j-basset

Docpepper, Your castings are looking really great! When it's ready, I'll reciprocate by buying your pods. Happy casting! Jason C.

Just a little follow up for the ARCer's in Singapore: The following shops have the new F/A-18C/D Chaff & Flare Dispenser sets in stock as at 29 July; 1. Hobby Focus, Far East Plaza 2. M-Workshop, Sunshine Plaza 3. Orchard Store, Specialist Shopping Centre Hobby Bounties was closed so no deliveries were made. Jason C.

A6BSTARM, Hey, thanks for the links - saves us some time. Will see if one of our club members who is a graphics fella can create it digitally and print it out on decal paper. Jason C.

Thanks, Karl. I'll see if it's possible to do the artwork on my own. Regards, Jason

I'm trying to get hold of decals for an EA-6B of VAQ-130 Zappers in 1/72 to build one for a USN guy here as an appreciation gift for helping out in a modeling society event. The jet should ideally have more recent markings - USS Harry Truman. Closest I could find is a CAM 1/48 sheet for the CAG or CO's jet. This is fine, but it's almost impossible to get a 1/48 EA-6B and also build it properly in a relatively short time. Searches on GMW & Squadron have drawn nothing. Can anyone here help? Jason C. F-4DableModels

Douglas, Yes, it is for real. There are some that just arrived last week at my local hobby shop too. Jason C. F-4DableModels

Dave, To my knowledge, the VMFA(AW)-225 decal option in the Academy kit is certainly for an aircraft with the dual dispensers. The -224 & -332 jets don't appear to have it, being earlier Lot aircraft. Jason C. F-4DableModels

Well ...... After the Export Bugs decals, some ARCers have written to me suggesting Kuwaiti & also some Aussie sheets. I did consider it, ...... until quite recently. Dave Roof is still pushing out his excellent KAF F/A-18C/D sheet in 1/72 & 1/48 (which I'm pushing out the door over here), and I recall reading that Hobbydecal is going to do it in 1/32. Aussie jets are a possibility, although it isn't going to be anywhere in the near term. At the end of the day, economics is going to be the deciding factor. Jason

Dick, No, the KAF jets do not carry the dual dispensers. I don't think we'll be doing the KAF F/A-18C/D. Orion Models has got that well covered. Jason

Just a brief update: The F/A-18C/D Chaff & Flare dispenser set will make its debut at the IPMS Nats., and will coincide with the release of the new Twobobs 1/32 VFA-131 Feline Hornets decal sheets. Look out for this at the Twobobs stand! The sets were shipped out on 15 July and should arrive in the US on time for the Nats. (Well,.. I certainly hope so). I should also add that the parts are drop-in replacements (after removal of the pour stubs). There is a locating panel under each dispenser assembly that corresponds to the opening for the original one-holer dispenser, to ensure correc

At one point last year, I was talking to one of my master makers about producing a resin/vacform F model conversion for the RM E model. It would certainly have been technically feasible, but we haven't gone any further because of the uncertainty as to when RM would get down to releasing their F model. But what do you guys think? The idea was just to have a vacform canopy, resin cockpit tub, seat and F model spine. Would it have worked? Jason C. F-4DableModels

Most certainly, Keith. The RM F/A-18E fuselage has rear cockpit sidewall detail molded in already. Just a matter of a new canopy, rear cockpit tub & spine fairing and a F model is good to go. Probably just a question of when? Jason

John & Chappie, A 1/48 scale version has been planned for, for a long time. In fact, it would have been the inaugural product, but things just didn't pan out. We are deciding what it should contain & the best way to implement it. The Hasegawa C & D kit largely representing a very early C/D as it is, means that a 1/48 set has to be more comprehensive and hence, more complex. When things are firmed up, I may conduct a survey to get some consensus from you guys. Jason C. F-4DableModels

David, I'll be down in Singapore next weekend ground pounding the streets from hobby shop to hobby shop, to market this new product. At the moment, Hobby Bounties is slatted to receive these when I get down. But if it is convenient to go direct, that's fine with me too. Jason

Hi, F-4DableModels has launched its inaugural resin & PE detail set as a follow-on to its Export Bugs series of decals! Product R32001 is an update set in 1/32 scale for the Academy F/A-18C/D Hornet, and is a MUST for late Lot aircraft such as those operated by the Swiss Flugwaffe, Finnish Ilmavoimat, Royal Malaysian Air Force and several USN & USMC units including VFA-131, VFA-34, VFA-82, VMFA(AW)-225, -121, VMFA-314 amongst others. This set provides you with finely casted resin dual bucket chaff & flare dispensers and GPS dome, and the correct LERX 'fishbone' vents in PE.

Creighton, F-4DableModels will take 4-5 pieces, if this item is open for trade channel too. Jason

Gareth, I do have or had various Fujimi F-4's at one time or another. While the wing lower halves are common for all except their F-4B/N variants, not so the top wing panels. For the slatted versions, you have to drill out embossed holes for the slat actuator fairings. They have both slatted and un-slatted top wing panels which are packed according to the variant. The slatted top wing panels have the slats molded integrally. The F-4S kit I have comes with slats only, I'm afraid. If you're dead set on building it as a J, you'll have to chop off the slats, reshape the leading edge and reprof

Darren, Thanks for the suggestion. Jason

Hi, Contemplating buying a 1/32 F-14. I reckon I would build a B model. The Tamiya kit is a likely prospect, but while there is no shortage of cockpit sets and conversion sets, I'm not too sure about a couple of details. Where a B model is concerned, do any of the conversions take care of the F110 compressor faces, and provide late style MLG rims/hubs? Would appreciate any feedback. Jason C.

Creighton, Looks very good to me, and something even I personally look forward to. Will take the usual quantity then! Jason

Eric, 3rd Wire Models also did produce one. I think North American Hobbies stocks 'em. Jason

Ooppps! Just realized Rob was referring to 1/48 Hasegawa & Revell - sorry for my earlier post. To keep it relevant, we've been contemplating a 1/48 version of the Late Lot update set. Jason

F-4DableModels will be launching its inaugural resin product in a couple of weeks time. It will be a 1/32 F/A-18C/D Late Lot update set, which includes the twin ALE-47 countermeasures dispensers, GPS dome and a couple of PE parts to correct a couple of vents on the Academy kit. Will suit the upcoming Twobobs VFA-131 jet just fine, and also the VFA-82 AFLAC & VMFA(AW)-225 F/A-18D in the OIF Hornets set. Jason F-4DableModels

Jake, How about Swiss, Finnish & Malaysian D models, covered in the Export Bugs series of decals by F-4DableModels available in all 3 popular scales? :) Jason

How about something off beat like a Swiss Air Force F-18C? 4 of the Swiss jets have some nose art to talk about. F-4DableModels (a shameless plug) did a series of Export Bugs decals. Check out the Twobobs website or here Jason