Grissom

Hi Mike, I think figures add so much to aircraft models and I'm surprised we don't see more models with pilots and crew members in them. I guess, historically, we have been somewhat limited to the pilot figures included in kits - which probably explains why we don't many models with pilots in them! Can I suggest you take a look at this product? - https://masterdetails.com/usaaf-fighter-pilot-cold-weather-mid-late-ww-2 I have a couple of their modern USAF fighter pilot figures and they are amongst the best cast figures available. Obviously they don't compare well with the latest 3D printed figures. Anyhow, I just thought I'd offer my 2 cents worth... Cheers, Wayne (Grissom)

That is a beautiful model, Denis. Clearly a labour of love and an amazing effort given your time away from the hobby. I look forward to seeing more of your work. Kind regards, Wayne

Wow!!! Beautiful model, mate. It looks absolutely superb. Cheers, Wayne

Lovely model and an interesting but sad story behind the diorama. I also like the way you have presented the diorama's base - it has so much more interest and appeal than a 'green carpet'. Very nice! Cheers, Wayne

I don't know why postal costs are as high as they've become. I suspect a bit of price 'ratcheting' occurred following COVID and the resultant squeeze on world trade. From where I sit, postal costs have risen everywhere around the world but more so in the USA. I have enjoyed the excellent customer service of Sprue Brothers, Victory Models and Two Bobs Decals, just to name a few, but they are no longer viable places for me to buy from because of the postal rates. I used to buy hobby kits and supplied from Hobby Link Japan but, since COVID broke out, they have also hiked their shipping costs. I now only buy from HLJ when they offer a postal rate discount or when I share a package with a mate.

Yes, I saw this kit advertised for sale on the Sprue Brothers website and I thought about buying it. Unfortunately, their cheapest postage option is US$93.45, bringing the total sale cost to US$248 (including the mandatory Australian Goods and Services Tax).

People selling hobby kits and accessories in the USA to a world-wide market need to consider this: The US used to be the world leader in mail order sales - you are no longer the world leader! Your country's postal charges are insane!!! For example, I wanted I to buy a decal sheet for a kit I'm building: Assuming the retailer has a good moral compass, how on earth can you justify a postage charge of US$32 to Australia? It's a flat f#@king sheet that fits into a business envelope!! - Why $32 from the west coast? I just bought the same decal sheet from Hannants in London and it cost me less in total than the US postage rate alone - something to consider for people wanting to buy accessories for their kits!!! Just say'n...

I just hope and pray that ZM re-issue this kit ASAP!!! Surely the fact that the kit has just about sold out everywhere in the solar system should tell ZM that another run is more than justified. Cheers, Wayne

Alright, here goes... (All in 1/32 scale) 1. Pilatus PC-21 2. F-111C/G. - Sometimes size does matter! 3. (And here's a throw from far left field) an Agusta/Westland/Leonardo AW-139 helo - so, so may juicy options.... just say'n... Cheers, Wayne

Hi Tolga, The thing that most impresses me with the majority of your builds is that you make your models from fairly old or basic kits - certainly not the latest, uber-expensive kits. So many people seem to get caught up in the 'if it's not the latest kit it's bad' mentality. You continually show us mere mortals how old, simple kits can be built into stunning miniatures, with a little bit of tender loving care. This model is such an example. There are some who would turn their nose up at a currently available P-51A/B kit but you continue to prove that a sow's ear can be turned into a silk purse. You are a true modeller. Cheers, Wayne

Hi everyone, I don't know how most of you either plan or spontaneoulsy spend your plastic modelling hobby funds (assuming you have a 'budget') but I continually find myself in a dilemma. This issue doesn't centre around new kits, rather, it centres on the accessories that I want to include in future builds. I have a fairly a modest 'stash' of 1/32 scale aircraft - about 50 kits in total. My dilemma is what to spend my budget-allocated money on. Do I spend it on the latest kit and all of the accessories I want to include in my future build or do I spend my money on accessories that may become difficult or impossible to source in the foreseeable future? I'm interested in knowing how you guys and girls tackle this problem. I don't expect a 'black and white' response - I'm simply wanting to know if some of you have encountered the same issue I have and how you deal with it. Thanks in advance. Cheers, Wayne (In Melbourne, Australia)

