boom175

Good question, never seen that before!

Probably just finished it's run or getting ready to start,

104th FS MD ANG please

AKA "Hush House" they have them at a lot of loud jet bases. Usually one is the test cell for engines just repaired and uninstalled, and one that you can fit half a jet in for installed runs.

Why don't you drop them a note, Gordon seems very customer oriented.

In the US 48th scale is the most popular A/C scale. Most aftermarket decal companies don't make 72nd versions of their sheet and when they do, the sit on the shelves and the 48th scale will sell out. I have hears in Europe that its the opposite and 72nd scale rules. From what I am seeing, it appears that 48th scales are out selling 72nd scale. If so its only logical from a business sense to concentrate more on the more popular line. Disappointing as I wanted to more of the later gen fishbeds such as the SM and the bis as there are some really neat marking options out there.

Probably stickers from a Gerber machine.

Just normal wear and tear, when the jet isn't flying guys getting in and out of the cockpit, I guess it also keeps the parachute straps and seat cushion out of the sun. That type of stuff.

I don't know if there is a F-35 specific thing. But we covered the Sets on our A-10's at the end of the day. Most ejection seats have covers that are part of the A/C's "inventory" such as intake/ exhaust covers etc. In the USAF we called that stuff -21 equipment.

You need to blame the people that package the book, there is obviously not enough padding at the corners. The people handling the packages don't have time to read everything that is written on the box as they probably handle a thousand or two parcels every shift and they are not given a a lot of time to do it. I work at a large airport and while the people I have seen packing containers don't go out of their way to damage your parcels, accidents happen. Its just a matter of numbers.

I can say that they molded the belly reinforcing strap on. For a 3d print it was pretty well detailed. I am waiting for a hard wing Vietnam era bird as I found one of the Zotz F-4e decals sheets at the nationals!

I think the "stealth" coating is chameleon skin!

Wonder if that has anything to do with the OBOGS problem they had on that jet?

AKAN paints seemed a little fragile to me when I airbrushed them. However this was over bare plastic, I haven't tried them over primed plastic.

They will have a "prototype" of their "Late F-4E" at the US IPMS Nats next week. My guess its a rapid prototype and not from the tooling, But that's just my guess.

Different Instrument Panels and different Ejection seats. No evidence of glove vanes. Is just of the top of my head.

I have never seen a photo of a PD with the ventral fuel tank fitted. I've read they were capable of using them buy I have never sen a picture of a interceptor Foxbat with that big ol tank. I would love to see one!

The Aqua gloss is water soluble, but it dries very hard and self levels nicely. Just don't shake it, kind of counter intuitive for most modelers but that will introduce air bubbles in it. I have never tried Klear Kote so I cannot contrast and compare. Sorry

For gloss I really like aqua gloss by Alclad. Future is for floors.

You can still use the computer! Seems silly but I respect your choice.

I think if you could do that it would be a gross violation of OPSEC. I can tell you in my AF career our squadron used the same call sign for training but when we went in theater, the callsigns were chosen by higher headquarters.

Personally I am hoping for a straight Su-27P Lot of neat marking options on that. The announce KH kit will be a SM and while that has more interesting configuration options the markings are pretty limited.

They have always showed some innovative molding. Some of the detail on their earlier MiG-21 kits was very nice especially around the exhaust nozzle.Looking forward t this kit even though I am a later MiG-21 fan.

They have some great tutorials on You Tube and on their website has some tips on as well. Trick is to use their thinner and it's going to look a lot thicker than what you are used to. I usually go with 10 drops of paint, 2-4 drops of thinner and say 4 drops of poly. I spray at 10-15 psi usually around 12.

Bad news it appears; https://defence-blog.com/news/japanese-f-35-fighter-reportedly-crashes-during-routine-training-flight.html