Noooope just Chuck Tes....ehem sorry. As far as I remember Mr. Metal Color. Maybe some Model Master buffing metalizers too but not sure. It's been a while since I painted the metals, can't remember properly. Thank you for your kind remark:]
As for the kits, if you like US birds I can definately recomend the Platz Bolts(don't have the others but sure they are good) and also Sweet's Mustangs. Real treats.

Thanks. I'll check them out.

Jim

You'll find that the quality varies widely. Sweet, Platz and Eduard are the gold standard of 1/144 fighters; they're all new tools made in the past 10 years or so. Some of Zvezda's wargaming kits are pretty good as well. Most of the rest of the kits available were originally tooled in the 70s or earlier, and are pretty crude at best. It takes some real modelling skills to get them looking good.

Thanks for the warning. I wasn't able to find anything on Plats or Sweet. I've heard of Eduard, though.

Jim

Platz; Sweet

James,
I might also chime in here to include Revell's later kits. Their latest 1/144th kits are tremendous in my opinion. The Rafale,F-14D,F-18C & D,Typhoon,Tornado,Hunter,F-15E,Ch-53,CH-47,F-5E, and NH-90 to mention a few, but these are modern. For WWII, as Jesse previously stated,stick with Sweet,Platz,and Eduard, and you can't go wrong.

Depending where your interests lie, these should be enough to get you started. Looking forward to seeing some of your work in the future

Take Care...............................Bruce

Thanks, guys. I'll definately check them out. Hmmm, I wonder if anyone makes a Corsair?

Jim

Alas, no. The only styrene Corsair kit is the Revell Mini, which is as crude as they get.
Even that kit is hard to find now, hasnt been made since the 80s or so.
Still, with some effort it can be made to work out

I just got my weekly e-mail from Hobbysearch, and they're showwing a new Revell Microwing 1/144th Corsair due for release in June. Stay tune! JT

well well. I can only assume they are resurrecting the 30+ year old tooling. Better-than-nothing is about the best we can say, if that is the case.
Y480 is an OK price for that, I guess.

Nice looking Corsair. I guess we'll have to see what June brings.

Jim

Has anyone built kits from a Mr Kami de Korokoro? HLJ has several of his kits, and would they be worth buying?
Happy Gluing, JT

Hi guys, does anyone know if there is a photo-etched set or upgrade set for the revell F-104?


Thanks in advance, Sven.

As far as the Korokoro kits, I do have several, purchased over the years. I have not finished one yet, but for resin kits, they are quite well done. Definitely not the cheapest, but the quality of the molding is up there with the best. Plus it also depends if you are one who likes to modify the kit in some way or another, or just build it straight from the bag.

As long as you don't mind the price, they are good kits.........Bruce

Thanks, Bruce. Up to a point, price is not a consideration. Just might order one or two. JT

Unlike Bruce my experience is very mixed, one kit being very nice although I did need to put some work in, but the other, their P-40 was full of air bubbles including the canopy. In the end that kit ended up more filler than resin.

Folks,
In case you might have missed it, over in the Air Campaigns forum,a thread has started about signing up for a 1/144th scale campaign. So far they are up to 7, and we need 10 to submit the campaign for approval. So if interested, it will be a later this year start, drop over and sign up for the "Smurf Scale" campaign. Take care.................... Bruce

I dont know if MINI MF is the same person as Kamide Korokoro, but the products appear to be about the same. I have a bunch of the former, cool planes too, A-12,D-510, etc. I love them - havent even openned the bags, looks like a ton of work with the tiniest jewelers files, etc. I spent real money, but they are pretty far down the list now.

