ChesshireCat

I'll take the Accurate Minatures kit seven days a week. I have all of them in multiples, plus a couple Academy kits (same molds). To be fair the B25b kit did have an issue that can be easily fixed with a Quickboost cowl. gary

I can tell you this; the new engines went to the test cells about six weeks ago (no later than one month ago). These are prototypes, and will probably see a few changes here and there as they are developed. Should be all systems go this time next year. They have only just begun to tool them up, and that alone can take a year or more. Much of the in house equipment is up to the task of manufacturing them, but there is still a lot of new machines needed. Jet engines; unlike others are a low volume production thing. I doubt they'll set it up for more than 72 units a year. I know wh

if one of the engines looses power the plane crashes (during take off and landing). I suspect that they planned on flying over the mountain, and lost power. They were commonly known as a flying pile of junk. Then to add to this; they were death traps due to chemical contamination (Agent Orange). They often simply rotated air frames, and because of that; most were contaminated. Kickbacks have nothing to do with the C123, it was about the exchange of money. gary

probably headed over to Bangcock. Westy's old lady lived there, and from inside sources; he was over there every weekend. Guess being at the top of the food chain had it'd perks! I flew in a C123 one time. That was enough to tell me not to get within a hundred yards of the pile of junk. Two weeks later I watched it fly strait into a mountain side. I remember that little investigation. I saw two or three good men relieved for things they had zero part in. Yet they never chased the kick backs in the states gary

Indiana as well gary

he's with the 75th Rangers (unless he got traded off). His first tour was in Afghanistan attached to the 502nd infantry (75th didn't have an open slot). He came home an E5 Sargent with two Bronze Stars. The second tour was in Iraq with the 75th, and he said it was pretty much house to house on a daily basis. He made E6 on his return with two more Bronze Stars. The younger boy just got out of Ranger school when they sent him to the 10th Mountain (once again no opening and they wouldn't take him anyway). Now he went with those un-named folks out of the 18th Airborne Corp. He already has a combat

in the game of mortal combat each side is right in their eyes. Yet thirty minutes after it's all said and done; no side is exactly right. I think it's time for a fast trip to the good old woodshed for a good whipping gary

you all don't really get it! It's not those screw ball old men that will suffer in this, it's every mother's son and grand kid. If you come out of this without a scratch, it will still be eating at you thirty years later. Nobody will come out in great condition. Even those Mothers at home will suffer (all sides). I have two grandsons over there right now (one is in eastern Poland and we have no idea where the younger one is). At least both have been in the game of mortal combat at least once, but this ain't good. This will be Dylan's third combat tour, and ready to be over it right now. The o

I think it's about time for the heavy handed moderator to show his presence! I'm against the whole shebang by the way, and think everybody could conduct themselves better (east Europe). gary

just to add to this slightly. Those photos are Spooky (see the mountains), and the time frame will be 67 (maybe slightly earlier) thru early 68. Sometime around June they repainted the airframe a dark charcoal (possibly even August). There were five to seven different airframes used, and the others were CBL'd. I never knew there were that many different airframes used till a guy in my VFW post told me (he was a crew member at one time). I may see him next Tuesday evening, and I'll ask him about the flares for you all. gary

The Fujimi kits are the big dog in that scale. Their Tomcat is not all that bad either, but think the Academy kit took it another level. I really liked the Fujimi A6 series; I might add gary

I just saw that Hobby 2000 is going to release the old Fujimi Skyhawks kits in 72nd scale along with a couple Hasegawa Hs129's. Those Skyhawks are really great kits, and near impossible to find gary

I built that when I was a kid! Your X1 turned out well gary

I bought two or three Monogram B17g's, and forgot about how big that plane was. Then I picked up the HKM kits as I'm a glutton for punishment. Kind want to get a couple B17f's to further run out of space. The Lancaster would require a room addition! A big scale B25 is almost over the top in space around here, But I'm gonna do a couple.gary

after seeing it in the flesh (Dayton Ohio), I'd like to build one. The X3 always caught my eye gary

that's the only kind I ever saw in use, and we had the ship out of DaNang for a visit at least once a week. gary

I'd just love to see somebody (cannot remember who) re-issue the Bell X1 and somebody else to a large scale X2 and X3. Never thought we'd ever see a large scale ME262 that was also correct. Revell did two versions, and now I'd like to beg somebody to do the AR234 and the F86 series (I thought it might be Kittyhawk). gary

That MC 202 (two please) will find it's way to my house!! Wish they'd do the WC51 Jeep in 48th and 72nd scale!!! And lastly that Short Sterling has grasped an interest from me and it's in 72 scale. They used them to tow gliders after their bombing days were done. The Airfix one kinda leaves a lot to be desired. Now we need gliders! gary

I'd forgotten about Trumpeter. Their Skyraider is really nice, and many folks like their A4 better than Hasegawa. Right next to me are two or three F4F Wildcats from Trumpeter waiting in line to be built someday. One is a very early one and the other is a later version. Just an in the box look thru says it's a nice kit. The ZM kits are the real deal, but also not cheap. I looked at a build of the ZM He219, and it kinda made me take a step backwards. It maybe a level eight kit for this guy. Besides the size is really a little big like. I may build the Revell one day with no idea on what to do

I like the Revell kits! As in really like them. The Hasegawa Zeros maybe be the best (the two new versions) out there. Their 109's are really nice kits, but I like Revell better. The Revell FW190's are the best period. I've been chasing two Hasegawa P47 razor backs for way too long. Don't forget ICM either. They are killing the competitors these days. I look for ICM to do a large scale Fi156 one of these days. The Hasegawa Storch is a good kit, but the Tristar is better Tourist51 knows more about the P51 than everybody else put together. He liked the Revell P51d, and they are now d

quite honestly you can tie a whole host of flies off generic hooks at Walmart. Have a basic design for a two inch shrew in the back of my head right now, and I'll simply use a big worm hook (rubber worm). The tail has me kinda worried, but I'll come up with something. Kinda thinking I need to seriously attack muskies this year, and ice out is where you start. I have a ten weight that is like casting with a broom stick, but the rod is serious. It'll do a hundred foot cast, as I've seen it done with my rod. I can get 85 feet on a perfect day with a slight breeze behind me. It would be a serious

That bottom salamander is interesting. Is the body spun deer hair or is it foam? Nicely done. Bass tend to concentrate their strikes on the head. My rats use either a foam body or something to create the shape while being somewhat flexable when the fish bites down. Always foam filled to make them float well. I use big doll eyes (white or red), as all predators watch the eyes. I like the up turned hook, but nothing wrong with a down turned hook. I use a Partridge saltwater hook right now that is heated and rebent twice; then rehardend to keep the body on the hook during a strike. Always looki

For eons I was the classic upland bird hunter. The dog and I would be out all day, and just never had a care in the world. I never was really into pheasant all that much, but I like it once I get my brain into it (is there anything better than smoked pheasant?). Actually never went water fowl hunting (ducks geese ). Just couldn't get into it. Finally 100% quit when the bird populations fell like a rock a few years back. I used to deer hunt a little bit, but honestly never cared all that much for it. I have a 313lb. buck under my belt and call that the end of that era. I still love predator

yep!!

I have a tax payer funded disease called PTSD. Being out there fishing just takes all that crap away. The Lord did away with the rest (or most of it anyway). Fly fishers as a rule don't keep anything they catch, and we use barbless hooks that do little harm to the fish. Sure I loose one in ten fish, but don't loose any sleep over it. gary