New Purchase Revell 1/144 F-16C

  I saw this model in ModelZone the last time I went to Lakeside with Nat.  It's the new tooling and I just had to get it, wished I had gotten 3 now as their 3 for 2 offer is still on... bugger.  First the pictures. :)

   Here is the box art for it.  Typically in Revell fashion of late it's an awful CAG/Anniversary scheme.  Don't think much of this one at all.  I'm guessing it's an Texas based squadron or something.  Also by the looks of it, it's loaded out as a Wild Weasel of some kind.

   The scheme looks like any other F-16 but with the Texas flag thingy put on it.  I suppose it's not too bad, but then again it is the only scheme they have got on here.  It wouldn't of killed them to of put on a low-viz scheme of some kind.  However unlike the F-15E that was released earlier this year, the important stencils are not in the fancy parts. So you can make a low-viz one of some kind I guess...

   The decals, not much to see here really.  You got all the stencils on the bottom right and the other bits all around it.  Not much more to say here really.  I might just scrap these decals and use the stencils on the F-15E, not too sure yet.

   The first sprue, first thing that might come to mind is the fact the top fuselage is cut in half.  I assume that is in case an 2 seater gets released later on.  The detail is amazing, we got 3 tanks and two sidewinders as well.  And the usual other bits and bobs that makes up a plane.  Now that I look at it, there's a bit of flash around the bottom part of the fuselage and that corner of the sprue.

   Now the top half of the fusleage.  Also one thing that might catch your eye is the fact that there is two tailplanes.  If I read correctly, this is so you can make either an F-16A Block10 or an F-16C.   Not too sure which is which but I will look into that, I always liked F-16 Block 52+'s dunno why..  You can also see 4... I think they are AMRAAMS, still thats a cool load out.

   I said earlier that you could make the A or C models, theres two tails for it in this model.  Also you have two HARM's, two GBU 10's (?) and some kind ECM pod, not too sure what one it is.  Guess I will find out when I look into it.  The canopy is here also, doesn't look like it can be cut in half easily either for an open "office"... shame. 

   A close up of the front top fuselage, look at the detail of the HUD, first time I have ever seen anything like that from a Revell model in 1/144.   I wonder if the moulds are from another company like Trumpeter or Eduard??  HHmm... still lots of nice detail there that I can dry brush out.

   Back half of the fuselage here, just a shot to show the engraved panel lines, nice and crisp.  Should take an pin wash quite nicely, if I ever can be arsed :P

  Bought these decals from Hannants as I was going to use them on my F-16XL as an "what-if" kind thing.  I might still do that now that I think about it, I like these decals, not too showy and it's got a scantly clad lady on it too, so it beats a man in a dodgy stetson hat.  Still thinking of using the summer one for the F-16XL and the winter one for the F-16.  Well I've got a few models on the go atm so I will not be starting this one any time soon.  I might buy a few of these and see what I can bodge up. :)

  Peace!

  Dazz

New Purchase - Retrowings (OzMods) BAe Hawk T1 1/144 and Retrowings Hawks in Worldwide Service decal sheet.

  I couldn't resist buying this the other day when I ordered some more resin parts for the other models I own (most cockpits tbh).  So I purchased this, I loved the Hawk Mk.127 that I built earlier in the year I decided to build one in the scale I am now starting to prefer.  Onto the pictures and a little about each one.

 here is the box for it, nothing fancy and nothing to write home about.  Clearly says on the box that the model was manufactured by OzMods (still gotta buy some bits from them but the shipping is really putting me off).  I think the Hawk on the picture is from Indonesia, I might go for that version it's a tooled up little Hawk with the 30mm Aden Cannon, two Sidewinders (assuming it's the same the other side) and what I think is an Mk.84 bomb.  I got a few of those weapons in my stash (mostly from the F-18E) so I might use that.

   Once again nothing to write home about, the parts look to be okay.  I know I will have a fair bit of work to do with this model.  But that's part of the fun with this one, am really looking forward to this one. 

  I am so glad that the main wing is one part, makes my life easier as I was worried about fitting them both and getting the right stance for some reason.  Also glad that the wing has the little stake things in it already.  I hated doing them for the Hawk 127.

  Here is the decal sheet that Retrowings released to go with the Hawk model, it's got 10 different planes from around the world which is a bonus incase I wanna do an unusual country choice or an what-if.  Also good to have. :)

  The first page, I am loving the way this is set out.  I've always had a thing for technical drawings like this, was always good at school with these kinda drawings and I could understand them quicker than most in my class.  Anyhow... I love the RSAF colours for some reason, probably because its the same colours as the Tonkas have... I dunno...  The only problem with this sheet is that you can see the Hawks Mk. 53, 65, 109, 209 as well as other marks.  I can only do the 53's and 65's as thats all the T1 was.  I wonder if anyone will do a conversion set for this model in the future??