Im afraid 3D printing like Shapeways will be the end of these guys. I have a few similar 3D kits from Shapeways designers, they arrive ready to paint, and there is no concept of bubbles or voids.

guys,
KDK (Kamide koro) has ceased making 1/144 planes.
Mini MF is the same person but it is his brandname for 1/144 AFV which is what he is now concentrating on.
I copy and paste a complete list I compiled (from Kampfgruppe144 site):
http://www.kampfgruppe144.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=130

here is a list of all their planes with decals in brackets if multiple versions:
1. Nakajima Ki-11
2. Mitsubishi 1MF10
3. Nakajima Ki-27 type 97 'koh'
4. Piaggio Pegna PC7
5. Polikarpov I-16 type 18
6. Mitsubishi J8M1 'Shusui'
7. Nakajima 'Kikka'
8. Mitsubishi A5m2b
9. Fokker D21 (Finnish)
10. Polikarpov I-16 type 5 (Chinese)
11. Polikarpov I-16 type 10 (China/Japan)
12. Polikarpov I-16 type 18 (Finnish)
13. Morane Saunier 406 (French/Finnish)
14. Ka-go (o-go) model 1
15. Ka-go (o-go) model 2
16. Brewster F2A-3 (US navy early)
17. Mitsubishi Type 96 late 'Claude' rotary engine
18. Mitsubishi type 96-3 'claude' inline engine
19. Dewoitine D510 (French)
20. Caponi Stipa
21. Seversky P35A
22. Short SC1 VTOL
23. Fiat G.50
24. Brewster F2A-1 (Finnish)
25. Ca-14 Boomerang
26. Fairy Barracuda Mk3
27. T-38 Talon
28. Blackburn Roc
29.Westland Pterodactyl
30.Fokker D21 (winter war)
31. Cauldron C561
32. Mitsubishi type 9 experimental fighter
33. Dewoitine D500
34. Seversky P35
35. Nakajima type 97 Ki-29 'Kou/otsu'
36. Super Etendard
37. Dewoitine D520
38. Curtis Hawk 75A3 (P36c)
39. Caproni Ca.64
40. Fairy Firefly FR.Mk5
41. Mitsubishi type 96 model 4 'Claude'
42. Nakajima Ki-27 'Shisaku'
43. Curtis P40B/C 'Tomahawk'
44. Spitfire Mk XVIe
45. Caproni-Campini N.1
46. Martin B10
47. Curtiss H75A4 Mohawk IV
48. Mitsubishi Type 96 2 Early Type
49. Reggiane Re 2005 Fighter
50. Kawasaki Ki-28 Prototype Fighter
51. Yak 36 FreeHand
52. Manchurian Industrial (Manchu) Ki-79 type 2 Trainer (Monodentate type)
53. Mitsubishi 9 Single-seat Fighter Prototype (Ka-14)
54. Supermarine Spitfire Mk. IX
55. Kyushu J7W1 Shinden
56. Savoia-Marchetti S.64
57. Ki-38 Tachikawa Type 98 "Kisaragi-go"

I also have a kit numbered as 39 Stormovik IL-2M3 .

hope that helps in your search (Ebay mainly).

regards
peter

+1

OK everybody,
We have enough modelers signed up for a go for another 1/144 scale build. Sven will be giving it a title after he decides from several suggestions. So everyone needs to start sifting through the "Stash" to decide what the next build will be, and let us all know !
It'll be good to get cranked up again ! take care.....Bruce

I've been working on this little Tiger II for the 'Big Cats'
https://archive.kitmaker.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=Campaigns&file=index&req=showcontent&id=602




I've begun the painting process, initially applying a first coat of Tamiya XF-23 (light blue):



This is where I've hit a real snag. I'm trying to achieve the 3-tone aggressor camo pattern as depicted on the boxtop. First, I applied blue tack as an experiment. It became obvious that this would prove to hard to remove, and seems to do more damage than good:


So, how can I mask this little guy to achieve a slightly soft demarcation of the next two colors?

I've already accidentally broke one wing off trying to apply the tack, and had to re-glue.

Any input would really be appreciated.

I've always thought the F-5 Tiger II was a good looking aircraft.

Jim

Use two layers of tape, the bottom layer slightly smaller than the top. Don't let the edges of the top mask touch the model which will allow the soft edge to form. In a larger scale you can achieve the same effect by putting a thread under the edges of the mask.

Ben,
The F-5 is looking good. I'll give you some of my ways of getting the soft edge cammo accomplished. I normally use masking tape. I will take some of the "Tackiness" away by swiping it on my pant leg. Then lay the cutout form you wish to use as a mask down on the aircraft. I then use my fingertip to "curl back" the outside edge just a little bit, and shoot the paint from directly above. This will give you a soft edge. I suggest try it on some scrap plastic first to get used to the procedure. HTH ........Bruce