PlasticWeapons

According to World Air Power Journal vol.32, spring 1998 issue on pages 76 & 91: A USMC Harrier is carrying a Sanders ALQ-162 defensive ECM pod (in addition to the gun pods). The ECM pod can be found in the Amraam Resin's AV-8B Harrier II Night Attack/Plus conversion kit. On page 90, a UK Harrier is carrying a centerline baggage pod with the British gun pods.

Nice work Randy, on a tough kit! I have two of these half built. Someday, I'll finish them. :blink:

Hyperscale's David Aungst has a good reference article on scribing. Here's the link: http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/rescribingda_1.htm Practice first.

Some choices: The old 1/48 resin offering by Kendal Model Company (KMC); Aires; the Revell-Monogram 1/48 F-15E Strike Eagle kit; and finally the "updated" Hasegawa F-15C or F-15D/E kits. You can also try and locate the Academy F-15D/E kit for parts.

Yeah, nice paint job on the F-15J. I saw it at Tamiya/Con in April in person and it was eye catching. Too bad though, I saw the owner(?) putting parts together in the lobby and hearing him complain about some shipping company...IIRC, there weren't too many jets for this jet fan to enjoy over at Tamiya/Con. Maybe next year! Just a question: Can you enter a model into a contest if you didn't build it? Or did I read the text wrong in the article?

In 1/48, Hasegawa's F-16. Academy's F-16s are knock-offs of the Hasegawa kit but fit together much worse. Canopy is too thick compared to Hasegawa's but if you've got a spare Hasegawa canopy, it'll fit the Academy kit just fine. I don't know if the "newer" Academy kits were reworked but my old copy sucks! It has warped wings... Avoid the troubles, just get the real deal: Hasegawa.

Jeez! You did a great job, including the photography and Photoshopped pics. I really like!

I have the EA-6A kit and yes it has a different radome than the A-6E. Unlike the A-6E kit, the fuselage halves don't seem to fit very well especially in the radome area. One half seems slightly bigger than the other or it's just warped, at least in my copy. You'll also encounter just about the same problems in building all three kits that are available (EA-6A, EA-6B, A-6E) so no surprise there! Until Hasegawa or Trumpeter makes a new-tool kit, I'll be content with the Revell offerings as they're the best ones made in plastic, IMO. I'd build my EA-6A but the very few decals available keep me f

Don't worry, he'll pull through. I dealt with Dave earlier this year with almost the same experience. I had bought/traded some items with Dave, part of my stuff was missing. Emailed Dave but it took a while for him to answer back. As promised, I received what was missing in due time shortly thereafter.

Tamiya's A-10A is an old kit that features both scribed and raised panel lines. Weird, eh? Kinda like their F-14A 1994 version (1/32)!!! Any "new" releases of this kit would still be the old Tamiya kit in maybe a new box? Heh heh. The Monogram kit is more appropriate for a production A-10A. Now add Shawn Hull's LASTE update and the Black Box cockpit set and you've got a Hawg in current USAF service. Detail sets for the Tamiya kit? Very few if any me thinks. It'll need some "upgrades" like chaff flare dispensers, a better cockpit (at least a new seat) but I don't recall anything for it. You ca

I wanna see somebody remake the movie, "Mega Force"!!!!

Did you say Harriers? The Monogram kit is the better detailed of the three (Tamiya, Airfix, Monogram). I am using the Monogram AV-8A as the basis of a GR.3 and Sea Harrier conversion. For the Sea Harrier, Airfix's forward fuselage will be grafted onto the Monogram fuselage by cutting off the fuselage from the intake area forward. Same with the Monogram kit. I'll end up scratchbuilding the forward fin RWR instead of cutting up more plastic (a little easier, I think). Weapons will be supplied from the Airfix kit. The Gr3 will simply be made by cutting off just the nose containing the ARBS(?) s

Xuron micro shears. Never had any part, especially small tiny ones, fly away as you describe it.

Actually in the middle of building one right now, alongside the Monogram offering. Not as bad as the Monogram kit. At least the Hasegawa kit is scribed! Almost the same problems in the intake area as its predecessor, but with more parts *sigh*. Working away a little at a time and doing a lot of test fitting before any drop of glue is layed down and I should have it done in a couple of weeks. There's a Litening pod in the USMC kits (the British versions don't have it but they have BOLs) with some nice looking AIM-9Ms. Too bad, still no ordnance! Maybe one can get away and use the LANTIRN pods

Awesome work!!! How much time did you invest in this big project? <_<

Erik, Cutting Edge makes a set of Block 10 stabs in 1/48 (and also 1/32?). However, the modification is very easy if you're willing to put in the effort to save a few bucks. BTW, Hasegawa does not have any kit in 1/48 or 1/72 with the original F-16 stabs. Tamiya's old 1/48 kit has the stabs but according to Mike V., they are too small. Forgot if the old Monogram kit's stabs were the right size! Also note, if you find the Hi Flight resin stabs, they are scribed resin copies of the Tamiya kit stabs and possibly poorly cast - all my Hi Flight stuff has bubbles in the casting... Seamless Suckers

Yes, it's called Tamiya Spray Works paint stand. Picked one up at Tamiya/Con in April for about $12 (retails for almost $20). It comes with TWO rotating paint stands and attachment clips for holding parts. One of the stands has adjustable mounts to hold car bodies. I have some cheap lazy susans as well but the Tamiya paint stand is also worth the money.

Now that is what I call low or an F/A-18 about to find itself in the drink!

Just let me get my hands on a GOOD photo of the newer aft 'pit and I can scratchbuild one! :lol:

Paragon makes the wingfolds & tail folds. Neil(?) also makes slats and flaps for the kit. Sure wish someone would re-do the landing gear struts though. Ernie, are ya listening??? :lol:

Nope! But you can paint the fuel tanks green and pretend they're bombs! :D

Well, eventually I decided to re-do the Hasegawa Harrier kit seat instead of spending some money for the Aires seats and sooooooooo here's the results of a few days of work. This sure is a lot of work and I totally respect the efforts of Jef V. over at Black Box! I made the seat headrest cushion out of Tamiya two-part epoxy putty and textured it with fine ribbon mesh found at my local arts & crafts store. Seat cushions will be next on the list as well as the rest of the details on the top of the seat headrest. After doing this project, I think I'm gonna start scratchbuilding a new T-4 Dolp

I use Model Master enamel paints and like you, I have found that out-of-the-bottle Dark Gull Gray is too dark. I lightened the paint with flat (light) gull gray at a ratio of 2 parts Dk. gull gray and 1 part light gull gray. Of course you can change that ratio to your liking.

Mike, according to Bear Air's catalogue and website, they won't be carrying Iwata's brand name anymore. I'm very curious as to why but Bear Air didn't say much. There has gotta be something going on 'cause if you buy this other brand of airbrush (forgot which one) and you "trade in" your working Iwata, Bear Air will give you $100 off your purchase. Hmm...see their website for details. I'm looking for a new airbrush too. I think my Aztek A470 is losing my interest and those nice Richpen brands are looking pretty good to me. BTW, anyone use a Peak airbrush? Need info on those.

Why not build one yourself? Check my slow progress: http://www.arcforums.com/forums/index.php?...erdetailing+the