Artful69

😍😍😍 Rog

Weren’t these things using a high velocity 50mm? I think they also used the 75mm stump as an infantry support at one point also … and then there’s the earlier 20mm FF / MG34 combo … plenty of AM scope. Rog

I'm pretty sure this one will be based on the Figma kit representation of Mako's Tiger from Kuromorimine Academy in Girls Und Panzer ... I got the original Panzer IV Ausf.D and all 5 members of the Anglerfish team in the same scale (the Figma figurines are supposed to be 1/12) The Ausf.H upgraded version and the Mako / Erika figures were released later on ... Then I saw the Tiger being advertised (obviously to go with the new figures) although it's a bit weird as Erika is the commander of a King Tiger, not Mako's gunner. Rog

*Swoon!* 😍 Rog

Nice! ... What scale? ... I loved that era of Group C. I'm waiting on a Meng 1/12 Mp4 McLaren (Prost / Senna) with the same decal issue ... I think my Beemax 1/12 Lotus 99T (when it arrives!?) is also missing it's traditional Camel cigarette logos ... This obsession with trying to cover up or denounce history in any regard (same deal with swastikas on model aircraft, ships etc) is ridiculous ... I like to display my models in historically, period accurate (as far as possible) livery ... and the thought police trying to retcon history can go get knotted! Rog

The latest Old Man Blog is up! … and with it, straight outta the IPMS event in San Marcos Texas is … Rog

No doubt Kotare will be along shortly with a Vb, Vb Trop and various others in the common scale ... They'll probably be off down the Griffon road before too long also! Rog

Sorry to hear, Harv! ... Rest up, get well ... and be more bloody careful when doing Joe Biden impersonations in future!!! Seriously, mate - Shaken but wishing you - not stirred!! See you soon I hope Rog

I'm afraid I've been a little cagey about HPH kits since the bad build reviews started coming to light ... I paid some good coin on the Walrus, Me.410 etc and haven't gone near either kit since Bryan's loosing fight with his substandard F7F Tigercat ... An extortionate amount of money for a very mediocre kit - that's hard work to boot! The news in relation to this says: IM small parts and canopies ... Resin / fibreglass large parts. But waitaminute!!! Doesn't shrinkage affect resin casting?? If so ... the LARGER the parts ... the more prone they are to shrinkage ... I wish Infinity had been sold to an IM company TBH ... I'd feel more comfortable if Trumpeter kitted it! Rog

I like this one!! ... And that's a definite yes from me!! Rog

Saw Andy's You-Tube announcement ... not my cuppa, but glad to see more choices in 16th scale ... He's selling them at reasonable prices too! Rog

Rob? The Meng stuff looks good inside the box … I’m looking forward to having a crack. Gotta find RAAF decals for the EA-18G … (I might have a lead on some!) and some camo decal markings for the Mirage. got the RAAF camo markings for the Phantom … I might need some decals for the Aermacchi - the ones supplied are for a 2010 anniversary scheme - I want to make something based at Pearce. Rog

Happy Birthday Carl … mine was on the 22 July - I forgot it until I looked at my watch to check the date at about 10am!!!! 🤪🤣 Rog

I honestly think that both Trumpeter and Hobby Boss get a very unfair shellacking from the community ... Don't get me wrong - some of their efforts leave much to be desired (1/32 B-24 and A-26 being prime examples) ... but a lot of their offerings come in fairly decent ... especially on the fit/finish front. lol ... and I was taught to build engines, transmissions and other assemblies ... which is why I get off on assembly detail, putting things together - and also why none of my builds will ever win a show!! ... I just enjoy the hobby - my finished product is serviceable (and if real would probably run well!) Rog

Thanks for the tips - should I need them! ... I'm not really a mix-my-paint kinda guy ... more a near-enough-good-enough kind (which is why I bought that XF-4 in the first place) ... So I can paint my corsairs etc without the hoo-ha ... also I don't have a lab coat! 😆 Rog

Just shy of 500mm nose to tail and 450mm wingspan ... I think a Tamiya Spit only comes in at 300-odd mm wide! From what I'm reading in reviews Hobby Boss doesn't get half as many bad reviews in 48 scale ... either that or the 48 crowd aren't that fussy!! I wanted to fondle plastic for myself so that was the kit I opened up ... *swoon* ... I'm in love already 🥰 Rog

