Camus272

After getting back into the hobby, I quickly found out that kits only get more expensive, if you can find them again. It's even worse for aftermarket parts and decals that usually only get one print run. So, I just buy everything that I know I will want as soon as I can. I have a lot of kits that have been raided for parts - mostly ordnance, but some have swapped parts to do different blocks, etc. Sometimes I find kits are not up to a certain standard and get superseded by newer ones, leaving the originals for what-ifs , or some test project. So, having a large amount of resources, is I t

That's interesting, I don't think I've seen an F-16A in the two-color scheme. They went to the F-16C in 1995, so I'm surprised the new repaint was being done before that.

While the photo above is most definitely not a Sniper, the 18th in Alaska uses Sniper pods, and the 64th used Litening for one Red Flag. Just as F-15Cs now carry them for air intercepts, it is useful in identification. I was talking to the 64th a few weeks ago and they said they could really use them to go against 5th generation opponents, and it may be possible now that they are getting block 42 jets .

Any chance anyone has the clear sprue (J) from the Hasegawa 1/48 F-15E? At the least, I need the front windscreen Part J1. Thanks, Brian

I haven't seen the sheet, but since they are arctic I assume its for the 18th Aggressor squadron in Alaska - in which case they are block 30 (big mouth ) version.

Very low, considering the crash happened below the parking lot. Does anyone know if these flights are part of a mandatory training syllabus, or just free flight time that the pilots electively get to fly?

I know Bullseye has talked about doing another F-16 Aggressor sheet. I think they are just waiting for a few more new schemes.

I imagine it would look something like this:

I guess we'll find out when the 65th Aggressor Squadron gets theirs. If anyone will do something different, it will be them.

Those were the markings for the temporary 18th AS F-16, not the new Nellis one that will have full markings. Of course, I just finished 86-295, but the Nellis one looks even better, so now I have to that one too as soon as someone does the markings.

It was the commander of the 57th Fighter Wing - "Blend'r" - who opened up the submissions to the public. He didn't choose the winner though, we voted for it on Facebook. There were a few pretty awful schemes that luckily didn't make it too far. I'm looking forward to doing a walk-around of the Digital Ghost scheme in a few weeks.

I've been wondering this for 20 years. It's not the Vietnam scheme. Although, I think I've seen one diagram (without paint numbers) that's different than the rest of that standard schemes, so I'm not sure if there is possibly another one. MM had already come out for the colors for the Strategic scheme, so I'm sure they knew what the B-52 colors actually were. Since these paints have now been discontinued, I guess it doesn't really matter, but I've wondered - who's been buying them for the last two decades?

I haven't received my order yet. I was starting to wonder about the shipping status (not that I'm in a hurry, I just like to know there aren't any problems). Raymond - is it possible to give us an update since there is no tracking information? Thanks.

Looking at my current in-progress table, my problem is usually: 1. Something doesn't fit (go to put a canopy on closed and it won't fit) 2. Something went wrong (removing masking tape to find the canopy cracked -which is going to take some in-depth surgery) 3. I've either lost a part/ decal or 4.I made a significant mistake in accuracy (forgetting a part or something wrong for the block, etc - more surgery) The biggest problem is life. In March I started a group build, but as the semester came to end I spent six weeks just thinking about class. Now, I'm

The F-35 gets another mission with a new (old )squadron, as the 65th is being reactivated for aggressor duty. It will be interesting to see if they can get away with anything different for the paint scheme.

I'm still waiting on my two-seaters, but it seems then that they went a little cheaper on the new kit as far as decal and weapons, even with the increased price. I wouldn't have minded NASA decals for the white version, but I'll have to piece that scheme together myself.

They are on the sprue with the Mk 82's - part #5s.

The Revell kit also has the outboard pylon with the original ALQ pod. I believe the Hasegawa F-15E has outboard pylons too - they ended up on my build anyway. It was originally tested with the AIM-120 and the AGM-88. But, the new pylon may be different. It has been depicted with AIM-120s or AIM-9s.

Yeah, I'm not excited about future Blue Angels shows. From what I've read about the new routines so far, nothing is going to be better. It will be a shorter show, with less inverted flying. I don't think the larger airframes are going to help either. The legacy Hornets just look more like a high performance sports car.

The Navy recently got rid of their last fleet F-18C squadron. That leaves just aggressors and the Blue Angels (for three more seasons) as the last legacy Navy Hornets.

Nevermind

Having got most of it together (and testing some Have Glass colors), I realized a few things: 1. I now have three directions I want to go with this build, (an added danger of a what-if). 2. After putting the tail, I realized the F-16XL had a problem with chaff and flare launchers - they are covered by the Amraams. So the F-16EX (as I label it) is going to have the extended tail to make some room for them (which required some cutting, casting and insertion of the new part). Yes, 1/48. With the two-seater released this week I may end up doing

And, it begins . . .

I'm planning on regular pylons for PGMs, but now you've got me thinking, with the development of JDAMs and SDBs advancing the effectiveness of free-fall munitions, I wonder if the individual bomb racks would have become a thing again. I'm not sure if I can afford to source that much ordnance though.

Looks like I'll start an updated, 21st century F-16XL. I have no idea what the designation would have been: F-16E block 52? 62? Whatever it is, we'll see how it would look if active in the current Air Force, using the Skunk Models 1/48 kit. I probably should have finished something first- but what's one more ongoing project? (I'll add photos tomorrow)