Ivan Ivanovich

Even without the required kit parts, it shouldn't be rocket science to build a 2000P from the kit. In a nutshell: Step 1: Sand down those friggin' diverter strips - RDM/RDI radar equipped aircraft don't have them. The diverter strips are a unique feature of the RDY equipped -5/-9 variants. Step 2: The characteristic IFF antennae can be easily replicated from strip styrene. Step 3: Peruvian Ps feature a slightly longer rearward RWR fairing. Again, strip styrene to the rescue in order to extend the kit part. Some sanding required... Step 4: Rear hemisphere jammer housing/antenna - sand down any raised structures. Step 5: Omit the original lower fuselage radar altimeter antenna. Ich würde mal sagen, nix Wildes... HTH Ivan

I hope the final N/D kit will also include the corresponding N/D cockpits - different animals, the 2000D cockpit in particular. If not so, that'll be pretty lame. Just imagine a brand-new, state-of-the-art F-15E kit with an F-15B pit inside. Or an F-14D with an F-14A pit... So far, the avaliable N/D CAD images as well as those from the test shot build have clearly shown 2000N/2000D airframes with a 2000B cockpit. Keeping my fingers crossed KH got it right this time... Note: no HUD, Head-Down Display located further up...

Double Uglies just prior to hatching...

's it dead yet?

I'm enclined to agree that the F-20A could be more popular than expected. Even today. I'd love to see one kitted in 32nd scale - as long as it would come with three different fwd fuselages, and not just two different canopies or radomes. Three different fwd fuselages given the different access panel arrangements on GI1001 (N3686B) and GI1002 (N44671). Outwardly, virtually identical. GG1001 (82-0062) was the only F-20A to retain the original F-5E fwd fuselage, still reflecting the initial F-5G "engine change only" approach.

"Variatio delectat." You'll find lots of variations. Particularly during the post-Soviet years. You won't see too much of the bays themselves since the oleo/strut doors are closed on the ground. If it's going to be a Soviet one, you can't go wrong with that distinctive RLM 02-ish grey beige painted or anodised finish for the wheel bays. And the list isn't even complete...

Faith in humanity (partially) restored.

It's really strange (and somewhat hard to comprehend) both pod and NLG doors have slipped HpH's attention. For whatever the reason may be... Other than that, it's a really nice conversion set.

In a nutshell/quick recognition features : The D radome is pitot-less and features rather prominent dissipator strips. In contrast, the 2000N has a pitot boom, but lacks the dissipator strips. The Kitty Hawk 2000N CAD is wrong in that regard; the basic shape of the radome is virtually identical, though. Also, both CADs are depicting the wrong type of wing tip RWR aerials which are associated to export M2K with the Thales Integrated Counter Measures Suite. The N/D should have the original Serval RWR fairings. However, I suspect the Serval fairings will be a common feature to all M2K boxings - the 2000C CAD depicts them. Further visible features of the 2000D: additional fuselage spine mounted chaff/flare dispenser, additional set of EW antennas directly below the vertical tail fin cap. Mirage 2000N radome close-up: (2000N radomes -> black coating) Mirage 2000D radome close-up: (2000D radomes -> dark green coating) Mirage 2000N vertical tail detail: (from top to bottom - fwd "Caméléon" jammer antenna, rear "Serval" RWR, rear hemisphere "Caméleón" jammer antenna) Mirage 2000D vertical tail detail: (from top to bottom - fwd and rear hemisphere ICMS EW aerials, fwd "Caméléon" jammer antenna, rear "Serval" RWR antenna) Stbd wingtip "Serval" RWR: (Armée de l'Air Mirage 2000B/C/N/D/-5F) Mirage 2000D fuselage spine "Éclair-M" cartridge dispenser module: Bonne soirée:

Just wondering whether the Mirage 2000B will also be among the projected M2K boxings. So far, Kitty Hawk has only published revised CADs of the 2000N and D. The latest CADs suggest that the baseline two-seater fuselage has been designed with a dedicated fwd fuselage insert to accommodate the shorter radome of the Antilope-5 radar. In contrast, the 2000B would require a different insert to accommodate the original RDM/RDI radome. Be that as it may, I, for one, will be perfectly happy with a 2000N and a 2000D.

<vader> I find the lack of a two-seat Mirage III/V BD disturbing. </vader>

Mirage 5F: Mirage V BA: Pre-ECM mod Mirage V BA: Renaissance Mirage V BA conversion: (also comprising revised parabrake/ECM fairing, chaff/flare dispenser and IP) The rearward-facing scoop seems a good bit too short, though.

The anti-collision beacons started being retrofitted in 1974. Applicable versions: Luftwaffe/Marine F-104G (fighter bomber config), TF-104G and Marine RF-104G F-104F, F-104G (AWX) and Luftwaffe RF-104G (AG 51/AG 52) never received them. I'd replicate the beacons using clear 2K epoxy and mould them into shape with a small spatula and a toothpick while the epoxy is still curing.

The German DHS/F-40 series is an authoritative reading when it comes to Bundesluftwaffe (F-40) and NVA LSK/LV (DHS) subjects. Exactly. No such funky camo schemes on LSK/LV MiG-19s. Partial NMF -> Chemically milled skin structures had an aluminsed topcoat applied, followed by an overall gloss clear varnish. The dielectric covers of the RP-2U radar were finished in Mittelblau/Medium Blue. Mittelblau 1667: Photograph of "335" taken in 1969 after its retirement from active service (prior to being sent to Preschen): Note: Typical Soviet-style tactical number in red with black outline instead of the regular LSK/LV stencilled bort number application. (suggesting "335" had undergone PDM at the Odessa overhaul facility not too long ago)

For what it's worth... "335" and "391" had the tactical camouflage applied many years after the MiG-19 had been retried from active service in May 1969. "335" serving as gateguard at Preschen (until 1980): The tactical camouflage was applied after 1980 when "335" was transferred to the "Traditionsvorstartlinie Bautzen" museum. Colours: Olivgruen 2425 aka "Chlorbunagruen", Ck-Braunoliv, Ck-Hellgraublau: Active-service LSK/LV MiG-19PM -> partial aluminised topcoat/varnished NMF.

"It changed/It depends" Timeframe is the key. Beginning from 1970, aircraft that went through depot repaint had the demarcation line moved further forward - FS 448.5. Anyway, you'd still find a/c with original pre-1970 SEA camo (FS 495 demarcation line) during the early 1970s. (FS=Fuselage Station) You may want to look for period photographs of your selected decal option in order to determine the actual position. HTH Pre-1970 demarcation line at FS 495:

Glen would have let us all know if KH had resurrected the F11F-1. I'm afraid the mere fact that the F-11 is still listed as a "future release" or "pre-order" item by several online retailers, including Hannants, can be solely attributed to the lack of proper shop data maintenance. I can't find Glen's original posting in which he informed us that Kitty Hawk has shelved the project after the European and Asian distributors had indicated they had ZILCH interest in the Tiger...

Exactly, "Lancaster" has a fairly negative connotation among many elderly people in Germany who experienced WW2 at close quarters. Pretty much the same for the "Typhoon", by the way. C'était la guerre... Rumour has it that real estate prices in certain regions of Germany have started to hit rock bottom when WNW announced to release another Lancaster.

You might also want to add one of the Aires MiG-23 nozzle sets (#2136/#2146) to the bill. Unless you don't mind staring into a yawning void. Simply omit the outer nozzle petals...

[Update, 5 October 2018] Earlier today, Mirek confirmed that the Delta-NM bullet fairing will not be included in the set. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Is it just me or is the Delta-N fairing missing? Couldn't spot it in any of the available photographs... http://shop.hphmodels.cz/cs/chemie-a-doplnky/203-mig-23bn-conversion-set-for-trumpeter-kit.html Despite being a fairly small part, it's one of THE characteristic features making a BN a BN. In operational use, the Delta-NM fairing were only removed if the a/c was to be equipped with MBD3 tandem bomb racks.

Terrific job on your F-104G. I love it!. <thumbsup> Save for the lower TACAN antenna immediately aft of the radome and the stbd temperature probe, I can't spot any missing odds and sods.

Right. The floor sits too far up, but the console top level is fine. As a consequence, the console sidewalls (not to be confused with the cockpit sidewalls) are on the short side.

Jenning was referring to a couple of "red flags" raised earlier in this thread: Cockpit floor: too far up, should be positioned further downwards (appr. 3.5 millimetres). Correspondingly, the console sidewalls are a little on the short side. However, and quite in contrast to the console sidewalls, the console top-level is OK. Stbd console: the Kitty Hawk draftsman goofed up console orientation, the stbd console needs to be rotated by 180°. "Fugly disproportionate seat". Some of the proposed marking options require different ejection seat models, early Northrop seat/Martin Baker IRQ7(A) and BRQ7(A) that are not included in the kit. Kit instrument panel depicts the early original IP layout used on F-5E a/c without RWR equipment, whereas some of the proposed marking options had different IP layouts. Kitty Hawk utterly ignored this. In view of the available kit marking options, and technically speaking, you'd need three different instrument panels to wrap them all up. Technically speaking, and pitting the kit plastic against the kit marking options, the cockpit in general is the least accurate subassembly of the kit. Individual acceptance levels ("Looks good enough."/"Ouch!"/"WTH?!", etc.) differ and are - as always - at modeller's discretion.

IMHO, simply extending the fwd fuselage by 8 millimetres without knowing the "root of all evil" is one of the best ways to make things even worse.

Decent type documentation (manuals/handbooks, etc.), tons of photographs, stickers to mark fuselage reference points, good old tape measure and an actual airframe to take measurements from. It's fairly safe to assume that Eduard had "access all areas" while doing the R&D work.