Clunkmeister

Peter, the Felix was a really easy build. It’s just that there’s a whole lot of it there. That kit NEEDS structural flying and landing wires. EZ line won’t cut it on that one. It’ll just fall in on itself. The Helldiver kit is very much like the prototype aircraft. (And I use “prototype” as used in Model Railroading, it refers to the full size machines) The prototype aircraft were very complicated, squirrelly, and hard to master, but once crews learned how to fight the aircraft, it became the most potent weapon system the USN had in WW2. In its short front line Service Life, the SB2C sank more tonnage than any other aircraft in the entire war. Crews and aircraft working together were positively lethal towards the enemy. It’d reward competence with amazing results, but fight you every step of the way, and simply kill, no questions asked, no second chances, the incompetent or poorly trained.

Waiting for UPS to show up with the bloody Val! The ONE day I want it here on time, he’s bloody well late, the sodding fool! OK, I’m a tiny bit perturbed. 😡🤬😡🤬😡🤬

I don’t understand the willingness of so many to simply accept the constant bullying, personal attacks, and disparaging remarks. They, for the Love of God, finally recently banned Jennings and one or two other perpetual troublemakers after living with it for the best part of a decade of abuse and reports made. I remember once over there I was suddenly attacked by an apparently less than 100% sane individual, who, because of a hobby of mine involving collecting and displaying antique military arms, stated that I personally have the blood of every murdered child the world has known, on my own hands. He was simply asked to take a few weeks to reevaluate himself, and I was told not to respond. LOL I choose not to a part of the Romper Room Crowd. I’m damn near 60, and I’m sick of that crap.

Peter, good take on that. In all honesty, I’d say that John, even though he’s stopped chasing problems and now just builds mostly for fun and to fill his case, is a more accomplished builder than I am. He has built THREE HPH P-63s, where I built barely one. I enjoy the challenge of resin and short run kits. My big thing now is to work a problem kit and try to find ways to do work around a that’d be easy for an average builder to accomplish. I’m of the opinion that nobody at Infinity actually sat down and built the Helldiver from start to finish, using only the kit parts without modification, because I know for an absolute fact that can’t be done. The little triangular bulkhead in the fin root behind the gunner does not fit without a stretching machine, and yes, the famous canopy issue. Both are fixable: for the bulkhead, make one from Evergreen card stock, and the canopy can either be sectioned or use the resin kit parts. The rest is easy peasy, just measure and sand stuff to fit, as the airframe basics fit beautifully.

Hopefully Leeroy has 3 teefs and a rotten stump in his mouth, is 7 ft tall, tips the scales at 280 and they call him big man, and not because he’s physically imposing.

Do.17 is certainly high on my list, but the kit maker that keeps popping into my head for no apparent earthly reason is ICM for that one. As for Infinity, today should tell the tale. I’m anxious to have a peek at it.

Either way, King Airs are a great ticket as well. Fixed wing is fixed with. And, not to be a cynic, buuuut,… civilian job prospects are many times greater as a fixed wing pilot than for chopper jocks. And yeah, when the lead is flying, being a cowboy is a good thing. On a routine haul to a secure LZ, not so much.

The Val and Kate will be goldmines for HPH/Infinity. I’ve wanted these right up there with the Helldiver. I’d dig a Beau, but a Firefly is my FAA gotta get I would also love an L-39. To me, it and the L-29 are the most important Czech designs to come out, after the CZ75 and Bren Gun. The L-39 and the upgraded L-139 are flown literally everywhere in the world, including the USAF as an aggressor. And it’s bloody gorgeous! The BAE Hawk is about the only jet even close to the L-39.

Rog, nice thoughts. You hit the nail on the head. But HPH’s main business is aerospace. They produce components for Boeing, Airbus, and various other manufacturers, as well as produce and sell their own complete line of full scale sailplanes. https://hph.cz The entire model business is a sideshow. I tend to differ in opinion on the Helldiver. It, quite simply, is not a bad kit, and other than the one huge mistake with the rear canopy, it’s pretty buildable. But you need to go in with a short run mindset, and dammit, you better have built a few short run kits already, or you’ll be caught short. You know on these types of kits: treat them like a resin kit that’s already had the parts trimmed off their blocks. Prefit EVERYTHING and sand to fit. Don’t assume a single, solitary thing. Do that, deal with the canopy, and you’ll have a decent representation of a parked, closed up Helldiver. Which, by the way, is the only mid to late war US carrier based bomber we didn’t have in 1/32. The Helldiver, in prototype form and in a model, is an extremely complex aircraft keep that in mind just adding an open rear gun position is a major job Smitty built the Vampire and had no difficulty. His looks stunning. I have the kit and will eventually build it. The feedback is coming in on the Val, and so far, it appears to be a game changer for Infinity. The word is that it needs little to no AM, although I’ll throw the book at it just because I enjoy that stuff. I’m hoping they don’t give up on the market. If the Val is as good as it sounds, it’ll be a good seller, and I expect the Kate will be just as good. Only time will tell.

