jenshb

For a high-back Griffon Spit, you want to start with the Mk. VIII kit as the wing of the XIV was based on the VIII. The later XIVs had the e-wing armament, so you would want to get the relevant sprues for the e-wing included in the XVI kit.

Thank you very much Meindert.

I tried to enter my IPMS UK membership number, and it came back as not recognised. Will foreign members of IPMS get free access?

DBMK Hornet? Tell me more...

Was the oxygen hose not clipped to the starboard cockpit wall on the Mk. VIII?

Excellent work on the cockpits!

Thank you Romain - no problems getting the decals to conform to details and curvatures then?

Truly excellent! May I ask what you thought of the FFSMC-decals? Magazine ordered!

Me too. If we're considering manufacturer-themed suggestions, how about Bloch to Dassault? Should be no shortage of candidates and variety...

Great pictures Matt - thanks for posting. I do wonder about that Phantom tail with Top Gun and the outdoor lavatory on the tailfin though - if genuine, what is the story behind it?

Tamiya now have superb kits in 48th scale of the F-4, F-14, F-16 and now the F-35. The F-15 is missing.... That would make me happy.

Yes. If you have or can get the A/B model tailfin base, but will need to modify the spine to match the smaller footprint of the narrower tailfin base as well as scribing the panel lines near the base. The top of the tailfin has the wedge shape of the C/D, and the cockpit is essentially C. You will also need the lightweight gear and unbulged mainwheel doors.

No, all but three F-104Gs were Lockheed built (three were Canadair built and they were painted all over ADC Gray, but with white upper wing surfaces) and delivered in bare metal with white upper and ADC Gray lower wing surfaces. The F-104Gs were later painted in a dull metallic grey all over (except for the radome). When they were retired by the introduction of hte F-16 in the early 80s, the aircraft (supplie via the Miltary Assistance Programme, so US propery) were passed on to Turkey. The CF-104s were purchased second hand as Canada reduced it's Starfighter force in the early 70s. These were never painted other than green upper surfaces and grey lower. Jens

The Norwegian Starfighters in bare metal had ADC Gray lower surfaces on the wings, so I would think that would be the standard finish.

As they do in Sibiria...:)

Although Canada has arcit regions, it's not really part of what is referred to as the Nordic countries. Scandinavia is technically just Norway and Sweden (the Scandinavian peninsula), but Denmark (excluding Greeland) is included because of a common history between the three countries. Iceland and Finland are not counted among the Scandinavian countries, but part of the Nordic countries.

The Nordic Connection - aircraft from the the Nordic countries; Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Iceland. Could be expanded to include aircraft that were long-term based there, e.g. 57th FIS Eagles and Phantoms based at Keflavik, or German Bf109s at the Petsamo front or Fw190s based at Herdla. If one was extra generous, one could include RAF aircraft sent to Norway for winter exercises with the white wash camo... Jens

One suggestion from me; "Kits you built in your teens". I am sure several of us built some large scale models back then - myself I built the Hasegawa F-16 FSD and modified it to represent an operational F-16A, I converted the Revell F-15B Dual Role Fighter to an F-15A, modified the Hasegawa F-18 to a later standard, but as prototype no 5, and then of course, the fabled and ridiculously expensive (at the time) Tamiya F-14A. This would exlude some of the newer kits, but some of these kits still turn into decent models with a little work.

I have an ultrasonic cleaner, but never use it on the airbrush. It is however very good for cleaning resin parts after sanding and removing the slurry that gets into all the nooks and crannies that the toothbrush won't get into. I use plain tap water - occasionally with a drop of dishwashing detergent.

If you want to visit a model shop, there's Hannant's just 5 minutes walk from the RAF Museum, and you can place an order through the website for picking up at Colindale with a 10% discount - give them about a week's notice. Museum-wise, the DeHavilland Aircraft Heritage Centre/Mosquito Museum is a pilgrimage for fans of the Wooden Wonder and be able to see THE prototype and other DH aircraft. It really is enthusiast-driven, and if you want to touch the cowlings of greatness, I doubt you will find anyone who shouts at you. When I was there some fifteen years ago, I was almost peer-pressured to try the Sea Vixen cockpit on for size. There is a bus service running that stops on the main road, so a short walk down a lane will take you there. Or Uber/Taxi from the nearest station. Check out Google maps for how to get there by public transport (it will take about an hour from St.Pancras). HMS Belfast is also worth a visit, as is the Imperial War Museum at Duxford. The station - Whittlesford Parkway - is a half-hour (1.7 mile) walk away. One museum I've never been able to enjoy as much as I want due to lack of time is the Science Museum in South Kensington. If you're into old cars and motorbikes, as well as Vickers aircraft, there is the Brooklands Museum in Weybridge - about an hour from London Waterloo Station and a walk.

Very nice! And that dark blue-grey looks quite convincing.

No detail too small... Amazing work.

I would recommend getting the Belcher Bits corrected tailfin and rear fuselage. When you see the difference, you will appreciate the too fat rear fuselage. The downside is it won't help with keeping the nose wheel on the ground, so a clear prop under the tail may be needed.

I can see another order in my future. Will you make the early F-16 Sidewinder launchers in 1:48 as well? Both the old Hasegawa kit and the first generation Kinetic kit can need them...

Well done on an older kit, and the Air Superiority Blue deserves more exposure. Great job on illuminating the model as well.