WIP : Hasegawa 1/48 F-104J Starfighter Pt. 2 – Construction
Once properly painted, washed and weathered, the out of the box cockpit looks good. Fit in general is good. The instructions don’t call for it but I added some fishing weights in the nose just in case. The tip of the tail broke off during construction. This was fixed with plastic plates. As usual, some …...
WIP : Bandai 1/144 RGC-80 GM Cannon Pt.1 – Construction
It’s actually quite strange that Bandai still hasn’t issued any of the Federation mobile suits in the MSV line but have done so for the much newer Origin MSV. Oh well, if I knew what’s going on, I’d be the product line manager for Bandai. In any case, I sought to modify the Origin MSV …...
WIP : Hasegawa 1/48 F-104J Starfighter Pt. 1 – Construction
Trying to get my building routine going again, I decided to tackle a 1/48 kit next. This will be an F-104J flown by the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force dressed in ‘Aggressor’ markings in the 1970s. I got this kit used from an online seller and it came with a set of aftermarket resin wheel bays …...
Top Gun: Maverick!
Brilliant! That F-14 at the end sure looks very CGI but Cruise has also said they did a lot of practical effects for the aircraft scenes. Can’t wait for this one!...
A visit to the War Remnants Museum, Ho Chi Minh City
I took a short family holiday to Vietnam over the Ramadan holidays and on the schedule was a visit to the War Remnants Musuem in Ho Chi Minh City. Before normalization of relations with the US, this museum was called “Exhibition House for Crimes of War and Aggression”. Ahhh Vietnam, not burying the lead at …...
Completed : Fujimi 1/72 McDonnell Douglas RF-4C Phantom II
Kit Info Brand: Fujimi K-3 Scale: 1/72 Media: Injection Markings: AirDOC Gulf War Warriors 72006 and Hasegawa 00954 The Subject The RF-4C was the unarmed tactical reconnaissance variant of the F-4 Phantom II deployed by the USAF. It was similar to the US Marine operated RF-4B but with different engines and a more spacious nose …...
WIP : Fujimi 1/72 RF-4C Phantom II Pt.5 – Finishing
Time to finish this thing. First an overall gloss coat to prep for decals. The AirDOC decals are printed by Cartograph and look very good. However, all the aircraft numbers and codes are individually printed and need to be added 1 at a time. I decided to use the slime lights from the Hasegawa sheet …...
WIP : Wave 1/20 Rapoon Pt. 1 – Construction
Next up is (what I hope to be) a more relaxing build than the Fujimi RF-4C. This is another powered suit from Maschinen Krieger. This time, it’s a recon version of the standard SAFS. Fit as usual is so-so with fairly obvious gaps. I went with the 2-armed option instead of a laser for the …...
Upcoming : RPG Models 1/35 Phalanx CIWS
Back in the early 2000s, I saw the resin Hobby Fan 1/35 Phalanx CIWS at a local model shop. I really wanted to get it but 1) it was resin and 2) it was expensive so I resisted. I’ve always wanted one though. Lo and behold, RPG Model has just announced the imminent release of …...
Upcoming : Wave 1/20 SAFSR Super Ball
More Maschinen Krieger kits incoming! This was released as a limited edition kit in 2011 but will be a mass release this time. It will also be issued with all new decal options. Yes it looks like every other SAFS-based release. It’s just the small details that are different. Coming in September @ JPY 3,600. …...
