New Pruchases - Sweet 1/144 Sea Kings and Zero

  Now this is the ones I originally ordered from HLJ with VF-19 and IdolM@ster planes (have I put them up on here??).  I saw one of these being built on Britmodeller as part of the 1/144 GB and thought they looked cool.  Plus they have the SAR versions of the great Sea King.  If only they done the commando version (the designation escapes me atm).

  All of the Japanese versions, naturally had to be first.  Not sure which one I want to do... I could just leave this little lot entirely and make use the decals from another set below... still not decided.

  The decals from the above set, not really alot to write about.  Still the decals are really well printed and there is enough there to make a few what-ifs (Merling SAR for the JSDAF... or is it JSDMF?)

  I bought this one originally to make the classic yellow RAF SAR helicopter.  But I now have the Airfix 1/72 version (despite it's many faults).  So I can make that one then... so I might make the grey one... not sure yet.

  Decals for the above.

  I got this one to build the RAAF version, liking the Belgian version too for some reason.  I could use that for the model up above... hhmm... will have to think about that one.  The German one isn't really working for me, plus I have a CH-53G in the same scheme.

  Decals for the above...

  Last but not least is this set, I only bought it the 775sq Fleet Air Arm SAR helicopter.  I have a thing for aircraft with cards on them, must be my love of poker there.  Anyhow that is the one I will be building here.  "Black Beast" is a colourful little one, but not one that I am particularly interested in.

  Decals for the above.

  This is what you get in each bag, yes thats right a bag!  Not much to say really, very few parts and the airframe is already set together.  There is no interior or cockpit detail at all.  So I will be having fun scratch building them when I get around to it.

  Just added this one to the order as it was only £5!!! Result, and for once it's a Zero that isn't in the standard boring white/cream/green schemes.  I do have a set of decals to turn them into a captured AVG machine, but that is 1/72 scale so totally useless here.  Anyhow, I am looking forward to building this one. :)

  Minimal parts here and decals, no Hinomaru's are included in the decals either (weird that eh?).  I'm looking forward to making this one also, should be nice and quick also.  practically no cockpit either, but I dont think you will see under all of the glazing tbh.

  Peace!

  Dazz

New Purchase - Sweet 1/144 P-51 B/C Mustangs

  Here is the second batch of models I got from HLJ and Sweet,

   Apparently I had ordered this one a while ago, I do not remember doing so!!  I kept it as I can use the models for the Mustang STGB next year. 

  The otherside of the same box, the artwork hasn't really caught my attention.  So I will leave the decals in the bank incase I decide something else later on.

 
   All of the various options for this set.  The bottom right one is growing on me tho.  I will need a 5th model to make that one tho. ;)

   Now this is the set I wanted for the STGB, I love this picture.  The Sharkmouth doing what it was designed for (scarying the living crap out of... neko-chans... (my Japanese is a little rusty)).  For some weird reason, this version isn't actually in the box...

  Here we have the same aircraft, but this is after the Japanese got their mits on it.  I will have to get around to reading up on the history of this aircraft.  Lucky looks like he has just had a good fart... dirty cat!

  All of the versions you can build in this set, I have decals for a captured Spitfire IX also.  I need to get the Eduard set for that one tho.  I really like the Japanese and Swiss ones for some reason.  

  The sprues, not much to write home about really, the cockpits are completely dire.  Thinking of getting some AM stuff for it.  But then I am not too sure if it will be seen once the cockpit is closed.

 The decals for both sets.  I guess I could make that US version from the other set... will have to get a 5th model for that.  I might get some more Mustangs when I do a next order from HLJ in the new year.

  Hope you liked them all.

  Peace!

  Dazz

New Purchases - Sweet 1/144 Wildcats

  Well I bought these two to "bulk" out my order from HLJ.  Kinda glad I did now as I am really looking forward to building these little ones.  Not too sure what ones I am going to build yet but I will show you guys what I have.

  Here we have one side of the box fronts (the other is below).  Nasa-chan (I think thats her name??) is looking cute in that witch outfit with all of the other cute-ish stuff going on around her.  Thats the Wildcat V from HMS Tracker, Fleet Air Arm.  I think I will do one model as that one (it's British, gotta be done eh?)

  The other side of the box, god knows what Lucky (the cat??) is doing!! Nasa-chan looking cute again surrounded by all of the laughing pumpkins.  This version is for the CAF ( formally Confederate Air Force, linky linky)  Don't think I will be doing this version tho.

  Here are all of the schemes for the Ghost Fighter (that was an fighter in Macross wasn't it?). I will most likely be doing the bottom two.  The other two do not appeal to me that much.

  The wonderful decals (printed by cartograf, then again what isn't?).  I will not be using the invasion stripes, I will be painting them on.

