Viper88

Thanks Robertson, well said. This was the point I was trying to make. Years ago in my LHS there were way more prop kits than jets, now there is way more jet kits then props, even on the model forums, there is way more posts in the jet section vs prop section. I guess things have really changed over the past 15 years or so. Some say they have released pretty much every prop in kit form and scale and that is why the new kits have slowed down, I don't agree with that as Tamiya could shrink down there 1/32 Spits, they could do a Hellcat series, Typhoon, P-40 series, they could remold their P-5

I am new to prop models, use to build jets. I have been researching builds and am suprised how many people use Eduard PE belts for the cockpit seats vs resin seats with the belts molded in. Found Ultracast seats and wow they look nice and the selection is great. Which method do most of you prefer and why?

I use to use MM paints but I have switched over to acrylic paints for health reasons. I love the color of MM IG and I love Tamiya paints and the way they airbrush but the color selection is lacking. Anyone have any suggestions on Tamiya paint color mixes for IG that is pretty close to the MM IG? Also, what Tamiya color would be good to use for cockpit color in the P-47RB and P-47D and M? Are the cockpit colors different between the RB and BT?

You are right the storch was a few years back but the Zero kits both of the are recent. I just look at between 2002 and 2005 the released 3 P-47 kits, I think 2 Me-262 kits in 1/48th so that is like 5 plus kits in a 3 year spand and in the past 7 years since the P-47M there has not been that many props in 1/48th, a couple yes, and I won't count the Itelari/Tamiya releases as that is not really a new mold kit. I would love to see them shrink down the Spits to 1/48th, do a Hellcat series an a Typhoon would be nice also.

I hear ya, that model looks much better painted and panel line wash and weathered with those panel lines there. Another question, what are those raised bumps near the gun ports on the wings, are those suppose to be raised rivets and are they really there on the real aircraft?

Thanks Av8fan, that is so helpful. Why do kit manafacturers mold the wings with all these panel lines that should be filled to be accurate. I have also viewed many of build threads and I have to wonder why more people don't fill in all these panel lines that should not be there?

I just picked up a 1/48 Tamiya P-51D and I want to putty fill the correct panel lines on the wings but I noticed the pinned topic has been deleted in this forum. Does anyone have a picture for reference of what panel lines I need to putty fill to get an accurate P-51D.

Correct, they did do the II-2 but what was the last new 1/48 mold before that and how long ago. I should of been more specific I am comparing 1/48th WWII aircraft kits to 1/32. I the last few years they have now released 5 1/32, 3 Spits and 2 P-51D/K's. I would assume next would be 1/32 P-51B but your are right, who really knows. Over the last 10 plus years 1/32 is getting really popular, the market has grown for all companies, Revell, Academy, Eduard, Tamiya, Hasegawa, Trumpeter.

It looks like Tamiya has only been releasing new molded 1/32 kits, in the past few years 3 Spits and 2 Stangs. Do you think this is their trend now for scale WWII aircraft kits? Will they keep this trend going and release 1/32 P-51B and maybe even P-47, F4U, BF109, FW190? or will we see some new 1/48th kits? It would be nice to see them shrink down the 1/32 Spits to 1/48th.

Same kit as the Academy 1/32 F-16CG/CJ but with new decals, photo etch for stiffening plates and some parts from their Sufa kit like the new molded instrument panel coaming. The same issues are in this kit, wrong shaped air intake, cockpit too wide, base of tail is too wide. They fixed nothing but the instrument panet coaming and it still is not 100% accurate. They will also be releasing a 1/32 F-16F kit but this will just be pretty much the same parts from the Sufa kit with new decals.

The OIF E kit you get: •6 x GBU-38 JDAM •2 x GBU-31 JDAM •2 x Paveway LGB •2 x AGM-84 SLAM-ER The F-15I kit you get GBU-38s, AGM-130s, AGM-142s. What is disappointing thought is Academy should of done the clear parts for the weapons, they are molded on but on their 1/32 F-16I kit they are clear parts and look much better. Skunk Models has the clear parts and I think look much better. Hasegawa Weapons Set E does have GBU-31's in it. I picked up a Revell E kit for $20 and a Academy F-15I kit for $25, so total of $45 like others have stated is a great deal at you

Be nice to see a late E or a G model.

