Egilman

I do something similar for big planes on trikes... but in consideration I use non hardening modeling clay for the weight. It can be packed into whatever space you got with no need for hot glueing weights... and there is also the old standby of a screw through the base into the nosewheel...

No the last two lines are Klingon, not enough is known of the vulcan language to get a proper handle on it... (but I can get around in it) Dothraki? I don't think anyone can get a handle on that.... I"ll admit, I"m a trekkie, but not a crazy trekkie, there is a difference...

I hope you were in time Denis, at least 2 and a half, I would shade closer to three...

The bottom part is.... {chuckle}

Your never late brother, just delayed... I agree with your take on the state of modeling, I think it's for the better as long as you stay within the reasonable with your expectations... (although there are some modelers I follow that make me think like I'm still a beginner) Thank you Denis, you always have a chair at one of my builds... vImuSHa' 'e' loDnI'wI' cha' je toH! Qapla'!!!

There used to be some debate about the Italieri/Hasegawa F-104's, but the newer ones in the last two or so years are all supposedly new tooling... And the consensus of opinion is the Italieri are the better ones..... That's why there is a plethora of AM for them and not so much for the Hase's....

Well we have been talking about modern American military hardware and some of the history of how we got to where we are..... and I believe that the F-111 is apropos to such..... We are focusing on the F-104 here and it's magical like attributes. But any aircraft built since has the 104 to thank for it's abilities.... There wouldn't have been an F-4 much less an F-111 without the F-104...... I appreciate the respect my friend... No deflection/interruption that I can see, Carry on... EG

You know, sitting here, following along in the background lurking, I have to consciously stop the thought of reaching for my tool box when I see stuff like this, Ratchets, sockets and wrenches will not help in this endeavour.... I"m at a loss for words so rather than become a broken record, I'll lurk and drool in private...... Very impressive...

Well said Ken, and a sage piece of advice....

You did an outstanding job on the invasion stripes! No matter the aircraft, they make the camouflage stand out even more.... It takes a lot of patience to get them straight... Beautiful Job Carl.... (very impressed)

Where's my pin? Anyone seen my pin? I need it to deflate this huge ballooning ego here... {chuckle} That is one heck of a compliment Harley, given the level of knowledge and experience around here, I hope I can live up to it.... (being nothing more than a plastic hacker is hard work) It is greatly appreciated.... Welcome aboard and I sincerely hope I don't let the newcomers down.... Thank you....

Thank you for joining in Craig, I only hope I don't flub it....

I agree Lou, it is a bit pricier than I remember.... but then we are getting subjects that would have never seen the light of day without it. New kit production was stagnating. Photoetch and a new round of manufacturers have rejuvenated the hobby... So it's not all bad....

Late to the party here.. looks nice... who's plane have you decided to paint it as?.... Anyway, some of these 1/32nd scale aircraft just plain make you work for it.... Good work my friend..

Well I'm learning this, I just got back into the hobby about a year ago, and it has changed so much it is almost unrecognizable..... now it is not just the kit and supplies, it's extra, better parts and better supplies..... It has expanded the hobby so much that you almost can't build without them now.... And forces you to expand your skills if you want to stay up on the presentation level... I mean you can still build OOB and do it very well, but the level of detailed info available today make OOB building almost passe'.... WE used to have the brain tell us that hey it looks like the real thing, and our imaginings would fill in that we couldn't replicate, today that window of imagining is much much smaller than it was when I started...

I know it's a matter of opinion, but I've never had any of the negative experiences others seem to have with enamels, all of my negative experiences have been with acryls and the tons of extra work needed to use them..... I mean it has gotten better over the last 30 years or so, but still, Acryls are more hassle than they are worth in my humble opinion.... At this point there are a lot of model builders that grew up on acryls and really have the same opinion of enamels as I the other way around..... so at this point I think it is even on the opinion department. as far as the health benefits of acryls over enamels healthwise? marketing hogwash.... Use normal care and proper techniques and neither is any worse than the other... the main issue today is mixing the two, that has caused many more problems than any other issue out there... {stepping off soapbox, chuckle} EG

I think it's looking VERY VERY nice, probably more than you really wanted to do, but she is worth it....

She's really beginning to look the part....

Yeah, I know, I think I mentioned something about spending more for the AM than the kit is worth.. well I just broke down, got the cockpit set, the cloth seatbelt/harness set, the C2 ejection seat and the canopy masks from Kitlinks, (cheaper than Sprue Bros still three times as much as I paid for the kit) They are made for the Italieri series of kits so there will probably need to be some surgical scheduling in my future..... Like I said, there is no AM for this 45 year old Hasegawa kit so I'll have to make due... So much for Common Sense....

Ok My first real problem, kinda..... The cockpit floor.... Back in the day this would be considered nice, sufficient for a modeler to do a decent impression of a cockpit, today's world is another story. The only thing accurate is the throttle quadrant at the upper left and the shape and angles of the side consoles, the seat base is a lump in the center and all those lines and nubbins are nothing. Not even close to what was actually in the cockpit... The instrument panel is closer, it actually looks like an F-104 instrument panel but more like an "A" model than a "C" model..... No one makes a resin and etch cockpit for any model other than a "G" model. At this scale it does make a difference..... So I think if I am going to have a slightly "OFF" cockpit I want to to be the nicest slightly off cockpit I can produce... Of course no one is really going to know the difference and that is if they get close enough to actually look in the cockpit.... So, I'm in the middle of a quandary right now, do I want to fork over as much as the kit is worth to bring it up to today's standards or do I just give it the best I can do with the limited, inaccurate details the kit offers.... I've already bought resin replacement wheels and tires, cause the kit tires and wheels are for a "G" model and the difference will stick out like a hammer mashed thumb.... The real problem is my brain and what it wants to do vs my common sense and what I should be doing..... Gimmie a bit and I'll get it sorted... (probably build it as is) EG

Yep FS 36270 USAF Medium Grey a shade darker than aircraft grey which is a half shade darker than Mr Paint Sky Grey FS 36473.... (a bit more bluish imho) The sad thing is I can only seem to find Aircraft Grey flat in rattle can....

Given the light grey of the plastic, your going to want to primer it with Grey if you want to brush paint it with Model Masters... You'll have an easier time covering that way....

Well then we agree Dan, most of us start out as kit builders, and grow into model makers.... The basic skills and tools are the the same, model building is where you decide to do it your own way instead of the way the kit manufacturer says it should be..... That is when the artistry comes out...... (and you realize you can model anything)

Well back then the AF brass had real big ones, they managed to get all air to ground delivery declared as their sole purveyance!!!! Yeah, the Air Force was declared the only service that could deliver air to ground ordnance!!! Both the Army rebelled especially about helicopters, (read about the Howze Board and it's determinations), and the Navy about aircraft carriers and missile carrying submarines. (look up the Revolt of the Admirals) The Repercussions of that is still being felt in our weapons systems acquisition and development process today, 60 years later..... The Airforce was going to win all wars with nuclear weapons...... Talk about some big brass ones.... and convinced McNamara that they would....

I agree Joe, and Gunship Grey is very close to brand new Panzer Grey maybe a quarter shade on the dark side.