Darren Howie

Well there was a 2800 on the ground floor at ZM HQ in Kyoto 2 months ago..along with the info it would be in a future kit from SWS series..

Well I just got the new 219 book from Valiant publishing and it is superb. For its price it is great value. I've got maybe 8 Kagero's and theirs is a better reference by far for airframe details and information than say a Kagero. The Kagero's offer lots of good operational info and stories of real world operations. Both good options but for an airframe reference the Valiant 219 book is awesome.

Great Eagle! Love JASDF Aggressor F-15s the to me are by far the coolest looking Eagles ever. Started exactly the same project quite some time ago swapping parts to get a DJ and a fast pack kitted C from Iceland. Great work on the paint she looks the part. One of my images from Naha...

With the burners just released and the seat also I'd say the cockpit ain't far away. Jut remember it takes time to get these sets out. What with Mig-23s nd a huge array of stuff flooding in its taken them 2 years to get the F-14D cockpit done. Sure it's not far away...

Front end entirely different and massive differences in the cockpit payout. The 100s are lead ins for things like Hornets etc and have more crt's to assist in advanced training. Guess Revell better pull their finger out or they will get burnt on this..

I think different wheels and also I think there may be a diff in the nav light setup on the wingtips. Weapons obviously very different..

Not sure where that price came from Mike they are just over 1000Y per set at HLJ. Fabric microfiber will struggle to replicate the pattern heavy canvas of seatbelts used. Just because something is made from fabric that is not even closely related to the original material why would you think it would be more realistic when finished.

Well the 219 and Raiden where announced long before Revell did and Hasegawa so a sarcastic post that is simply wrong is pretty poor form of one of the most innovative release companies today. In the HQ in Kyoto is an R2800 with in Japanese a quote saying this engine is in the next release guess what aircraft. Whatever could that be..maybe an F4U....

I know how they will compete. You get two gorgeous full engines,gunbays,open panels everywhere and if the Spad and TA152 are anything to go buy it all fits.thats far easier than heroic surgery installing 300 dollars worth of resin in the Revell kit. Looking forward to the Revell kit but to me it looks good but the ZM kit will be where it's at.

WW great progress! Of interest SS just recently repopped the decals for Moonbeam in 32nd scale. Great work on the gear bays they look fabulous. Brilliant build and be using some of your hard ideas on mine some stage very soon!

Can't remember the manufacturer but a set of DS Stealth fighter decals are supposed to be coming. Same guys just released a set of later marking which looked good. Can't remember their name for the life of me.

Cool thanks for the rundown!

Hi Harold what have actually done to the Tamiya parts? I couldn't find any pics or info in the vendors board on them. Cheers

Wow great looking Spitfire.. Think another one on the to do list!

Harold are you going to general release the bits for he ZM Spad?

Hey Raptor it sure is Battle of New Years day. I normally only get Taylor's having only one Trudgian but this is a stellar print! Great shots above of he cockpit. Does anyone know if the Moonbeam decals in he Kagero Bodenplatte book are in 32 as well as 48th?

I may if missed it while reading through but what decals are you using? I think an old SS sheet may ave moonbeam on it but a recent purchase of a stunning Trudgian print of this aircraft has me on course for a Tamiya build and chasing markings. Great work so far on your project!

Highly recommend Ernies G Factor gear set. Also I have a replacement fin and nose that was released some time ago by a UK resin manufacturer and they where quite good.

Meteor released a fix for the canopy of the D done in very nice clear resin. I havn't checked but the G canopy is not apparently as flat as the D version from the instructions in the D set. Great info!

Completely unrealistic looking I must say...

They are great looking burners I can feel some serious money preparing to leave my bank.. Hope to see more cool F-4 stuff your on a winner!

Jeroen have you seen the price of Revell in Japan? You would have the same thought process should you see a Revell kit when walking around Tokyo you would walk away shaking your head saying no way. The ZM kit will have all the stuff you buy from Aires with basically zero of the fit issues Aires are well known for. As for seatbelts the Revell kit has the same problem plus its missing engines/gunbays etc if detailing is what you want. Given like Tamiya Zm's main market is Japan and they get cream from overseas sales they will have a winner on sale when it is released locally compared to how expensive the Revell kit will be there. I will buy both but it will not be the Revell one i superdetail as im sick of wasting hours of my life on poor fitting expensive resin. If its anything like the Spad or Ta-152 i'll be ordering several..

Have you got an ETA Chris? I think I'll need to budget for hese bad boys when you get em finished! Great work. Dazz

Given how much work is involved in elbowing resin into plastic it looks like again both are on a winner. For those without the desire to Dremel your kit to death ZM is a no brainer..if your into self abuse Revell plus aftermarket..clean build Revell..guess it all depends on your local price but given a P47 engine plus bay is $70 Aus the cost of the afternarket that is in the ZM kit Revell plus Aires will be well in excess of the ZM kit.

Oh now this will be cool. Love to see a Ryan's Raiders bird as well..cool missions and little coverage but hey anything for an F series Thud is ultra cool!