Dave Williams

Don’t equate spending money or level of detail on how good a kit is. A lot of accuracy is going to be based on the sources that a model company chooses to use. Getting detail shots and measurements of active current vehicles is going to be better than just looking at various references. The reality is that kits are only going to be as accurate as the references used. That said, it’s unlikely that the U.S. Army is going to let a couple of Chinese model companies full and unfettered access to a current AH-64. So, they use other sources, mostly public, and miss a few things that might not be shown well. They may also use the same references. Given that both Meng and Takom have the same exact cockpit errors, it wouldn’t be a complete surprise. Also, companies may have correct information and simply choose to not incorporate it into the kit for various reasons. Their kits are how they choose to make them, and say nothing about how someone else would. Do they look like AH-64s? Absolutely! Are they for the most part accurate? Yes.

Not to make a big point, but the Meng kit really isn’t much better. Other than being a bit simpler and easier to build, and usable decals, it has many of the same issues as Takom.

Is there a website or some way to order direct?

I’ve ordered stuff from BNA Model World and found their shipping rates to the U.S. quite reasonable. Never ordered a large kit, but decals, resin sets, etc. Nothing close to $32 in shipping.

Are the F conversions available anywhere yet?

For a long time, HLJ was about the only way to get kits direct from Japan, and back then the yen-to-dollar exchange rate was favorable and shipping was reasonable. I don’t order much from them anymore because of the shipping costs, and much better worldwide availability of Japanese kits, but I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them as a reliable vendor. My recent purchases from Japan have been from Hobby Search, who has a shipping method called ECMS, which is cheaper than EMS or courier. In stock there too. https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10111201 I recently ordered a 1/35 Fine Molds Type 97 Shinhoto tank and the FM brass barrel for 6200¥ shipped. Shipping cost was just under 2100¥

I remember in the very old days of HLJ, when you had to send payment (check or money order) to Scott’s friend in the U.S.

It’s sad that once again a thread has drifted off topic, and once again it’s drifted to WNW talk.

Personally, I think that’s fine. Asking about something on the real plane while someone is building a model of it is OK in my book. I think what we’re talking about here is someone is building a Revell 1/32 P-51, and someone drops in a comment that it would have been great if WNW made a P-51, and then it devolves into a another discussion about WNW.

I would say one reason is simple courtesy to the OP and to keep from wasting others people’s time. Oh look, there’s a new reply to a thread that I’m interested in. Go to check it out, and it’s people talking about something unrelated and not interesting to me. Plus, hijacking a thread is rude. My two cents.

There is no backdating necessary. It’s the same plastic as the US “D” boxing, with the bonus of the sprue from the “E” kit that has the updated exhausts, plus the Arrowhead PNVS, and all of the lumps and bumps fitted to the late D models. Basically the same plastic as the recent AH-64D Block 2 late, with the exception of the new (incorrect) cockpit that added for that release.

Looking for something to replicate the white square antenna on the Hawk T.2 upper fuselage just behind the canopy. I’m assuming this is probably a GPS antenna. Seems like something that could be made in 3D printing.

Squadron is showing $59 preorder for the Trumpeter kit, whereas the Takom kits are around $75 and the Meng kits around $10 more.

The He219 needed ejection seats due to the proximity of the props to the fuselage and the cockpit being ahead of the engines. Very good chance of being hit by a prop on a normal bailout. On the Me262, the cockpit was over the low wing, and the intakes were ahead of the wing. All you had to worry about on the 262 was not hitting the tail, pretty much the same as the typical single seat prop fighter of the time.

Some photos of an early buildup. https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/image/11066230 Looks pretty meh compared to the detail in the Takom and Meng D/E kits. Some weird stuff too. The PNVS/TADS turrets look undersized. The empty rocket pods look to have two different sized holes. Lots of ejector pin marks in the open engine hatches. The bump stop for the open engine hatch is show attached to the front of the engine pod instead of being on the hatch. The rotor mast seems too short. Vinyl tires. The kit looks to be cheaper and simpler than the Meng/Takom kits, which by itself is OK, but if this is what comes in the box, it seems like it’s one of their B team efforts. I was a bit excited by the announcement of the Trumpeter kit, but after seeing this, not so much.

My understanding was that the M13 and M14 were both single seater B-2s, different only in that one had extended wingtips. Both were complete at the end of the war. The M17 was an uncompleted B-type two seater that was finished by the French after the war, and was fitted by them with the small flush canopy over the rear cockpit. The HKM B-6 kit also show the French aircraft as M17. https://www.hk-models.com/hkm/index.php?dispatch=attachments.getfile&attachment_id=22 Looking at page 65 of the Valiant book as shown on Aeroscale, the color plate of the French two seater labels it as M17.

The closest to the B-6 was the unfinished M17, which was completed by the French after the war with a small flush fitting framed canopy covering the second position. I don’t think I’ve seen a picture of the M17 rear canopy opened, but I’d guess it was hinged to the side, or possibly at the back. I don’t think the proposed bubble canopy for the B-6 was ever built, but looking at it, it’s too small for a person in flying gear to get though, plus the front have of the bubble overlaps onto the fuselage spine. My guess would be that the bubble is part of a hinged metal part that covers the rear cockpit opening, and the entire thing hinges to the side.

Looks like you may need to wait until the 25.4 Group Build.

Block 25 F-16?

To be honest, I don’t think HK Models is Toom blocking anyone. I can’t think of any modeling major modeling company holding off on making one just because at one point many years ago HKM mentioned it. If no one is making one, it’s likely because they don’t see the profitability in it. It’s a large and rather unique aircraft, different in a number of important ways from the other F-4s. It’s different enough that large parts like the fuselage and intakes can’t really be shared with other versions. Tooling the unique sections is an added expense to a company that already has some existing F-4 kits, much less a company that has to start from scratch. For 3D printed, how much would that cost, especially if you’re going to do it right?

Before deciding what anyone wants, I think the first question that needs to be answered is whether or not we are actually doing this. So far, no one that has the power has said that we are. If this isn’t going to happen, then we’re just spinning our wheels.

You can very easily do a F-4J (UK) with the Tamiya F-4J kit and the right decals. Making a “real” British Phantom like the FG.1 and FGR.2 is a very different proposition.

There’s a what if GB starting in 5 days on March 1st

Is this actually happening? It seems like there are enough logical suggestions for someone who has the power to make the call and be able to pick one and schedule it, if we are going to do it.

The R2D2 antenna certainly does exist in 1/32. It’s part of the Isradecal F-15I conversion, and I think it used to be available separately too. https://www.isradecal.com/product-page/iaf-f-15i-ra-am-conversion-1-32 https://www.scalemates.com/kits/isracast-32039-iaf-f-15i-raam-sat-com-antenna--1129135