dutik

but what, another night fighter?
well yes, and there will be others if I make peace with the work table! the specimen I chose, MM 7584, is the protagonist of a short sequence present in a documentary by the Luce institute:
 
from what I have found, Captain Ricci, who is credited with the assignment of this aircraft, was a veteran of the Spanish civil war and of the African front, before being tasked with forming and commanding the first unit specialized in night fighters, based in Rome Ciampino.
the ICM kit made many modelers happy, giving the possibility of having a very honest CR42 (as well as other models absent from the shelves) on a large scale. several boxes have been edited, I think as many as six, with different liveries, insignia and roles.
after having struggled a bit with the yak I decided on another project that wasn't too demanding, I still don't feel in the right state of mind for things that are too complex, and I did well, it seems: I didn't even start and I immediately made a mess, in fact, step 2 of the instructions involves assembling the seat, in three comfortable pieces.

 
and I thought it best to lose the seat, on the clean and tidy work table, moreover. dismantled everything, spent hours on all fours on the floor... nothing. let's start well... in the end I gave up and did it from scratch, amen.

 
then I immediately started playing with the dedicated Eduard PE set. the kit itself is made up of not many pieces in a soft plastic that many don't like, but I find it comfortable to work with when wanting to make improvements such as rivets or other small modifications.

 
so few pieces that it makes you want to complicate your life a little... for example, the CN version has these two beautiful spotlights under its wings. big stuff, in 1/32. and if...

 
...I tried to stick two LEDs inside?

 
ok, they go in, what if we turn on the power?

 
mmmmh... working on it might make sense, just for playing.
of course you have to put a diffuser in front and shield the sides of both the LED and the body, otherwise it becomes an abat-jour.

 
but nothing that can't be solved with a bit of heat shrink tubing and some adhesive aluminum:

 

 
Well, well... we can improve it, but I'd say we're there, and they also make a nice light!

 
of course now I will have to resolve the question of how and where to pass the wires to power them, but I have faith, I can return to the path of classic modeling in the meantime, possibly without losing any more pieces.
 
see you soon, cheers, Paolo

Got slightly side-tracked on the intake which is not an insignificant feature of the F-16 so one you need to get right. To Tamiya's credit the fit of both halves of each half (if that makes sense!) is pretty good and just needs a little bit of filler to smooth out any visible join once glued together. A blast of white primer helps blend it all together before I dirty it up slightly using off-white colours and a very light sand coloured pigment. Not sure if I'll glue them together before I insert in the fuselage to ensure a tight join or whether you even can. Test fitting so far would indicate that Tamiya have done their job well.
 

 
Another prominent part is the engine exhaust. As mentioned previously I'm replacing the OK kit part with the very nice Reskit version. The exhaust comes in 4 main parts and includes photo etch for the burner rings. The detail is lovely but will need some careful weathering to match the staining you often see - especially on the inside of the exhaust.
 

 
The innermost part did have some very nice engine detail but because I'm using the exhaust as the entry point for the supporting acrylic rod I need to do some rather drastic surgery and drill out the middle section, which is a shame because it's nicely done and I'm sure would look lovely if anyone had wanted to look at the back end of this model.
 

 
I did add some of the PE but once the rod goes in most of this will be unseen. The real trick is securing the engine in the fuselage so that nothing breaks when the weight of the model is sitting on it.
 

You might reach out to Graham at Iconicair. He made a set of the longer wing tips you are looking for the B2 version or the recon version. Both are suggested in the Monogram book on the 335 and shown in drawings but I don’t believe they were ever made. His wing tips matched the fit of the HK B2 perfectly. His work is excellent and he matched the rivet pattern from the kit perfectly. He graciously made my set as a one off and he might make another if he still has the patterns. 
 
Paul

Hey Dutik, 
 
I'm just catching up with your build, and just wanted to say that work in the wheel wells is awesome and I will use your trick on fixing the too shallow tub. I've got this kit including the Reskit intakes, which are beautiful and I will be following this build with interest 
 
I know what you mean about modelling while ill, I did this in January after I picked up a virus at work and managed to make a mess of a lovely Airscale cockpit set for the 1/24 Spitfire. I shan't be making that mistake again.
 
