[V.Narayan]

Originally Posted by skanchan95

Thank you. I am extremely proud of this one:

Oh My God. This is Hall of Fame kind of detective work. Hats off to you skanchan95 - your knowledge is legendary. Congratulations on the ' Mention in Despatches'

Originally Posted by skanchan95

1:72 Saab J-35F Draken Swedish Air Force (Swedish: Svenska Flygvapnet or just Flygvapnet), F16, Yellow 32 (Altaya)

Thank you for sharing several photos of this rare rare catch. The Draken was so far ahead of its time it isn't even funny. It was designed in the 1949 - 52 time period and flew in 1955. It introduced what today is called a LERX and wing blended body - both were next seen on production aircraft only in 1974 at the Yf-16, YF-17 competition which was won by the YF-16. In terms of design time frames it preceded the MiG-21, the F-104, the Mirage III and the EE Lightning. It did more on one after burning Rolls Royce Avon than the Lightning could do on two - range, maneuverability, avionics, air to ground suite, recce suite, maintainability. The Lightning was better only at straight line acceleration and climb.

Thank God for Altaya that they come out with these off beat models.

Congratulations

Originally Posted by FrozeninTime

Its available in eBay.No missile came with model.
Mig 21 is Corgi make. Some more photos

Thanks

China Airlines DC-3 1/200 (Hogan)

Everyone loves a DC-3. Dakotas are forever.

Originally Posted by im_srini

If memory serves me right, two-thirds of the way into the first production run of 90 J35As (Adams'), an upgrade to the EBK 66 afterburner forced a lengthening of the J35's tail section.

This increase in the rear, combined with the Draken's notoriously high pitch sensitivity, led to Saab installing the 'tail scrapers' at the back to prevent tail strikes during high AoA take-offs & landings.

Yes. That's correct. :-)

[skanchan95]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Oh My God. This is Hall of Fame kind of detective work. Hats off to you skanchan95 - your knowledge is legendary. Congratulations on the ' Mention in Despatches'

Thank you Sir.

1:72 Republic F-84G Thunderjet Thunderbirds s/n 51-16720, 1953 show season(SkyMax Models)
The Republic Aviation manufactured F-84 Thunderjet became the U.S. Air Force's primary strike aircraft during the Korean War, flying 86,408 missions and destroying 60% of all ground targets in the war as well as eight MiG-15s. The F-84 distinguished itself as a hard-hitting and stable gun platform: in addition to its six extra-fast-firing M3 .50 caliber, it could lug thirty-two five-inch high-velocity rockets or two tons of bombs. Over half of the 7,524 F-84s produced served with NATO nations. One pilot had famously said about the Thunderjet - It had the body of a fighter and a bomber’s soul!!!

The USAF Strategic Air Command had F-84 Thunderjets in service from 1948 through 1957. It was the first operational jet to refuel mid-air and the first jet fighter able to carry a nuclear bomb.

The name Thunderjet for the F-84 was chosen to continue the Republic Aviation tradition started with the P-47 Thunderbolt while emphasizing the new method of propulsion. The tradition continued with other Republic fighters - the F-84F Thundersteak , RF-84F Thunderflash & F-105 Thunderchief. Even after Republic Aviation was bought by Fairchild Hiller in the late 60s, they continued the tradition by naming their A-10 as the Thunderbolt II.

The Thunderjet & the Thunderbirds
The Thunderjet was the first aircraft to fly with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration team. The Thunderbirds were activated on 25 May 1953 as the 3600th Air Demonstration Team at Luke AFB, just west of Phoenix.

The team had flown 26 shows by that August. The first team leader was Major Richard C. Catledge (1953–1954), and the first plane used by the unit was the straight-wing F-84G Thunderjet. Because the Thunderjet was a single-seat fighter, a two-seat T-33 Shooting Star served as the narrator's aircraft and was used as the VIP/Press ride aircraft. The T-33 served with the Thunderbirds in this capacity in the 1950s and 1960s.

