DoubleEagle

Thanks for the outstanding photos! Leeuwarden is a favorite location for the Reapers. Lots of great history there between the units.

Oh, to be sure. All the guys I know who've been up there said it has awesome airspace. And it's a shame that the 390th will be a thing of the past. At least all the individual pilots will probably be glad to be elsewhere. Sad, too, that Eglin is shutting down for F-15 folks.

That's pretty interesting. Kind of like the Germans at Holloman. I'm sure that the 390th will be even more excited to get out of dodge now, what with even MORE dark greys there...

Thanks for all the great responses. I appreciate the help!

Is there any qualitative difference between normal thinner that one would use on enamels and airbrush thinner? Do I really need a different thinner in order to effectively put my paint through an airbrush?

Great! Thanks for the advice. I'll probably keep it pretty simple this time around, since I'm just getting back into modelling, but this is great information regardless.

I'm starting work on a 1/72 Trumpeter F-8II. The kit seems decent enough, but unfortunately it uses decals for all of the cockpit instrumentation. I'd really like to avoid using said decals, but the paneling itself is completely smooth, so there's not much to drybrush. I have no experience at scratchbuilding, but I'd love any advice anyone has. Thanks!

Thanks for the welcome. I'm trying to get back into modelling after a long (LONG!) absence. Afterburner Decals coming out with a 493 FS set is what motivated me, actually. As for the jets, they were clean because we were on our way back from a BFM sortie. No bags is a thing of beauty...

Good question. Unfortunately, I took those shots almost two years ago, so I can't be sure. But looking more closely at my copy of the picture, I think that might have been something the crew chief marked on there and hadn't wiped away yet. That, or it was a result of my crappy camera that I had with me.

Awesome, thanks for the words. I'm really happy with the Hasegawa C model kit, so I'll probably just go with their DJ with changes as needed. I just wasn't sure what all would be necessary to change it from a DJ to a D, but if they include parts, then no big deal. Thanks again!

Here's a little more love for the Grim Reapers...

I'm looking for a good kit (preferrably Hasegawa) that will allow me to build an F-15D in 1:48. I've found the Hasegawa F-15DJ Aggressor kit, but I'm wondering if there's a better one that's already closer to a US jet.