaced the A-4 and aquired the nickname SLUF, a variation of the BUFF applied to the B-52, in this case Short Little Ugly Fat Fellow if you want the polite version! Pete

Hi, I remember buying this from a discount warehouse in Armley on the outskirts of Leeds in about 1990. The boxing is a bit of an odd one - it is Number 810 which should either makes it the original 1985 release or the 1987 rebox - the pic seems identical on both, but this also has the circular "motif" printed on the top left corner saying it has extra decs for 3 units on the USS Midway as well as the standard set, and that version is not on Scalemates as far as I can see - there is also an extra sheet showing the new marking scheme. I suppose it must have been a limited run of some sort and was picked up as surplus or bankrupt stock as was the A-6E I picked up about the same time, probably for something around £5 each. Whenever it was actually made, it was after Hasegawa had produced their weapons sets so the armament is rather basic and will need adding to, though given the notoriously short range of this early version it will definitely need to include some fuel tanks! Pete

Nothing to see here any more. I think I need to take a break. Thank you for the support! For a moment there I felt like Jamie Oliver when he presented his take on a paella! I didn't want to offend anyone, and I don't think I did, but such is the world these days - some people will get offended just because they want to. That's a hobby, I think, but not one that I would take on. Anyway, I like my Mirage and most importantly, so does my wife and my friends. I don't want to put the pictures up again - water under the bridge, but I'll just say this: I have 2 more Hasegawa 1/72 Mirage F.1 and a lot of decals, and I'm not afraid to use them! Will I put pictures of them up here? Perhaps, if I'm in the mood that day -there are somethings you just shouldn't do! Cheers Hans J

Very enjoyable build of Hasegawa's 1/48 Bf109F-4 kit, finished in the colours & markings of Major Hans Trubenbach, Geschwaderkommodore of JG 52, based at Tiraspol, in 1941/42. Pics of Trubenbach's personal aircraft show it to be painted in overall dark green (presumably RLM70), with slightly unconventional theatre markings. But I guess if you are the Kommodore, you can paint it how you want Trubenbach was a career Luftwaffe officer, already in his mid 30s when the war started, seeing combat on both the channel front during the Battle of Britain, and in Russia during Barbarossa. He eventually left command of JG 52 to be Geschwaderkommodore of JG 104, one of the Luftwaffe's fighter training schools. He died in 2002, aged 96. Hope you like the pics

F-15E Strike Eagle from Hasegawa kit, enhanced with Eduard PE and resin seats and exhausts by Aires. Asymmetric loadout has been used during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

