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mawz

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Everything posted by mawz

  1. I mix XF-20 and XF-2 evenly, seems to work out pretty well for me.
  2. Be aware that 71-0291 isn't an F-15E, it's a TF-15A (prototype F-15B) with CFT's and bomb racks. There's a lot of differences from an actual F-15E, starting with the fact it has FAST packs rather than F-15E CFT's (it was the development bird for the FAST Pack prior to becoming the development bird for the F-15E)
  3. AIM-120A/B has larger fins than AIM-120C/D, which had the fins clipped for internal carry on F-22. The fin spacing is the same as Sparrow, not the fin size (which I never claimed)
  4. More likely to mount an AIM-120, especially the older large-fin variants (which has the same fin spacing as the Sparrow) Note sure if they've ever bothered to mount the AIM-7 on the E/F operationally (I know it's at least approved)
  5. The Finns and Australians do operate JASSM on the Hornet. To my understanding, the USN has not procured JASSM at all, it's a USAF-only weapon for now. They are buying the AGM-158C LRASM though (ASM variant of JASSM-ER)
  6. All F-4F's were built with slats and thus did not require the belly strap reinforcement. The strap was a reinforcement for additional stresses on the wing when the slats were deployed. Slatted wing aircraft from the factory had a thicker belly skin to handle the stress. The straps were only present on F-4E's that were built with hard wings and converted to a slatted wing later (all G's were converted from E's built with hard wings). The F-4S also had a similar strap fitted for the same reason.
  7. That's what I do as well, but it's annoying for info that should be in the instructions in usable format.
  8. You misunderstand my beef. RoG largely provides paint mixes, not straight paint callouts, and unlike the other makers, their paint is both generally obscure (meaning poor to no match charts) and they provide no alternative info and inaccurate colour names (aside from occasionally giving main scheme callouts). It's a regular bloody mystery to figure out some of their colour callouts. It's one thing to provide callouts from your own paint line. It's another to provide a guessing game. (Tamiya is the only other manufacturer I've seen regularly provide mixes as a callout, and they've largely
  9. Revell Germany and their bloody mixes of paint nobody uses. Really hard to match a mix based on a paint line you can't buy most anywhere with non-standard names.
  10. Why not? It was a secondary role for Luftwaffe RF-4E's from 1982 until retirement and I can't see them doing that if the US didn't also. IIRC the RAFG also mixed recon and strike roles (although they used recon pods on regular FGR.2's) I can't see it having been a primary operational role, but certainly made sense as a secondary role for tactical recon operating at the forward edge of battle.
  11. The low down is that everything is up in the air with the Revell's right now due to their parent company's bankruptcy (Hobbico). Hobbico is in the process of being sold off by bits, with only the plastic model stuff remaining (the Revell's, United Models). The RC stuff and Estes/Cox were sold off last week. RoG is still operating, as they're an independent business unit and pay their own bills, Revell USA is pretty much on hold as they can't pay for production right now.
  12. Cost & mission mostly. They were tip of the spear and deployed to JaBo units (Fighter-Bomber), so they were not expected to engage in BVR combat but rather a mixture of point defence and strike roles. Hence no reason to spend money or mass on the Sparrow capability. After reunification the mission changed and they were deployed as air defence interceptors, thus the need for the ICE refits to gain BVR capability. Note the Luftwaffe actually did have 10 F-4E's until the mid 90's, but they were based in the US for training, I'm not sure about specifics on airframes (and IIRC they wore U
  13. The challenge is doing so without wiping out the panel detail that should be there. It's not just a rivet-encrusted surface, it's one with very fine panel detail that needs preservation. It's doable, but a complete PITA for a kit that is otherwise near fall-together. And it's VERY visible on a 104 with light coloured wings (which is the majority)
  14. Belcher Bits also does a weapons set for the CF-104 that includes nuclear shapes (same ones as Daco IIRC)
  15. And wings. The Hasegawa 104 wings were clearly tooled by Trumpeter's mad riveter. Real 104 wings are smooth, flush riveted and those rivets aren't visible. The Daco set's primary value outside the weapons is a set of wings that haven't been run over by a post-hole cutter.
  16. It's more a case the F-4F never carried Sparrows (and in fact lacked the avionics to use them). When the ICE upgrade was done they acquired AIM-120 capability and used the Sparrow bays to carry them (ironically, the ICE upgrade made the F-4F technically capable of operating Sparrows for the first time, as it essentially used the avionics suite from an F/A-18D, which was Sparrow capable)
  17. I'm 99.99% sure they weren't, as the F-4F ICE's mounted AIM-120's in all 4 fuselage positions. If at anytime they were filled, that cover was removed with the ICE upgrade.
  18. Hasegawa offers both wing variations depending on exact boxing, as they kit the full Phantom family from the B on.
  19. The cockpit on an J-3 or L-4 is extremely spartan. 4-6 instruments, a set of magneto controls and throttle/mixture. Even the gas gauge is a rod with a bobber sticking out of the cowl in front of the windshield.
  20. Save yourself the headache and just buy the Academy kit, which has had at least two boxings as a CF-18, one of which is generally available (Any A/B boxing of this kit will build into a CF-18) and is generally considered the best Legacy Hornet in 1/72 The Hasegawa is pretty good, but typically more money and you'll want special boxings for a CF-18, the Hobbyboss is good if simple and their A has a CF-18 option in the current boxing. Nothing else is worth buying in 1/72.
  21. mawz

    Spitfire FR IX Wings

    Both could be correct, depending on serial. What machine are you looking at doing? A Serial will determine version.
  22. mawz

    Airfix Sea Fury

    Not so much money as experience, they brought their molding and tooling on-shore recently and have has some significant teething issues since doing so.
  23. It's funny how with all the modern research info and measurement tools, so often we find Monogram still did a better job.
  24. The B-25 is a new tool C/D, announced last year. The new one is just a rebox of last year's kit with new schemes (non-US) The B-26 is the classic ~1980 tool repopped. A very good kit, but dated. Well worth buying at Airfix prices though.
  25. February was the latest news, with the second boxing coming later in the year with foreign operators
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