tony.t

So it comes with the recce pallet for an RF-111C then, with camera apertures etc? Can't see those parts myself, just the Pave Tack bay doors part. Quite fancy an early FB-111A from the G kit myself. Loved the pigeon-toed outer drop tanks set for the 26-degree lock-out. Can you get Silver and Rubber bullets anywhere, to replace the Durandals? Tony

No. Sprue <<O>> which comes with the D/F, and includes Pave Tack and the weapons bay door part with the D/F type ECS bumps, isn't included in the E versions of the kit. Tony

Yes. Italeri made a big deal at Nurnberg about it being a flagship kit release this year, after a few years of teasing. Still 331 days to go before we can say it's late, though seeing some test shots this Spring would be nice. The Revell 1/48 Tornado ECR is being repopped this year. Don't know if it'll include the GR-specific sprues as well. Tony

Agree wholeheartedly about Xtracolour. Drying time can be speeded up with a drop of Rustin's Terebene. Gloss is the way to go, and Halford's appliance white for a non-yellowing white. Future is best for dipping clear parts. Frankly, I miss the original formula stinky Microgloss and -flat made in the 1970s-80s. Tony

Yes. Hasegawa should do this and give us some long overdue new tools into the bargain. They could upscale the whole lot. Tony

Thanks, and apologies to the OP for diverting OT to 1/32, but I've got the Revell 1/32 version (with a bunch of Aires stuff) and was wondering if it had the same (albeit fixable) issues as the 1/48 version. I've really been waiting for the 1/32 Italeri GR.4 Tonka, a new tool due this year. Should really be something, even though a little large for many tastes. Thanks, Tony

Great news, as I want it for the recent Hasegawa re-release. Cheers Tony

So, Gentlemen, am I right in thinking the forthcoming Italeri new tool 1/32 GR.4 will be a great kit? The 1990s era 1/32 Revell Tonka isn't at all bad, but lacks intake trunking and modern finesse. I haven't been able to compare it with the quarter inch version, but might look at the nose, tail and wing sweep of the biggie now that issues have been raised in the medium sized edition. Cheers Tony

I'll have it in any double-digit scale ranging from 1/32 to 1/72. Level 5 rules out 1/144. Me thinks 1/48, as "hinted at" in the blurb. Time soon to pester Kursad to reprint the 1960s-1970s era SR-71 sheet. Tony

Really great-looking sheet. Is this going to make it to 1/72 for the Hasegawa Raven ? I love it. Tony

Excellent. Have had an RA-5C in the stash for fifteen years and want to build it! Tony

Whatever the superficy factor, the Su-57 kit is on its way regardless. Many of us will buy both the Zvezda and Kitty Hawk offerings as they come out, just like many of us have the Kinetic Su-33 Sea Flanker and will buy the Model Art edition. Part of the process of dry-fitting parts is "feeling" if some beef-up is necessary using plasticard and scrap, and restrained use of solvents on softer plastic is recommended. Yes, I'd love every kit to be made from top-drawer plastic the way HKM, WnW, Hasegawa and Tamiya do, but, alas, in the real world... Would I pay more for that? Yes!

Many thanks for posting Gabor. Looks like a lovely model. Wish we'd get a PF and PFM in 1/32. I have the 1/48 Profimodeller editions and those are quite exquisite. Tony

The recent 1/72 Zvezda kits of the big Sukhoi jet fighters are truly excellent. It calls for getting into a smaller scale mindset and taking more care as the detail is exquisite, and very good value. I'd love to see the Su-57 in 1/32 scale, but realise the most likely candidate is a Polish card model. In fact, 1/33 card models are probably the key reason there are so few home grown LSP kits in Eastern Europe. But we'll see what Kitty Hawk do in 1/48. Tony

Thanks Gabor. I'm definitely getting one of these (and probably the Kittyhawk 1/48 version next year, if it's as good as the Zvezda). The Zvezda 1/72 Su-33 is a stunner, so if the Su-57 is as good it should be a winner. The Su-57 is one of those subjects that needs to be bought in every available double-digit scale. I like the earlier testbed colour schemes more (as in Berkut's avatar) but the pixellated one will grow on me, given a suitable set of airframe masks with which to help spray the pattern. Obviously, there's scope for AM once the bay arrange

Well, it could have been worse. You might have said "feeling a little leery", which is probably a criminal offence somewhere. It's a shame the wing carry through box spars are preset instead of being articulated. If the spars were swinging we could swap-out a display between swept slick wings and flaps hanging out, using alternative drop-in boots for the wing seal. But overall impressions so far are: AMK, have a cigar! Tony

Groovy! Awesome plane, awesome build! Tony

Nice! Tony

Super juicy. Just caught up with this masterpiece. Favourite markings too! Tony

Mine arrived this week in sunny England. Really superb. Many thanks! Tony

The big H still has stacks of the over-printed Dick Ward 1/72 Project Warrior Raven sheet, depicting all of the art worn by Upper Heyford EF-111As in 1987-1988, priced at £2 each. I'm ordering a spare soon. What's really needed is 1/72 early F-111A/Es from Nellis and Upper Heyford ca.1969-76, with the NA-ND, JR-JT and UH codes. Somebody like Don Logan probably has a bunch of colour images showing necessary details such as crew names and NLG door zaps. Hasegawa seem to be popping out the whole range again, a bit at a time. Second choice is another early Eagle sheet with

What does a little leery look like? And are there big leerys? T

"Defies" ?! Naughty, naughty Turkey. T

Just two questions: Are we there yet ? Is there going to be an F-14A ? T

I have a spare single seater Revell Eurofighter canopy set and by judicious cutting and grinding either the windshield or the rear of the hood might be successfully reworked into a replacement Flanker windshield. Failing that I will make a balsa-talc-dope shape over which to drape-mould gently heated clear material. The success rate will be low and the room filled with blue language. Tony