Chek

Reading some of the VA-155 accounts at the Skyhawk Association, it seems the dark camouflage wasn't favoured in combat as it presented too definite a silhouette for the flak gunners. The usual light gull grey being as with modern jets a better option in mosy sky conditions.

USS Constellation was experimenting with camo for overland ops in that period, the F-4Gs of VF-214 being another example. Here's another VA-155 A-4E, 152071 NL-506

I used to read his column in Scale Aircraft Modelling before anything else in the mag. RIP.

Well, as my appeal for data fell on stony ground, now I have one, I'm submitting a request to Yahu with the relevant measurements to consider making one of their peerless panels for the kit.

And kit No 1 of Order No. 10647, shipped 8 Nov has arrived in N. Ireland safely with no visible damage to the external packaging. First impressions, brilliant box and presentation and all seems OK. But it'll have to wait till later for a deep dive to check known problem areas like the ladder, tow bar and wingtips. Can't do it any quicker right now because replacing everything in its packing space would be like a 3-D puzzle.

Check your tracker - with mine it seems it took three weeks from Turkey to Heathrow HDWC. It's now in the UK postal system.

Just noticed the tracker saying mine has now arrived at Heathrow, so only another 2 or 3 days to wait!

Mine tracks as leaving Istanbul on 9 Nov. but not arriving anywhere yet.

Can I just add I'm pleased to see the scheme referred to correctly as Fields and Meadows rather the lazy 'splinter scheme'. I physically detest some modellerspeak such as 'Tonka' for Tornado (nobody ever referred to them as that) and 'bang seat' for ejection seat (Note 'ejection', not 'ejector' seat).

Your colours - and build - look great to me. Will look even better when matted down. I'm not sure how realistic it is, but I'll be aiming for the look the Viggen in the Grim Reapers' combat sim Youtube channel has. Smooth but very matt with it. One query though. Is the black area of your radome extended a little too far aft for a reason?

Even if I hadn't got the mask set, I'd still do that one. It's a unique scheme in a collection, as opposed to another grey one. Or a special, which I'd never do.

Off the top of my head,flat sided hood on early, blown top hood on mid. No armoured windscreen on early. DH spinner on early & mid, Rotol option later. Exhaust stub style, gun heater tube. IFF wire fuselage points later There's probably much more.

So anyway, I've decided to send a request to Yahu models to consider producing one of their panels for the Viggen, but I need some LSP community help. I surmise that quite a few of the 1000 kit buyers would prefer a top quality part, as the JetMADS one is a little sub-par compared with the rest of the kit. Would someone with an unassembled kit be able to supply a reasonably h-res photo of the kit panel, with its dimensions annotated? I don't expect Yahu could rush out and acquire one for themselves. To simplify matters I'll guess a JA-37D with digital screens would be a good average subject , rather than the earlier analogue one.

Thanks Max. It's nice to have mysteries solved. I've got a load of photocopied tech pages, but perhaps the early manual they came from didn't have that system at the time.

I've long wondered - what are the two white circles on the Lancaster bomb aimer's blister for?

The Hellenic and many other air forces don't seem to have many problems with Blk52 F-16Cs.

Well blow me down, Order No. 10647 first copy dun got shipped today too.

At least there'll be a lot of rivets to count, so that's something. If it ever sees the light of day. I'd be in at £350-ish with usual discounters on eBay taking it lower, but no way at currently projected prices. Too bad, it looks awesome.

There's still the matter of eBay's commission to be settled.

A bid for GBP£27,500.00 was retracted on 4/11.

Hi, 10647 here. I just had an email asking for my phone number, so the outside of the package could be marked with it for the courier if needed.

Fly make a Sea Hurricane version. You do have to deal with a resin insert for the hook assembly, but it's child's play to anyone with any conversion experience.

That's great Breaker, thanks. Ordered now.

Has anyone managed to source the MRP Swedish colours in the UK? I have them all now apart from the black (MRP176), which I'll likely sub with NATO black, and the Dark Green (MRP177) which has some unique tonal quality over other common dark greens. I set up email alerts with Premium many months ago, but no sign of them yet.

The Fly 1/32 Hurricanes including the MkI and variety of Mk IIs they make are good quality kits. Maybe not Tamiya quality, but good all the same.