Tnarg

Ir seems that there is a large difference between a review and a look at what is inside the box, even a set of close up photos of the sprue. I appreciate the look inside the box, since most kits are sealed in the hobby shop or a total unknown over the mail. If I can see by the photos that the parts were molded without an amazing amount of flash and didn't have the huge trenches that used to pass for panel lines, that is a good thing. I am using the photos and my own understanding to judge the kit. The open box "preview" is better than buying blindly, just because it is a model that I want. The review that I truly want and appreciate takes much more work. The build review is a start. The "Tweak List" with all the faults outlined with proposed fixes is the gold standard. I have to thank the people who work so hard to create those tweak lists that show parts of the kit side by side with photos of the real thing and show how to fix the problems or how well the manufacturer created the product. I may not have the skills to accomplish the changes required for perfecting the kit, but no model is ever perfect. We can only strive for "good enough to go on to the next shiny object". Are my eyes good enough to execute the absolute perfection of a painting of the mid 1800's which rivals the best of photography or am I trying to make an impressionist work that looks OK from a long way away? At least I don't try to emulate Picasso's distortion on purpose (but it can happen with a plastic kit left in the back window of an automobile in the summer) or give up in disgust and result with the most modern travesty of art by just shocking someone. To each their own, but I know what I like. Tnarg

I couldn't find it on the HPH website.... is it a future or a "secret special" kit? I have seen something like this kit in a Japanese magazine or air racer book from quite a few years ago, along with quite a few other air racer kits in 1/24. Long out of print as far as I know. Must have the S.21, my precious.... Tnarg

The only way this could get any better is for them to say... by the way we have a big brother, Karas, coming along as well. This looks to be one of the best detailed kits in production. Very nice work. Thank you to the creators of such a wonderful work of art. Tnarg

Don't say that like it's a bad thing. Nobody messed with the Swedes, not CCCP/Russia, not NATO, not nobody... Viggen just had to show up and magically, all the lions, tigers and bears stayed away. Tnarg

Given the geography of Sweden and the Baltic area, the Viggen had one job... get up, get up there fast, and get in the way.... oh, and hide from eyes while on the ground and in the trees. Don't need any long range capability so put the pedal to the mettle and hit the afterburner. Tnarg

Maybe the absolute best reason to kit a Viggen is that Mr. Cruise never flew one? Nor did Val Kilmer nor Anthony Edwards... but Mr. Eduards did make that hilarious comedy "How I Got into College"... that and St. Elsewhere. Tnarg

The Viggen comes in multiple flavors with lots of pretty colors. You can have an AJ or a JA or a recon or a marine version or a trainer (me like) and paint it in the best color scheme there ever was (Swedish Splinter). It has some wonderful siblings that also cry out to be kitted. The Draken comes in several flavors too, but you can paint it in nice national symbols like a Danish Dragon or Danish flag, an Austrian flag, a Swedish skull in a top hat or with a bull in Finn colors or just in a simpler multi-tone green scheme. The Draken is a bit more boring in colors, than the Viggen but has more than a few users. Don't forget the early Saabs, even the 105 trainer with a splinter camo and bright day glo red patches. That should really wake up your eyes. Can you tell that I like Saabs? Don't own the car, but have loved the planes forever. Yes, I am still waiting for a 29.. anyone, Fly, anyone? Tnarg

I like the camo, but not as much as the color version of Swedish Splinter. The color almost looks like that grey splinter camo done for an athlete's car... wasn't he a Swedish Olympian? But the car was more complex, like the Viggen. If only we had kits of this and the other Saabs, I'd be a happy camper. Tnarg

There are lots of colorful 737's, but I hope we see some of the later ones in those Southwest state colors. I can dream, can't I? Tnarg

But aren't they the most dangerous of creatures? I never could figure out the reason that little girl wanted one.... just a goofy song. Tnarg

You can see these rods on the Gee Bee racers or the P-26 and the P-26 even has a post from the wing up to the rigging tie rods which must serve to dampen specific oscillations. I think of the tie rods as like guitar or violin strings. They get pushed by the wind and are streamlined to pass through the air, but only if they are oriented correctly. The motion through the air should really get them vibrating and they could resonate like a guitar or violin string if they didn't have some form of dampening. Tnarg

Just found another photo of the Curtiss F6C-3 that flew in the 1926 Schneider race. "Curtiss Navy Hawks in Action" (Squadron), page 14 shows Red/White/Blue tail stripes with the number A-7128 just under the rudder projection at the top of the tail. The right side of the fuselage has a large "US NAVY" under the tail and "N.A.S. ANACOSTIA" in smaller letters on the fuselage side. There is a large "2" painted over the N.A.S. ANACOSTIA, right behind the cockpit. There is something under the fuselage running from the rear of the radiator to the rear of the lower wing and it appears as if it could be a fairing for reducing drag? No clue.... I am guessing that the wings had standard US insignia and colors (yellow wings and aluminum fuselage), but the angle of the photo does not show that. Tnarg

My comment came from the Schneider Trophy reference books I quoted above. I don't know that the -1 in the photos was more than a "practice plane" or what it was used for. The books stated that the original aircraft was an R3C-3 with floats (A-7054), but Tomlinson wrecked that one (he cartwheeled it and it sank, but he survived) and they had pulled a stock F6C-3 from a regular squadron (Red Rippers) to use as a replacement racer. Two more of the US pilots were killed in wrecks, so it was a pretty awful race for the USA. They were up against the Macchi MC--39s, which showed them the future of the contest. I found the serial numbers in those references. Thank you to Lucas and team for the chance to place this one next to some of the other Schneider Race Planes. Tnarg

What a box top! Compare that with the 'Truth in Advertising" photos of a poorly put together model on a table that we had back in the day... this makes me recall the best of the old Revell kit art (John Steele). Tnarg

Captions are only as good as the knowledge of the person who wrote them. I have seen an obvious Boeing F4B-4 cockpit labeled as a Curtiss P6E. People mean well, but often we get it dead wrong. I couldn't say what mark the plane is, but have some documentary evidence that says the plane was a -3. "The Speed Seekers" says that "standard service Hawk substituted after cracked up R3C-3 race number 2 then assigned". The table calls out Curiss F6C-3 Hawk A-7128. "The Schneider Trophy Contest" by Derek N James confirms that A-7128 a standard F6C-3 from the "Red Ripper" squadron replaced the R3C-3, which was crashed by Tomlinson. Tnarg