Tnarg

Sad story about the disaster of aeromodl, but I did get a 1/72 737-200 kit on ebay before it all fell apart. I never received the one I pre-ordered. Yes, I know it is not 1/32 scale, but I like the larger scale (1/72) airliners of the 30's and 40's, and this will look interesting next to them. I pulled it off the shelf the other day, but realized I have no instructions. I want to make a plane like the one I flew on in 1975; Western Airlines from Salt Lake City to San Francisco. That connected to a Pan Am 747 to Guatemala City. Vintage Flyer makes a decal sheet for one plane of that era, but it would be nice to use this kit, as I even received the early "pre-advanced" engine set. Thanks for any help you can provide, and sorry to bring up some difficult history. Tnarg

41, 37, 65; all are numbers that I like. I even like 23, but someone else is supposed to make that one and it's Polish instead of Italian. Tnarg

Grail Kit for sure. I have wanted this one since before 1990. Thank you Crazy Cat!!! Tnarg

WNW made what Peter Jackson wanted, and I was lucky enough to have similar desires. Kotare has made some amazing Spitfire kits and I bought some of theirs. Given the statement that they will concentrate on four more 1/32 kits, I will likely be happy to purchase a few more, and in the spirit of the US holiday of Thanksgiving, I thank them for their hard work and creativity. I could list my wants, but they are not likely shared by the guys in NZ (or even too many of the LSP crowd: A-8/10/12 Shrikes, Martin B-10B, Airacuda, X-20, X-24's, M2F2 and HL-10 lifting bodies). To loosely paraphrase Cinderella, "Someday, my kits will come". Tnarg

You have the mono X? It appears that you have had great success with printing. Would you mind sharing any recommended resin and settings you use? I have too many failed prints as I am still learning with mine (also a Photon Mono X). Thanks, Tnarg

By "stretches" do you mean the rigging tie wires that connected the wing, landing gear and fuselage? The Shrike had 7/16" x 20 tie rods in all locations, which were flat rigging wires, at least as far as I can tell. The cross section looked a bit like an flattened oval with a width (full scale) of 0.636" and a thickness of about 0.166", or about 25 mm by 6.5 mm full size. It would be a lot smaller in 1/48 scale, only half a mm or so wide, but could look interesting if you can find any flat wires (likely photo etched, but Williams Brothers kits used to ship some flat clear line in their old kits.) Thanks for letting us watch, Tnarg

I built the Hunley in 1/72, and it is not that small. I can't quite imagine how large this one is. Congrats on an amazing project. Tnarg

Now that is beautiful. Very fine detail. Certainly hoping for this to be available. Tnarg

"the other developing option" intrigues me... "Enquiring minds want to know" as they used to say for that crazy "news" paper. Is someone doing a much better HP 42 kit? (My Precious, need it).

Looks great all together. Any ideas on the colors? I love the blue fuselage with the yellow wings, but if I only had one choice, it would be the Hawaii camo for the A-12 and the war games camo for the A-8. And yes, we need the later Shrike, a Martin B-10B, and an Airacuda in the larger scale. OK, I am probably in fantasy land, but they would be amazing. Tnarg

I would really love to see the Shrikes in 1/32. Your work looks fine and it is the next best thing to a larger one. Thanks for sharing. Tnarg

If you go for the One Man Model kit, remember that he does a 1/48 version as well, if you happen to have a gigantic space. I have the 1/72 kit and it is a filament print with all of the difficulties of that material (lots of smoothing of the lines required). I have been playing with it for quite a while, and it could use some help with the detail parts, but looks nice in shape. The Arctic decal sheet in 1/72 is just beyond spectacular, with super detail for the inside walls and upholstery for the seats. Unfortunately, it makes me want to create photo etched detail parts to match... I have some paper ideas so far, but still in progress. I only wish that I was better at 3D cad and printing to update the engines with the exhaust collectors in front, or maybe create that ladder to the front radio man's door. The detail parts are pretty crude. As for the window difficulties, I bet you would be happy with a foil covering formed with cutouts for the windows, then add a thin sheet of clear plastic under that foil section. As usual, I spend too much time planning, and then start too many interesting projects to actually finish anything. Hope you enjoy doing a bigger Handley Page. Tnarg

Thanks for the view of the book. It seems pretty clear that any attempt to put the older insignia on a 520 would require time travel even if I exerted my best what if effort. Oh well. It is still a very nice looking plane. Tnarg

Thanks for the information.... even if it is truly disappointing. Given the date that the D.520 arrived into Bulgarian hands, it does make sense. I guess I will need to be satisfied with a B.534 or Me109 in those colors, even if I like the 520 better. Tnarg

I have the first volume of this book, but not this one. I wondered if the second volume contains a profile or photo of the D.520 with the older "crossed swords" insignia. I always liked that one very much. I have only seen a rather poor photo of the plane in those colors, but would appreciate knowing more details about it. Thank you, Tnarg

OK, even if I may not find a place to put the big two seater, I certainly hope you make the D-21 available. That belongs next to a Sparrowhawk and an XF-85. Now, if we could only get that XF-85 kit. Stop that interference, please. Tnarg