As my ludicrously long Sea Vixen build finally shows signs of drawing to a close, thoughts turn to what to build next. I always try to have two things on the go at any one time, with the other being my never-ending Ark Royal build - but there is a limit to how much 1/350 scratch building and detailing I can stand at any one time, and I need to have something in 1/48 (my aircraft scale of choice) to keep me going. I thought about a twin Buccaneer build - an Anti-Flash White S1 and an Ark Royal (4) final commission S2D. Those will come at some point, since I have the kits and the necessary conversion materials. But watching the splendid work of Steve (Fritag), Debs (Ascoteer) and others has convinced me that it is high time I built something that I actually flew myself. Sea King or Lynx, Sea King or Lynx... much indecision was finally tilted towards the Queen of the Skies by all the press coverage of its retirement from RN SAR service earlier this year (though the ASaC7 Baggers will soldier on for a while yet), and by markdipXV711's excellent build of an 819 SAR cab which he and I flew in together 20-odd years ago. So, since 819 (my other Sea King squadron) has just been done, I have finally plumped for an aircraft from my first tour. Pull up a bollard and listen to a true dit. 820 Naval Air Squadron, 1988, 18 months into my first front-line tour. We were part of Ark Royal (5)'s CAG (carrier air group) throughout my time on the Squadron, and in July 1988 the ship plus 801 (8 x Sea Harrier FRS1), 849B Flight (3 x Sea King AEW2), a detachment from 845 (2 x Sea King HC4) and 820 (9 x Sea King HAS5) set off for Australia, via Malta, Singapore, Hong Kong, Brunei and Subic Bay (Philippines), and home via Mumbai and Gibraltar. 6 months away, and a bloody good time was had by all... Less than 2 weeks after we sailed, we were taking part in a NATO exercise in the approaches to the Med; basically we were playing the bad guys trying to force a passage through the straits, and a number of RN, USN and Spanish units were trying to stop us... including HM Submarines Torbay, Otter and Opportune. The aim of these exercises is not to be 100% realistic, but to make sure that there is maximum interaction, so occasionally there would be a 2 hour pause where the submarines, having come right inside the screen and "attacked" the hell out of the ships, would withdraw 30 miles and start again. We would knock off tracking them and leave them alone to reposition. In those long distant 1980s Cold War days, ASW was our bread and butter, and on the whole we were pretty good at it. Most of the time we did passive ASW - chucking huge quantities of sonobuoys out of the aircraft and finding submarines that way, often working with our Nimrod and P3C brethren, and often working against USSR boats rather than friendly exercise ones. In my first few weeks on the squadron we rippled 3 (3 cabs airborne 24/7) all the way from Norfolk VA to Harstad in Norway, including several days of tracking 2 Victor IIIs that were taking an interest in our games. It was pretty exhausting, but we could keep it up almost indefinitely. For the guys in the back, passive ASW was often good fun; 3-dimensional chess, and all that. But for the pilots it was skull-shatteringly dull, flying around at 4-5,000' (nosebleed territory for any self-respecting helicopter pilot) and stooging at 70kts for maximum endurance for hour after hour after hour. But on this occasion we were doing active ASW, the task for which the Sea King was originally designed. Active ASW in the daytime is enormous fun for the pilots, especially when you are in contact. At night the aircraft flies the profiles for you, closely monitored by the pilots (since you are down at 40', you want to keep a close eye on things in the pitch black; it can be a tad buttock-clenching at night). In the day, however, you generally fly it all yourself ("manual jumps" as the jargon goes) without any assistance from the AFCS (automatic flight control system), and it's a blast. So there you have the scene. I am 18 months into front line flying, and have reached the dizzy heights of being captain of my own crew. My P2 for this trip is a hugely experienced USN exchange pilot (way more experienced than me, but flying as second pilot while he gets up to speed with RN procedures). We do 45 minutes of active Torbay bashing, but then reach the pre-briefed pause while she repositions. Rather than disrupt the flying programme, we simply keep going, so we have taken a plastic milk float with us (hi tech, I tell you) and are doing some grappling training; chuck the milk float out of the back and practice SAR with it - much harder than it sounds, cos the milk float thrashes around in the down wash, so it is great training for the back seat in conning the aircraft and the front seat in hovering it precisely. A few minutes into the grapple work, with Jim the USN guy on the controls, the port engine stops... or so we thought. The Nr (rotor speed) decays as the good engine runs out of puff (too hot and too heavy to hover on one engine) and we subside rapidly onto the water yelling Mayday and punching the windows out. Phil Smith, the Observer, says he had never seen anyone strap in as fast as poor old BJ Sandoe, the Crewman who had been lying on the floor of the aircraft with his head sticking out, conning Jim onto the milk float, when suddenly the Atlantic Ocean came up to greet him. As I reached up to shut down the No 2 engine (cos you sure as heck don't want to abandon a helicopter while the rotors are still turning) it became apparent that the No 1 engine had not in fact failed, but simply run down to flight idle. The fuel computer had developed a fault and tried to shut the throttle, but there is a physical interlock built into the system for precisely this emergency, called the Flight Idle Stop, which is basically a screw jack that prevents the throttle from closing beyond a certain point - the very last thing you do when starting up is to engage it. So we over-rode the computer and managed the throttle manually, the Nr came back up to where it should be and shot off the surface of the sea like a startled rabbit, downgraded our Mayday to a Pan, and flew back to Mum. A Green Endorsement much later (still on the wall of my loo) and very shaky legs for a few hours afterwards. Well, it has to be this cab, doesn't it? So I present to you ZE419 / 014 / R of 820 Naval Air Squadron in July 1988; a bog standard Sea King HAS5. Dark blue (this was just before the days when everything became grey), black markings. Photos of the real aircraft to follow, I expect, but for now she is one of these in the distance (photo taken the day before we sailed from Pompey, so about 2 weeks before the ditching): The aircraft will be built much as in this photo, actually; folded, included the tail, with engine blanks in. The cabs in the photo have tip socks on, but I will probably build mine with the more robust blade support system known as "Forth Road Bridge" gear (as in this Mk 5 at the Fleet Air Arm Museum): The basis of the model will be the Hasegawa 1/48 Sea King, using the "Ark Royal HAR5" [no such thing; it should be HU5] edition (which for some reason Photobucket refuses to rotate, so turn your head): ...and the excellent Flightpath conversion set, which contains all sorts of goodies important to this build - notably weapons carriers, assorted aerials and a tail rotor much better suited to having a gust lock fitted to it. Herewith statutory sprue shot: ...and pic of the contents of Flightpath box and a couple of other aftermarket goodies: As it happens, I also have a Hasegawa AEW2a kit (acquired before the Mk5 kit was released, as the only game in town for a future Mk5 build). This will also be useful, since it contains a number of applicable bits such as Orange Crop ESM aerials (removed from the HU5). And since all the Hasegawa boxings are variations on the same theme, the kit already contains some parts that I will use - e.g. the HU5 has the sand filter in front of the engine intakes, but in my era we simply had the "barn door"; similarly the HU5 has the sonar removed and a blanking plate fitted. The kit contains both a barn door and a (sort of, -ish) sonar. [i also have a second complete "Ark Royal HAR5", designated eventually to be an 819 SAR aircraft... but not yet]. There will not be much progress for a few days, while I get the Vixen over the line.... Herewith photo of the appropriate log book entry (bottom line:

Hi all This is Hasegawa's excellent 1/48 Focke Wulf 190A-5, built OOB. This is the third of their 190 series that I've built (I also built an A-4 and an A-8 previously) and they are just excellent - I can't remember having a single problem with the build of any of them. Finished to represent an aircraft on the Channel front, from II/JG 26. Painted with Mig and Vallejo colours - and decals from the spares box. Hope you like

Hobby 2000 has just re-released the Revell 1/32 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I/V In box review: https://www.kfs-miniatures.com/1-32-supermarine-spitfire-iia-hobby-2000/ - ref. 32001 - Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Ia Sources: https://www.armahobby.pl/h2k32001-supermarine-spitfire-ia-ex-revel-cartograf-pmask-zywica.html https://ksmodel.pl/sklep/szczegoly/hobby-2000-32001-supermarine-spitfire-ia-limited-edition-1-32-24566/ - ref. 32002 - Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IIa Sources: https://www.armahobby.pl/h2k32002-supermarine-spitfire-iia-w-rotol-propeller.html https://ksmodel.pl/sklep/szczegoly/hobby-2000-32002-supermarine-spitfire-iia-w-rotol-propeller-limited-edition-1-32-24567/ - ref. 32003 - Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Va Sources: https://www.armahobby.pl/h2k32003-supermarine-spitfire-va.html https://ksmodel.pl/sklep/szczegoly/hobby-2000-32003-supermarine-spitfire-va-limited-edition-1-32-24568/ V.P.

