Camus272

I just finished reading Topgun Days, and the classes right before they filmed the movie had F-4s in them, so I think that would make an interesting time period. Too bad there aren't any F-14s they could use to film the sequel set in the 80s. Brian

I agree with all of this. I don't bring it up in conversation, although I have my website and if people come over to my house they see a room filled with mysterious things that need explaining - usually a hobby no one has really thought of. If I was into model railroading I wouldn't bring that up either. Steve, at least you can explain this website as an Aircraft Resource Center, which seems less geeky than just modelling. When pressed for what I do with my time, I explain I study aviation history, and now that I do a lot more aviation photography, I think this covers everything. Brian

Did I miss the original posting? I'm still trying to sort out my photos -27 gigs worth, and in a few weeks I'll have more than that from Aviation Nation, so I won't have my albums up until winter. Brian

I imagine they are using one for testing stealth/ radar equipment at Groom, or maybe they are maintaining them to keep them in flying condition. I hope that is the case . I suspect the USAF has a newer stealth aircraft that hasn't been revealed yet, like the F-117 was in the early 80s. If not, I believe the F-117 retirement was too soon. I'm still holding out hope for seeing one at an airshow someday. Brian

That's not a stash. That's a good start. I like your taste in kits. Brian

Hey great looking build! I built the same kit in the Ferris scheme back in the 80s. I noticed from your pictures that you have dual bombs loaded on the centerline. Is this something you have seen done or a "what-if" idea? I have heard that the IAF has dual bomb racks for the centerline on their F-16s, but I've never seen them. It's something I'm considering for a future weaht-if build. Brian

I wiah I could. It's always on the weekend of my wife's birthday though, so not a good choice of time usage. The last time I was there was 2003 I think. Brian

Of course the problem is there is no other 1/48 choice. I have the Attic kit and I don't think it's bad as some people say. I haven't built it yet, but at worst it will be a good learning experience. I plan to buy several more (after seeing Rav_pl's post, I want to do the Ferris scheme). Brian

Craig T Nelson was on "Call to Glory." As for Tour of Duty, I love that show. I have a couple of seasons on DVD, one of the few shows I do. Brian

I'm still using Windows 2000, but soon I'm going to upgrade to XP. Brian

I just paid $23 a ticket for the Duluth Air show, I didn't really think much about it, seems like a fair price. The worst part was that I bought tickets before hand - and then lost them, and had to repurchase. That will probably be the most expensive air show I'll go to. Brian

I've worked on computers with the exact same problem. In the registry, the upper and lower filters get corrupted and need to be deleted. I suugest you take some time and google theese registry entries. I can't remember a decent link to give you. I know I used a download that automatically fixed it when it was run. As long as you're willing to remove iTunes then it should work. I have had problem on some machines getting both the CR-Rom and iTunes to work, and I'm not sure what the solution is there. As long as iTunes remains installed, the entries get corrupted on each reboot. Brian

If 3 or 5 copies constitutes hoarding we're all in a lot of trouble, and if anybody thinks that way, they may be in the wrong forum. As for the most copies of one kit, I think I have about 18 Revell F-5E's, (hey I have a lot of aggressors to build). But, I don't think hoarding relates to a number specifically. If you have plans for each kit then there's a reason to have it. If you just can't stop buying them because they are so cool, that may be a problem. (I have that impulse everytime I see a Tamiya F-16). But since I have each project entered into a database, detailing the proper kit,

Since I voulnteered at the St Cloud airshow this year, I got five days of behind-the-scenees. On Thursday they do several flights, one in the early afternoon where they fly all over town and get to know their points, and then the solos do a practice in late afternoon. On Friday they do the full routine at standard show time - about 3:00. BTW, not an odd question. I was wondering the same thing - that's why I decided to volunteer, to see every flight they made. Brian

My tracking number does show progress through the postal system. If it's right the package should be delivered today (here in MN). Brian Edit: package did arrive (AFV F-5Es are looking good), ordered on 7/1 - so 42 days. Given the low prices and the free shipping I think that was a reasonable transaction, I wouldn't have a problem doing it again.

I still have a number of the Academy kits ready to go. Adding a resin cockpit and intake helps quite a bit, the rest of the kit isn't too bad, although the weapons are pretty weak. I believe that kit came out in 1990, so Hasegawa had already put out a top-end F-16 kit. This new one is obviously different plastic though. I guess it's just the Kinetic kit, but isn't Italeri already boxing the Kinetic plastic? I wouldn't mind picking up another one for the weapons. I recently got the Hasegawa KF-16, nice kit - would be better if they added another weapons sprue. Brian

The Raptor sheen actually gets mixed 50/50 with the paint. I just got some from Sprue Brothers, but haven't had a chance to try it. Brian

Nice shots! Thanks for the link. Even though we had the Thunderbirds over here in Duluth that weekend, it looks like you got a pretty good show. Brian

Presto! Nice addition, just waiting for 8/27 in St Paul. Brian

I just heard about this. The C-17 demo is quite impressive, but does look dangerous. I really feel bad about this, my condolences to the families. Brian

I know the original F-15E test platform was loaded with AGM-88s and I've seen artist conceptions of them with AGM-65s. I suppose they figured that is what the F-16 is for and didn't bother to pay for integration. Still wondering about the EF-111s. Maybe its time the USAF bought some EA-18s. There's a lot of other things I wonder about too. Like why we don't have block 60 F-16s, but then many things in the military don't make sense. Brian

Well, it does look like the Mod Eagle scheme to me, which would be 36251 Aggresor Gray and 36176 blue-gray - which does look like the blue-gray here. I don't believe there is any Dark Gull Gray. I hope this helps. Brian

Thanks for the responses! The weather was all over the place. It rained during the F-22 practice, but then cleared up for the Blue Angels. Just as they finished a massive severe storm passed by with heavy lightning. At that point the F-18s folded up the wings and went into the National Gaurd hangar with the F-22s. Saturday was completely overcast with a strong haze in the air. Sunday had good sunlight, but some clouds which forced the Blue Angels to do a low show. I think I got the bugs worked out of my new camera, so shots from Duluth should be better. Brian

I would say the number one thing a modeler can do is give up brush painting and go with an airbrush. Even if you can just find one of the Testor's plastic airbrushes that use canned air, painting improves considerably. They used to be around $20, back when Walmart carried them, and I think they work pretty well. Combining those and spray cans covers the painting. Then work on the filling and sanding, and then some more filling and sanding. That's the tedious part, but some time and effort during construction really pays off with the finished result. Welcome, and I look forward to seeing h

I thought I would put up a few pictures from the first St Cloud Air Show - 6/25 & 6/26. Besides the Blue Angels, we were lucky to get the Zeke & the F-22. Hopefully, we'll get more shows in the future. More at St Cloud Air Show Album Brian