The next year the Thunderbirds performed their first overseas air shows, in a tour of South and Central America, and added a permanent solo routine to the demonstration. In the spring of 1955, under their second commander/leader (September 1954 – February 1957), Captain Jacksel M. "Jack" Broughton,they moved to the swept-wing F-84F Thunderstreak aircraft, in which they performed 91 air shows, and received their first assigned support aircraft, a C-119 Flying Boxcar.

The F-84 in Korea
Thunderjets first encountered MiGs on January 21, 1952, when eight F-84s raiding Chongchan bridge were bounced by two flights of MiG-15s which shot an F-84 down. A MiG was claimed in return, but Soviet records reveal no corresponding losses. Two days later, F-84s and B-29s launched a massive raid targeting the airfield at Pyongyang. The MiGs, which excelled at high altitudes, were forced to dogfight strafing Thunderjets on the deck; three Communist jets were shot down and two more crippled.

However, thereafter the faster MiG-15s mostly engaged F-84s at high altitudes while escorting B-29s, repeatedly breaking through screens of up to fifty to 100 Thunderjets to ravage the B-29s they were escorting.

Henceforth, the UN forces in Korea switched heavy bombers to less-accurate night raids. F-86s focused on the MiG threat, while F-84s were relegated to ground attack missions, their tremendous firepower unleashed to strike frontline troops, blast rear-area depots, artillery batteries and convoys, cover helicopter search-and-rescue operations, and bombard key infrastructure targets. Over the course of the war, Thunderjets flew 86,000 missions and dropped 61,000 tons of bombs and napalm canisters—by one tally, accounting for 60 percent of ground targets destroyed by the U.S. Air Force during the war. The F-84’s robustness proved an asset, allowing it to survive punishing hits from heavy communist flak.

In June 1952, eighty-four Thunderjets obliterated 90 percent of the Sui-ho Dam complex, knocking out electricity throughout all of North Korea for two weeks. However, the raid, intended to pressure North Korean peace negotiators, backfired—inspiring anti-war opposition in the British parliament while conversely causing hawks in the U.S. to complain that the raid should have taken place sooner.

Nonetheless, in 1953, F-84s were hammering dams at Toksan and Chasan—causing huge floods that swamped bridges, railway lines and roads, and badly damaged crops. By then, the final F-84G model had arrived in theater, bringing with it an uprated J-35 engine and revolutionary new in-flight refueling capability. F-84s could connect their wingtip tanks to a probe trailed by a KB-29 tanker, allowing them to fly missions over Korea from bases in Japan.

Of 335 F-84Ds, Es and Gs lost to all causes during the Korean War, at least 135 were destroyed by flak. U.S. records claim a further 18 were shot down by MiGs, while Soviet and Chinese fliers claimed 65. A side-by-side comparison of loss records (broken down here) suggests a number closer to twenty-five F-84s lost in aerial combat (including a “maneuver kill,” two crashes due to battle-damage and one incident of mutual mid-air collision) in exchange for seven to eight MiGs.

F-84 Specifications
Crew - 1 pilot
Length - 38 ft 1 in (11.60 m)
Wingspan - 36 ft 5 in (11.10 m)
Height - 12 ft 7 in (3.84 m)
Empty weight - 11,470 lb (5,200 kg)
Loaded weight - 18,080 lb (8,200 kg)
Max takeoff weight - 23,340 lb (10,590 kg)
Powerplant - 1 x Allison J35-A-29 turbojet, 5,560 lbf (24.7 kN)
Armament
6 x .50 in (12.7 mm) M3 Browning machine guns, 300 rpg
Up to 4,450 lb (2,020 kg) of rockets and bombs, including 1 x nuclear bomb

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1UHH1Ry4dk

Luke AFB Logo & name of the Thunderbirds 2nd CO- Captain Jacksel M. Broughton under the canopy




The canopy slides open...