I hope you feel better soon!
 
Jeremy

I am sorry for delay. I have to handle some health issues, and I never ever (again) do modelling while ill. Too many misaligned parts, gaps, glue fingerprints, and so on. Lessons learned. This build-up will continue when I am fit again. There's too much fun here to put it on the shelf of doom.
 
Regards
- dutik

Went a bit overboard detailing the front wheel well. There are coming 3 pipes out of the wall close to the rim of the whell well. Close enough to add them. Now I had 6 pipes peeping out of the walls dangling free into the well. This had to be fixed, of course. And so on, so on and more of the same... Guess you know that story
 
Regards
- dutik

Terrific! I've still got another Bronco to build myself, will be my 3rd when I do get around to it.
 
There are a few niggles with the kit, including getting the engines attached, gear attachments (and gear themselves), and one of the main ones the wings. There are lackluster attachment points for the outer wing sections, so they can turn out weak, or droopy if nothing is put inside to stiffen them.
 
The instructions can be a bit vague, and it's advisable to look WAY ahead and do some planning, not necessarily following the order they dictate. Just plan ahead and you'll be fine Karl.
 
Above all, I'd HIGHLY recommend getting the Aero craft brass replacement gear:
 
https://www.aerocraftmodels.com/north-american-bronco-ov-10-undercarriage-for-132-kitty-hawk-kit-11-p.asp
 
You will for sure get gear splay eventually if the plastic OOB gear is used, especially if the model is set on a smooth surface.
 
 

Here is a video of the YO-10D being tested:
 
 
Jari

adittionaly i stumbled on a resing upgrade for the ICM cobra kit from metallic details:
 

 

 
its precicely the weapon for the NOGS Bronco, the M 197 gatling gun. 
wish me luck
karl
 

Investigating further, there are quite some modifications to do: no weapon sponsons and the 3 barreled 20mm gun in a turret mounted on the lower fudelage, cockpit mods and a unique paintjob. fortunately there are many pics of these birds at china lake prior to deployment.
edit; the flir turret needs modifications too
 

 
 

Nice work Dennis and good to see this one back on the bench. I think I am stuck at the same point as you deciding how to deal with the cockpit glazing after sanding the life out of the aims resin!
 

 
While you decide how to deal with the canopy issues the 110 G-4 conversation will definitely take your mind off the G-6 for sure!
 
Regards. Andy 

Small update today:
 
Work continues on the cockpit, which will hopefully lead to the fuselage being sealed up this weekend. The resin bits from AIMS are super nice, and the plastic parts mate up to them wonderfully where appropriate:
 
96234918_2891583047630023_8412792011656003584_n by Dennis SAuter, on Flickr
 
96216223_547669632843105_2828663876302667776_n by Dennis SAuter, on Flickr
 
The resin pilot's armored seat needed a little grinding to open it up a little bit, but nothing too crazy. It certainly looks the part nestled into the cockpit:
 
96127956_335885640726862_2829133629760733184_n by Dennis SAuter, on Flickr
 
That's all for today folks! Hope to post another update early next week. Thanks for checking in!
 
- Dennis S.
  Thornton, CO USA

ish you success! Did such a model with a friend

DaygloModels has announced the release of its SIAI Marchetti SF 260 kit on Facebook:
 
"Good morning to all followers of the official DayGlo Models page.
After months of work and drastic choices, we can finally announce the release of the new SIAI Marchetti SF 260 kit in 1/32 scale. The kit is now totally 3D printed, whilst still retaining some metal details (wheels and propeller blades) and VAC-U-FORM for the canopy and windshield and a splendid pre-coloured instrument panel made exclusively for us by Red Fox Studio. The decals, printed by the Italian CARTOGRAF, allow you to reproduce one of three of the Italian Air Force aircraft of the 1980s, in the classic orange colour, one from theReparto Sperimentale , one from the Scuola Plurimotori and one from the 70º Sormo. In the photos a kit that a dear friend assembled, from a box and almost completely free of filler parts. This is the first printed kit, which allowed us to correct some small construction details and make assembly, although suitable for expert modelers, a little easier. As always, for further information, you can contact us using our email address. These will be followed by other photos and reviews, both on this page and on specialized sites. Thank you for your attention, patience and continued encouragement. Happy modeling."  