I like that "Danish style fuel tanks" part... Hope to see the Austrian flag and Danish options. Maybe that yellow Gryphon on the lower side of the Danish one? Probably a mask versus a decal. Yes, I know it's Swedish, but I can't resist those flags. Tnarg

There are a lot of photos on the internet if you search for the HP 42. Some show the front windows pretty well. Lots of crazy diorama ideas for larger scales, like the dude in a pith helmet sitting on the rear cabin steps, or who looks like King George walking down steps (probably not, for many reasons, plus, the lady behind him doesn't look like Mrs. Simpson), or the workers in Africa or Arabia refueling the plane... but you would need that tank on wheels or the staircases and Royal Mail trucks. Tnarg

One Man Model sells a 1/72 and 1/48 version of the HP 42 on ebay. They are 3D printed (filament) and much better than the vac form, at least in the wing attachment to the fuselage, but there are a lot of printing lines to smooth out/sand. I have the 1/72 scale version, but the engine exhaust pipes to the collector in front are not as nice as I'd like. Maybe I need to figure out how to 3D print them. I am considering designing a photo etch set to add some of the details, but it is still in the paper drawing stage. Arctic Decals sells a decal set for the 1/72 kit and it is truly amazing. Not just the wing codes, Inperial Airways logos and aircraft names, but you get wood detail for the cabin walls, plus two versions of the "Jacobean" fabric seat coverings. Something for the truly obsessed, but it looks beautiful. I had this Airfix kit before I decided to work on the larger one, and remember there was an aftermarket set of decals for it as well in 1/144. Good luck with this one, it is just an amazing plane. So "ugly", it is beautiful, almost Steampunk in appearance. Tnarg

I miss the Breguet 14 most of all. They probably would not have released it in Polish or Middle Lithuanian colors, but the French and US options would fill several releases. Then consider the post war mail plane options or so many other smaller air force colors. It is large enough that it would be difficult to imagine other companies going after it, compared to the smaller fighter aircraft. Tnarg

Just saw a few more of the 737-200 ebay offerings under the company name. Just an FYI. I know there will be some that want their pre-order now, and will be upset he didn't ship it yet, but sold kits to someone else on ebay. However, back to the real world, this may be the only path to get there, since he may bring in enough cash to fabricate those earlier orders with these sales. He probably already spent the earlier funds developing the kit. Business is a lot harder than it appears from the outside and he is not the only one I have given money to without receiving a kit. Best of luck to someone who it at least trying to create something of quality. Tnarg

Have you decided which one are you doing? I love the crossed swords Bulgarian insignia... so much more interesting versus the simple black X. Tnarg

I haven't emailed with him for a few months. Note that the ebay kit did not include decals, while the pre-orders mentioned several options. I obtained the kit and had too many distractions. Yes, I could say my dog at it, but actually, I went on a trip to South America, returned for Christmas, but got sick, and more shiny objects appeared. My name is Tnarg and I am a model collector.... or I could just say the Model Collector's Pledge: "I'm a collector, but I can change, if I have to, I guess". (Apologies to Red/Green Show.... and to my wife). Anyway, here are some photos of the BPK and aeromodl kits, plus a few other bits of possible interest. This first one shows the fuselage comparison. aeromodl on top, BPK fuselage injected plastic. BPK splits down the length of the fuselage, uses clear injected plastic strips with the windows molded in. The aeromodl version did not have windows, but offered windows as an option. It splits fore and aft. Note that the wings, tail and tail cone have index pins for location, and the fuselage has a ring insert to align the two halves. Both have really fine detail that will be easy to make invisible with too much paint. The next two photos show the wings. The two on the left are aeromodl, BPK is on the right. The left most wings are the later versions, the center ones are the earlier versions. I realized that my desired machine was an early one operated by Western, and was one of my first trips on a plane, back in 1975, so I asked him to sell me the earlier version. The next photo shows the vertical tail/rudder for three versions: BPK on the left, aeromodl in the center and an aftermarket resin part. I can't recall the source right now, but could find it with some searching. Finally, the last photo shows landing gear alternatives. The plastic injection parts are BPK as are the gray metal parts (both are supplied, along with rubber tires). The 3D printed parts are aeromodl's and the brass parts come from G Factor... sort of unobtainium even when I bought them, but maybe he will sell them again. Hope this helps. BPK is a bit fiddly with the long clear window strips, but it ends up with windows, as also on the cockpit, which is a clear part. Being injected plastic, many people will like working with the BPK over the printed and resin parts. Aeromodl does have very nice detail and some different early options, but you have to be able to buy one somewhere. BPK offers some of the later versions, and they seem to be available most of the time. I do like the idea of those wild and crazy Southwest flag planes. There are so many interesting and beautiful possibilities with colorful 737's. Tnarg

I pre-ordered earlier, and paid for another kit through the ebay sale. I have to say it is a beautiful kit. However, excellence alone may not make this happen, if the business and communication side doesn't work. I would greatly prefer this kit over the BPK kit, which I also own, but you can purchase the BPK kit in a variety of locations. I would pay for another ebay offer, should he make one available. I wish him success, Tnarg

What exactly changed from the original release of the Avia B-534 to the latest release? I have an unbuilt kit from the first release and wondered if I might need or want to update it? or if you sell the modified parts.... Thanks, Tnarg