   First thing that gets me about this page is there is a ROKAF plane in the bottom right.  I never knew that the South Koreans had the Hawk.  But now that I do know that I have had an idea, as I wont be using the decals for that plane as it's a Mk 63 and has a different nose to the T1, I was thinking of buying the Revell 1/144 F-15E Strike Eagle which has all of it's decals in tiger stripes and replacing them with the ROKAF ones as they do have the F-15E.... Okay they have the F-15K Slam Eagle (cool name!) which for all purposes IS and F-15 just different internals.  Not a bad idea I thinks, depends if the stencils are in the tiger stripes too.

  What decal sheet wouldn't be complete with the top/bottom views of all the planes.  I never noticed how much the wings differ from the Mk.63, 109 and 209.  Stuff like that fascinates me... geeky I know but you had your warning in my first post. :P

  All of the decals, I have two problems with this sheet, first one being the lack of stencils for the planes.  I wouldn't of minded paying extra to have them included in the sheet.  They are shown on the diagrams so why not?  The other problem is the fact that the US Navys not on there... they are the biggest operator of the Hawk... Well they call it the Goshawk but it's still a bloody Hawk, just Navy-ised.  Still thinking of the Indonesia decals...

  Peace!

  Dazz

Revell 1/144 E-2C Hawkeye and AV-8B Harrier II+ Completed.

  Yes, you did read the title right.  After a year I have finally finished the Hawkeye.  It wasn't the "dream build" I've read about.  But I think thats more to do with my stupidity than anything else.  I also "finished" the Harrier.  I balls'd it up tho so I have left it where it is.  Still quite impressed with it.  I'll post pictures of the Harrier first.

   I can't believe how well the cockpit has come out.  Love the fuel tanks too, shame they messed up too.

   The transfers/decals where not that bad actually.  I was expecting far worse.

  Close up of the cockpit, can't believe how much detail you can see in it.  I need to make better cockpits, but I am happy with this.  The HUD looks cool.  Learning how to make seatbelts will be my next thing.

  Top view, if you are wondering why the fuel tanks are on the middle station instead of the inboard ones. Thats because I wanted to use the GBU-12 and TILAD pod on the inner ones.  I've got pictures of AV-8B's like this, so I know its a viable fit.  Might break off the tanks and use them again.

  And finally the tail, the decals weren't that bad really.  However they are not a simple fit, I cut mine into two parts, wish I had done 3 or even 4.  Now that I think about it, I am going to make this model again.  Maybe with aftermarket parts and dropped flaps.  Now onto the Hawkeye.

   I am really loving this model, now the bugger is finally finished.  Think the de-icing boots could of been done better or masked off.  But live and learn eh?

 Top back half.  Really am pleased with how this came out.   I will be buying this again at a later date.

   I just love that Green and Yellow band around the forward fuselage. It actually fits and it wasn't that hard to put on either.  As for the "Danger" one for the props... that was a complete bastard and didn't go on straight :(

   Think if I was to do this kit again I will have to do it as an Hawkeye 2000, and have folded wings on it.  I'm gonna have to paint the "button" on the radar as it's a different colour.  Also the cockpit will be painted better as you CAN see it through the windows.  Still I am well happy with what I have done.

   Decals for the rudders look really cool to me.  Not too sure if they are on correctly or if they have silvered a little?

   Love the little decal for the "USS Kitty Hawk".  Oh yeah the walkway decals.  I forgot to put them on before I had rebuilt the rotordome housing.  However you can put them on after the housing is on the plane.  However I do still believe that it would be easier to place them before the housing is on and maybe to cut the main on for the wing up into two parts as it has to match a panel line on the wingspar and there is also an emergency escape hatch on the rear fuselage that they wont match up with.  Still this is one good kit.  The decals are really good.  Need to recover the windscreen to varnish it and try out a little wash.  I will see about doing that tomorrow.

  Any comments or suggestions please let me know.

  Peace!

  Dazz

New purchases.

 
  I purchased a few things from Hannants the other day.  I wanted to get some primer as everywhere down here has ran out and has been so for the last 3 weeks.  I had to order a few things to justify the shipping costs.  Heres what I got...

   Saw these as a new item, then I saw the picture of ZD790 aka "Debbie".  She was the first modern pinup plane that I knew of way back in 1991.  I've also read about some of the missions she went on, she was one of the first planes into Iraq to take out the Iraqi airfields.  I'm gonna use one of my Tornado GR4's for her and I think I will also use "Helen" and maybe "Foxy Killer" gotta love a Tornado with shark teeth. I also believe that Kits-World is also very local to me.  Will have to look into that.

  Seen a lot of good things about Minicraft kits, and I thought it would be fun to see what the size difference is between a B-17 and something more modern like the Mig 1.44 below.

  Got the MiG on ebay for cheap, gonna paint it like the Sukhoi Pak-Fa T-50.  Got the MiG-25 because I needed the decals for the next plane.

   Here we have the PLAN's J-15, which to everyone else is an Su-33 Flanker, one of my all time favs.  Had a quick look at the bits but the cockpit is shockingly bad. 

  Peace!

  Dazz