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Hi all. This is another shelf queen that I finished up this year after many years in the box. It's my 7th build of 2022. . This is the 1/72 Revell kit of the F-16AM in the markings of J-063, the Dutch F-16AM that shot down a Mig-29 over Kosovo in 1999. I would rate this kit between the Tamiya and Hasegawa kit although it's fiddlier than both. Painted in Tamiya and Mr Hobby acrylics with markings a mix of the kit and Zotz Decals. Panel washed and weathered to taste with Flory Wash. . More photos and a full build log on my site > https://www.rocketpunch.biz/22-rev-72-f16am/ .

Hello! Build 6 of the year is Victory 103, an F-14B circa 2000 from VF-103 Jolly Rogers. . The kit is highly recommended and has pretty much consigned my stash of Hasegawa F-14s to the 'to sell' list. Decals from Fightertown Decals and finished with Gunze, Tamiya and AK paints. This was given a heavier than (my) usual weathering which I think suits a cruise-bound F-14 more. . More photos and a lot more photos can be found on my site > https://www.rocketpunch.biz/22-academy-72-f14b/ . Thanks for looking!

Thanks for the kind words everyone! Every comment is very much appreciated.

Hi all! Build 5 of 2022 is an out of the box build of the Mitsubishi F-1 strike fighter deployed by the JASDF (Japanese Air Self-Defense Force) from 1978 to 2006. As built, this 3 TFS F-1 is loaded for the anti-ship mission armed with a pair of ASM-1 and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles. . The kit is very detailed but the fit is fiddly and required repeated dry-fitting, shimming and fixing gaps in most of the joins. Painted with acrylics and decals are from the kit. Weathering was kept light with only a panel wash. Definitely a 'looks good from 2 foot away' result. . A build log and m

Thanks for the kind comments guys! Much appreciated

Build 10 of 2021 is a Trumpeter 1/72 kit depicting 58-1226, one of seven F-100Fs modified into 'Wild Weasel I' configuration and deployed to locate and destroy enemy defences. 58-1226 was crew Capt. Al Lamb and Capt. Jack Donovan’s F-100F who were credited with the first SAM site kill by a Wild Weasel F-100F on 22 December 1965. . The modifications were straightforward with the challenging parts being the tailfin: there's an intake on the leading edge and the tail fairing is a slightly wider form. All mods were done with the help of books and builds on both Britmodeller and the ARC Forums

Build 9 of 2021 is an Academy AH-64D kit modified to depict the AH-64E Apache Guardian that the TNI-AD (Tentara Nasional Indonesia - Angkatan Darat or Indonesian Army) deploys. The TNI-AD AH-64E notably features the engine exhausts of the AH-64D. There are also miscellaneous features unique to it that I used plastic card to replicate. The kit itself fits very well with only some minor areas of concern and is highly recommended if you're looking for a modern AH-64 kit. Finished in my usual acrylics with only a basic panel wash done.

Build 8 for 2021 is Shin Kazama's F-5E Tiger II from the manga/anime Area 88. Kazama pilots the Tiger II from Chp 5-10. This is the first aircraft he flies that sports the iconic flaming haired Unicorn on its tail. The kit is from Hobbyboss which fits OK but is not quite accurate in the details. Markings and the Shin Kazama figure are from the Hasegawa F-8E Area 88 kit. Construction was straightforward and I added modified F-16 missile rails for the AIM-7 Sparrow missiles and an additional pair of AIM-9s for a 6 mi

Build 7 of 2021 is a shelf queen from all the way back in 2008. This is the first Hasegawa F-4 kit that I finished after starting and stopping at least 3 others. Built OOB with some mods to get it to be a more accurate F-4J. Decals from Yellowhammer and is of Showtime 100, an F-4J from VF-96. Pilot Randall Cunningham and RIO Willy Driscoll are the only US Navy Aces of the Vietnam War who got their third, fourth and fifth kills in Showtime 100. Painted with acrylics and mildly weathered with oils

Thanks! Definitely overtaken by the Tamiya kit but at least it was a trouble-free build

Build 6 of 2021 is a 1/72 F-16C Block 30 from Hasegawa depicted at the time it was deployed in the late 1980s as part of a hunter-killer unit with an F-4G Phantom II out of Spangdahlem Air Base, West Germany. Decals are from Xtradecals and painted in acrylics with only mild weathering done only. Except for the scratchbuilt LAU-118 AGM-88 rails, this was an OOB build. The exhaust nozzle is a major mistake as it's only correct for an F-16C Block25/32 but I was too far into the build by the time I realized it.

Thanks! Glad it turned out OK.

Build 5 of 2021 is a straight build of the other workhorse of the Luftwaffe during World War II. My build depicts Hermann Graf’s personal Fw 190A-5/U7 during his command of Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost (Fighter Training Group East) which was based in occupied France in 1943. Hermann Graf (24 October 1912 – 4 November 1988) was the first pilot in aviation history to claim 200 aerial victories. Some fitting problems with the cowl and starboard wingroot but otherwise the build went on without issues. Painted with acrylics and weathered to taste. A build log and more p

Thanks for the kind words!

Very nicely done! Is that an aftermarket cockpit or using one of those Quinta 3D console 'decals'?