I don't know what Tamiya is waiting for popping a 2 seater F-16, get on with it. The fist kit was released 5 years ago, they designed the mold for a 2 seater and the detail up parts set has 2 ejection seat harnesses. They release a kit in 2007, 08, 09 and now 3 years later nothing. Would be nice to see it happen though.

I am referring to 1/48th scale but I have noticed the Academy 1/32 kit has the IFF Antenna and why does the Hasegawa Legacy Hornet kits not have these?

I love Navy modern jets, I found a couple Hornets and Super Hornet Hasegawa kits for $50 each at a vendors meet and wanted some feed back on aftermarket detail sets: Exhaust: - Aires, are they nice and how is the fit? Wheels: - Any company offer these? Cockpit: - Aires, nice?...fit good? - I have heard there is different ejection seats for late model C/D's and E/F/G, is this true? Does the Aires sets have the correct ejection seats for early and late C/D\s? Intake Covers: - Steel Beach, are they worth it or better to make your own? Weapons Pods: - Well known these kits don't provid

You are right, the way the front fuselage is designed and the detail up parts set having seat harness for 2 ejection seats there is a reason Tamiya did this in this way but, it makes many scrath their heads going okay...makes sense...how many years are they going to take to pop the 2 seater.

Well it has been what 3 years since the C/N kit was released in 2009. I have to think the D is coming as why would they provide 2 sets of seat belts in the 1/48 F-16 Up Parts Detail Set. It would make no sense to do that if they never had the plan on the back burner to begin with to release a D model. Tamiya never releases to much information, this could happen for this Xmas season or it could just be a Februray early Spring release 2013. I am still holding hope!

If Tamiya ever gets around to releasing a 2 seater, do you think they would release this in 1/48th first or 1/32nd scale? I would think 1/48th as the market volume is larger in this scale and they can release a few versions (like Sufa) like they did with their 1/48th C kits. I take the Thunderbird kit out of the equation, so really they have only released 1 1/32 F-16 and 3 1/48th and I am shocked they stopped there, I would of thought they would of released 1 more 48th Viper, the block 40.

I have a stone with a groove in it for sharpening bare metal foil scribers, used it wet and sharpened straightened the needle, then used different fine grit sanding sticks to create a sharp point. Does anyone know the best way to test the needle to see if it is working properly?

I just bought this airbrush a month ago and being an idiot I dropped the brush on my painting table and the tip of the needle bent. Is there any way to fix this myself or should I buy a new needle? This would be hard as I don't have any LHS around and have to travel 1.5 hours to the closest one and they don't carry airbrush replacement parts. Please help!

I think you are right about Tamiya not releasing a F-22, they took a chance on the F-117 in 48th scale and that did not go over too well. In 1/48th I see Tamiya releasing 2 seat version of the F-16 and they can do a lot with that, they can do a Sufa and a F-16F if they wanted to and maybe I see them going with F-4 phantoms, would love to see a F-4F, G, maybe a late E. It is kind of weird that they stopped at a F-4E Early in 1/32 scale. I know there is many F-14's on the market but they are either a beast to build (Hasegawa) or inaccurate (Hobby Boss), if Tamiya did a F-14 in 1/48th scale I

Does the F-15I also have this JFS?

Anyone have a picture of this? I did a good searh for walk arounds on the F-15E and can't find a picture of the JFS.

Just picked up the Tamiya 1/48 F-16C Block 25/32, wow, what a nice kit. Also picked up the Up Parts Set, nice too. The bad part is I like the kit so much I can now understand why everyone is waiting desperately for a 2 seater. I just can't understand that it has been 5 years since the CJ kit has been release and no 2 seater. Hasegawa has had a 2 seater forever, Kinetic has a few, you can tell by the design of the kit and the 2 sets of belts on the Up Parts Set that these were all designed to cater to a 2 seater so, the million dollar question is.............when or will we ever see a 2 sea

I have built jet models for over 20 years and have used MM enamel paints from day one. I am now interested in moving over to acrylics. My LHS only stocks MM and Tamiya acrylics and the Tamiya paints are cheap (like that). Do to my inexperience with Tamiya acrylics I really hope I can get some advice and answers to my questions by users that have extensive use with Tamiya acrylics. - Primer - I have heard Tamiya acrylics don't bond well to bare plastic. Would a good primer choice be Tamiya Surface Primer in the small bottles? I believe it is available in white and grey...one better than