Revell 1/144 MiG 1.44 MFI WiP1

 Got this plane cheap on Ebay a while ago, only just started it.  I've always had a fondness for this plane since it appeared in Ace Combat 5 - The Unsung War.  Love the look of it, but I never realised how huge this bastard actually is!!!  It's massive!!!  I've only started on the cockpit for the time being, I've not put a HUD because I read that it was supposed to have an in helmet display or something.  I didn't use the decals that came with the model because I thought they where a bit sucky.  The cockpit tub has raised details so I painted them in some kinda way.  I used a new Humbrol acrylic brush on this one and I am loving the brush.  I made some sidewalls, not too sure how the inside of this plane actually looks tho.  Liking the dry-brushing that I done of the chair too.  Here are the piccies of it and what I have done.

   Believe it or not but that little lot took me about an hour... well that was with all the interuptions I received through the painting process.  Not too sure if those side walls are a good idea or not.  The seatbelts need work too.  I scratch built the ejector handle too, made from the wires inside an USB cable that was "coloured" with an red Sharpie.  I wasn't sure if this plane has the single red handle or the two red handles you see, so I just took a guess and went with the single.

  Now this side I am proud of, the dry brushing seems to have worked too. The ejector handle looks good here too.  More to follow later on. :)

  PEACE!

  Dazz

RetroWings/Freightdog bits and bobs

  After speaking with Ant Sized Man (check out his blog, the dude has serious skills!) about some resin parts he has received for his models.  I think it was a cockpit tub for an F6 Hellcat, a beautiful plane btw, but back to topic.  I decided to get some parts for some of my models, haven't really looked at them yet but pictures and a little about them.  Oh the links below will take you to the actual items.

   Got the A-10 Intake Lips and Exhaust Covers as I will be starting it soon and thought why the hell not.  The prices are very good with Retro Wings so why the hell not?  The Tornado cockpit was bought for the Dragon model, which the cockpit from that model is shocking!

   Not too sure how bad the Revell Tornado's cockpit is actually, just added this to the list because I could :P The same can be said for the Hawker Hunters cockpit too.

   Now the A-6's cockpit is a disgrace, almost as bad as the Dragons Tornado.  So this was a must if I wanted to make that cool plane.  The LRMTS pods where added to the list because I wanted to make a few GR1's.  There is something else to add to that plan below :)

  Got this one because it looked cool and I am bound to pick up an Legacy F-18 at some point looks like it'll be some fun work to get these parts on but I am willing to try it.

 
  Saw these Tornado JP233's for sale on Freightdog Models, these will fit in perfectly with my Kits-World decals and the various Tornados I have.  The timing for these couldn't of been better.  I hope they release more stuff for the 1/144 scale in due course.

  I'll try to get a wash on them and show the details they have in due course.

  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

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

Bombcat, Typhoon, Hornet, Harrier, Hawkeye WiP and New Purchases

  Well it's been a while since I posted anything.  But here is a few posts of what I have done the last two weeks.  It's a struggle atm because I am fighting for control of the table with my family.  Well I'll post some pictures up of what I have done thus far... well thats not correct.  I am further along with some models than I am with others.

  The AV-8II+ with it's 3 coats of grey.  I think the grey thats on the side of the body was a little too dark.  Oh well...

  Top side of the Typhoon.  Not too bad.

  Bottom side of the Typhoon, with the harrier in the background.

 Top half of the Harrier, you can see the 3 different greys but I still think the middle tone is too dark.

  Top half of the Bombcat.  Buggered this up totally.  I think the top half is a little too dark.

  Bottom of the Bombcat, the paint has leaked where I didn't mask it up correctly.  Still learning with the airbrush... should that be "Canbrush"??....

  Top half of the Hornet.  I'm gonna strip this model and start again.

  Read above.

  Now the Hawkeye I am actually happy with. :)

  Think the grey on this one is really good.  However I later found a picture of the very model I am doing and it's supposed to be darker than this... bugger.

  see where the radome housing is buggered?

  Those rudders look very cool to me :)

  The fuel tank for the F-18 and the two Storm Shadows for the Typhoon.

  The fuel tank and the Storm Shadows.

  And again?  God knows why I have 3 pictures of the same thing.

  Last but not least the GBU-10's and GBU-12's that I am gonna be using on the various kits. :)

  Now on to the purchases.

  Got this one when I ordered a few paints.  It was only £2 and I love the MiG-29 for some reason.

  Now this purchase was a complete mistake.  I clicked on it by accident and forgot to take it off at the checkout.  Oh well it is a model I wanted, just not now.

  Smaller than I thought it would be.

 
  Well thats it for now.  More to come when I can be arsed.

  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

Hawkeye, Super Hornet, Bombcat, Typhoon, Harrier WiP Update

  The last few weeks have been manic for me, with the wedding stuff we had to sort out to all my hayfever playing havoc with me to my anti-hayfever medication actually knocking me out (long story).  Onto what I have done then.

  First up is the Hawkeye, now the rotordome housing is totally buggered I will not lie there.  However I have managed to scratch build new legs for the housing and get it glued onto the body.  Pictures as follows.

  If you look at the housing you can see that its melted to crap, so I am hoping that the rotordome will hide most of the damage.  The yellow bits are from the sprues for the Ex-S Gundam.  It seems to be working well.  Next up the Hornet.

  I've brush painted on some Vallejo Light Grey to see what it looked like, but shes all masked up for spraying now.  Harrier next.

  Once again all masked up ready for painting, I'm gonna have to sort out those intakes now I look at it.  Bombcat next.

  Yeah I've primed it white, doing a little experiment with it.  But shes ready for spraying soon.

  All primed and ready to be sprayed too.  :)  If you've noticed that the pictures are better than normal, thats because I've purchased a Canon 1100d DSLR.  I love that camera :)

  More to come tomorrow.

  Peace!

  Dazz