I arrived back from camp today ... late - on yet another delayed flight. The company really needs to choose a more reliable air service. A bunch of stuff was waiting for me at the post office ... When last out, I bought a stack of paint ... but what I didn't get was the interior colour for the USA aircraft - that weird bile coloured yellow/green stuff called Zinc Chromate. Strangely, Tamiya would have you mix 2 colours: 3 parts XF:3 (flat yellow) + 1 part XF:5 (flat green) ... which, when mixed, will resemble XF:4 anyway ... 😳 ... so I just bought XF:4!! A while back I made the decision to start a collection of Australian services aircraft (Because the RAN used some as well as the RAAF) ... I grabbed a couple of F/A-18's, Mirages etc ... only to find that 1/32 subjects were very limited ... They are also very big! ... So I've decided to downscale this collection to 1/48 with a couple of exceptions that I'll keep in 1/32 ... From Metros ... F/A-18's ... A & B ... Apparently the Kinetic legacy hornets are the shiz And the newer Meng Super bugs are not at all shabby either ... Over to Frontline ... ... and the Meng Growler ... which I forgot to get AM decals for!! A BAE Hawk trainer ... By Hobby Boss ... AND it's supposed to be a great kit - accurate too!! along with the A-4F Skyhawk ... which, in the RAN was an A-4G ... apparently the only visual exterior difference to the RAN kite was the bent refuelling probe (thanks BNA!) Here's an example of something used in the RAN that's not available in 1/32 ... a "Stoof" ... and just because we do actually have a couple of these ... and oldy but a goody from Italeri - the C-130 Herc'!! ... This thing should make my 1/32 Lancaster cringe!! Although some of these kits have Australian markings, some do not and some just have the wrong ones for a subject I want to build ... So thank you Novascale! ... On to BNA! ... Aside from the refuelling probe for the A-4 I grabbed a second Z-M F-4E ... The new Tamiya F-35A (although why on earth our ADF is buying these, I'll never know!!) A jet I used to see VERY often as a kid ... the "Macchi Jet" or Aermacchi MB-326 ... another one I used to see as a kid ... Although this one hasn't got the RAAF markings I wanted (for a Camo bird) so I'll have to hunt some more AM decals down! And one of the main reasons for the decision to change scale ... a 'swing-wing' F-111 ... big, at nearly 500mm long - even in this scale it will make a couple of 1/32 prop birds look small. Rog

Has anyone heard any rumours about possible suitors for the Infinity gear?? Rog

Heya Carl … it might be an idea to cast some masters off those Fisher kits!!! - if only someone had a kit of the P-51B we could do that with as well! with the original masters gone now, it would be a shame to loose Paul’s creations to history if we can try to salvage something instead?! Rog

As soon as I arrived home from mining camp this week I headed over to a hobby store near where my subwoofer was repaired and ready to collect. I discovered it via Google while looking for Tamiya Acrylic Paints in local supply. I went through the instruction manual of the kit and worked out which colours I already had, putting a circle next to the ones I didn't. Of course we should ALL know by now that it's impossible to visit a store and buy JUST the items you're looking for ... I'm honestly quite surprised I didn't come away with more! (I was very tempted by a 1/48 F-111C Hobby Boss kit that I've heard good reviews about!) ... The store is like Dr. Who's Tardis ... a very small shop front - but it goes on forever to the back!! Next stop was to a store chain called Totally Workwear to pick up a "Shacket" ... It was here that I remembered that I'd left my trusty Sundström respirator at the mining camp so I needed something to paint in! On to the Post Office to pick up the latest arrival from BNA ... Deceptively big ... because I know what I'd ordered ... Occupying one side of the box was packing material ... and on the other was another large cardboard box (half the size) with some other stuff packed into the end! The big box housed this ... a 1/16 Pz.Kpfw IV Ausf.F2 - which I will backdate to an F1 African issued machine ... One of the 2 specified marking sets IS for an African number (so I hope the engine deck layout is, also!) - buuuuuuuut without the required Palm Tree emblem (It's Trumpeter - so I'm really not all that surprised). They're available in this scale from Peddinghaus anyway - so problem solved. Since the only external difference between the F1 and F2 is the longer barrelled high velocity 75mm (L/43) replacing the low velocity 75mm (L/24) ... It's the perfect conversion tank for the AM I previously bought ... and the really good part? ... the leftover mantlet can be used to adapt the other L/24 I have for a Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.N - since I have the 'M' chassis for that one! In this scale it's almost ridiculous to use plastic or resin for machine guns ... especially those with a separate cooling jacket so I got some Aber brass ... as well as some 1/32 gear for the other project ... And finally another piece of the Midway puzzle! ... although I'm gutted about the Kate being called off ... I really wish they had finished and released both at the same time ... now we have to wait and hope someone else will "acquire" the companies assets!! ... Rog

Not at all surprised here ... I think this kit was designed with AM conversions in mind ... The only disappointing bit is that the design would be difficult to backdate to a Mk.I or Mk.Vb ... and the kit is just that good as base to work from! Rog

Meh … not really 🫤 Rog

That canopy does look to be the sauce! ... If you've got the 3D gear for that set up (cue AM guys here!!), you'd have to leave it open, wouldn't ya? Rog

Nice work so far Ern ... Parts fit looks pretty good (It was never really one of Trumpeters weaknesses as said previously) ... a bit of capillary action with some extra thin on the wing attachment and that'll do ya I reckon! Rog

lol Kevin ... I was attempting to be critical without going OTT ... Once I built a Cyber Hobby Bf.109E-3 (the E will always be my favourite), there was no going back to the Trumpeter kit ... although prior to the Cyber Hobby kit I found them more enjoyable to put together than the Eduard kit. It looks mostly like a 109E to be sure (and is probably the best of the Trumpeter 109's) but the shape accuracy of the Cyber Hobby kit blows it away (once an aficionado sees something - it cannot be unseen, I guess 🤷‍♂️ ) At any rate I'm enjoying watching Ern playing with his plastic! Rog