Randy Lutz

Thanks Roberto. Cheers Randy

Thanks very much Joel. Cheers Randy

Thank you very much. This is just one of seven which I have built and is part of a master plan to have a Hawk in the markings of each nation that operated the P-36. May never happen as the kit can be a bit exhausting to work on. Cheers Randy

Hi Zac Thanks much. The changes are mostly just small things that make a big difference to the overall look of the model. It really helps to have a photo of the actual subject you wish to model as there are so many small features that are not consistent from one airframe to the next. Cheers Randy

Hi Larry Thank you very much. The kit get a bad rap from some people, but I really like the overall feel of the model. Cheers Randy

Thanks much. Cheers Randy

Hi all Here are a few images of my Thai Hawk 75N. It represents a machine flown by Sergeant Sangwan Worrasap of the 66th Wing, 60th Pursuit Squadron while based at Don Muang, Thailand in the Spring of 1941. Fuselage - kit seat replaced with Ultracast resin seat - structural detail added to floor - Hi-Tech resin sidewalls added - antenna wires made from stretched sprue - machine gun breeches added to instrument panel - cowl machine gun blast tubes made from metal tubing - kit ring sight replaced with photo-etched ring sight - ignition wires added to engine - correct size engine from

Thanks Darren. Cheers Randy

Thanks very much Don. Cheers Randy

Hi all Here is my latest completed model. It is the Revellogram Bf 110G-2. As this is my third one, I'm getting to know where the problems are. Here is what I did to this model. Fuselage - MG 81Z replaced with Aries resin guns - Eduard photo-etched seatbelts added - FuG25a IFF antenna made from piano wire - antenna wire made from stretched sprue - MV Products lens used for gunsight objective lens - belly pack gun barrels replaced with aluminium tube Wings and Landing Gear - landing gear modified to sit at proper angle - exhaust pipes replaced with Quickboost resin pipes

Thanks Joel This has to be the nicest compliment about my work I have ever received. Cheers Randy

Hi all Here is my Hawker Sea Fury Mk. 60 “Baghdad Fury” which I built a few years ago. I performed the following enhancments to the kit: Cockpit Area - Cooper Details resin cockpit installed to replace kit parts - added drop tank jettison and selection levers Fuselage - Spinner replaced with Cooper Details part - Squadron vacuform windscreen and sliding canopy to replace kit canopy - handholds and footsteps added - rear of fuselage and bottom of rudder modified to represent a de-navalised variant - whip antenna made from surgical wire Wings - gun barrels added

Hi all, This is the Dragon 1/48 He 162 Mistel kit. As this combination never actually existed, this what-if depicts a Heinkel He 162, which has been re-deployed from JG1 to a new bomber unit. The Me 262 represents a tired, in-service fighter which was sent back to the Messerschmitt factory to be reconfigured to a drone aircraft with a new warhead nose cone. I performed the following minor mods to the kit. He 162 - Eduard photo etched detail set used in the cockpit - kit pitot tube replaced with hypodermic needles - FuG25a IFF antenna added - photo etched DF loop added - landing g

HI all Here are a few images of my 1/48 Nichimo Spruce. It is finished in the markings of the 21st Hikoshidan, Shireibu Hikodan and as found at the end of war at Kikuchi Airfield, Kumamoto Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan. Overall, this is nice kit and only required the following minor mods. Cockpit - kit seat replaced with scratch built seat - photo-etched seat belts added - kit instrument panels replaced with scratch built panels - fuel drum installed in rear cockpit - fuselage wood stringers added from strip styrene - throttle and mixture levers added - throttle linkages made from metal

Hi Tom I have seen it identified as an E-3, E-4 and E-7. I went with Dave Wadman's info, wherein he stated it is an E-4. Cheers Randy

Hi Tom First off, thanks much. To answer your question, I based it on a photo found in Kagero's book JG1 OESAU 1939-43. It clearly shows the area behind the fuselage cross, and I could not see any gruppe marking. Cheers Randy

Hi all This is my most recently completed model. I performed the following minor enhancements to the kit: Fuselage - kit seat replaced with Ultracast seat - KMC resin cockpit sidewalls and floor installed - antenna wire made from stretched sprue - upper cowl intake opened - cowl gun barrels drilled out - engine starter crank opening and lift points drilled out - kit propeller and spinner replaced with Ultracast resin parts Wings - wing gun barrels drilled out - kit wheels replaced with Ultracast resin wheels - tie down rings drilled out - tail planes modified to eliminate the an

Thanks Erik and that's a fine job on your 1/32 model. You are right, you don't see it built often, which is a pity as it really is an attractive little subject. Cheers Randy

Thanks Andrew

Hi all Can't recall if I have ever posted a finished model in The Display Case, so for my first I thought I would show you my Heinkel He 100 from the Heinkel Industrieschutzstaffel at Rostock-Marienehe, Germany in the Spring of 1940. I performed the following to the model: Fuselage scratch built oil cooler chin scoop lift points drilled out vacuform sliding canopy stretched sprue antenna wire Wings pitot tube replaced with hypodermic needle gun openings drilled out main gear doors thinned and structural detail added scratch built landing gear retraction linkages Paint and deca

Thanks Don I had terrible luck using the Aztec decals and ended up painting all the markings. I also made new wing walks from strips of black decal material. Cheers Randy

Hi Harald There are a few subtle differences between a Salvadoran and American Corsair. The antenna lead-in is relocated to opposite side and the antenna wire mounts directly to the top of the vertical fin and not to the mast on top. I assume you are using Aztec decals. If so, and if you are doing one of the grey machines be advised that their representation of the wing walks is wrong. See photo below for correct outlines and location. Don't use any underwing rockets, drop tanks or large bombs, as the Salvadorans did not have them. Also make sure you eliminate the underwing landing light

I am placing this on ARC as it may have a different audience than Hyperscale. If you have already replied on Hyperscale, please do not reply here In this era of instant access to modelling information, I would be curious to know from those of you who are members of a national branch of IPMS, such as IPMS USA, IPMS UK, IPMS Canada, etc, what is the number one reason why you are a member? Conversely, if you are not a member, what is the number one reason why you are not a member? Note that I am not asking about membership in a local chapter of IPMS. I am asking as it applies to a national l

Hi David There is in fact a link at the bottom of the page which will take you to an RT index, where you can see the contents of each issue. Cheers Randy

As one of the very few IPMS Branches that offers back issues of its society journal, IPMS Canada is at present trying to determine if it is worthwhile for us to continue to offer back issues of our society journal, Random Thoughts (RT). As a result, we are having a 3 month sale on all back issues to gauge if there is any interest. If we do not realize sufficient sales, we will determine that there is not enough interest in the back issues of RT and as a result we will no longer continue to offer back issues. So, if anyone has been contemplating filling in any gaps in their library, this wou