Dutch Man

I really enjoy watching this. Those Marine Flieger are the best. Very interesting what you make out of these cockpits. I like the toggle. Kind regards, Robert Jan

Hi Chris. Any idea if she will become a tail sitter? Think you build it OOB? If so, how many weight would be needed, and where to leave all that? My F-104G got a resin exhaust and main gear bay. Your build inspired me, so picked her off the shelf. I don't want to open to much that has been closed already. Yours came out really well, very nice results with a relative easy kit. Kind regards, Robert Jan

Thanks for the heads up Tom. Kind regards, Robert Jan

Hello. Some progress on the Phantom. Worked on the RIO Dash / IP. Some changes made to the layout, mostly using the internet for references. When all is installed it should at least look different from a standard IP one gets in the E type kits. some scratch building needed... 5 bezels above the standard 4 come from an Airscale set, 2 piece on the left also. Top is scratch build. The white styrene part is a "copy and paste" from the Avionics cockpit set for the F-4E. Dry fit of the IP. Cockpit sits to low(dry fit) but one gets the idea how this will look like. With some wiring this will look the biz I guess. You can also identify the 'Octa shape' of the rader, typical for the F-4F. The IP will move about 1 to 2 mm. towards the RIO. Hope you all like it. Have a great week. Robert Jan

I mostly go for some cleaning jobs, in and around the house, to let the Eureka's pop. A big house comes in very handy sometimes. Like your build Max, no discussion but it's definitely not my kind of plane. Thats a personal, can't help that. Your talents are just very insprirational to watch and bookmark. Good stuff. Regards, Robert Jan

Not all what comes from Aires is to my liking, The sets purchased for this build are just pretty good, even for a kit it was not designed for. Plugging through the "how to be clever engineering steps to get it all lined up". Made a start with the landing gear at the front. I have some pretty main landing gear wheels in resin,(DEF Mode), but nose gear wheel was not included. Rather disappointing. So who makes a nice weighted nose wheel in resin? Anybody have have some tips? More to come later. Robert Jan

Hello and good morning. 7:51 AM and rain has gone. Nice Sunday morning with lots of sunshine. Some progress on the Sabre. I really like the kit so far. Scoops added and painted inside of the rear fuselage. All glued with just a teeny weeny bit to putty. Front gear bay. Used Mr.Surfacer 1200. It will get some little details later. First have to figure out how the land gear will be attached. Nice fit all around the rear. Seat and launch rails. Aires did a great job on this one, Super detail and not too fragile. Another angle of the seat. Cockpit is ok, only things to add were throttle and foot pedals so far. Stick will come later. Other side. Exhaust pipe. Canopy frame and dry fit of the glass. Removed the plastic deck and replaced with resin parts from Aires cockpit set. A lot of work gone into this part. Plastic was way too thick and a bit of a lumpy shape. So thinned the inside and sanded the resin until fit. More detail will follow on this part. Happy with the result so far. Sanded the tanks. Again good fit To be continued. Have a nice day. Robert Jan

What I already replied, a lot of work done. Most of trouble will come to reshape the Hoola Hoop wings. Food out that the slats give a more rigid condition so far. Also have to clip the tips. Will be a Sunday morning "how did I ever got this far job". I like Sundays, play some Jazz in the early hours of.... Another weekending. Regards, Robert Jan

Thanks for the heads up Max. Raining Cats and Dogs over here,(finally rain season made a start) No excuse to go out, so made a lot of progress today already. It's 3:12 PM as I write this. Taking a break to get some food and a drink. When there is some light(it almost went) I'll make some pictures. Those Monsoon rains make it very spectacular sometimes. I love it. Robert Jan

After a good look at the kit, the AM I purchased and my consistent talent getting some kit with issues. Tadaa.... I made a start. A lot of dry fitting, cutting and shaving as from yesterday. Cockpit fits over the front wheel well. Inlet to engine fits and so front can be closed not having much trouble. Main landing gear. Aires set 2165 is not developed for the Hasegawa, but Kinetic / Italeri. A bit of a challenge expected for this part. Some removing of plastic should do the job(poor me). No fit with the rest of the wings too shallow. I had to cut the piece up in 3 parts. Center part fits now, rest where landing gear is positioned will be scratch build. I made some pictures from those parts to replicate in styrene. The wings are a real nightmare. Hoola hoop shape. Must be the aging of plastics. We can fix that with some ridged material. Some pictures... Cockpit is Aires. Nice and crisp detail Centerpart of the main landing gear wheel wells. Again nice details. Tanks, glued, not sanded yet. Fit is very good. More to follow soon. At least I made a start. Lots of work to do on this one. Regards, Robert Jan

