I've Finally Admitted It...

[NARSES2]

I see we've finally converted you Tel ?  

I'm basically a 1/72 scale man but dabble in 1/48 even 1/32 for WWI stuff and some of my favourite aircraft. Plus I may well treat myself to the Vintage Models 1/24 P-47 in SEAC markings   As you say some things are better suited to the larget scales.

Chris

[Martin H]

I'll bring a box to Cov/Warks this Friday?

yep this friday Terry. your more than welcome as always.

[Radish]

Good man.
I've just "pulled" a Zero from the stash to start a "Bristol 153".  

[Radish]

Oh, boy, I'm having fun......even dropping to 1/144th for some  

[Mossie]

There's a lot of nationalities on this Xtradecal sheet Rad, Britain & twelve others at the bargain basement price of seven quid.  Must have seen you coming though with the subject matter, someones got a sense of irony!
http://www.hannants.co.uk/search/?FULL=X44003

Your right about there not being many available though, Hannants got a grand total of nineteen military aircraft decal sheets.  Theres a few unusual countries, including Kampuchea, but that Hunter sheet about quadruples the total!
http://www.hannants.co.uk/search/index.php...&order_asc=code

I've been thinking about doing some 1/144 kits myself, to increase my build rate, although the only one I've got at the mo is an An-124!   The last one I did was an Airfix Viggen & it put me off, but I since heard that their 1/144 kits are generally very poor.

Have you seen the last two issues of SAMI?  They're compiling a list of all the 1/144 kit & accessory suppliers, there about half way through.

[GTX]

/144 kit & accessory suppliers

I can see it now - aftermarket 1/144th photoetched cockpit upgrades for a Folland Gnat!   Where is my microscope?

Regards,

Greg

[Mossie]

You can get etched external outer parts for airliners.  Matador models already do white metal cockpits in 1/144th:
http://matadormodels.co.uk/yairfield6%2014...%20cockpits.htm

Believe it or not, you can get etched sets & stencil decals for 1/350 aircraft!  I've never seen them, but I've heard rumours that you can get cockpit sets too!!!
http://www.hannants.co.uk/search/index.php...=&NUMPERPAGE=50

There is a trend towards scratch built 1/144 details in model shows as the scale gets more popular, I once saw a fantastic F-86 with full engine detail in a magazine that had taken best model at a national show.  I guess 1/144 etched cockpits will be along next!  Don't know about you, I've got 20/20 vision & I struggle with 1/72 cockpits!!!

[frank2056]

I've had the same problem and have gone all the way down to 1/350 and 1/400 aircraft. You can even get PE cockpit sets for the Trumpeter 1/350 scale B-25s. Which is just simply insane.

Just because 1/350 and 1/400 scale aircraft are small doesn't necessarily make them easy to build. Some are, a few are pretty tough.

1/144 sounds like a good compromise between size, detail, ease of construction and range of available kits.

Frank

[Mossie]

I'm starting to be attracted to 1/144 because of the availabilty of decent kits.  Kits of airliners & transports have been okay, but fighters & other small stuff have been few & far between & of poor quality in the past.  Fit gaps of over 1mm on a 1/144 aircraft look ridculous & it's difficult to correct them without a lot of work.

I've got to admit, I was probably too the thing I'm not allowed to say that Airfix Viggen, a bit of judicous sanding & it've looked fine, but it would've taken a smililar amount of work to a 1/72 kit.  The standard of engineering is now at a point were good small 1/144 kits can be accuarately engineered.

1/350 etched cockpit sets???   That's just masochistic!!! :dum: