viking73

Yes! K/C-97 sheet ordered! -Derek

What's wrong with the Williams Bros kit?🤣😂

You are off to a killer start so far Chuck. Can't wait to see how this goes! I just found a Black Box cockpit for my 1/32 Trumpeter F4U-1D Corsair so I know what you mean about the really bad instructions... Your F-15 cockpit - wow!! Looking forward to more. -Derek

Thanks gents, I appreciate the kinds words and for sticking around until this one was completed! What to build next?! So many models, so little time 🤣 -Derek

Looking fantastic! I think you absolutely nailed the soot around the gun ports. How did you do that (or did I miss it?). Makes me want to start my Trumpeter -1D kit. Looking forward to seeing this one finished! -Derek

Thanks Trojan Thunder. I too had several paint issues with this kit but didn't give up. I always seem to have trouble with large areas of white paint for some reason. It's one my least favorite colors to spray. Here is where I first learned of the way to make clear windows: http://kits.kitreview.com/anigrands2067reviewpb_1.htm Scroll down to almost the end. It's under the "Clear Parts" header. I tried this method and it worked great for my Convair. The only thing that you have to be careful about are air bubbles forming. You can poke them with a toothpick while the resin is still wet to break them up if you have any issues. Before I poured the resin I thinned the fuselage sides around the windows with my Dremel tool: Good luck and let us know how it goes if you try this method! I think this is much easier than say filling the windows with clear plastic and then sanding and polishing it clear. -Derek

Thanks! I'm sure the 111th was only assigned this one to use as a hack 🙂 -Derek

Here's another recent completion, this time the 1/72 Airfix F-86 new tool Sabre kit, built as a U.S. Army QF-86E Drone. This kit is very nice, I used very little filler on it. About the only negatives I'd say are the basic ejection seat and poorly defined wheels. I replaced these all with Pavla resin items. The decals from from Wolfpak. The openings for the .50 machine guns were puttied over per my reference photos. I used Tamiya AS-12 from the finish and MM Enamels for everything else. I really had fun with this one. Thanks for looking! -Derek

Hi, I'm calling this one done! More photos here: http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?/topic/306763-172-convair-c-131b-texas-ang/

Happy New Year ARC - I finally finished this one - as finished as it's going to get anyway. I know I am missing the antennas and radio wires but this was not an easy build and this kit fought me at every step. I just wanted it off the bench! With that being said, I am pretty happy with the way it came out overall. This is the Mach 2 injection kit. The decals all came from the decal dungeon. The Texas ANG specific markings are from the excellent Caracal 1/48 F-4C/D and 1/32 T-33 sheets. The vertical fin lightening bolt isn't 100% correct in shape but was the best I had to work with. Paints are MM Enamels shot with my trusty Paasche H and the white was from a Tamiya rattle can. I made several improvements to the kit. The clear fuselage windows didn't fit at all so I used the late Bondo-Phil method of clear packing tape and clear resin. I added the nose pitot tubes from needles, added the port side cargo door and handles, filled and re-scribed the baggage door on the forward front starboard fuselage to the correct location, added the astrodome to the top of the fuselage, added landing lights from Krystal-Kleer, drilled out various intakes in the wing leading edges, and drilled out the engine exhausts and used portions of a soda straw for the tubes. I replaced all the smaller detail parts since the kit's were very crude and soft detail-wise. The engines were replaced (ironically) from a scrapped Mach 2 C-123, the props are a white metal set from Aeroclub, and the gear is a wonderful white metal set from Welsh Models. I'd love to do a T-29 with a belly radome also but I'm not sure I could get through another one of these kits. I think they are a test in stamina and patience but the reward is something not seen too often build up. I can't figure out why I keep eyeing the Mach 2 AJ Savage I have in my stash, I must be a real glutton for punishment hahaha! Thanks for looking, -Derek

Speaking of helicopters, how about a nice TH-55 in 1/35 scale? I too would love an UH-12/OH-23 in 1/35 scale! There was a 1/72 kit of both the UH-12 and TH-55 by Special Hobby but they are tiny and tough builds... -Derek

Hi Kurt, Looks like Roden is finally going to release their 1/144 C-133 that was announced a few years ago: https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235048614-1144-douglas-c-133-cargomaster-by-roden-box-art-release-january-2019/ I'll be picking up one of these! I need to hurry up and get on with my 1/144 Roden C-124... -Derek

Hi, I am in need of a set of 1/72 B-26 Marauder props. Ones from a scrapped Airfix kit would be fine. I tried to find a set of Quickboost resin ones but these seem to be OOP at the moment? Please shoot me a PM if you can help. Thanks! -Derek

The Cobra Co 1/72 KC-97 set is still available from Lone Star Models afaik. It’s still on his website. Mike is a great guy to deal with so buy with confidence! -Derek

Gents, no problem. I figured that link was old news to most so I am glad it was new to you both. My copy of the "In Action" book arrived a week or so ago. It's the only book on the C-46 that I am aware of? Upon further inspection, it seems that the insignia on the tail of at least one of the boneyard Commandos from the link is either the 10th Air Force or 14th Air Force logo. The Squadron book shows a/c with both of these nice round badges on several post-war USAF C-46s. I guess my question now is does anyone know of a decal source for either 10th or 14th A.F. logos that would be about the right size for a 1/72 C-46? Or will I have to source these from a custom decal maker? I checked my stash and struck out. I even sent Mark of Wolfpak fame a suggestion for a post-war C-46 scheme for a 2019 release to go along with the other post-war B-25 and A-26 decals he's recently put out. I suggested the West Virginia ANG scheme from the Squadron book, it is quite colorful - black undersides, a white fuselage, natural metal upper wings, fin, and the tops of the horizontal stabs. This is finished off with a red stripe along the fuselage sides. So fingers crossed for that one. Judging by the nature of the old Williams kit, this may be a long involved build so I have time to wait... -Derek