  God knows what there is two different coloured sprues??  I guess it helps with building it somehow, then again there isn't many parts to begin with anyways.  There is a little figure of "Lucky" on the airframe sprue.  Not sure if I can be bothered to make him or not yet.

 The second box I got, not much to write about here.

   Love that look on Nasa-chans face "It wasn't me!"  Its a pretty good picture, but I can imagine something like that being a "fun" ride... :/

  Has anyone noticed whats wrong with this decal sheet placement guide?  Well ignoring the error, I am not too sure which one I am going for.  I like the top right as it's something different from the norm.  I could always build the CAF one.  I could also buy the retrowings upgrade and make the night-fighter version with the radar on the wing.  I will just have to see what the differences are between this version and that version.  Still it's a plan :)

  One of the reasons I love these little boxes? "2 Cats in a Box!"... nice little touch that, plus the pictures on the tabs are kinda cute also :)


  PEACE!

  Dazz

New Project - Revell 1/24 Volkwagen "Samba" Bus

  This one is a little project for Nats sister.  She loves the VW bus, like most people really.  I was intending to build this for her for Christmas.  But between my holiday, being lazy and sorting out my man-cave I've just ran out of time.  I might get it finished next year...

  I warn you now, this model will be bright pink and it will clash badly...

  Here is where I am upto
 

  Here is the spartan engine bay, I am not sure if the colours are correct.  I had a search online and I found loads of different colours for everything.  So I have put a bit of colours on it to make things different.

  I was going to put lights and such on it, dont think I will now.

  Lets see how well I get on with it.

  PEACE!

  Dazz

Completed - Revell 1/144 Apache Longbow AH-64D

  Well it has been a while since my last post.  I forgot that I had finished this little one.  Anyhow here she is in all her glory.  Think I will be buying another one and doing it correctly.

  Yeah its a little dusty, its amazing how much dust a camera can pick up on eh?

  PEACE!

  Dazz

Half Completed - Dragon F/A-18 F and E/A-18G Growler

   I can't believe I forgot to post these two before I went away!  Anyhow, I've been back a week now from the holiday I spent with Nat and her family in Gran Carina for 2 weeks.  Was great just sitting there for two weeks doing nothing.  Anyhow back to the models, these two where the only two I could've gotten finished before the dead-line which I did by a few hours iirc.  Nat sat there and watched me decal these two, she must of been bored out of her mind.  Bless...

Here we have both bugs together... is the Growler still considered a bug??  Decided to leave them both clean except for the ECM pods on the Growler.  I can never decide what load-out to put onto the F-18s.  I dunno...

   If I had known that the cockpit was as clear as it was I would of spent a hell of a lot of time on it.  Live and learn I guess, I should of spent so much more time on these than just faffing around. 

 The decals themselves where not that bad actually.  They are the usual Dragon ones printed by Cartograf (spelling?), so you know you have good quality.  Behaved well too.

  The decals from Jasmine models however... what a pain in the arse!  The decals themselves are actually okay, except for the ones on the canopy which are totally unreadable.  The problem is the fact they are all overscaled.  I compared the actual decals to the ones on the painting guide and they are the same size, where as the model is a wee bit smaller.  So I think they should of been for a 1/100 model or something like that instead of my 1/144.  So I had to mix and match with what I could and try to make the best I could.  Came out okay I guess...

As always, I welcome comments.

PEACE!

Dazz

Completed - Dragon E/A-18G Growler and F/A-18F

  Well I have been working on these two since... June.  I've had a few headaches which I have listed on the Britmodeller GB forum.  But onto the pictures.  I'm not happy with the Jasmine Model decals, they seem well overscaled or the Dragon kits are massively underscaled...

  Both of them together.  I started to rush them towards the end so I could get them finished within the GBs deadline.  I managed it by 3 hours I think... gotta rush the Apache now as that finishes this weekend also.

  Best thing I love about Dragon decals?  The lack of stencils, the worst thing I hate about the Dragon decals? the lack of stencils! :P  I have decided to build these two again at some point.  Not sure when tho.

 The other side of the Growler, still not decided if I should do a wash on these two or not.

  The Swordsmen example, colourful little bugger isn't it?  If you look closely at the red triangle warning decals under the canopy you will see what I mean about the decals being oversized.  You can not read the names of the pilot/navigator/ew guy either.  I think they are the right way up... I hope...
 

  I also had no yellow paint to paint the top of the tails either.  I had lots of "No Step" decals in the pack also, but I will save them for a kit I know will use them well.  Overall I am quite happy with the end result.  The Canopies are very thin and very clear.  You can see right into the cockpit also, but they are very brittle.  I dont know how but the one on the Growler has got a massive crack up the middle.

  I am still working on the Gunslingers and Tomcatters versions.  Didn't get them finished for the GB.

  Hope you like, and I apologise for the dodgy camera work.

  PEACE!

  Dazz