I built the GWH kit. It was,…. Interesting. I’m expecting the pantograph edition, honestly. But, like others, if you want it bad, and I do, you’ll do what you gotta do. I know someone in Ridgeway, SC who might just be asked to do a build review on it, depending on how hideous it actually is. 😬

Phil, you got the screens, and the money we all paid him went to his Solicitor. When he gets out he might have changed his name to Francine. But Ol’ Jay will be singing soprano like a bird.

Should be a good read. T-28 and A-26 Air Commando operations in Laos are still shrouded in secrecy. But those guys, Ravens and Zorros, punched far, far above their weight class. As fearsome as a gunned up T-28 was, there was absolutely nothing in the inventory, anywhere, short of C-47 or C-130 gunships that could bring anywhere near the devastating firepower that a B-26K could.

I’m certainly glad we are here as an alternative to TOS. I’ve never quite grasped their animosity over there. I’m even very good friends with one of their long-standing serving Mods over there, and he just throws his hands in the air and says, “good grief it’s just little plastic airplanes”. He’s mystified by the moronism that thrives there. I’ve always held that there is room for two really good large scale forums on the web, and I know most here belong to, and post on both. That’s how it should be, IMHO. Personally, I can’t even bring myself to join again. Ever. I’m done. During the big web shitshow over the Helldiver kit fubars and the fixes we figured out here, I contacted them directly and offered outright my descriptions, pics, and workarounds. Not to puff anyone up, but to help modelers who may not look in here alot. I heard nary a peep. As in radio silence. I think someone from here eventually posted a link to the fix in their Val thread, which is good, but it wasn’t someone on staff, it was a member. I just don’t get those guys. Anyway, y’all, welcome (again). I know we’re not as busy as them, but most of our content is meaningful and there is zero hate and discontent. Tomorrow, the Val should be here and I’ll give it an in depth look with a review and thoughts. So far, comments are that it may be a game changer for Infinity.

If I remember correctly, Labour reneging on the F-111 deal royally pissed off a lot of people over here who had poured a metric ton of gold into that system. In the end, US and Australia only. SMH. The 111 was desperately needed at the time, if I remember. Now I’m surprised the RAF hasn’t had an air to air victory since War 2. I would have thought Iraq or Afghanistan. FAA gives a good accounting of themselves when allowed to mix it up with their fangs out. Damn Harriers mauled the Argentinians pretty badly.

Are they getting the Bombardier Globals? That’s probably the most capable executive jet in the world today. The biggest Gulfstream and Falcons are no slouch either, but the Globals are the cat’s ass. That’s a dream ticket for an Army pilot. 99.999% of Army pilots go rotary. Matter of fact, I’ve been told that every Army pilot is a helicopter pilot first, and anything else is a bonus. He’s one lucky kid. Keeps him out of Blackhawks at least, where he’d simply be one of multiple thousands of pilots.

Hubert, that’s very good to know. Plus, this is the -1, a very early war D3A, so yes, they were lightweight. All Japanese aircraft were lightweight. I’d assume that yes, if it’s like Mitsubishi, they were much lighter at the beginning of the war. And just taking a look at how Japanese aircraft literally moldered away into the earth after the war goes to show you how light they were. I’d expect some serious oilcanning. Very heavily built German, British, and US aircraft certainly oilcanned.

A couple noted modelers in Germany have received theirs today. They both say they are very pleasantly surprised, and that this may be a game changer for Infinity. If the kit can simply assemble like a typical new Special Hobby kit, with a bit of trimming and sanding as is normal for short run kits, I’ll be thrilled. I actually really enjoyed the Helldiver. It was a challenge, but in the end, very rewarding. If I can get similar here, but not have to fight the canopy, I’ll be thrilled.

So it was a time saving thing.. OK. In that case, I’d say polyurethane resin would have been a much better option than waiting 6 months to do 500 of those.

I’m in the mood…

Hey folks, I’ve been doing some looking, and so far the opinions are quite positive. It looks like a huge leap forward from the Helldiver and even the Vampire. I lifted these pics from Britmodeler, who had gotten them from HPH, so they show a well detailed cockpit, lots of detail, separate control surfaces and dive brakes. I have a funny feeling I might have wasted money on AM that might not be needed. Judging by these pics, this is going to be one amazing model. Looking at that panel, I think Airscale decals will snuggle right in there. The stressed skin looks a bit overdone, but it’ll tone right down under primer and paint. I wish the cowl flaps were provided separate, but I expect the aftermarket might step in there… If this is as good as it looks here, this may be what Infinity needs to finally hit the numbers: nice subject, unique, and well detailed. I haven’t wanted to build a kit so much since I built my Helldiver

I see they are planning their next release to be the LET L-13 Blanik. Anyone even slightly into aviation in this country knows the L-13. It served in the USAF Academy for decades as THE basic glider trainer.

I’m looking forward to see how it looks OOB. Just the model with no extra goodies. When I get mine I’ll tape the airframe together to see how it looks

Oh yeah it does! Nothing boring about that one

The two schemes offered in the kit look great in profile. I’m really looking forward to giving this kit the treatment. If the kit builds well, I can see doing both of these schemes