After years of staring at the model in my cabinet, I decided last week after seeing yet another P-3 kit started that it was time to crack on with the restoration of this: I built this back in 1981, I think. Considering it was all brush-painted and the walkways painted, it wasn't a bad job but the seams were terrible, it needed nose weight (which I'd left out) and the decals were all faded (no clear coats on my models in those days!). I want to rebuild it as a flying desktop model of the EW version of the AP-3C, two of which will continue in service with 10SQN, RAAF for a few more years. I have the Hawkeye Models decal set I'll use for this and I managed to get a copy of the Hamilton Hobbies ELINT conversion set, too. It's suffering from the moulds becoming worn, so I'll need to do a fair bit of work on the castings for it to pass muster. I'll also be using the Quickboost prop set as I want to model it with #1 engine loitered (propeller feathered in flight). First step - strip with oven cleaner: It took a few goes and some resorting to the more-toxic-but-more-effective caustic stuff but it all came off eventually! The Lincoln at the bottom is not being stripped - it was in the hangar for a tailwheel repair! Some bits broke off but I'm not concerned as they're being replaced anyway. The sonobouy launcher section and all the pylons were then removed and the small galley/rest area windows, which had clouded over, popped out. I've made a plastic sleeve like the one I made for the USS Enterprise from plastic stock on Ray Seppala's suggestion. It'll go inside the fuselage to take the brass stand before I fit the replacement belly section. Lots of surgery required on the #2 and #3 engine fairings for the EWPS resin bits, the nose for the IRDS bits and wingtip replacements. Then it'll be time for some seam sealing...

Hi. The first completed model in almost a year. Draken in the colors of the Austrian Air Force. The model is made of the well-known Hasegawa kit. From the Eduard limited edition kit, I added decals and some distinctive parts. Model painted with Tamiya, Gunze and AK Xtreme metal paints. Details painted with Vallejo and Model master paints with a brush. Weathering made with oil paints for artists.

Evening, folks! Just thought I'd share my latest build with you all. Here is my depiction of AW Apache AH Mk.1 ZJ224, 656 Sqn, 4 Regt. AAC. She is depicted as she was on 15. Jan 2007 during what is perhaps her most famous escapade, during her involvement on Op. Glacier II, near Garmsir, Helmand Province. I'm sure most of us here are well aware of the now-famous Jugroom Fort rescue, so I'll spare the details The base kit is Hasegawa's fantastic 1/48 AH-64D. This was my first, but I can guarantee it won't be my last! The conversion to AH.1 spec was done by scrounging the HIDAS fit from the Revell kit. She is depicted with the older 4-point HIDAS fit, with the older TADS housing/ORT fit in the CPG's pit. The CRV-7 pods are from Heritage, and any remaining lumps and bumps specific to the British Apache were scratchbuilt. Eduard's PE & Masking kits were used, which reaffirmed my hatred for little springy bits of metal. The 2 little passengers on each of the EFABS are from the Airfix Vehicle Crew, who were convinced to go under the knife in order to get them ready for their ride. On an unrelated note, I've suddenly decided that I hate painting figures... She was finished in Revell Matt 46 (Nato Olive?) which is still the best match for the Apache that I've found in acrylics (any suggestions are very welcome...) Pictures taken during the rescue show '224 as rather clean for an Apache in the desert - they can (and do) get really grubby out there! - so I tried to weather her with restraint. Panel lines on Apaches don't show too well, so I opted not to give it a panel wash. Oil stains and leaks were attempted using Tamiya Smoke over the final coat. Tamiya Weathering Master sets were used for sand weathering. There are a couple of errors/mistakes that I am aware of - some my fault, others not so much. I accidentally placed the footholds that are strangely omitted on the Hase kit over the wrong footwell on the port EFAB. And I was a little too lazy to correct the weighted tyres that come with the kit (mounting was a last minute decision.) The only thing I can fault with the kit is the incorrect shape of the EFABs at the front, as they curve towards the TADS housing. Although not that noticeable, it does bug me a little. Overall, I'm pretty happy with the outcome of the kit. It was really meant to be a testbed for the kit before I start my other Hase Apache (as a modern spec 5-point HIDAS/M-TADS AH.1) but I guess I got a little carried away. As always, comments and criticisms are more than welcome. If I've forgotten or overlooked something, please let me know! And, as always, apologies about the quality of the photos. I will get a new camera soon, I swear! I'm hoping to bring her down to the Helo table at Cosford this Sunday if I can find a safe way to get her there, so if you're about, come and say 'hi' and talk about Apaches for a bit! Thanks for looking, and I hope you enjoy! Daryl.

Generally I've seen nothing but good reviews of Hasegawa kits here. Indeed, the one I've made so far was a very god kit to put togather. I am umming and aaahing about starting a new kit, choice between a Tamiya motorcycle or the Hasegawa J7W1 Shinden, and I was busy fondling plastic when I noticed this; A sprue gate directly attached to the moulded gunsight. This seems to me to be either sloppy design, or one of those moments where it seemed ok! Is this a thing with hasegawa kits, kit parts attached to the sprue by the most awkward of points?

This kit, £4 very well spent at some model show. Parts. and decals.

Hi all, Fresh out of completing my first GB with the F-14, I'll jump in to this one, with another Hasegawa 1/72 F/A-18F. No doubt this will be a kit familiar to many of you, so please feel free to jump in with advice and tips - I still very much have my training wheels on! I have the newest reboxing of the kit with decals for VFA-11 Red Rippers' CAG bird jet circa 2012-13. In a rush of blood I ordered some Eduard PE for the cockpit (which hasn't arrived yet). Have not used PE before so I'll give it a go, but I reckon my eyesight and unsteady hands might work against me. See how I go... Otherwise will build it out of the box: The box artwork is pretty stunning so it's pretty hard to go past using the kit decals, despite the temptations of aftermarket decals. Plus a USN jet will add some variety to my small collection, joining this RAAF classic Hornet I finished a few months back: This was actually the first model built I'd built in 25-30 years (Academy 1/72 kit, Ronin Graphics decals), so I learnt a lot from my many mistakes in building it! And that's my main aim with this GB, to keep learning and to watch how the pros do it! Cheers all and happy modelling, Gerard

Hello all, Here is my entry for this GB - Hasegawa's 1/48 E/A-18G refitted as an F/A-18F of VFA-103 'Jolly Rogers' during Operation Inherent Resolve in 2016. The Growler boxing has all the necessary bits in the box to make an F model, details of which I'll highlight during the build as it will involve ignoring the instructions at certain points. It also comes with the added bonus of moulded late-style ECS pipes Kit: Extras: I'll be using Phase Hanger seamless intakes, Quinta cockpit set, Pavla seats, canopy rails and details from an Aires cockpit set, Eduard mask, Attack Squadron GBU-32s and Furball decals. I've also ordered a set of Brassin GBU-38s, which will complete a load out of 2x GBU-32, 2x GBU-38, 1x GBU-12 (from the spares), 1x AIM-9X and 1x fuel tank. Decals: Will be going for a low-viz option - BuNo 166613 which looked to have had a busy cruise! References: Here's a shot of 166613 during the cruise: Note the gloss black tank....may give me an idea 🤔 And a general shot of the load out. You can just about see the 2 GBU-38 on the right wing as you look at it: Cheers and stay safe Dave

Hello all, Here is my recently completed 1/48 Hasegawa EA-18G Growler converted to a F/A-18F of VFA-103 'Jolly Rogers' during the squadrons Inherent Resolve cruise in 2016. The EA-18G boxing comes with all the bits for the F model so it's an easy conversion. The build thread is below: Extras used included Quinta cockpit set, Eduard mask, Eduard Brassin GBU-38 JDAM, Attack Squadron GBU-32 JDAM, Pavla seats, details from an Aires cockpit set, Furball decals, Reskit exhaust nozzles and an unknown manufacturers FOD covers. The GBU-12 is from a Tamiya F-14 and the AIM-9x is from Hasegawa weapons set E. Paints are from MRP and I used a number of online and book references for the weathering which is a mixture of Flory panel wash, Abteilung oils, Tamiya weathering sets and dry brushing. Thanks for looking and stay safe Dave

