spejic

The blog page says the forum will come back on the first of August. https://kampfgruppe144.blogspot.com/

This is really nicely done and looks very true-to-life despite the scale. You did a good job closing the landing bay doors; I have done some similar operations and it is always tricky in 1/144 models.

I also stopped using Testors dullcote when I noticed the contents of a bottle wasn't just yellowed, but getting close to brown. But a model sprayed with it about 25 years ago still looks new, and while mostly grey it has some white decal areas. While some yellowing of enamels is inevitable, keeping it out of the sun seems key.

There's just something about the Valkyrie that lets it wear alternate paint schemes really well and you did a great job implementing this one. I really like the attention to detail, especially on the secondary and hidden parts.

Yes, they even have it in mainstream stores in America like Michaels.

I really like it. The details are so chunky and soft, but your shading and panel line work gives it a cartoony quality like the original animation while still being sharply built.

I want to modify my posted opinion of Mission paints. In my original testing, I found that I could not mask over them and they scratched off easily. That was after a day or two drying. But I was playing with the broken model I use to test paints recently, and was trying to scratch off the Mission paint section so I could do a different test and found it would not come off, even with hard scratching. So I guess you just need to let it dry longer - somewhere between two days to 14 months. Somewhere. I can't get more accurate than that at the moment.

I usually close everything up as well, and going by what I see at model shows ~90% of models are done this way too. Model companies that mold the access doors open on aircraft are probably barking up the wrong tree. My exceptions are scratchbuilding helicopter hangers for ships and opening doors on helicopters with cabins. But I think those are a little different than what you are asking.

There's two different pylon systems for carrying Western weapons. This is a good look at the pylon designed for bombs - it has been used for JDAM and the French AASM: https://www.twz.com/ukrainian-mig-29s-mysterious-jdam-er-pylon-our-best-look-yet The one for carrying the HARM is a two part affair that doesn't have that antenna probe sticking out. This article has a good picture of this kind close to the end: https://www.twz.com/ukrainian-mig-29-fighter-appears-with-mystery-weapon-pylons

It might wick up in panel lines, and even if one is careful mistakes can be made. I usually use the thick Testors glue. Unlike epoxies it has some holding power right away. I use the non-toxic type which doesn't make strings, but does have a long drying time (which I don't mind in my building style).

That Palace Athene is super impressive. I've done enough scratchbuilding to appreciate the quality and difficulty of your work, although I do ships which are basically boxes on boxes. I can't imagine doing compound curves - and then making it's mirror part exactly the same size and shape for the other side! Absolutely top level. Thanks for showing it.

I did find one example on a A-4L. While I have a couple thousand images of the A-4, you could never tell one way or the other on most of them because of the quality of the film/scan/lighting. But there are also very late A-4E and F's (like those in aggressor squadrons) without them, so it really depends on the particular airframe. I don't see them on Skyhawks with enlarged intakes (probably because they wouldn't even fit), and I have also yet to see one on a TA-4J (again, that is not proof they were no TA-4J's with them) and the Hasegawa kit of the TA-4J does not include it.

You are really brave to go back to a model you've already finished, but the new model feels fuller and the display is more dynamic. Love how the wire gives the impression of the V-1's spoiled flight line.

These are excellent representatives of the genre. Extremely sharp and clean work.

Try to find pictures of the aircraft you are modelling. That support is seen on some E's and F's and not in others. In my photo collection I can't find it on other variants of the Skyhawk, which is no guarantee because this is a thin piece of metal and hard to see on clean aircraft in 1970's and 80's film. There is no panel line on the support itself.