Academy 1:48 Su-27S

  Build Date:  June 11, 2018, Finished August 13, 2018. On this post, I am building the old Academy 1:48 Su-27 Flanker B, Kit# 2131, issued around 1995.  This kit was used by Eduard as the bases for their Limited Edition multi-media high tech Kit Number 1167.   Since then Hobby Boss had issued a brand...

Tamiya 1:32 F-4C Phantom

Build Date:  Start Jan 24, 2018. Col. Robin Olds, 433 FS, Satan's Angels, Ubon, Thailand, 1967. This is a kit my best friend, Ricky, gave me.  Thank you, Ricky!  I'd try my best to do this kit justice.  For this model, I will be replicate Col. Robin Olds' personal aircraft as shown above. This Tamiya 1:32...

AMT/ERTL 1:48 S-3A Viking

Build Date: Start Sept 10, 2018 S-3 Viking  The Lockheed S-3 Viking was the most versatile aircraft in the US NAVY.   The S-3A was initially designed for anti-submarine warfare (ASW).   It entered service in 1975 to replace the ageing piston engine powered Grumman S-2 Tracker. (Italeri and Kinetics produced several 1:48 S-2 kit).   In the original...

Kitty Hawk 1:48 PLA Su-35

Build Date:  Start Feb 13, 2018, Finished June 5, 2018.  The Chinese military confirmed that it took first delivery of four Su-35 in late 2017.   In anticipation of this, Kitty Hawk issued an update to their Su-35E kit in October which has decals specifically for the PLA's Su-35. The kit comes in nine part trees...

Academy 1:35 MH-60S

Builder:  Ricky Wong. Build Date: April 2018. Academy released this 1:35 MH-60S Knighthawk kit back around 2014.  It was the first and, still at the time of writing, the only available kit of this Navy helicopter in this scale.   Refer to Cybermodeler for a detailed review of this kit. Ricky has been building this kit...

Revell A-6E Intruder

Build Date:  September 10, 2017, Finished Jan 22, 2018. A-6E of VA-115 (Eagles), Atsugi Naval Air Station, 1996. I saw the movie, Flight of the Intruder, in 1991 and I was immediately hooked on the A-6.  Yeah, it was a cheesy movie with over the top lines but the real history underlining the movie is...

Kinetic 1:48 Harrier TAV-8S

Build Date: Nov. 12 Start, Finished Dec 10, 2017 The full build article for this model can be found in the April 2018 edition of the Tamiya Model Magazine International (TMMI) Issue 270. I received this new kit from Raymond of Kinetic/Lucky Model while I was in Hong Kong in November 2017.    I am...

Model Shop: Fat Frog Scale Model, Hong Kong.

Location: Unit 1, 3rd Floor, Cheong Ming Building, 80-86 Argyle St (entrance off Hak Po St), Mongkok. Hobby Easy is another successful online model shop in Hong Kong.   Early 2017, they established a store front in Mongkok to sell their products direct to locals.  The store is called Fat Frog Scale Model.   Location is as shown...

Model Shop: Hobby Land, Osaka.

Location: Hommachi, Osaka. The last noteworthy scale model shop I visited in Osaka is Hobby Land located in Hommachi District.  Take the Midosuji Subway Line to Hommachi Station, get out at Exit 17, turn right and walk two blocks, then turn right again.  The store is as shown on the map below.  Very easy to find. ...