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mawz

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Posts posted by mawz

  1. 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)

  2. 37 minutes ago, GW8345 said:

    The wings and fins of an AMRAAM are about a third the size of a Sparrow, there was never a "older large-fin variant".


    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)

  3. 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)

  4. 20 hours ago, GW8345 said:

    Just a note.

     

    USN/USMC Hornet's are not cleared for JASSM and to my knowledge, only a few test flights were done back in 2001. (I was in VX-23 bomb shop at the time and those things were a PITA to load).

     

    There are some FMS customers that do fly it though.:thumbsup:


    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)

  5. 5 minutes ago, Speedy said:

    Hi all. Question about the function of the 'belly strap' on F-4Es. From the information GT resin is giving F-4E/G had these.

    What is it and does the F-4F of the GAF have this? From the pictures posted earlier I can not discover they were used. 

    Text from GT Resin:

    "1/32 F-4E/G Belly Strap. Fits both Revell and Tamiya Kits. The belly strap was used on all of the hard wing F-4E’s (about 1/3 of those built) when upgraded with maneuvering slats. All F-4G’s used these as they were converted hard wing E’S."

    I am a little confused.

     

    Kind regards,

     

    Robert Jan


    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.

  6. 17 hours ago, gb_madcat_sl said:

     

    For this issue I usually cross-reference with other sources such as photographs of the actual item or the instruction manual of the same subject from another manufacturer. I’ll sometimes even reference another person’s build to see what he/she used. 

     

    Mark


    That's what I do as well, but it's annoying for info that should be in the instructions in usable format.

  7. 5 minutes ago, Rex said:

    here it is again

     

    In one thread, people are mad that the model company reccommends their own paint line (RoG is not the only one doing it), and at the same time, in a different thread, a different group are saying that giving paint matches isn't helpful

     

    It is so hard for me to believe that in the age of alternative paints, people resist others getting free paint chips when the chips are $49USD each.


    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 moved away from that today)

  8. On 4/9/2018 at 4:48 PM, Rex said:

    I'm extremely curious as to what an "off brand" of paint is compared to Vallejo.

     

    I'm sure it isn't Model Master, Humbrol, Gunze, Tamiya,,,,,or even Italeri paints.


    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.

  9. 2 hours ago, 11bee said:

    Believe that RF-4C's were also nuclear capable.    Wonder if the pic above was just done as a joke?   Can't imagine the USAF would have needed to use recon jets as bombers.  


    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.

  10. 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.

  11. 9 hours ago, DarkKnight said:

    thanks for the help guys, I get it now, Luftwaffe Phantoms always looked cool to me, always wondered why they bought such a "downgraded" version at first


    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 US markings just like the US-based F-104G's did).

  12. 3 hours ago, Space Tiger Hobbes said:

    Nobody knows how to take some dissolved putty or primer/filler and go over the wings? It's a lot easier than getting a resin cockpit/gear well to fit.


    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)

  13. On 3/27/2018 at 9:08 AM, stalal said:

     

    You forgot F-104. What a beautiful kit it is. No after market needed except for two under wing drop tanks. 

     

    Harrier isnt that bad either but its over engineered to accommodate several versions.

     

    I m talking about 1/48 only. 


    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.

  14. 21 minutes ago, skyhawk174 said:

     

    Oops maybe you are right. I was sure i read it somewhere but maybe it was more that they did not use the rear sparrow bays? Or maybe I'm a goof and mixed up with the RF-4😂


    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)

  15. 5 hours ago, jabow said:

    Hummmm, early version vs late ; hard wing vs slats, this is all confusing.  My neighbor did say those he flew in SEA were NOT slatted wing ones.  So, now to the 48th kits.

    The current Italeri kit does NOT have slats.  What about the current Hasegawa kit with 30th Anniversary markings??  Stats???  If yes as I suspect, I stuck with the Italeri kit.  How does it build up??

     

    Bo


    Hasegawa offers both wing variations depending on exact boxing, as they kit the full Phantom family from the B on.

  16. 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.

     

  17. 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.

  18. 9 hours ago, MoFo said:

     

    Money.  Contracting with cheaper tooling shops that do sloppier work, and spending less time (and thus, money) troubleshooting both their tooling and moulding issues. 


    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.

  19. 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.

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