Clunkmeister

Ivan, my Antei will be Antonov Airlines’ world traveler. That bunch of Ukrainians have just about monopolized the worldwide heavy lift market. Antonov has a huge market for new build An-124s, the world’s crying for them, yet in today’s geopolitical scheme, Russia won’t allow a supply of the basic component parts Antonov needs to restart the line. It’s a crying shame, actually. The 15 or 20 that are running around in civilian service now will be worn out and condemned before we realize it. They’re getting tired, I’m sure.

Blue screen of death.

Martin, you KNOW that big Antonov 22 is in my stash of A-Monster kits.

A much needed upgrade. Thanks for the review, oh tireless one!

Awesome review, Nige. Thanks, as I have a two seat version of this kit on my bench. Will this set fit the two holer as well? The kit really needs this, IMHO.

Only one of these is an LSM. The one in the back is 1/48 scale. The one in the front is, of course, my Lanc project. I have ZERO idea where that monster in the back will be displayed. And there’s actually people who want a 1/32 scale B-36...

Never fear, LSM has Martin and Ivan, our secret weapons and Ambassadors of all things Eastern.

Martin has one of these as well, I think. maybe he should join the fun.

Interested stuff, Hubert. This is another skill I’d really like to learn. The female mold method to me, seems like something that’s be easy enough to master, given time. So do you just use one mono sized hole in the missile of the female mold, or do you spread them out around the part?

Hahahahaha! I love it!!!

Bill, that looks great!

Huh, well it’s a skill I need to develop. The only issue I see is the right angle on the top and bottom edges.. will it make that sharp a turn?

Mark, does it need to be Undersized?

My Lanc is supposed to have bulged out rear observation windows, almost a bay window look. I have never even played with or contemplating vacuum forming in my life. Anyone have any ideas? I’m illiterate and clueless with this stuff.

Bring it,Smitty. Post on my build thread if you need. Seriously, the more the merrier.

Yup, Carl, with the halves together, the interior can be seen back to the first third of the Nav table. With the canopy on, and with the rear canopy painted over, very little will be seen. It is pretty redundant to do this much work.

Exactly Martin, it’ll all go away forever. I’ll touch up the oscilloscope screen and add a few wires, just in case, as it’s right behind the pilot, visible with a penlight. Behind this, it’s a black void. Like trying to understand Hungarian. A few wires must be added along the cockpit sidewall as well. Then a good wash to give it 20 years of hard use, and together she goes.

All will be invisible, but oh well. Absolutely nothing is being done behind the Naviguesser’s table. I’m not sure if it’s correct for the year, but oh well, it is what it is.

The RCAF records we have show 429 Sqn, but much of the record wasn't in his RCAF folder because he was attached to the RAF for so long. I'm blown away. Ludford Magna is what's listed so yep, that's the correct unit. I remember him always referring to "Mudford", but until now, I had no clue why. His AG training shows him as an "above average" student but lists him as "totally unsuitable for instructor duty", which jives exactly with the man I knew. "Not a people person" is putting it mildly. He was quick to use his fists, even when well into his 80s. Which makes it all the more surprising that he was transferred to 429 when they converted to Lancs. He was the kind of person you'd leave alone and allow to do his job. His books show the positions manned as G1, G2, G3, etc, all the way to G5, so I assume the numbering system applied to the various gun positions on the aircraft. That surprises me too, because he always said he was a tail gunner. Interesting stuff, but odd.

Just doing some research on my long since departed ex Father in Law, and it appears that before 429 RCAF Sqn, he flew as an airgunner with 101 Sqn RAF, first on Wellingtons, then on to Lancs. He was then transferred to 429 Sqn RCAF when that unit switched from the Halifax to the Lanc. I can't see much on 101 Sqn RAF, but they apparently were involved in ECM work and suffered the highest loss rate of any Bomber Command outfit. No wonder he would never get into an aircraft again...

Ivan, I'd give much just to have a good basic model of the aircraft in your signature. Make it correct shape wise, let not it be sticking it's arse end up high in the air like a (censored, hehe), and let us do what else we need to make it right for a specific bird. But, I expect this Mirage will be the second modern jet I've built this year.

GusMac, what Ivan said is true: Kitty Hawk kits can be extremely rewarding once you sort out all the bits and pieces. It's absolutely true. They've gotten some extremely bad press over the years, mostly by "reviewers" who, A. Had a bone to pick with the Company, B. Hated or seriously disliked someone IN the Company, or C. Were just lazy and/or bad builders, None of which applies to those that populate this forum. Personally, I get a real charge out of these kits, much like I do with limited run and resin kits. You get all the exclusivity of a resin kit, and none of the insane trimming, fitting, and sanding issues. That F-5F I built was the very first 1/32 modern jet I've built in 25 or 30 years, and it was a walk in the park compared to Trumpy's early MuG kits.

Bill I love your cockpit mods. Personally, I just lowered the kit’s pedestal instead of building a girder section. Mostly it was laziness on my part, plus the back half of the greenhouse is painted over as is the gop center, so there’s even less to be seen in my bird. This is looking stellar, my friend! And Nige, just know that James, Ceres, and yourself have given many of us the motivation to build these kits. And modify them as well. Life is good. It’s very good.

I just saw this Jeff, as I'm having a problem logging on to the website at my house. Jeff, I'm at a loss for words other than to somewhat echo Smitty's comments in that being able to have the time to catch up, relive the glory days, and say goodbye is a true Blessing for you both before he's called Home. Praying for y'all, Jeff

Just pull out your modeling common sense, and research the exact aircraft you want to build before starting the build. Sometimes the add-on details such as electronics, ejection seats, weapons stations, sensor locations, etc, are generic on KH. Mix and match the parts to get your exact ship. you'll be rewarded with an amazing piece when finished. A word to the wise, KH, for some reason, believeth not in intake trunking to what are often beautifully executed and detailed jet engines....