Paul Boyer

Trumpeter's kit isn't perfect, but it is the best Vigie in "our" scale. The main nits are the too-wide canopy hatches; there should be a double-bubble effect there where the hatches meet the fuselage. The other thing is the recessed rivet detail is a bit deep. Now these are small "problems" but difficult to correct. Best just to not worry about them. On the other hand, the detail is MUCH better than what you got from the Airfix or Hasegawa kits that were developed in the late '60s - early '70s. The only two Vigies in my collection are the Trumpeter and a Hasegawa kit that I converted back to a

You'd be much better off looking for the Special Hobby A-20 series. I think Revell MAY HAVE reboxed a Special Hobby Boston/Havoc, but I'm not sure. The Special Hobby series is clearly the best A-20 kits in 1/72 scale.

I think it was Walter Cronkite who said this about retirement: "I wake up in the morning with absolutely nothing to do, and by noon I'm so far behind, I think I'll never catch up!" (or words to that effect).

Beautiful! If I'm not mistaken, I think Cartograf did this for one of the limited-run Hasegawa issues in 1/72 scale. They had those small Bicentennial circle markings for sure. But I'm buyin' the 1/72 one when it comes, Kursad! Thank you!

Great Vark!

Beautiful! Great representation of 1/72 scale!

One thing is for sure, the cockpit detail of the 1/72 Monogram kits is superior. They even put in the differences of the Navy cockpit for the J model. Hasegawa's, Fujimi's (except for the curiously much better Spey Phantom cockpits), and Esci's Phantoms are similar to each other and sparse when compared to the Monogram cockpits. If you object to or disfavor raised panel detail, then that can be considered Monogram's main failing in this scale. Personally, it doesn't bother me that much. Monogram's kits can produce only the C or D for the Air Force, and the J kit for the

YES! Finally, Sacred Cow to add to my presidential transports collection. Maybe someday VC-118 "Independence"!?

May I suggest using HOT water and a hair dryer to get many of the Japanese-kit decals to conform? It works for me in most cases, even on some of the Korean Academy decals!

Looks great, Mark. Please PLEASE do NOT take guidance from the old Microscale decal (or the CAM copy) for the VF-102 Diamondbacks markings. They were quite oversized!

YUM!

Kursad, I seem to remember you were about to post profiles of the marking choices for a Neptune sheet -- and then radio silence. Are you still working on it?

To me, the Monogram looks better. Hard to pin it down, really. On the downside, the Monogram/Revell has raised detail, has post-war scab reinforcements molded in. On some, the thinly molded fin halves warp, but not out of fixable range. The Monogram G Wild Weasel comes with the typical Weasel load; gas bags on the centerline and one wing, Standard Arm and two Shrike missiles. I like the cockpit detail better in the Monogram/Revell kits. One thing that bugs me and is too difficult to correct for such a small mistake, is that ALL Monogram and ALL Trumpeter/Hobby Boss Thuds have conical radomes.

Disagree. Take a closer look at the bird on the left. The color of the top of the wing (and the folded right tip) is quite warm but the fuselage side goes gradually cooler (bluer) as you go aft. That's because it is receiving its light from outside the hangar - daylight. Look at the 05 bird back in the shadows. Look how warm the white rudder is compared with the cooler white rudder on the 413 bird. No, this is all light, believe me.

It looks fairly new and clean in that photo, so I'll bet it was Vinson.

Don't think there is any flash involved here, but daylight coming in through the open elevator door. The tail of the 300 bird is lit predominantly by daylight (cool or bluish), the top of the bird and the folded right wing get the ceiling lights (warm or reddish; looks like a mix of fluorescent and sodium vapor?). The 413 bird has more of an even mix of all the lighting, while the 05 bird (505?) is in the shadow of the 500(?) bird on the right. This is all due to light source and shadow, not paint/weathering variation. Also notice the gray on all of these birds is glossy, so that would put the

The Revell 1/72 F-101B Voodoo was molded in Korea by Ace, although I don't think I've ever seen an Ace box of it. At first glance, it seems to borrow from the Monogram 1/48 scale kit, but of course it has recessed panel lines instead of raised. I really like this kit but there's trouble fitting the cockpit parts together, especially the instrument panel and shroud for the GIB. Wish they had done a decal for this one, but nobody has. I made mine with decal stars on the tail and arrows on the fuselage cut from decal film. I tried making the unit emblem by printing a patch image onto white decal

Not at all, just clarifying!

Yeah, I noticed the gear door just as I posted the shot. That model is at least 15 years old now, and no telling how long it has been loose. Simple fix, though. I have about 250 built ups and there are probably many that have something loose or missing that I haven't noticed. It sucks getting old, even for models.

In my opinion, the inaccuracy Rex cites is barely noticeable in this scale. The time spent to "fix" it would be better spent on making more models. Here are my two Fujimi models. Can you see the problem? Me neither. Like taking the time to fix the sagging rear nose-gear door on the A-4B!

OP didn't and asked about it.

Nothing but the announcements and a few CAD illustrations so far. They're planning a B-1B also. Pretty ambitious. I think we won't see anything until summer at least.

Is it needed on the Trumpeter kit? The Monogram has it right and is arguably a better kit anyway.

That's the PJ Productions resin kit, best in the scale. 'Cept it's resin, so . . . .

I have half of the sheet, what's leftover from doing this: You're welcome to the remains. Just need your address!