[V.Narayan]

Originally Posted by skanchan95

1:72 Republic F-84G Thunderjet Thunderbirds s/n 51-16720, 1953 show season(SkyMax Models)

Whoopee. This may be the first of the Western early jets on this thread. Foxbat can correct me. This is a prize being of the same generation as the MiG-15, Dassault Ouragan, Sabrejet and Saab J29. Congratulations on this acquisition. In retrospect how simple these early jets were with their straight through air intake, unswept wings and simple weapons of a few guns.

[skanchan95]

1:72 Lockheed TF-104G Starfighter Luftwaffe, JG 31"Boelcke", 25th Anniversary (1983) (Hobby Master)
The F-104 Starfighter was a revolutionary design with short razor-sharp wings. It was the first aircraft to be able to maintain Mach 2 not just in short bursts. The Starfighter shattered speed and rate of climb records that still are impressive today. This extremely high speed earned the plane the nickname “The Missile With A Man In It”. Because of financial considerations 15 or more countries purchased the F-104. The Starfighter flew with the USAF in 1958 and the last Starfighter(most advanced & BVR capable F-104S) was decommissioned in Italy in 2004.

The twin seat TF-104Gs( like the F-104B/D/Fs) were combat-capable trainer versions of the F-104G. THe cannon was deleted so was the centerline pylon and it had reduced internal fuel because of the 2nd pilot seat.

The F-104 served in the Air Forces of US, Belgium, Canada, Taiwan, Denmark, West Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Spain & Turkey.

The F-104's wings were so small they could hold neither the landing gear nor fuel, which all had to be stowed in the fuselage. However the small wings were necessary to give the Starfighter its excellent acceleration, rate of climb and top speed. By contrast the small wings gave the F-104 also a poor sustained turn performance and since the could not carry much fuel, the aircraft had a very limited range.

Moreover the single seat fighters variants did not feature a useful radar, and its loadout was made only by a cannon and heat-seeking missiles, making it a day, clear weather-only fighter(The Italian F-104Ss were an exception to this).

It quickly became obvious that it was not really what the U.S. Air Force (USAF) wanted, and it was quietly shunted to the sidelines.

The poor safety record of the Starfighter also brought the aircraft into the public eye, especially in Luftwaffe service.

The West German F-104s
West Germany received 916 F-104s, comprising 749 F/RF-104Gs, 137 TF-104Gs and 30 F-104Fs, forming the major combat equipment of both the Luftwaffe and Marineflieger(German Naval Aviation). At its peak in the mid-1970s, the Luftwaffe operated five F-104-equipped fighter bomber wings, two interceptor wings and two tactical reconnaissance wings. The Marineflieger operated a further two wings of F-104s in the maritime strike and reconnaissance roles.

The Starfighter entered service with the Luftwaffe in July 1960, with deliveries continuing until March 1973, remaining in operational service until 16 October 1987, and continuing in use for test purposes until 22 May 1991.

The two squadrons operating the RF-104G were re-equipped with RF-4E Phantoms in the early 1970s.

The Marineflieger initially used AS.30 command guidance missiles as anti-ship weapons, but these were replaced with the more sophisticated and longer-ranged radar-guided AS.34 Kormoran missile, allowing stand-off attacks to be carried out against enemy ships.

The introduction of a highly technical aircraft type to a newly reformed air force was fraught with problems. Many former Luftwaffe pilots and ground crew who worked for the Luftwaffe in WW2 had settled into civilian jobs after World War II and had not kept pace with developments, with pilots being sent on short "refresher" courses in slow and benign-handling first-generation jet aircraft. Ground crew were similarly employed with minimal training and experience, which was one consequence of a conscripted military with high turnover of service personnel. Operating in poor northwest European weather conditions (vastly unlike the fair weather training conditions at Luke AFB in Arizona) and flying low at high speed over hilly terrain, a great many accidents were attributed to controlled flight into terrain (CFIT). German Air Force and Navy losses totaled 110 pilots, around half of them naval officers.

