rock1947a

Battleground Models produces most if not all of the equipment needed for a SAS jeep. I have no connection with them other than as very satisfied customer of their WW2 and Vietnam War era accessories. Pete https://www.battlegroundmodels.com/shop-1?Category=British Sorry for duplicating the information from a previous post.

If anyone is interested, Battleground Models produces several resin/3D printed 1/16 accessories that can accompany the Takom Ontos, such as M14 rifles, M3a1 grease guns, binoculars, tools and ammunition boxes, and an M274a2 Mechanical Mule (also used by the Marines in Hue), etc. See website below. I have no connection with this manufacturer, just a very satisfied customer of 1/16 WW2 and Vietnam era accessories. They also offer most items in 1/18 scale so the appropriate scale has to be selected for each item when ordering anything. Firearm barrels are pre-drilled to save some time and effort. I just received the Vietnam era items I ordered and am quite happy with the high level of quality of these large accessories. Of course, your standards could be more discerning than mine. https://www.battlegroundmodels.com/product-page/m274a2-mule-1-2-ton-4x4-utility-platform-truck

I remember that kit. There was also an olive green plastic screw-together B-25H that I built many years ago. Sorry I can't remember the manufacturer but Aurora sounds familiar. Good luck with your search.

If selecting the Kinetic/Italeri F-86F kit Spruebrothers has several corrections and accessories in stock such as Sugar Scoops, nose intake ring and gun panels, cockpits, wheels, 120 combat and 200 gallon drop tanks with pylons, pitot tube, ejection seats, wheel bays, undercarriage covers, landing gear, etc. Pete

If you like a challenge Kitty Hawk produced an F-86D Sabre Dog. As most of us do I usually search for specific kit reviews before deciding which one to buy. Whether you buy there or not searching eBay for 1/32 F-86 will provide most kits, cockpits, decals and accessories generally available. I saw 2 RCAF F-86 decal sets listed on ebay today. Spruebrothers is also a good resource, especially for the excellent AMS products. Good luck with your project. Pete

F4U-5/5N H03S/H-5 Dragonfly H-19 Chickasaw H-34 Chocktaw F-82 Twin Mustang A-37 Super Tweet

I placed 4 or 5 orders with them over the last 6 months without problems. I registered with the website so I was able to check order status. For example I ordered Berna French Bearcat decals that I couldn't find anywhere else in the US. The item status was "available" when I ordered. A couple of weeks later the order status was "in progress". About a week later I received an email that my order was shipped and received it a few days later. I think my other orders took about 3 weeks to be processed. So far I've been lucky not to have any issues with them. If I'm not mistaken the Kitlinx owner used to operate the defunct Greatmodels Webstore that I used to rely on quite a bit, especially for product reviews.

Thanks very much for everyone's informative and interesting contributions on this subject. I learned a lot and will pursue more research as suggested. I find learning the historical and technical aspects of each aircraft just as rewarding as trying to build a representative model. I admire and respect those with the skills to fly them. Your time and interest in responding to my questions is greatly appreciated. Any and all comments are welcome. Pete

Hi quang. Thanks for pointing out the original purpose of the AD-5 and development of the A-1E. I get lost in the "seeing is believing" mindset. Your logical explanation is very helpful and appreciated. I have some time before tackling the Fisher A-1E conversion so the more information and research acquired the better. I'm still toying with the idea of modifying it to an AD-5. The exchange of ideas and information provided by the members and visitors to these forums is an invaluable resource. Many thanks to everyone. Best regards, Pete

Thank you for your fast reply. What confuses me is that I can't see any evidence of the heavy bolts used to attach belly armor plates on any of the pictures showing the underside of fat face airframes. I don't know if they could be welded. Of course you're right that many variations between the same version aircraft are likely even within the same unit. I shouldn't be so focused on details like this. Lesson learned. Thanks again.

Thank you for the heads-up and your tireless work to keep the website working for everyone. Pete

As indicated in the title I need some help determining if the AD-5 or A1-E normally had armor on the forward fuselage and/or belly. I scoured all images and references I could find. None of those aircraft seem to have armored panels that I could see. My eyesight might not be the best. The reason I ask is that the Paul Fisher instructions show the belly armor in one image but I don't see it on the other. I don't see armor on the fat face kits' fuselage either. I know how thorough Mr. Fisher's excellent work is so I'm questioning the accuracy of what I think I see in reference books and on the internet. I would appreciate if someone could please point me in the right direction or provide definitive information. Thank you for your interest. Pete

Either way, we're just trying to help a fellow modeler. You posted a better link that I hope he finds useful.

