Grizly

Does anyone know of an after market source for 1/32 5" HVARs that would be suitable for Tamiya's P-51D Mustang?

A 1/32 Lightning? Of greater interest to me is when Tamiya will release a follow-on to their P-51. Specifically, how about a post-war P-51 with optional props, rockets and dorsal antenna. After releasing their Mk.IX Spit, they quickly followed with a Mk. VIII and a Mk.XVI so I would think the time is now right for a later version of lthe Mustang.

Interesting findings wrt to cockpit interiors. I recall crawling under the Rockcliffe Mustang back in the early 80s when their collection was on display in the old hangars and the main gear wells of that aircraft were also painted interior green.

The sheet looks absolutely fantastic! For me, it will be the Tamiya kit in 402 Squadron colours and a much reworked Dragon kit in Rivers colours. Now if Tamiya would only release a post war variant having rocket rails, life would be great.

They look really great. It'll be the 'east' sheet for me with 402 "City of Winnipeg Sqn" being the markings of choice.

I too would love it if Tamiya were to release a post-war model of their 1/32 P-51with alternate antenna, rocket rails, a choice of props and perhaps RCAF markings. OK, skip the RCAF markings. I can get those from Leading Edge.

For those having difficulty with the Hyperscale link, here's the decal cover sheet. I've got my dibs in for two sheets in 32nd scale. Love those RCAF Mustangs. Great work Leading Edge!

Thanx Scotsman. Another step forward.

The AIM-7, as provided in the kit, has a groove running the length of the missile (obviously a locating point for a part). While the instructions do not indicate anything should be added to the groove it is clear that parts B 14 & 15 are designed to fit in it. My question is, should those parts be added or was it Academy's intention to have the missile installed with the groove against the fuselage and therefore hidden from view?

Thanx.

The top went on just fine - there were no fit issues as you can see.

Bill, if you want a sure way of avoiding the gap that Harvey encountered, might I suggest the following deviation from the assembly sequence in the plans. Essentially, I joined the inner boom halves to the lower wing pod section and the horizontal stab and then the lower outer wing parts to the outer boom halves and built up the model from there. I also reenforced them with plastic card on the inside. The end result being that you have lower wing joints that are representative of panel lines that require absolutely no filler. The photos below give a better idea of what I did.

I understand that some people have been critical about certain aspects of the kit. As you can see below, I built Hobbycraft's issue of the Trumpeter kit as "Gentle Annie" with only a few changes (I opened up the port cowling to show the engine and slightly reworked the gun bay) and am quite pleased with the results. No kit is perfect so really, it's your call.

There is obviously a strong interest in Migs so might I ask a question.... One of my current projects is a Czech Republic Mig-21 in an all grey scheme adopted after they had joined NATO. Does anyone know what language the servicing/warning stencils on the airframe would have been???

Blackbetty, I had considered doing a Pakistani aircraft as they are indeed colourful. Unfortunately, their aircraft had Martin Baker seats and I couldn't find a match in 32nd scale.

Dutik, with respect to the scheme, I was kindly given permission to reproduce the Iliad Design 1/48 decals in 1/32 scale for the scheme shown. According to the instructions provided with the Iliad Design decals, the aircraft was a "Shenyang J-6, 3878, operated by the Egyptian Air Force at Cairo, 1983. Approximate matches for the "air superiority" colours would be FS36375 and 35550. The drop tanks were natural metal.". There is a black-and-white picture of one in Squadron/Signal's text on the Mig-19 and I found a colour photo at DefenceTalk.com. Now if I could only find a pair of Matra Magic missiles to install on the pylons........

True, aircraft get dirty but always remember that before they got dirty, they were clean and any operation worth a salt washed their aircraft after they got dirty and made them clean again.

Harvey, I guess I didn't answer your question. The Mig-19, unlike the Mig-17, is a very good kit but as you can see, both can be made into attractive models. As you might guess, I have an aversion to natural metal so had to search far and wide for subjects with camo schemes. I also have the Mig-21 and am faced with the same problem.

Harvey, here's a shot of my Mig 17....

My second completion is the French Navy F-8E(FN) Cruz built from the Trumpeter 1/32 F-8E kit with decals and resin flight controls from Skyraider Designs, the resin cockpit from Avionix, colour cockpit etch parts from Eduard and greatly appreciated assistance from Olivier.

Here's the first of two recently completed models. The kit is Trumpeter's 1/32 Mig-19/Shenyang F-5 with the Cutting Edge ejection seat and decals printed by Pete at Sparetime Hobbies.

Thanx for the answer.

I am currently working on the Academy F/A-18 and will be hanging a couple of Paveway IIs under the wings. My question is, on a static aircraft are the seeker heads neutral or do they droop?

Don't know if you've seen the Aires cockpit for the Tamiya Spit IX. It's great.