One contributing factor to this was the operational assignment of the F-104 in German service: it was mainly used as a fighter-bomber, as opposed to the original design of a high-speed, high-altitude fighter/interceptor. In addition to the much lower-level mission profiles, the installation of additional avionic equipment in the F-104G version, such as the inertial navigation system, added far more distraction to the pilot and additional weight that further hampered the flying abilities of the plane. In contemporary German magazine articles highlighting the Starfighter safety problems, the aircraft was portrayed as "overburdened" with technology, which was considered a latent overstrain on the aircrews.

In 1966 Johannes Steinhoff took over command of the Luftwaffe and grounded the entire Luftwaffe and Marineflieger F-104 fleet until he was satisfied that problems had been resolved or at least reduced. In later years, the German safety record improved, although a new problem of structural failure of the wings emerged. Original fatigue calculations had not taken into account the high number of g-force loading cycles that the German F-104 fleet was experiencing, and many airframes were returned to the depot for wing replacement or outright retirement. Towards the end of Luftwaffe service, some aircraft were modified to carry a flight data recorder or "black box" which could give an indication of the probable cause of an accident.Erich Hartmann, the world's top-scoring fighter ace, commanded one of Germany's first (post-war) jet fighter-equipped squadrons and deemed the F-104 to be an unsafe aircraft with poor handling characteristics for aerial combat. In Navy service it lacked the safety margin of a twin engine design like the Blackburn Buccaneer. To the dismay of his superiors, Hartmann judged the fighter unfit for Luftwaffe use even before its introduction. Erich Hartmann was forced to retire from the Luftwaffe due to his outspoken opposition to selection of the F-104.

The German final tally was the loss of 292 of the 916 Starfighters and the death of 115 pilots.Grieving widows sued Lockheed from 1969, and by 1975 more than thirty of them had received 3 million Deutsche Marks each. Hence the F-104 became known as Witwenmacher ("The Widowmaker") in West Germany.

28+31 Blue Boelcke
In 1983 the TF-104G selected for the special paint scheme “Blue Boelcke” commemorating the 25th Anniversary of JaboG 31 “Boelcke” was c/n 583F-5961. It was built by Lockheed and assembled by Messerschmitt starting on 19th July 1967 with the first flight on 20th November 1967 assigned the code KE+219. The aircraft was delivered to JG 74 on 22nd January 1968 as 28+31 and transferred to JG 31 25th November 1974. On 8th November 1989 the aircraft was struck off charge (SOC). On 23rd November 1989 this aircraft became the property of the Hellenic(Greek) Air Force coded TF-5961. In 1993 the aircraft was withdrawn from service and sat in the elements for several years. The aircraft was finally restored and is located at Tanagra Air Base, Greece.

JG 31 Boelcke

The wing was raised during 1957 on Büchel Air Base as Nörvenich Air Base had not been readied yet. On 1 October 1957 the 1st Squadron was officially activated making it the oldest squadron still in service with the German Air Force. During January 1958 the wing began its move to Nörvenich and on 20 June 1958 the wing was officially activated there. On 19 January 1959 Jagdbombergeschwader 31 became the first West German Air Force wing to be assigned to NATO. On 20 April 1961 the wing was given the name "Boelcke", in honor of the World War I Luftstreitkräfte fighter pilot Oswald Boelcke. Initially equipped with Republic F-84F Thunderstreak fighters, the wing received Lockheed F-104 Starfighters starting in 1961 and became the first operational air force Starfighter wing on 20 June 1962.

With the introduction of the Panavia Tornado IDS in 1979, JG 31 again was the first unit to switch to the new plane. When the Luftwaffe began fielding its newest combat plane - the Eurofighter Typhoon, JG 31 again became the first unit to transition to the new plane. The first four Eurofighters arrived at Nörvenich on 16 December 2009 and with the departure of the last Tornados on 25 June 2010 JG 31 became the Luftwaffe's first operational Eurofighter wing.








