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 Purchases 1/144

  Yes I know I have been buying more models than I build, but I am hoping that should change soon as I have now cleaned off my desk in my bedroom for modelling, where as before I was using the kitchen table.  Least I will be able to listen to better music and have easier access to reference material, ie the interwebs and my book collection.  Right onto what I have purchased.

  All of the following where from King Kit - www.kingkit.co.uk a very good modelling kit website.  I will be using them again.  I only really wanted two kits from them but I think I ended up buying 8!!!  Onto the pictures.

   This was the first kit that I actually wanted, I'm not a great fan of CAG schemes as they seem like some kinda ego boost to me.  However this one I like, it fits with an A-10 to me.  Also it has the dual AIM-9 launchers that an A-10 should have.  Got lots of extra weapons with this one too, always handy to have. 

   Two planes I have always liked, the F-16XL was a design that was put forward as an bomber, it could carry 16 bombs on it.  I believe that this design proposal lost the the F-15E Strike Eagle.  The two that where built where given to NASA hence the cool black paint work on the plane.  The Saab Viggen is one of those weird planes that I love for no reason at all except that it looks cool!!  I always loved the way that Swedish planes are designed to operate from crap airfields and motorways, yeah I know that any plane can operate from a motorway but it's cool to be in the design.  I know the RAF used to train their pilots with motorway take offs with the Harriers and the Jaguars.  Not too sure on the Tornado tho... hhmm.

   As a kid I remember making an 1/144 F-4 Phantom from the Hellenic Air Force.  As a kid you never really gave a crap about details then, as I had painted it metallic aluminium and put the decals on.  I guess you could call this a trip down memory lane for me.  I got the F-16 as it's nice to do a plane in markings other than Russian, American and British.  I think it looks like a cool model to do with just the two tanks on it and the AIM-9's too.  The Tornado was because I wanted a GR1 model.  Every kit I have of the GR1 is missing the ECM pod under the left wing, I'm hoping as it's on the photo it should be in the box.  Gotta love a Sharkmouth Tornado. ;)

   The Su-25 Frogfoot (love that name) was bought because I have a thing for ground pounders/anti-armor planes.  I'm hoping it comes with a lot of ammo that I can use on one of my other Russian jets.  Now the Hawker Hunter, what a beautiful plane!  Anyone who doesn't love this plane is either moronic or blind!  It's also cool that the Royal Navy are still using them to this day via a 3rd party.  It also kicked serious arse in the Indian/Pakistan war, the pilots loved it because it never let them down.  I remember reading that one pilot hit a sand dune with his tail after a tank had a lucky shot at him and the plane survived and got him home too.  Class

 
  This Tigershark was added to the pile as it was cheap and I have been after a good F-5/F-20 for ages.  The paint work looks easy to do so not much to worry about and only... 8 decals if I am lucky.

  As of yet I am not too sure how I am going to paint them if it's going to be OOB (Out of Box) or bodge something up myself.  Will have to see what happens and how I feel.

  Thats all for now... PEACE!

  Dazz

New bits 1/144 and 1/100

  Nat is going to kill me, as I have promised her that I wouldn't buy anything until I had completed a few more models.  Well this little lot I couldn't resist on, first up the Tamiya ones.

 Love this plane, dunno why... guess its because I grew up with it being the fighter of the RAF and it appeared in a lot of the films I saw at the time for the Vietnam war.  I got this F-4 Phantom and the MiG-21 below at the grand ol' price of £2 each and as I was ordering other bits I thought why not.  Also I do not have any JASDF planes either so it was an added bonus. :)

  Another weird plane this, it's not a plane that I like but it is one that I respect.  Not decided if I want it to be Polish, Russian or Vietnamese yet....

  Found this on a website I order stuff from, it was the same model as the one I had ordered off ebay but didn't receive as they messed up the order and went out of stock.  Looking forward to making these :)  Got a thing about the Growler for some reason... I dunno...

  Now this one, I had this model before when I was younger which I think was a PML (?) model, I got it from Poundland, good model it was too.  I was just it together and left it, it came with a stand too!!  This time I am determined to make a decent model of this one.  This version is the F-16 Cranked Arrow, I hate the term F-16XL it makes it sound like a fat bastard this is the plane that got beaten by the F-15E Strike Eagle.

  More bits to add to the "to-do" pile :P

  PEACE!!

  Dazz