Hello Happy Phantom Phanatics (and others!)! Here is my last Phantom from my USAF Phantom saga (for the time being🤔) : the Hasegawa RF-4C. Another Hasegawa classic, well known, built with the same amount of modifications to the base: Complete refurbished cockpit, resin wheel wells 🤬🤬🤬, belly louvres, airbrakes, ailerons, riveting, etc as already mentioned in my previous builds. routine... What was not routine was stuffing the camera bay accordingly to the version depending on the aircraft mission. To simulate the KY camera lenses, I used the tiny iPhone or mobile phone lenses, that gives a realistic effect, especially when you replace the too thick kit transparencies by thinner windows. For the markings and version I chose a Desert Storm warrior from the Alabama ANG, the "Boss Bird", thinking that the Carpena decal sheet will add more value than the Hasegawa one. I will come later on this subject 🤬; The choice was also made based on the good iconographie about that particular aircraft. Camouflage pattern is fairly simple, the Hill Grey, but "toned downed" to respect the scale effect. I weathered it quite a bit because of the harsh Middle East conditions. Decals: I started to use the Carpena sheet 7270 (desert storm part 2) but it turned to be disastrous: most of the decals started to break into small pieces when wet, some markings were not accurate (e.g. white shading of the Code Letters, shark mouth...), so finally I had to use a mix of self-made decals, paints and use some Hasegawa ones which are, unfortunately, too thick (well known default). No armament, the configuration is max range with an AN/ALQ 131 ECM pod (aftermarket), as seen on some pix. The result is that this beast is not on the top of my F-4 list, but i am too lazy to start another one. maybe one day...🤔 Here are the pix: The true flying camera: The fake one: ... and the little dio: I scratch built the ladder, the sound generator comes from the Hasegawa but, as the other pieces, is completely wrong so rebuilt: That's it for that saga, hope you enjoy the poor-quality photos, critics happily accepted, may be I will be tempted by the FM F-4 one day!

Hi All, I was actually searching on what kit I should build for the strike GB, when I saw this in my stash.. Upon inspection I found that the decals is starting to yellow. So it need to build immediately. Sprue shots; I do realize @zebra already start with the 1/48 scale of the same subject. And mine will be rather quick build and surely without the QTEP apparatus.. So I hope it's okay to enter this GB with this build? Cheers, Mario

I will be joining with two builds, firstly the classic Hasegawa 1/72 kit using Hawkeye decals for a delivery scheme 77SQN jet. Next will be another 77SQN jet from the Academy 1/72 kit with OP Okra markings. I had planned both wheels up but I have a bit of AM for the Academy kit in the form of folded and drooped flap/slat wings which I should use. Images to come....

Needing a kit to have fun with and hopefully minimum fuss. Trying to keep it in the spirit of building of just the kit supplied parts. Oh how easy it is to start browsing the web shops and fill your cart up with resin and etching. Most of my early modelling was a box build and even kit decals. A community friend gifted the kit to start and it was a boxing I did not recognize but the old reliable Hasegawa re-tooled F-15 was inside. No I couldn't hold back and found the Platz White Dragon release of 303 squadron's F-15J, a beautiful sheet printed by Cartograf. Does anyone think this looks like me!?!?! The Platz sheet, still available by searching on Japanese web-stores. The wing join seams were filled with stretched sprue but still required some Tamiya White Filling Putty. The vertical tail join line needed fill too. Actually a decent cockpit representation is provided but all references I could see showed the aft bay behind the seat was finished in white not the Metallic Blue-Green as instructed. The exhaust is 5 segments and maybe the biggest challenge is getting a proper looking circle of that opening as it is all glued. Patience and a cardboard circle template works using an Olfa circle cutter. Four external fuel tanks are included and I will be installing only the center tank. After a disappointing result with the first tank, I started a second tank, removed the locating pins and tried to be as careful as possible in alignment to prevent a large flat spot on the join line. Still a noticeable flat spot, I taped off the area and applied a liberal amount of the Tamiya White Putty, sanded and it seemed to look much better. Canopy was dipped in Pledge floor wax today so I will let it sit several days before masking and painting. Painting should only be a few days away and I have both the Light and Dark Ghost Gray in Mr Color and Tamiya Lacquer. Thank you for looking in, any comments welcome. Craig