25 Jahre Jagdbomberschwader 31 Boelcke - 25 Years Fighter Bomber Wing 31 Boelcke


Notice how small the Starfighter's wings were. The wingtip fuel tanks are detachable.




The model can be displayed in optional canopy open stance.


Inflight




28+31 "Blue Boelcke"




The former 28+31 as Greek TF-5961


The German band - Welle Erdball had composed a song of the deadly F-104s in Luftwaffe service and used the name of a dead Marineflieger F-104 pilot - Oberleutnant(Ensign/Sub Lt) Joachim von Hassel, who lost his life in a RF-104G crash in the 70s, in the song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn5pIY-j2To

[V.Narayan]

Originally Posted by skanchan95

1:72 Lockheed TF-104G Starfighter Luftwaffe, JG 31"Boelcke", 25th Anniversary (1983) (Hobby Master)

Sandesh, another unique addition to your growing collection. Not just an F-104 but a twin seater conversion trainer at that. Congratulations. Being a HobbyMaster I assume the quality must be top notch.

In my eyes the Starfighter, for all its other faults was a handsome aircraft - maybe the best looker of its generation. It was one of the very few bad designs of Kelly Johnson. The fault lay with the USAF specs rather than the designer. Kelly Johnson as many would know was one of the all time greats of aircraft design -> L-049 Constellation airliner, SR-71 Blackbird, U-2 spy plane, P-38 Lightning WW-II fighter and several other golden jubilee hits.

The specs insisted highest priority to climb rate, acceleration and sustained flying at Mach 2.0 - there was no mention of maneuverability or landing safety. And for its time and 15 years later it remained the top queen in climb and acceleration matched only by the English Electric Lightning which was another nightmare to land and maneuver tightly with. The F-104 to best of my knowledge has the highest tail area to wing area ratio. Its tail fin was almost equal to 80% of the area of one wing. So when you tried to bank and the tail fin was almost horizontal to the earths surface it started behaving like a wing and tended to lift the machine up which caused the fuselage to rotate along the length wise axis and straighten the aircraft up - exactly the opposite of what the pilot was trying to do. They later corrected this. Theoretically all tail fins do this but are so much smaller than the wing that the effect is marginal.

Congratulations on your new colourful bird

[skanchan95]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Sandesh, another unique addition to your growing collection. Not just an F-104 but a twin seater conversion trainer at that. Congratulations. Being a HobbyMaster I assume the quality must be top notch.

Yes Sir, Quality is top class. I would say easily better than Witty & JC Wings. I was surprised how easily the attachments fit on the HM models. On Witty & JC, it can be a nightmare. Even the F-84G is from HM's subsidiary, Sky Max Models.

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

In my eyes the Starfighter, for all its other faults was a handsome aircraft - maybe the best looker of its generation.

Agreed.

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Its tail fin was almost equal to 80% of the area of one wing. So when you tried to bank and the tail fin was almost horizontal to the earths surface it started behaving like a wing and tended to lift the machine up which caused the fuselage to rotate along the length wise axis and straighten the aircraft up - exactly the opposite of what the pilot was trying to do.

Was that the reason why from the G models onwards, the F-104 had a larger rudder?

1:72 Mitsubishi XF-2B 63-8101 JASDF, Gifu Air Show 2007( Hobby Master)

Dual seat variant of the F-2 in Narayan Sir's collection. - the F-2B. Mode la rmed with 1 X AAM-2 IRM, 1 X AIM-9 SIdewinder, 3 X F-16 drop tanks and 4 X ASM-2 Anti-ship missiles.