I'm building the same kit and my experiences are very positive. Fit is ok and with some attention to detail one can make a stunning model out of it. Looking sharp Grant. Would be interesting to see what color brand you choose for the scheme. I was looking at the Hataka Paint sets to match that with Mr. Color. I'm getting nuts with the water based paints over here. Humidity and Heat don't make them work for me. Robert Jan

Nice choice. I have the same set for a future build. Robert Jan

My goodness. The pictures with 'horizon view' are just great. Robert Jan

Very interesting. High on my modeling wish list, a Mirage. Robert Jan

As above. Enjoy! Eager to see the process rolling. Robert Jan

Great how you love the length problem of the MER. Keep this in mind for me, to build some. NICE build so far. Robert Jan

WoW. Very nice Tom. Regards, Robert Jan

Found some pictures from a long time ago already. Good to see this back after 5 years. Regards, Robert Jan

Hi. This build was on my mind for a very long time. All started with an image of a 109 turned into some apocalyptic racer. One of my oldest kits that traveled with me to Thailand, was an Eduard issue of an experimental triple wing Albatros. Not complete anymore, a lot of parts are missing, but I closed the fuselage and had the rudder and horizontal stabs installed. A lot of tiny PE on the fuse and Engine in the front, but wings incomplete, it looked just like Cigar.... Hey. In the car, going to the office on Wednesday , the idea was born. Thursday all was collected for the birth of this unique Racer, called Cuba Libre. Basics are together now. All other parts used, come from the spares box. Intake is from a Trumpeter Mig-19, wheels are from the Revell F-4F im currently building. The plastic ook rather good with some paint on. Drive shafts are the launching tubes of the F-4F bang seats. Rest is scratch build. Transmission / Turbines are made from wheel hubs from a 1/35 4500S Büssing NAG. Wheels on the drive shafts are the original wheel fro the 1/48 Eduard kit. They will be used for steering. The nose is spectacular IMHO. The little wings have the radiators of the engine, which I believe is 6 cilinder MB(correct me if I'm wrong). Anyhow, the mix of 1/49 & 1/32 got me really of the floor this weekend. Other side shows the hubs of a 1/32 Tamiya F-4E. Top view. A lot is still dry fitted. Only the nose and little wings are glued to the fuse. Get it around the clock this way. Having a lot of fun with this fantasy build. It is a very good way to get some mojo for my scratch building that goes on and on in my head, while I am traveling. Hope you all like it More to come soon. Robert Jan

Fantastic progress. I love the detail you added. Robert Jan

Superbe! Robert Jan

Well that for sure pays off. Super! Really nice colors. Magic! Stay safe and have a nice weekend. Robert Jan

Hi Derek. Thanks for looking in. This will be the scheme for my F-4F Phantom II from the JG 71 Richthofen (Wittmund 2003-2008) Tan radome shows it's an ICE. What is interesting on 37+65 (72 1175), it is Zapped with Polly Grey from F-16AM 322 Squadron based at Leeuwarden AB, KLu "Sister" unit from the Netherlands. The insignia of the parrot Polly Grey is dating back to the second world war. Already have a sheet with this parrot Polly Grey. Dutch Decal DD32035, sheet for the TF-104G Starfighter (still dream of this kit for the near future). Anyway, this is the picture I took from ADL 008 Modern Luftwaffe Unit History Series, Fighter Wing 71 "Richthofen" 1975-2013. I need to scan these for better quality. All I need to complete arrived today. International shipping from the UK to Thailand still works, surprised to see my secretary came up with this parcel. Nice weekend and stay safe. Robert Jan

Thank you for the compliment Tom. Recently I watched a part of the farewell and this F-4F showed up. Never seen that one flying in any clip I watched so far. Livery is just great, but I'm not confident with the Decals Revell provides. When the cockpit is ready, it will be closed, this weekend I hope, I can focus on the exterior. It definitely will be an ICE from Wittmund Airbase. Will post a picture of the one I have in mind later today. Robert Jan

Mind blowing skills you show. Admire your patience. Great stuff. Robert Jan