HubertB

Merry Christmas to all. It looks like our Northern American friends are headed to a white Christmas. Keep warm, friends. Hubert

Halberd Models. https://www.ebay.fr/itm/165683039174?hash=item26937a8bc6:g:YWAAAOSwpPNiUtUF&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA4JtsitnAMLMIlcE%2BqXg%2BbolKwyuF8RRl4DYpXaFZvrbmBHnKRhbAUGFrKqSzdj57xeJ6JOFf85Ms4HJgpoVgdGAM5gpfo18ViUVHQYq%2BV1HtkIdq3JHzUrl9Ydtuq7Hw90eiAJjmXMQBP6n38nhyAZhJvVhBkql0RxlJobfBMPCef3zMgzdgSjGkNhnM2EhxzSippw0e68nvZ4%2B%2Btc21utIw62UTYmDbN4bjSJ8t0NFhOtkNqKcxs9O8oMsTSDDG%2F%2F4QGeDPtOMsD%2BY%2BLZ88LxQUUslmHKERucCBBzvIS%2F0T|tkp%3ABk9SR573nainYQ Andreiy, the man behind Halberd Models is Ukrainian, and lives near Zaporijah, under the daily Russian bombings … And yet he continues doing business, and be nice and professional. Worth every encouragement wa can muster IMHO. Hubert

In keeping good with my timeline (and to refocus on the topic at hand and avoid additional embarassing revelations for Ernie ), here is my contribution for this years' raffle : The Fly Saab J-29 F, with Resin-2-details correction nose and intake (the kit's one is too short and the wrong diameter) and engine correct exhaust, plus, to complete, the boarding ladder from the same AM manufacturer. I had 2 in stock, but realistically I'll build only one. I hope you'll like it, ho, ho ho ... And, of course, add me in the draw please, Ernie Hubert

Sooo … #69 is the race number of this P-51 ? For a second I thought it was the number (so far) of kits you’d built this year And another 👍 for this one, John ! Hubert

Like this one … plenty of bumpers, but small wheels … Hubert

It was oozing Mach 2, even grounded on its spindly LG … Hubert

With its shape, a B-58 is taking less shelf acreage than a 4-engined heavy of WWII, just like the SR-71 … Hubert

This one I cannot resist … And now, someone for a B-58 ? Pretty please … I have been a good boy Hubert

As mentioned elsewhere in another thread by Scott, Tigger Models is releasing a brand new vac-form 1/32 F-111, and Reskit have announced a complete escape module for the F-111 in the same scale, whilst another guy is preparing some LG bays for it. Then we just need TF-30 exhausts, and the main issues are covered Hubert

+1 ! Hubert

Yes. Good to see that John is on new kits, and not just churning out the old - and sometimes inaccurate (who was beaten, me included, by the wrong shapes of the Hampden, for instance ?) - ID Models kits. Plus, if we have 3D printed parts like the escape module - and by Reskit no less - or the LG bays, this is becoming a VERY good proposition … Hmmm, can the wallet survive 2023 ? Hubert

I am with Oliver on this one. I remember reading that the « straight » radiators of the P-38 and P-40 were more efficient aerodynamically and produced less drag than the shark-mouthed ones of the earlier versions, but nothing beats the look of the cowlings around the loooong reduction gearbox of the Allison. Give me an XP-38 any time for the looks … As for the painting, I know you don’t want to rush and the Christmas period is not the most propitious for modelling, but why not finish this one before starting an entry for the GB ? You seem to have overcome most hurdles and have the juices flowing … Soooo … keep it coming, as you say Hubert

Well, better hide it if this is supposed to be a RR Merlin Hubert

It reminds me of a joke I was told by a good friend, arch-fan of BMWs on top of it … « What’s the common point between piles and BMWs ? … One day, all a.$#@!&.es have one ! » Hubert

She is really looking the part, Rob 👍 Hubert

The Aviattic clear linen really add an interesting texture to the silver finish. Hubert

Got the pics in wrong order, Ernie … This is an « after-before » sequence … Just my Hubert

Right now, poor Portugal is - literally - drowning under heavy rains and lousy weather … whereas, here, the temperature is 29° C, and the sea 27°C, a temp unthinkable of on the beaches of Continental Portugal (but 25/26 is attainable in Madeira and Porto Santo) And thanks for the reminder. Just ordered myself a Mai Tai 🍹 Life can be a b…h sometimes 😂 Hubert

Yeaahhh…. well, I am currently here: 9°45’10’’ N, 98°24’59’’ E and my stash is : 38,57628° N, 8,95265° W Unfortunately, as I grow older, my eyesight is not as good as it used to be, so I cannot see the stash from where I am standing (« lying » being more appropriate, really 😏), and my flailing memory does not help me remember the umpteenth kit in the said stash … But I am enjoying myself, thank you 😁😁😁 Hubert

Have you tried « But now you have more coins than me kits … « ? Who knows ? It may work 🙃 Hubert

Yeah … Enough of Ernie’s lame excuses fot not adding a kit to his stash 😂. I vote yes as well ! Hubert

Mine remains TBD ( well not THE TBD 🤣 ), but I am currently more than 10 000 kms from the stash … so I will make a choice on the 22nd Hubert

Me 2 👍 ! Hubert

Well done Gary ! And those rivets really add to the overall finish. Congrats on a great build. Hubert