Hajo L.

In my eyes the Airfix-kit, although the oldest one, is still the best looking CH/HH-53. Italeri/Revell has only little details on the outside (and I love those rivets on the Airifix-kit!) and the Fujimi is a kit I never built. Another pro of Airfix: The cargo bay has a "roof". HAJO

Books are always an inspiration, especially when they deal with one of our favorite topics. Currently I´m reading "On a Steel Horse I ride", a documentation about the "Pave Low" and the first Combat Rescue versions of the Sikorsky H-53 model. You can buy this book as paperback at Amazon, but why should you? It´s available for free as PDF on the website of Air University Press: https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/AUPress/Display/Article/1533165/on-a-steel-horse-i-ride/ So, reading this brought up my old idea of completing my partial "Pave Low" re

Yes. I also saw the protruding bumbs that carry the DIRCM at the aft of the fuselage! HAJO

Absolutely awesome! HAJO

What was/is the purpose of these laser sights?? HAJO

Even though it´s way too hot outside these days (today we'll reach around 32 °C, tomorrow are 35 °C forecasted... 😞 ) I shot some pictures of the finished Bombcat: And the full bomb load in all its glory: In the meantime the Tomcat has found a safe parking spot in my office among a couple of HobbyBoss Tomcats: HAJO

In 1/72 I can also always recommend the Hobbyboss-kit. Never had any fit issues, and with its swept wing mechanism and the correct front gear strut it beats the current Academy - if you want something that´s really easy to model. HAJO

Here is a compilation of several tweets of Mark Hertling, a former US General in command of forces in Europe: "Having just watched the SecDef, Vice CJCS and @US_EUCOM Commander, I am sickened by this decision and explanation. It is not tied to any strategic advantage, and in fact is counterproductive to showing strength in Europe. A couple things: 2/ First, what is obvious to me - having served 12 years in Germany and having participated in the last force structure change from 2004-2011, this is not a "strategic" move...it is speci

I read comments (not official ones!), that indicate that other units will stay at Spang, which would mean that there is still some need in keeping it open. I personally hope this whole thing will be cancelled, there is obviously NO military benefit in that whole stunt! HAJO

If you scroll down on that scalemates-site you should see that someone is offering a set as a privateer. HAJO

I used the Eaglestrike-decals for my A-1H: https://www.scalemates.com/kits/eagle-strike-productions-72004-south-east-asia-skyraiders--976843 I can really recommend them! HAJO

Very nicely done! I´m looking forward to see your U-28! HAJO

Lots of MK-20s on a F-111A? I´m in! HAJO

I´m on vacation and therefor can´t do any progress - but there actually is no need anymore, since I was able to get the Tomcat finished on my last evening home! But I was only able to do some "hush-hush" pictures, I will take some better ones as soon as I return home. The 14 MK-82s look awesome one the bird! The front part got some sunlight on this picture, it´s usually not that bright in relation to the rest of the aircraft. HAJO

I just built the Academy F-14A. The kit is very nice, but I don´t like that the wings can´t be swept "symmetrical" (there is no provision to link the wings together, like on - I think - all other kits) and the front landing gear is coming only in a "in-flight"-configuration (hydraulics are completely "released" and not weighted in). HAJO

Very nicely done! HAJO

Really good looking! HAJO

Uops, my old thread... The GunPod is from the old F-15E kit of Italeri: https://www.scalemates.com/kits/italeri-166-f-15e-strike-eagle--110001 HAJO

Decals are one! Now a matt clear coat next and then a lot of bombs. HAJO

I added the clear parts and painted some smaller details. Because of reasons I also re-painted the rudder in a blue-ish and darker grey, using Revell 79. Now some clear coat to prepare the model for decals. HAJO

Well, you have guessed it probably: It will be 14x MK-82 Snakeeyes! 😄 And another aspect of "what if" will be the camo: FERRIS-SCHEME! 😉 HAJO

Coming along very nicely! Looking forward to your experiences with the decals! HAJO

Unfortunately I did NOT find them... I went through my stash (which is an old shoe box) twice, but got nothing to turn up. Sorry! HAJO

Ok, I think now it's a bit clearer what kind of "hat if" I'm going to do here...: Close-up: Anybody wants to take a guess? 😉 HAJO

Looking really nice! HAJO