jmustarde

I think there should be a group build!

Everyone I have identified through web searches has either stopped entirely or is no longer taking on work due to high demand. If there is anyone out there who can offer a custom mask service (1/32 aircraft codes), I'd love to hear from you. Mine is not a big job, but my last DIY effort was a mess. Thanks! James

Are you still in business? I have tried to contact you about custom paint masks, but heard nothing back.

That's fantastic, mozart. Thank you. I can add some subtle tape detail to the underside, whilst thoroughly thinning the heavy tape detail on the uppers. Much appreciated!

I'm building the HKM Grand Slam Lancaster. Everything is progressing (somewhat) smoothly. Talking of smooth, the underside of the ailerons are absent any detail whatsoever. Not a feature to be seen. Does anyone have a picture of the surface in question? I couldn't find anything online with enough clarity to discern any details. Thanks! James.

Hi Guys, I'm looking at my 1/32 HKM Lancaster, and the warped, wavy upper wing trailing edges. The (crappy) flaps inserts aren't going to fix the problem entirely, so I'm interested to know how you guys would go about straightening them? I've fixed warping before on a much smaller scale, but this is a big and bloody expensive kit that I don't want mess-up!! I could glue in a metal rod stiffener and close the flaps, but I kinda want them open (and yes, I know that the injection marks are an absolute mess). All advice would be welcome. Thanks. James

The B-57G was the designation assigned to sixteen B-57Bs modified as night intruders for use in Vietnam under a project known as Tropic Moon. https://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_bombers/b57_9.html

They may not have had them. As I understand it, an AD issued in 1958 required Chipmunk aircraft to have strakes if spinning was intended and only applied to UK and Portuguese aircraft.

My father recently passed away. He served as a pilot for the RAF and BEA/BA, flying a range of classic aircraft, including the T-33, Vampire, Hastings, Comet, Argosy, Viscount, Vanguard, BAC 1-11, Trident, and finally, the 757/767. In the mid-1950s, he flew with the University of Glasgow Air Squadron, where they authorized solo spinning for approved students. On September 23, 1954, at age 19, he took off on a solo sortie in Chipmunk WP 902 to perform exercises that included solo spinning, which he enjoyed and eagerly anticipated. Unfortunately, this sortie proved more thrilling than others when the aircraft failed to recover from a spin, forcing him to abandon the aircraft. I have a few photos from that event. The first shows Dad looking cool in the cockpit of a Chipmunk, the second shows the crumpled wreckage, and the last shows my father examining it with the Squadron safety officer. Dad said all new Chipmunks received spin recovery strakes after this incident, and older models had them added. Some of you may know more about the addition of strakes, but it’s a fantastic story and memory for me. So, I thought I’d share.

It's tough on us, too. It's been nearly a year, with about 2 to go. We FaceTime with our son most weeks, but it's not the same. He's having a blast and loving it, so we're happy for him. His younger brother is on an Army Scholarship at College, so we'll only see him regularly for a few more years before he's off somewhere. And we weren't a military family before this. Who knew?

I worked for a Japanese company for years and went there regularly from Seattle. I never found a shop in Tokyo that offered the prices I'm getting now. I think the exchange rate has a lot to do with it. The older molds are certainly very inexpensive. Having said that, I nearly purchased the Tamiya 1/32 Mosquito for $118 vs $250 here. I might still

Having a son in the Air Force means that he can ship to the US at US domestic rates rather than international. That is a huge saving. If you break down the model costs, the Hasegawa 190D was 50% cheaper than at a well-known US internet store, while the Tamiya Zero cost $42, vs $145 at the same store. As I said, I should've bought three. The Revell G6s were only about $15 cheaper. My son will be in Japan for at least two years, so I see more Zeros in my future

...in Japan. 1 x 1/32 Tamiya Mistubishi A6M2b Zero Fighter - Model 21 2 x 1/32 Revell Me-109G-6 1 x 1/32 Hasegawa FW-190D $106. Shipped to Yokota. AFO parcel to the US @ $27 (he told me). It hasn't arrived yet. The bulk of the savings is with the Zero. I should have bought three! It's Christmas all over again

You might just be right there Mike. I'm sure Dave Pratt is the man in question. And yes, I used to live in Woodinville, and drove to the Renton Community Center for the show nearly every year I was there.

IPMS Region 12. The website doesn't seem to have been updated since 2019.