 
Kev

Hi guys. Sorry for going AWOL the past couple days. It's Lunar new year so I was little busy preparing and celebrating, plus my girlfriend wanted to go to California to celebrate with our friend so here I am.
 
Took the chance to visit March Field Air Museum in Riverside to do some measurements on parts that I don't have good info/drawing of and also to check some details on the underside, especially the recessed area between the oil cooler and wing leading edge. Originally I interpreted the drawing of fuselage station 90.500 that the fuselage has something recessed around that area, but I couldn't find any good reference pic of it, took a while to find one in flight with its belly exposed but it wasn't clear the front of the recessed area has any vent/opening or not, given that the same area is the oil cooler vent on single-seat variants. So I was able to confirm that it was just a recessed area and doesn't have any vent or anything, just an access hatch. Also got some good reference pics for areas that don't show up that well on pictures and drawing. So back to the drawing board once I am back in Houston this weekend
 

 

Hi gents
I don't know if we have already talked in this  ,  I just came across on that ......
Alain
 

 

OK, not only the helos, but also the fixed wing aircrafts are back again here in Germany. Modellbau König has them in stock, ready to be bought and build (or to be hoarded in your stash ). Prices ARE higher than last time, but the world has moved and we have a real inflation here in Germany.
 
When you were still looking for a Kingfisher, a Mirage 2000 or a F-5 - here they are again. Grab them while available
 
Regards
- dutik

OK, not only the helos, but also the fixed wing aircrafts are back again here in Germany. Modellbau König has them in stock, ready to be bought and build (or to be hoarded in your stash ). Prices ARE higher than last time, but the world has moved and we have a real inflation here in Germany.
 
When you were still looking for a Kingfisher, a Mirage 2000 or a F-5 - here they are again. Grab them while available
 
Regards
- dutik

OK, not only the helos, but also the fixed wing aircrafts are back again here in Germany. Modellbau König has them in stock, ready to be bought and build (or to be hoarded in your stash ). Prices ARE higher than last time, but the world has moved and we have a real inflation here in Germany.
 
When you were still looking for a Kingfisher, a Mirage 2000 or a F-5 - here they are again. Grab them while available
 
Regards
- dutik

Latest batch of review books from Casemate.
 

Just an FYI: Contact-Resine made an excellent update set for this kit that corrects a few significant shape issues. Hard to find, but worth the effort. 
 
https://www.largescaleplanes.com/reviews/review.php?rid=105
 
https://www.scalemates.com/kits/contact-resine-ck-32001-dewoitine-d520--1030882

2023 yes  corvette

after moving I have been very slow to set up  my modeling area in part to moving inpart  due to buying a new sports car   however just got the  new zouko maru Fw 190 A annd assorted  ams   so looking forward to restarting

I had a discussion on a French forum with another 1/32 model enthusiast.
I had posted my FW 190 F-8 on this French forum, which he had found rather pretty, and we exchanged phone numbers.
He just dropped by this afternoon and we chatted about our passion for planes and models.
We had previously discussed short-run models such as the AZUR brand, which offers some very interesting French aircraft, but which I imagined to be rather sketchy in terms of detail and overall finesse.
I was quite skeptical, and when I see the trouble I have assembling Revell models, I told myself that short-run models like AZUR weren't for me.
So today he came along with a 1/32 AZUR Dewoitine D520 to prove me wrong.
Well, I was wrong: the model is beautiful, the details are numerous and there are many parts in P.E. and resin (complete cockpit).
And as he has a large stock of 1/32 models, he simply offered me this D520...
A huge merci Philippe for this wonderful gift!
 
Yum-yum !!!  
 

 

 

 

 

This just in:
 

 
Many thanks to Neil for some amazing service - 2.5 days from Hong Kong to Melbourne. Review to follow.
 
Kev