The F-2 "Viper Zero"
Japan had decided to purchase the F-16 to replace its aging F-1 aircraft
but then decided to develop the F-16 Agile Falcon concept. The new aircraft for the JASDF (Japan Air Self Defense Force) would be the F-2 and manufactured with a 60/40 split between Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Lockheed Martin. Lockheed Martin bought General Dynamics in 1993. Production started in 1996 with the first aircraft being delivered in 2000. 94 F-2 aircraft were scheduled to be manufactured.

In the early 1980s the Japanese Defense Ministry’s Technical Research and
Development Institute (TRDI) and the Air Development and Test Wing (ADTW) began the project known as FS-X. The project was to develop a made in Japan fighter to replace their aging Mitsubishi F-1. It was finally decided to make a derivative of the F-16C using subcontractors. Construction began in 1993 with the first single-seat FS-X prototype serial number 63-0001 being completed January 12, 1995. The dual-seat XF-2B 63-0003 arrived in August 1997. In December 1997 the TRDI serials were changed
to JASDF serials changing 63-0003 to 63-8501.

Production F-2As have JASDF serial numbers in the 8500 range and the F-2Bs with serial numbers in the 8100 range.





















The thing I loved about HM models - they detail the cockpit as well. MFDs, control stick and other instruments are visible.




Differences between the F-16 & F-2
It might look like an F-16 but the Mitsubishi F-2 is a completely new fighter. The general shape may say F-16 and a few things that the F-2 and the F-16 have common are the engine, landing gear, air intake door and the 20 mm gun. But the F-2 has a longer and wider nose to accommodate phased-array radar with 25% larger wing. It is made from a composite material to reduce weight and radar signature, a larger tail plane and larger air intake. The pilot canopy is a stronger three-piece construction. The F-2 is equipped
with a drogue chute just like the NATO version of the F-16. The single seat fighter is the F-2A while the two seat version (F-2B) is a trainer that is fully combat capable.

[skanchan95]

1:48 North American P-51D Mustang 414164 "Detriot Miss" 361st FG, USAAF, flown by 1st Lt. Urban Drew
The first 1:48 scale model in my collection. Always wished to have a Mustang in my collection, specially one with kill markings.

Designed to meet an RAF requirement for fighter-bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, the P-51 Mustang was first flown on October 26th, 1940. This versatile aircraft was capable of escorting bombers on long-range missions, engaging in dogfights, and dropping down to destroy German targets on the ground. At least eight versions of the P-51 were produced, but it was the definitive P-51D that gave the Mustang its classic warbird appearance. Britain and the US both tested the airframe with the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, which gave the aircraft tremendous performance gains. The Truman Senate War Investigating Committee called the Mustang "the most aerodynamically perfect pursuit plane in existence.

Captain Urban “Ben” Drew
Capt. Urban Leonard Drew (March 21, 1924 – April 3, 2013), known as Ben Drew, joined the 375th FS, 361st FG “Yellow Jackets”, 8th USAAF in Europe and P-51D 44-14164 “Detroit Miss” (coded E2-D) was his personal aircraft. Drew flew 75 combat missions with 6 air-to-air and 1 ground victories. One was a Heinkel 111, he assisted in the destruction of an anchored Blohm and Voss BV-238 seaplane(the only flying example) at a seaplane base. He was the first and only Allied pilot to shoot down two Luftwaffe Me-262 jets on a single mission and was awarded two DFCs, fourteen Air Medals and was one of only two men to receive the USAAF Cross.



Kills:


Details of his two Me262 kills on a single mission is depicted here(probably using the flight sim IL-2: 1946)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtk1jbtfuTI

Seven Nazi flags on the canopy frame - one each for his 7 kills.

[V.Narayan]

Originally Posted by skanchan95

Was that the reason why from the G models onwards, the F-104 had a larger rudder?

Don't know. But seems logical.

1:72 Mitsubishi XF-2B 63-8101 JASDF, Gifu Air Show 2007( Hobby Master)The thing I loved about HM models - they detail the cockpit as well. MFDs, control stick and other instruments are visible.