Hi Chris, Somehow I missed your lovely model of the Skycrane. You have done an amazing job of scratch-building the water resevoir and converting the military variant into the civilian fire-bomber, which is a fairly regular sight in Melbourne's skies in summer time. I've looked at Erikson's website and their Facebook page, including the link to your model, and couldn't find any information about the colour orange they apply to these machines. What paint did you use to finish your model? Also, how was the opacity of the white in the Heli Scale Quality decals? Thanks in advance. Kind regards, Wayne

Hi Marcel, That is a stunning model. It also happens to be finished in what I think is the best paint scheme ever seen on a Phantom. I live in hope that I will build a 1/32 VF-111 Phantom and if it turns out to be half as good as yours, I'll be happy. Cheers, Wayne

At first glance it seems to be a fairly simple colour scheme to replicate but I imagine that it has taken a lot of effort to finish the model as you have. What is particularly appealing to me is how the gloss finish is not overdone (too shiny). Nice job!

Fantastic diorama! Everything about it is so appealing - from the lovely, realistic finish on the airframe, to the figures and even the grass. It just looks so realistic - awesome effort, Gazzas! Cheers, Wayne

Hi Pete, Thank you for your kind words. I scratch-built the oil cooler after realising there was/is no after-market replacement. I looked at a heap of reference photographs, including some of a Mk Vc under restoration in the UK, and eye-balled a replacement using bits from the kit cooler and plastic sheet. Some of the images I saw show a distint flaring of the rear section of the cooler, while others show no such flaring. I'm sure someone has Supermaring drawings of the cooler they can offer/post but, given what I saw, I suspect some Mk Vc coolers were modified in the field. IHTH. Cheers, Wayne

Very, very nicely done. I agree with the others, your mottling is nice and tight and not too heavily done and your weathering is spot on. Great work on a scheme we don't see that often.

Hi Ray, I'm so sorry for the very late reply to your question. Please feel free to post it. Cheers, Wayne

Hi Chuck, I'm a former airframe fitter and used to work on, amongst other things, F/A-18's. I know what a PITA cleaning and polishing canopies is. That's why I immediately thought about the pilot not wanting to mark the windscreen. Once again, awesome work.

Hi Tristan, Wow!!! Such a spectacular model. So many people, in my humble opinion, apply too much weathering to their models. What many of them seem to forget is that their subject models actually saw very little service prior to their demise. Your model is an amazing example of how 'a little says more' - as far as the weathering is concerned. You obviously have a very clear picture in your mind of how this aircraft would have looked and you have exercised amazing restraint and self-discipline in weathering it. The results speak for themselves - a stunningly realistic model. Bravo! Cheers, Wayne

Hi John, Wow!!! One of the nicest P-51 models I've seen in quite some time. I love the aluminium finish you've obtained - in my opinion, it's way beyond what I/we usually see with NMF aircraft. Lovely attention to detail - lovely finish. Beautiful work, mate! Cheers, Wayne

Lovely model, Max. As others have said, your beautiful model just looks just the part photographed under sunlight. Lovely, lovely work, mate. Cheers, Wayne (in Melbourne)

Hi Miloslav, Beautiful, beautiful work. Your attention to detail and your airbrushing skills are out of this world. Having looked over this model (and many of your other models) I've concluded that you must be a person who functions on minimal sleep - absolutely no offence intended. I cannot believe how many beautiful models you and Tolga produce. You both have my utter respect! Cheers, Wayne

Really, really nice model, Tolga. Honestly, I cannot fathom how you produce so many A-grade models in a given year - you are a machine. By the way, there's something really appealing about models photographed under (natural) sunlight. Awesome work, mate! Cheers, Wayne

Hi Chuck, Wow!!! What an amazing diorama. There's something unique about the F4U Corsair in that it seems to lend itself to inclusion in a diorama more than just about any other aircraft. As others have said, your attention to detail is amazing and one small detail, in particular, seemed to smack me between the eyes - perhaps intended, perhaps not, but it's the pilot's left hand (or fingers). To me, you can almost feel the pilot thinking to himself, "Must not mark the windscreen with my hand and fingerprints." If you intended to convey this in the diorama you are operating on a majestical level. There's not much else I can say. I don't know how many dioramas you've made but you have a real talent with them. I got the impression from your description that you didn't realise how much work you had taken on until you were part way through the project - I know exactly how you feel/felt. Once again, Chuck, such an awesome job. Bravo!!! Cheers, Wayne