New Purchase - RetroWings and Freightdog Model parts.

 So I said I would post some pictures of these resin parts, I've tried to give them a little wash, but the only wash I have is a light grey.  Hopefully you can see some details on them.  Onto the pictures.

   First up is the "Freightdog 1/144th Tornado GR.1/1A Gulf War weapons set pack".  You can see 3 LRMTS pods, one TILAD pod, IR Line Scanner and two JP233's. I love the details on the JP233's, altho one thing I am not too sure on, is the fact that the Tornado had a TILAD pod.  I know towards the start of the war, the Tornados had a Blackburn Buccaneer buddie who designated the targets for the Tornados.  Which pretty much turned the Tornado into a bomb-truck.  Will have to check up on that one.  Ironically enough, I read the other month that the RSAF is planning on doing the same thing with their Typhoons, using them as bomb trucks and using the Tornado as the designator.  Might do some kind of diaorama at some stage with that in mind.

   Hawker Hunter cockpit, lots of flash here, will have to be careful of what I cut away and what I dont.  The chair is well detailed tho.

   The Hawker Hunter's cockpit again but this time you can see the business end of it.  Looks likes fun to paint this lot. 

   Front end of the A-6 Intruder, hope you can see the details in it.  Once again the chairs look cool, look forward to painting these.  Will knacker my eyes out tho.

   The "Office" for the A-6 again, lots of detail there.  Very impressed with these :)

   New nozzles and intakes for the Revell A-10, not much here to look at, SYSIWYG.

   Cockpit kit for the Revell ECR Tornado, very cool, even got the holders/arms for the HUD.  Gonna have to find some thin clear plastic for those.  Still lots of bits to paint up again.

   Tried to get a better shot of the cockpit, hope you can see the details.

   This time a close up of the chairs and my left hand.  Loving the chairs, lots of detail to bring out on them.  You can see the HUD holder better here.

   Dragon Tornado set, pretty much the same as the Revell one, just a darker resin.  Still will have fun painting this bugger.

   Close up of the Navigators (back-seater) console.  That bit glues onto the plain flat bit you can see in the cockpit tub.

   Same kit again with a close up of the cockpit tub, lots more details to paint up there.  Hoping I can bring out the details in this one.  Might see if any of the decals can be used on here.  Probably not tho.

  This is the set I got for the F-18 "legacy" models.  Now that I have the model, I am rethinking if I want to cut it up or not.  I'm thinking not and getting another Hornet to cut up instead. Lots of details in the wing tips and the elevators too  Got the flaps and slats as well as the control surfaces for the rudders.  Might be a good addition if I can EVER get a carrier deck.

  Hope you can actually see the details in that lot.  I tried to get as close as my camera would allow.

  Peace!

  Dazz

New Purchase - Revell 1/144 Tornado GR.1

  Ever since I bought that decal sheet from Kits-World and the resin JP223's from Freightdog Models, I have wanted a decent Tornado to use for those parts.  I have got the Matchbox Tornado GR.1 which isn't upto the task as it doesn't have the Sky Shadow ECM pods that where used in the Gulf War, nor the Fuel Tanks that where used either.  I've also got the 1+1 Dragon GR.4 kits, but once again the fuel tanks are the wrong ones can't remember if the Sky Shadow ECM pod is in it or not.  I also have a Revell Luftwaffe Tornado, can't remember off the top of my head whats in that one, but there was something wrong.  Once again I believe it was the Sky Shadow ECM pod and/or the Fuel Tanks.  This model however fits the bill excatly, it has the Sky Shadow ECM pod, you can see it on the left wing on the picture and as the picture shows also it has the 2250 litre "Hindenburger" tanks that the GR.1's "borrowed" from the F-3 Tornados for the extra range.  Might get another two of these.

 

 Even tho I am not going to use these decals, these are class.  I am really impressed with these colours and the cockpit decals too.  I might use these on one of the other kits now that I think about it. I am NOT looking forward to all of the red "X's" there is loads of the buggers!

  It's a nice scheme too, altho not one I remember seeing ever.  I will have to look on the interwebs with my Google-fu skills to find some.

 I am going to assume that these two spures are generic Tornado ones, theres not much difference in all the Tornados except between the  ADV versions and the IDS/ECR ones.  The ADV has one cannon and a longer nose while the IDS/ECR ones have a shorter nose and two cannons... I think the GR4 has one cannon now too. 

  These two spures I think where made just for the GR.1 model alone.  It has the Hindenburger tanks the Sky Shadow ECM Pod, some kinda Paveway bombs, 4 1000lbs bombs and two ALARM missiles (Air Launched Anti-Radation Missile, think HARM and your there.) oh and the canopy.  Looking forward to building this one.

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

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

The List Part 1

  Well I am have been meaning to do this for a long time, here will be a list of most of my projects going on right now.  This list is not complete as there is some other stuff I got laying around that I couldn't be arsed to photograph yet, I may do later on tho.  Right I will start with the aircraft first.

Here we have a Hawker Hurricane Mk. IIC with a conversion kit to turn it into an IID (from 3-D Kits) which was as far as I am aware the RAF's first dedicated Tank-buster.  I also have another IIC thats half built but my dog had a chew of it and ate the left tailplane.  I might be able to bodge something with the other parts and see if I can have an IIC and IID together.  I'm sure I read that they worked together in the African desert.  Still I love that plane.  There is a P-51B Mustang, I can paint this in RAF or USAF colours.  I'm thinking RAF, just because I am English. The Tornado ECR (electronic combat/reconnaissance) in Tigermeet scheme, I know the Germans are famous for their grand Tigermeet paint schemes (they are pretty epic) but I will not be using it.  I'm however gonna try to cut out the markings from the stripes tho.  Last there is the F-19, which doesn't exist, officially.

  Next up we have this little lot.  I'll start with the Hawk, this kit was actually sent to me by the RAF through the post because I was doing an MSc degree in Aerospace Engineering and thought I'd like to join.  I did try later on, less said about that the better.  Then there is the Ju-87 Stuka, this was always a weird and interesting plane to me.  It had great success until it met with the Hurricane and Spitfires of the RAF over the skies of Southern England in the Battle of Britain.  To say it was ripped a new one is an understatement. Also there is the A-10 Thunderbolt II/Warthog, a plane I have massive respect for.  It was literally designed around the GAU-8 Avenger, a gun so powerful that it actually slows the plane down when its being fired!!

  Got this one on sale from... ModelZone I think it was.  I'm looking forward to building this one.  I love the design of the Beaufighter for some reason.  I remember reading that the Japanese where totally petrified of this little plane tho.

  Another two models I got from ModelZone on sale.  I'm not too sure on the MIG-29, not sure if I'll do it in "The Swifts" colours or military colours yet, altho I am reading online that the Swifts and the Russian Knights have disbanded.  Shame I loved the Russian Knights' Su-27's. As for the Walrus, it's a weird little Fleet Air Arm plane that I like, I dont know why, but it has a weird charm to me.  Then again I have always liked weird and wonderful things.


  Thats it for the time being, next I will list the things I have started.

  Peace!

  Dazz