The eBay listing I referred to does have Revell's version of bench seats. The image of the Revell of Germany kit sprues you linked are more clear though. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1969-Revell-1-32-Bell-UH-1D-Huey-Helicopter-H-286-Parts-Rebuild-Junk-/133912597758?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0

There's a junk kit H-286 of the Revell Huey slick on eBay, only good for a few parts. The images include the troop bench seats to give you an idea what they look like.

Thanks a million Jari. You always provide the best, most helpful and interesting information to everyone. I appreciate it very much. I bookmarked that webpage. The Verlinden deck mules and tractors appear to be largely out of proportion. The Zoukeimura MD-3 details are more refined and subtle and is narrower than Verlinden. I'm still not sure which is more dimentially accurate but to my eye either one could look good.

The dimensions of the 1/32 Zoukeimura and Verlinden MD-3 mules are vastly different. Does anyone know which one, if either, is more accurate? If this has been discussed somewhere before I can't find it. Also, would they have been yellow or white in the mid to late 1980s? Google has not been my friend. Thanks, Pete

I think the doohickeys you're referring to are Electronic Counter Measure antenna fairings originally added to U. S. Navy Phantoms.

Thank you Peter and Jari for the excellent information and images. Although I did a lot of research on the 390th TFS I still have much more to learn. Your help is invaluable in helping with my project. The more I learn the more I'm in awe of Major General Bellamy's service in WWIi, Korea, Vietnam and post war experience.

Thank you very much Peter. I'll definitely do my to best to find out all I can with the lead you graciously provided. Since it appears Lt. Col. Bellamy was apparently in Da Nang until being reassigned to Hawaii in July 1966, do you think he might have flown SEA camouflaged aircraft during some of his 100+ combat missions? I haven't found out when the F-4Cs were camouflage painted. I value your opinion, and it might make a difference in finishing the 1/32 or 1/48 kit I'll include in the tribute display I'm working on for my wife. Major General Bellamy was her idol and she often tells me about how he spoke of his admiration and deep concern for the glider troops he had to tow when flying C-47s in WWii.

Thank you Jari. I've been through every image on that website, but I might have missed something so I'll look again. I also searched on the links that website provides. It's a real treasure trove for someone like me. Best regards, Pete

Thanks a million for checking Peter!!! Best regards, Pete

Hi. I'm not sure if this is the right forum for this question. I've scoured the internet and my reference books for suitable color images of F-4C 390th TFS Gunfighters aircraft in Vietnam. I'm trying to create a tribute/memorial display of my wife's uncle, Jack Bellamy who was commander of that squadron in Da Nang 1965 and flew more than 100 combat missions. His biography is available at https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/107719/major-general-jack-bellamy/ for anyone who might be interested. I found a portrait of him on Amazon that I ordered, and a frame with a silver engraved plaque. I'd like to include an appropriate F-4C artwork or photo I can frame. The closest I can find is an F-4D from that squadron. Does anyone know of an available color profile of a Gunfighter F-4C? I might have to settle for the F-4D but I can't help feeling that would be cheating. A Tamiya 1/32 or 1/48 Academy F-4C with 390th TFS decals will be included in the display as well. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for looking. Pete

Thanks very much for both of your replies. The vendor promised to search for a replacement part, but I don't hold out too much hope. 2 new Ov-10A kits on ebay are listed for over $200.00 with shipping so that's not affordable for me. However I can buy an OV-10D kit for about $50.00 so if I can't repair my windscreen satisfactorily I might go that route. Cutting out the cracked panel sounds like a good idea but the plastic is very brittle. It's worth a try. I'll post on the Trader's Board for any unwanted kits or parts too. Both of your ideas are very helpful. I'll post the results here so you'll know how it turns out. Thanks again for your help. Pete

Hi. I received the above kit yesterday in a very crushed shipping box. All of the sprues were warped but most of the parts are undamaged except for one tail boom broken in half that I can repair pretty easily. The other damaged part is the clear windscreen cracked down the middle. Since Kittyhawk is going out of business I'm stuck trying to repair the windscreen. I intend to try dipping it in Future floor polish. What do you think my chances are of ending up with a passable windscreen? Has anyone had any success repairing cracked clear canopy parts? I don't have any vacuforming skills or experience. Any suggestions or observations are welcome. Thanks for your interest. Happy modeling!!! Pete