Anyone here build model kits?

Tes, thread closed. Please use the modelling section. Thank you.

Zombie thread…

I’m sure the Mods will catch this, but there is a combination Modeling and RC thread here… http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=28

Kopro kits

I have built several Kopro kits and have more to do which I am looking forward to.

On the negative side compared to Tamiya and Hasegawa they are fairly basic and the fit can be poor. They are perfectly buildable though, but make sure you have your sandpaper and filler ready. Also be careful with the decals as they break very easily.

On the plus side Kopro do a very interesting selection of aircraft that nobody else does. I am also told they are the most accurate, although I tend to be a straight from the box man.

If like me you are into Russian stuff, then Kopro (along with Bilek and Amodel) will often be the only choice. This includes some very important and widely aircraft like the Sukhoi 7, Mil 4 and Mig 19.

Hope this helps.

RE: Very Cool

The Sa’ar 5 Class Corvette has the dimensions 283.5′ X 39′ X 10.5′.
A length to beam ration of 10.24:1
The Sa’ar 5 Class Corvette as a model would nicely sized at 1/72
or 1/96;
At 1/72 the dimensions are, a length of 47.25″, a beam of 6.50″
a draft of 1.75″
At 1/96 the dimensions are, a length of 70.37″ and a beam of
a draft of 2.37″

Adrian

ICM Mig 31

The ICM kit is a re-boxed Condor kit. Until Hasegawa or Tamiya do one (wish, wish) the Zvezda kit is the best, definitely better than Kangam.

Albatros & Aztec offer decals for Peruvian markings for the Su-22, and Pantera did a kit with Libyan markings. Aeromaster have also released a decal sheet with Libyan & Afghan mkgs.

RE: Eastern kits

I agree with your comments that Kopro is the same as Airfix but the Airfix MiG-15 can’t hold a candle to the Kopro MiG-15 kits. Having said that there is a noticeable difference in quality between the Bilek and Kopro MiG-19 kits. I haven’t come across Dragon’s 1/72 MiG-15 but I have no major complaints about their MiG-17/J-5 models.

What’s your opinion on the ICM MiG-31 kit? I’m hoping its better than Kangam’s effort. Now I’m just pondering over whether to put Iraqi or Afghan decals on the Bilek Su-20/22 I’ll be starting soon.

RE: Very Cool

I’m sure it would be suitably large .

coanda

Very Cool

Build it in 1/72, then you can put a helicopter on it, without having to scratchbuild!

RE: What the?????

It is a picture of the Israeli Navy’s Sa’ar5 Class Corvette!
It is a heavily armed corvette carrying Gabriel and Harpoon
ship to ship missiles, 64 Barak anti-air defense missile,
a CIWS or Mk-45 (75 mm) gun. It is large enough to carry
a helicopter. It has a top speed of 33kts. Two variable
pitch propellors. One Type 796 hull mounted sonar, SPS-55
radar.

Litton-Ingalls (Miss., USA) production dates;
INS Eilat (SA’AR 501), Israeli Navy Corvette – 05-21-94
INS Lahav (Sa’AR 502), Israeli Navy Corvette – 09-23-94
INS Hanit (SA’AR 503), Israeli Navy Corvette – 02-07-95

The Taiwanese Navy’s ship of this class is the Kwang Hwa5.

I have contacted the Israeli Ministry of Defense Public
Relations, State Of Israel Government Gateway, Janes, US
Naval Institute, Litton-Ingalls,

Haifa Navy Museum in Israel is the only place I can think of
that might have some information of which I have not been
able to contact!

Just a few URLs;
http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/saar5/index.html
http://www.primenet.com/~inro/
http://www.warships1.com/
http://warship.simplenet.com/
http://www.towerhobbies.com/rcwboat.html
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Capsule/6480/israupd.html

I would like to build it at either 1/72 or 1/96 scale.

Sorry I got carried away!

Adrian (aka avon1944)

What the?????

Fuk is the name of that ship??????

isn’t it absolutely beautiful?

http://www.navy.org.il/galery/galery/co103.jpg

RE: Belgian schemes

Yes, nice one. The Black tighe with yellow and orange stripes all over the fuselage is difficult to do: the decals are huge, so, for details..

Anyway, i’d advise you to build the kit in 1/48 at least. Otherwise that will be too small.

For “self-made decals”: Forget about color printers: I have tested it yesterday. Ink forms little droplets, and does not dry on the decal sheet. If tou put cote under it, the repartition is uniform, BUT, the ink doesn’t dry either.
So, the solution is: print it in very good quality on a paper sheet, then, use a color copier to print it on the sheet. After that, spray a cote over it. If you on’t the decal will be “dissolved” like the small numbers found on commercial decal sheets.

Or use a laser printer.
Frank

Eastern kits

Yep, the best MiG 15 in 1/72 I believe is the Kopro kit, NOT the Dragon kit. Best MiG 31 kit in 1/72 is the Zvezda kit by a long shot. However, the Condor kit has better rear fuselage contours just under the vertical fin. If you can afford it, a combination of parts from both kits would be best. I have quite a few L-39 Kopro kits, a MiG 15 UTI, -15, and a -17, and I think Kopro is roughly equivalent to Airfix. I’ve seen a couple of Bilek kits (MiG 21, L-29)and theyre OK, again roughly equivalent to Airfix. I think Zvezda would be the best Russian producer, CMK and Eduard are also very good in Eastern Europe.

RE: Anyone here build model kits?

Yes but I’ve only got a small collection of 1/72 scale aircraft which I started last year.

It includes some Kopro and Bilek kits so I’d be interested on other people’s opinion about them.

I don’t know which is the best kit but I reckon that the Airfix MiG-15 is terrible for fit. And to also avoid the 1/72 scale Academy MiG-21 F13 and the Kangam MiG-31 because of inaccuracies.

FrankVW re A-7

There’s a couple of great books on the A-7 which show it in great detail, perfect for modellers: ‘A-7 Lock On’ by Verlinden Productions, and ‘A-7 in Detail and Scale’, by Bert Kinzey. Try Motorbooks or Hannants or Midland Counties Publications, or even Amazon.com.
There is an absolutely top bookstore at http://www.hylandsbookshop.citysearch.com.au I buy there on a regular basis, they have everything you could ever want.

Best Kit

I’d have to say that Tamiya’s 1/32 aircraft kits are probably the best I’ve seen. The F-14 has been out for years and years and it’s still on the cutting edge… both the F-15 and F-4 are just gorgeous. In fact, I’d say Tamiya makes the best kits of any subject, period.

Wish they’d make a 1/32 Flanker or F-111…..:)

CF101

Well, Coanda, you’ll be pleased to know that the Canadian firm ‘Leading Edge’ has just released decals for the CF101 in 1/72 and 1/48. They make THE BEST decals in the world. Theyre at http://aircraftresourcecenter.com

Youre right about CMK too, probably the best resin in the world…

Shiup Plans

I admire your dedication in trying to acquire good reference material- I too am waiting on Boeing to send me some drawings, and its taking months and months…. try Jane’s, they might be able help with simplified plan views…

Belgian schemes

I would have to say the Belgians have really got it down when it comes to spectacular colour schemes! Some of those NATO Tiger meet schemes on your F-16’s are awesome! I plan to use Daco decals to make a 1/72 F-16 with a tiger on a blue tail.

A-37 decal

There’s a couple of errors in the instructions, but its the best decal I’ve ever seen for the A-37. You’ll probaly end up doing more than one!