Tony O

Methinks Mark's Canadair Sabre is long overdue a revisit on the homepage... I was always led to believe the large scale version was too long, correcting this is a bit of a problem. However after seeing a few built kits It isn't apparent to the eye and a goodf nmf finish will distract all but the most size fixated judge (insert analogies about big jets and small apendages here ) in any comp. More importantly IMO, is obtaining a correct ground stance from the undercarriage and getting that slight nose up look adds a lot to authenticity. Whats Jerry upto these days? Its been a while since anything was heard from Chez Rutman in darkest Pennsylvania.

The CAM set seems to be OOP and to be honest doesn't look that hot to me from a crispness pov I was wondering if there wouold be much interest in F-86 detail sets? new wheels drop tanks cockpit U/C bays etc? conversions for the canadair wing perhaps... is this kit due a makeover? Tony

Cheers Dave and Matt, I think the one on e-bay is overpriced then! ha ha. I had a look on HS at the cuttin eggs details ( why is their stuff sooo expensive?) and it seems that this is essential. I'm not that mad keen on a 15 and I'll look out for the FROG kit on your advice. cheers again Tony

Ok, in general terms how accurate is the Trumpeter MiG15bis? Any serious problems or is it a nice kit to sit beside an F86? Anyone built this kit and liked/hated it? TIA LSP Tony

This is fascinating, I know nowt about helios and this subject is just superb! Apart from the fact that i always considered the Hind and its bug eyed design was verging on something out of a sci-fi movie, the very fact that the whole thing is lop sided for a purpose is very intrigueing. I presume that the costs of producing and designiing this beast must have either been offset by the need to produce a stable weapons platform, or the bottomless coffers of the former USSR when it came to procuring weapons... Is there something about how a hlicopter behaves close to the ground that affects its stability? there must be someone out there who can answer this definitively. Engineering this assymetric shape into a mould which splits vertically is probably a model toolers nightmare!

Neil, here's a link to the kiwi site of pics of preserved corsairs HTH Tony Oliver http://www.kiwiaircraftimages.com/corsair.html

I always thought the IAR80 was way ahead of its time in terms of looks, more like a very cool prop aerobatic design than a fighter! T

Radub, I've been watching this build with total awe. You've an obvious love of the Hurricane to go to such lengths to replicate this level of detail and correct the horrible Revell kit. Superb stuff. cheers Tony

Never mind the sluf, wahddabart the Hun? eh eh? Hannants have listed this for ages but no price and no release details yet. Tony

Chris, a good review! well balanced and great detail pics. What camera did you use? cheers Tony

D, I did consider doing drawing comparison shots but decided against this from a viewpoint that drawings are an emotive subject. HOwever , the wing sweepback appears to be correct on the VFS kit in terms of angle and some drawings will be included for comparison. The kit has more serious issues going on than this and these are identified in the review. I believe it is wrong to review a product that has both defects and good points and only identify the good. Likewise there are reviewers who delight in trashing a product from a standpoint of ego, expectation based on brand and in some cases an almost pathalogical nationalistic urge to denounce eastern product manufactured in communist countries. As the review will bear out, LSP have a duty to our members to deliver honest and open reviews without being beholden to manufacturers or distributors. This practice has a couple of aims, to promote fair evaluation, to defeat favouritism, to encourage diversity and to encourage producers to increase the quality of their product where this is appropriate. There is also another review going up of MDC's Hurricane fabric wing conversion. I'm happy to discuss any aspect of the reviews with people off board . cheeers and give the images time to load, one or two of them are large! LSP Tony

Guys we have had a copy of the VFS P-40 here for review for a couple of weeks now. Rather than rush to be first with the news, we are putting together a concise and studied review of this new product. I think you'll agree that LSP reviews whilst never bustin' to be first with the information, are also not your average basic overview and contain relevant studied critique of commercial products. The review of the VFS P-40 will be in the form of a detailed photojournalistic review. HTH LSP Tony

Hi Michael welcome to LSp, There is precious little (nothing) for the 32nd Beau, but hopefully that will change in the not too distant future. There were a few details about which included exhausts, but which are now OOP or very hard to find. I'm working on a set of merlins for the MkII and there is the possibility of getting tehse produced as limited run items. The rest of the kit is a shambles as far as detail goes and it needs a new cockpit/fuserlage interior and some decent Hercs. As its a Mk1c it has the short stub collector exhaust and the hedgehog exhausts of later MkI's onwards would make life easier. Details such as a production canopy without the extra framing and a blown W/op's canopy of the correct cross section/shape would be a good idea too to any aftermarket detailer. Undercarriage is not too bad but could benefit from more detail such as plumbing and the beefing up of the struts, some detail in the bays themselves such as the construction of the U/c door structure is very visible. The kit is huge and with all the glazing a lot can be seen inside. Its a kit which has been overlooked for too long, and the options to provide conversions to other marks is relatively easy to do. HTH Tony Oliver PS a good guide is the SAM Publications book on the Beaufighter although the plans of the MkII are . Amazon have copies for around 10 quid.

Thanks everyone, I'd sort of forgotten your 109 Chris...sorry looking at this would have answered the question really. Steve, thanks for the info and Lancman also for the link I think it'll do for a nightfighter. cheers Tony

I'm looking for opinions on the trump 24th 109G does anyone have first hand experience of this kit, fit, general accuracy quality etc please PM me with anything you'd care to share , rather than clog up the forum cheers in advance LSP Tony