Sits well with your F-16. It is a testimony to the versatility of the F-16 design that it has gone through so many evolutions and got re-built as the F-2 and now maybe as the F-21. The F-2 is a huge step up from the F-16 in both air to Air and Air to Ground/Sea engagements - a true single engined multi-role machine. Great pick Sandesh. Really, a top class piece.

Originally Posted by skanchan95

1:48 North American P-51D Mustang 414164 "Detriot Miss" 361st FG, USAAF, flown by 1st Lt. Urban DrewThe first 1:48 scale model in my collection. Always wished to have a Mustang in my collection, specially one with kill markings.

At 1:48 this one must be big - almost as big as your Su-30MKI!!! What a beauty. Congratulations on getting a select piece of a real ace. I am happy he survived the war and lived a long life. For these WW-II single engined beauties the depth of detail only comes to life in the 1:48 scale. Welcome to the 1:48 family. Bigger cabinets had better be ordered.

Man, you are on one long roll buddy. Can't wait to see what is coming next. You should know I am downright jealous. Hmmmm I will have to invoke a Harry Potter spell to make an Antonov and a Tupolev come to life.....jaddooo, jaddooo, abracadabra......

[skanchan95]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Really, a top class piece.

Thank you.

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

At 1:48 this one must be big - almost as big as your Su-30MKI!!! What a beauty. Congratulations on getting a select piece of a real ace. I am happy he survived the war and lived a long life. For these WW-II single engined beauties the depth of detail only comes to life in the 1:48 scale. Welcome to the 1:48 family. Bigger cabinets had better be ordered.

Yes, the shape and detailing in this 1:48 model is just fantastic. As expected, this 1:48 Mustang dwarfs its 1:72 counterparts.





I have a 1:72 plastic Easy Model Corsair as well, that has suffered battle damage....in storage. Broken propellor and a broken wheel.

Comparison of the 1:72 Su-30MK & the 1:48 P-51D. You were right. It is only slightly smaller than the 1:72 Su-30.

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Man, you are on one long roll buddy. Can't wait to see what is coming next. You should know I am downright jealous. Hmmmm I will have to invoke a Harry Potter spell to make an Antonov and a Tupolev come to life.....jaddooo, jaddooo, abracadabra......

I will be prioritizing HM models over all other brands from now on, unless there is something extremely irresistible from other brands. In the 1:72 scale, HM models are easily better built in terms of fit & finish than JC & Witty Wings models.

Knowing your taste, I expect something very unique next from you.

[V.Narayan]

Originally Posted by skanchan95

Yes, the shape and detailing in this 1:48 model is just fantastic.

I will be prioritizing HM models over all other brands from now on, unless there is something extremely irresistible from other brands. In the 1:72 scale, HM models are easily better built in terms of fit & finish than JC & Witty Wings models.

Knowing your taste, I expect something very unique next from you.

The WW2 single engine fighters are at their best in 1:48 with all their detailing and glory shining through. And yet they are not so big as to block out valuable volume in the show case cabinet. I tend to agree with you on HM. Really top notch stuff. My next assets are not so easily found Russians - so much so that for 2 I have had to compromise and accept the 1:500 scale. Wouldn't have but for the fact that they are not otherwise available. The third is one of my all time favorites of a real attack aircraft. It's a secret.:-). Do you know the reputation or quality of De Agostini?

[skanchan95]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

My next assets are not so easily found Russians - so much so that for 2 I have had to compromise and accept the 1:500 scale. Wouldn't have but for the fact that they are not otherwise available. The third is one of my all time favorites of a real attack aircraft. It's a secret.:-).

Can't wait to have a look at them.

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Do you know the reputation or quality of De Agostini?

I believe your 1:250 JASDF C-2, and my 1:250 JASDF RF-4E & JMSDF US-2 are from DeAgostini Models.




