LSP_Ray

Yes!

Thanks for the info. I obviously not a Spit expert. I knew the designation did not refer to the wings, but I had assumed the HF was a high alt engine, and therefore thought the clipped wings would be counter-productive. The Brit designations are confusing!

Not sure which size you need, but here is a source for all kinds of small tubing, wire, shapes, etc: http://www.smallparts.com/

HF? I thought clipped wings typically went on LF variants (optimized for low altitude work)?

Paypal sent! Look great, Eli!

For a first time resin project you are doing a great job, Matt! And I had forgotten what a nice job Jerry has done on this kit! I have one in the stash too, and is the reason I passed on the Trumpeter release.

Beautiful job, and the kit looks incredible!!! What really blows me away is how well the cowl panels appear to fit and yet are removable!

Hello Zactoman! FYI: I bought your whole enchilada for the Su-27 so I did my part (and the weapons & pylons are on my future purchase list!). FYI part II: DML (hmmm also a Chinese company...) does the exact same thing to us in the 1/35th military modeling world! Their PzIV's are a case in point; later issued versions have something like over 60 corrections. Sometimes you can tell which are the better ones because they usually are a slightly differently variant or different markings, but typically re-releases end up with fixes too, in the exact same boxing as before and it is a crap shoot when you buy one as you can't be sure of the age of the kit. It makes you hesitate buying any kit from them, especially a first release!!! Obviously, the same is becoming a problem with Trumpeter.

If you want to go seriously insane, one company offers motorcycle-type chain to be built link by link: http://www.hlj.com/product/MFHP941 This particular one is in 1/12 scale.

Maybe, but it crashed before I had a chance to tell them where I lived.

I went through the steps to pre-order and it re-directed to the Volks site so it appears that is the only source. When I added one to the cart and hit the 'check out now' button it kicked me off the webpage. Is that what happened to you?

Just moved the topic to correct forum. Should stay nearer the top longer anyway.

Here is a link to one of them: http://www.pimaair.org/collection-detail.php?cid=155 . They have a lot of big stuff, including 2 or 3 B-52's, Super Guppy, a rare stainless steel skinned transport, etc. in addition to the usual WWII stuff. Helps that they are right next to the USAF boneyard! They even have a F-107A there.

The Pima air museum - http://www.pimaair.org/ - has 3 or 4 Connies, including Eisenhower's Air Force One. So if you can get someone at the museum to take a pic, or a local modeler, you would be have it. I hope to go there again, but probably not until next year sometime.

Great work Russ!!! I am trying to get caught up on all these great builds you guys have done, this is one I wanted to check on first! Nice work on the lozenge decals, they turned out great!!! BTW, definitely pick up one of those Avis kits of the E.V. if you get a hankering to do another one, I had a Battle Axe kit when I reviewed my Avis and I can tell you the Avis is a much nicer molding. About the only thing I liked better in the Battle Axe kit was the resin engine. Anyway, doesn't matter, you did a great job with the Battle Axe kit! Congrats!

That is really amazing, Tigger! Great work, and in a week's time!!! I couldn't even have gotten through a pre-read of the instructions that fast!!! And congrats on the Bronze, well deserved!!! PS: Hehe, I was expecting to see a P-38 when I first opened the thread!

Wow, all in all it sounds like the kit is pretty much spot on with a few instructional errors/omissions and a couple of simple fixes!! With the addition of some aftermarket bulged cannon covers and late style cannons it sounds like everything you would need for the whole range of IX's!!!

Although I have always admired some of that early box art, especially the old Tamiya armor stuff, I never collected it. In fact, I always considered it a great accomplishment when I chucked the box and left over sprues as that meant I had completed another model! If you have any holes in your collection, let me know.

Lacquer thinner is about the only thing I have found that works, too. I use Micro Brushes (http://www.findingking.com/p-8511-grobet-usa-micro-brushes-regular-100pcs.aspx?ref=base) (although I didn't get them from here!) and just chuck them when I am done. They were originally made for the dental industry, but work great for modelling!!! There are several different sizes.

According to Monogram's US Navy & Marine Color Guide 1940-1949, in the beginning of 1940 Naval aircraft were to have Orange Yellow upper wings with chevron in section color, all metal surfaces Light Gray and all fabric surfaces in Aluminum dope. Cowls were brightly painted to show section and position within the section. Section leaders had a band around the fuselage in the section color. Tails were color coded to represent the parent aircraft carrier. In December 1940, instructions were issued that all ship-based aircraft were to be painted non-specular Light Gray, except patrol aircraft, which were to have all upper surfaces painted Blue Gray. On August 20, 1941, the directive was changed to require all carrier based aircraft to be painted Blue Gray over Light Grey. So technically, if the fuselage is metal, which I believe the F3f was, it should be Light Grey, and the fabric wings should be Aluminum dope, except of course for the upper wing which would be Orange Yellow. And it appears that Charles' picture was a post-Dec 1940 pic. Hope that helps!!!

I am pretty sure that photo is of silver lacqured F3F's with Orange Yellow wings. As WWII neared, some were re-painted in blue-gray camo. I think some Navy F3f's got grey, not sure about the Marines. I will verify with Monogram colors, but that is what I recall.

I don't know what the deal is with Shawn. I have e-mailed him that I want 2 La-5's and 3 Val's. He said they would be 'soon'. That was in 2007. I hear is heavy into racing boats right now and I guess hasn't had the urge to get back into aircraft yet.

Derek, I have a copy of the P-40F/L erection & maintenance manual, sim to the P-61 manual you have. I will see if I can find anything helpful.

OK, better late than never! Here is the diagram of the F4u-4 pylon, from the erection & maintenance manual, dated Sept 1, 1945. By the time of Korea, there was the possibility of also carrying additional pylons on the wings capable of carrying bombs, but I have yet to find a good close up picture or diagram. You can see the two slots where the eye bolts of the bomb would hang from. Unfortunately, it doesn't show where the sway braces connect. The diagram is pointing out the screws you take out to disassemble the pylon. Hope this helps!

That is a pic of a field mod from early WWII. I have a diagram from the F4u-4 erection & maintenance manual. Hang a bit and I will scan it and post it, later today.