Jay Chladek

I am pretty sure a Gemini Titan is next in the cards from Horizon. In addition to Agena, Horizon could also potentially do a Project Fire Atlas, which tested a sub-scale Apollo capsule heatshield design. I only ever read about it in one book and it sounds fascinating.

I'm with you Hotdog, I am encouraged by what I see. I have enough resources and references to fill out all the lumps and bumps on this bird. If I can do it on an Estes/Semroc 1/70 flying rocket kit (which used combinations of cut cardboard and sanded balsa for its lumps and bumps) I can certainly do it here. I'm not too worried about the anemic J2 engine on the S-IVB as the majority of my rockets tend to stay stacked when on display anyway.

In case you hadn't heard... a Saturn 1B in 1/72 is coming out from Dragon. https://www.culttvmanshop.com/Saturn-1B-172-scale-model-kit-from-Dragon-Models--9799-EARLY-BIRD-PRICE--PREORDER-RESERVATION-25-deposit-required_p_5126.html

Mmmmm, interesting! Thanks for the video link.

The TA-4J was equipped with a less powerful engine than the F as Navy training command figured a nugget pilot was less likely to get into trouble with a "de-tuned" engine as it were. But if necessary, TA-4Js could be brought up to TA-4F spec in a time of need very easily as it would take an engine swap, installation of the Colt guns (a few TA-4Js had single Colt guns for gunnery range practice) and the addition of wiring to make the aircraft capable of being armed. I believe some of the countries who operated Skyhawks got some of the J models after they were retired from USN/USMC service and had them upgraded to TA-4F spec. Once done, the only way to tell whether a jet was an F or a J was the Baer number. So it wouldn't surprise me if the Blues had their TA-4J souped up with the same powerplant as their single seater models. It would make sense from a logistical standpoint if an engine change was needed.

Man that is looking very good!

Nice!

That depends on if the birds are used for demos. Airshow displays don't pay what they used to and usually if the US Government is footing the bill, the companies involved try not to rock the boat and do anything extra. So you might see a jet at an open house or two, but not a flying display.

Does the new kit include any other BA specific parts besides the Superfox intakes?

Nice! Any idea when it will be offered?

I was able to get a True Details F-4C pit to fit into an Esci kit fine, taking into account that crazy deep nose gear well. The pit was for the most part a Hasegawa F-4E pit with resin sidewalls anyway. I figure the True Details F-4J pit will probably fit in the Esci kit as well with some coaxing.

Not so much a Fujimi rebox as a copy of a Fujimi from Academy's early days. They did the same thing with the T-38/F-5B kit. At best, it would probably work as an experimental paint exercise or a quick slap together.

Yeah, those cruise ships are dangerous. 😉

ET coloring starts out off white when the foam is first applied. Then it rather quickly darkens to a pancake batter colored tan. Over time it goes more yellow, then burnt orange and finally more of a brown shade. No two ETs were quite the same shade as the color can vary depending on how long the stack was on the pad. Some flights looked more orange while a couple missions that had an abort requiring SSME replacements ended up with a tank that looked chocolate brown at the end of a couple months. Lighter colored areas are either later applications of foam or the surface rind was sanded, exposing fresh foam to UV light and the darkening process would start all over again. The ribbed intertank region was sanded, so it is usually a lighter shade than the rest of the tank. As for the colors I have used, they were typically railroad colors, usually Floquil brand. But Floquil is no more. Thankfully companies like Scalecoat have issued many of the same RR colors in their line. For yellow areas, UP (Union Pacific) Armor Yellow is a good shade. For the brown/orange shades I would typically mix freight car brown with either UP Orange or SP (Southern Pacific) Daylight orange. I hate what I call "witches brew" paint formulas that use three or more colors because they are hard to duplicate if you run out. So I would just mix the brown with an orange color until I got a shade I liked working from imagery of the specific mission I was making. Keep it simple.

The way Academy engineered the kit, I am pretty sure a early vintage beaver tail release will come out eventually. They just had to leave that piece off for this one I guess given they gave us practically everything else. I can't necessarily wait though so I am going to have a go at adding a dirt cheap Airfix/MPC beaver tail to one of my Academy builds for a little Wolfpack action. The Airfix kit will also give me an IFR probe, should I desire doing an Iranian bird in the not too distant future as well.