TimW

I, too, have apparently fallen victim to GreatModels. Too bad as I like their product line. I have noticed their order filling process is inconsistent, to put it mildly. I will most assuredly reconsider doing any more business with them as taking preorders, screwing those who did so and then penalizing them with back orders is a truly unsatisfactory business practice. Tim W.

I shall bow to the costly inevitable... I've been waiting forever for a new -51B. Then they'll do one in 1/24th and I'll really be in trouble! Tim W.

Looking good... might inspire me to start mine (I've only got a half dozen other ongoing projects, what's one more?) Still undecided about whether to do a 'Nam bird or one of the French offerings from SPADA. Tim W.

Tim, Even some of the SEAC birds used the grey and green scheme. http://wp.scn.ru/en/ww2/f/350/9/0/3 I'm probably going with a heavily weathered green over brown for mine, though. As soon as I finished the razorback! Tim W.

Very nice! I have a bubbletop in the "to build" queue that will have the green/brown SEAC scheme. But first, the razorback! Tim W.

Excellent! I was on the right track, but wanted to make sure. Thanks again! Tim W.

Is the interior color for the P-47D Razorback similar (if not the same) as the bubbletop? Just got my Trump '47 and am planning to start soonest. I don't really trust Trumpeter's painting instructions, however... Tim W.

Interesting you should mention 'copters--over in the Member Build folder I posted some shots of an Mi-24 diorama I did, including crew, other passengers and a vehicle. http://forum.largescaleplanes.com/index.php?showtopic=15553 Thus far it has been my first and only foray into rotary wing, but maybe not the last! Tim W.

Alan-- Thanks for the kind words! The diorama angle is something I've been trying to do more of as I find sometimes I get to the point of being done and going "now what?" I also do armor/infantry dioramas, so someday I hope to do something a bit more ambitious (i.e., a crash landing). Regards, Tim W

Heheh. I like not having to paint all this fiddly bits sometimes, now that I'm older but still suffering from Advanced Modelling Syndrom (AMS). I have the same set for my P-47. Regards, Tim W.

And one more. Painting was airbrush using Model Master Camouflage Grey FS36622 and Intermediate Blue FS35164. As this aircraft leaked quite a bit, I used a mixture of acrylic black, detergent and water to make "goo" that can subsequently be reduced/removed with a q-tip. I also used a mixture of brown/black with thinner over that, and then gave it the fine sandpaper treatment. I'm pretty happy with how it came out. Tim W.

One more--close of shot of "the office." Tim W.

Another one. Tim W.

This could also be called "One Fine Morning on Midway Atoll." The kit is in the markings of VMF-221 (13 of 21 lost during their combat debut). The pilot is no doubt smiling as he's yet to actually fly this thing against A6M2s. The pilot is the new Naval Aviator figure by Ultracast--very good figure. Went together quite easily and wasn't that hard to paint, either. The base is an extra small diorama base I had laying around that turned out to be just the right size. I simply covered it in railroad ballast to (more or less) recreate the crushed coral of Midway and painted it/fixed it with dullcoat. The wheel chocks were stolen from the Tamiya A6M2 kit.

My understanding is that they were part of a British order that was deferred--to my knowledge, they still had the US seatbelts in them, but were apparently not fitted out with consistency (i.e., some had shoulder harnesses, some not). Some had British radios in them, some did not. But I'd go with a US spec seat harness if I had to make a decision. Hope this helps. Tim W.

Sorry for the long delay... the kit is completed and mounted on a base. I still have to do a few touch ups to the pilot figure and then take some photos. I would say all in all this was not an overly difficult build. The part that has given me the most headaches is the dang cockpit hood. I've glued it on in the open position. The $*@ thing really, really, really does not want to stay on... Pictures soon. Tim W

Hmm. Have to see about the tanks. Once I got the SPADA decal set, I have to admit I'm in a quandary about whether to do the EC 1/3 silver aircraft or a nice, beat up/weathered one in the Djibouti scheme--not that I have a lot of information about their mission activities! Tim W.

You are correct no F-100s were actually deployed there. EC 1/3 aircraft flew missions from their base at Rheims and then refueled at Istres on the way home. I figure I can't go wrong hanging a couple of Mk 82s and some napalm underwing. That said, after reviewing the decal sheet, I find the camouflaged aircraft stationed in Djibouti very alluring; but we'll see. Tim W.

Hi-- I'm planning to do my F-100 in the markings of EC 1/3 "Navarre" which was used (according to what I've found) in support of Algerian operations. Anybody able to point me to some sources regarding the type of underwing stores used? Thanks! Tim W.

Yep, it's the Revell/Londa offering. I have one of those, complete with assorted vacu-form stabilizers and other bits. I plan to use them when (someday) I build my big, bad SEAC or RAAF Beaufighter. Tim W.

Dang, something else to distract me!!!! http://www.cybermodeler.com/hobby/kits/tru..._tru_2416.shtml Tim W.

Oh yes! This will make holding onto those two Beaufighter kits worth it! Tim W

And the back side of the engine. Tim W.

Here's the engine assembly. Pretty much OOB except for the wires. Tim W.

Looking awesome! Here's a pic of my F-15I for inspiration. Tim W.