They specialize in JASDF/JMSDF & JGSDF models. I felt their 1/100 JGSDF AH-64 & AH-1 are pretty decent (partly because of the superb paint schemes that Japanese attack helos sport). They also make models of other aircraft but in weird scales like 1:87 & 1:120. Quality and detailing will be similar or slightly better than you C-2(depending on the model). Pretty sure the Japanese models don't get stands, while the others do.

If you get some for cheap, grab them. Being cheap, they are good for building up numbers and if the make an aircraft model that you would like to add you collection. But don't expect Hogan or JC quality.

[V.Narayan]

Originally Posted by skanchan95

They specialize in JASDF/JMSDF & JGSDF models. I felt their 1/100 JGSDF AH-64 & AH-1 are pretty decent (partly because of the superb paint schemes that Japanese attack helos sport). They also make models of other aircraft but in weird scales like 1:87 & 1:120. Quality and detailing will be similar or slightly better than you C-2(depending on the model). Pretty sure the Japanese models don't get stands, while the others do.

If you get some for cheap, grab them. Being cheap, they are good for building up numbers and if the make an aircraft model that you would like to add you collection. But don't expect Hogan or JC quality.

This input is most useful. Thankyou for taking all the trouble of penning it down.

[Foxbat]

1:400 Gemini Jets Emirates Airbus A380-800 "Dubai Expo 2020"










Emirates is the largest operator of the A380, with the 100th A380 joining its fleet in October 2017.The airline currently uses its A380-800s daily to over 40 destinations, both short haul and long haul, with more being added each month.

The list price of an A380 is $445 million and Emirates currently has 111 of them with 12 on order. It also has 144 Boeing 777s which have a list price of $350 million each Its the largest user of both aircraft.

Some A380s photographed by me in Dubai and NYC on a recent trip.

Three boarding gates, two lower ones for economy and one for Business and First Class. Very strange angle at JFK airport in NYC.


Next to a plastic 1:200 Skymarks Emirates A380. The Gemini Jets though being half in size is much more detailed and costs exactly the same !



Emirates 777-300ER and A380-800 at Dubai waiting for takeoff and me trying to recreate the scene



The Emirates Fleet (have the 777 in plastic also, but it has been gifted to parents).

[V.Narayan]

Originally Posted by Foxbat

1:400 Gemini Jets Emirates Airbus A380-800 "Dubai Expo 2020"
Emirates is the largest operator of the A380, with the 100th A380 joining its fleet in October 2017.The airline currently uses its A380-800s daily to over 40 destinations, both short haul and long haul, with more being added each month.

Next to a plastic 1:200 Skymarks Emirates A380. The Gemini Jets though being half in size is much more detailed and costs exactly the same !

Congratulations. Looks like time at DXB was well spent :-) The 1:400 is a great size for large behemoths like the A380 and the detailing and paint work in your piece looks classy. I wonder why Dubai finds the A380 a winner and several other airlines don't. Congratulations on a terrific addition.
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Tupolev Tu-114, Soviet long range airliner :: 1:500 Herpa
A little over 10 cms in length & wingspan

Had to settle for this tiny 1:500 scale model as it is rather unlikely that a larger scale will ever come into production of this classic aircraft. A good piece that suffers the natural limitations of this scale. Detailing is normally moderate on such a small scale. I'll let the pictures do the talking.

[Foxbat]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Tupolev Tu-114, Soviet long range airliner :: 1:500 Herpa

A new very rare gem in your collection Although its tiny in scale it seems to well detailed. Will look good next to your 1:200 Tu-95 "Bear". I really appreciate Herpa making these lesser known Russian aircraft. I just read on Wikipedia only 32 Tu-114 were produced.

1/72 PLAAF Mig-21

Not sure which variant it is, appears to be a Mig-21MF or J-7D ?
Perhaps our Mig-21 expert, Skanchan can spread more light on this.











The 1/72 Mig collection so far, next to a Mig-15.