Homepage Text - May 2014

Friday,  May 30  2014 
In memory of our friend Rick Chin, I will be featuring his articles in the daily updates here on ARC. 
The late Uncle Rick Chin of Uncle Bills Hobby gets things started in style today with his 1/48 Accurate Miniatures Ilyushin IL-2 Stormovik with a beautiful weathering job.  Rick was a prolific and skilled scale model builder and he even built a model in the back of a vehicle on the way to a distant model show. 

Stephen and David Cornett join us today with their Tamiya F-15E‘s, Tigermeet Of America 2005.  They both worked on these models and the Tiger stripes were masked and paint to get better accuracy which is quite impressive.  No doubt about it....these are 2 great looking Eagles.

Steve Negley went all out on his 1/32 Hasegawa P-51D Mustang adding a variety of aftermarket detail items along with his own scratch built detail before finishing his Mustang with partial D-Day stripes as flown by an American Ace.  This Mustang is one good looking bird and Steve's effort certain paid off.

Here's a product article for the 1/72 Bf 110C/D/E/F Position Lights from QuickBoostThis set is designed for the Eduard kit.  


Here's a product article for the 1/48 T-Birds With Talons decal sheet from Vagabond DecalsThis sheet features 73 options for the Thunderbirds in T-38 Talons.


Here's a product article for the 1/48 Yak-38M resin cockpit set from Pavla ModelsThis set is designed for the HobbyBoss kit


Thursday, May 29  2014 
I am very saddened to report "Uncle" Rick Chin from Calgary has passed away after a battle with cancer.  Rick was a fun guy with a kind soul and a huge supporter of this Hobby.  Rick was legendary and he will be missed by so many in this hobby.

Wednesday,   May 28  2014

Armenia National Day 

Ethiopia National Day

Azerbaijan National Day

Shawn "phantom" Weiler is here with his eye popping 1/48 Hasegawa F-15C.  Shawn added Two Bobs decals and Two Mikes resin ACM pods and a whole lot of love and got an F-15 that will be a sweet addition to his display case.

Carmel J. Attard is here with 2 of his 1/72 Airmodel/Airfix Northrop F-15 Reporter.  Carmel did not take the easiest route to build these models....but he did take the best route to get 2 exceptional models of this P61 variant. 

Here's a product article for the 1/48 B-25B Mitchell Gun Barrels from QuickBoost.

This detail set is available directly from Sprue Brothers Models


Here's a product article for the 1/32 Vympel R-27T - AA-10 Alamo-B missiles from Zactomodels

Here's a product article for the 1/24 British Mk 2 Browning .303 caliber Barrels from Master.

Here's a product article for the 1/32 German WW II bombs SC 250, 250kg (4pcs) from CMK.


Tuesday,    May 27   2014 
Alacran gets today's update started with a most amazing looking 1/72 RF-4E HAF.  This colourful Phantom is wearing Greek markings from a  jet that attended the RIAT in 2005.  I love the tail art on this HAF jet.

Jens Gerber has done a wonderful job building his 1/48 Hasegawa / Accurate Miniatures SBD 4 Dauntless.  Jens added photo etch seat belts and an antenna wire and then gave his Dauntless a first class paint job.  I love the look of it.

Here's a product article for the 1/72 IL-2 Shturmovik Gun Barrels and Pitot Tube from QuickBoostThis detail set is designed for the Tamiya kit.


Here's a product article for the 1/48 Bravo MIG Killers Part II decal sheet from Furball Aero DesignThis decal sheet is the second installment in the highly popular "Bravo MIG Killer" series. Bravo MIG Killers II (48-018) features options for 14 F-4B Phantoms; 12 of which shot down enemy aircraft during the Vietnam conflict


Here's a product article for the 1/48 Supermarine Spitfire Pilot Access Doors with Crowbar (two doors) from UltracastThis detail set is designed for the ICM kit.


Monday,    May 26  2014

USA Memorial Day

Georgia National Day

Steve Schwarz starts off today's update in style with his 1/72 RCAF CC-115 Buffalo.  Steve modified his vacuformed Buffalo to represent a RCAF west coast Buffalo and he's included some photos to show you how it was done.  This was not a simple quick build, but Steve sure did turn out a high quality model of this Canadian SAR aircraft.

Dragan Cvetic is here with his beautifully weathered 1/72 Italeri/Bilek Su-22 UM3k.  Dragan added the Extratech PE cockpit set and finished his Su-22 in Polish markings.  This is one VERY beautifully finished jet.

Here's a product article for the 1/72 MiG-21MFN interior photo etch detail set from Eduard Model AccessoriesThis set is designed for the Eduard kit.


Here's a product article for the 1/48 Ilyushin IL-2 Exhaust resin set from QuickBoostThis set is designed for the Tamiya kit.


Here's a product article for the 1/48 T-28A/B/C weighted wheels from Royale Resin.


Sunday,   May 25  2014

Jordan Independence Day 

Argentina - National Day (1810)
"La Revolucion de Mayo" Anniversary of the Revolution against Spain

Saturday,   May 24  2014

Eritrea Independence Day 


Friday,  May 23  2014 
Mr Marten has done a beautiful job weathering the classic 1/72 Matchbox Panavia Tornado.  Mr Marten has given his Tornado a full weapons load and full weathering which included some pre-shading.  The finished model looks excellent.

Jens Gerber has done a gorgeous job detailing and weathering his 1/48 Italeri Grumman TBM-3 Avenger.  Jens scratchbuilt seatbelts out of foil and a stretched sprue antenna wire before finishing his Avenger with custom markings and very subtle weathering.  Beautiful work Jens.

Ed Fuquay is here with a product article for the 1/48 Stearman PT-17 Kaydet model kit from Revell/Monogram.


Here's a product article for the 1/72 AH-1S interior photo etch detail set from Eduard Model AccessoriesThis set is designed for the Hobby Boss kit

This detail set is available directly from Sprue Brothers Models.


Here's a product article for the 1/72 Commonwealth CA-25 Winjeel model kit from Czech Master Resin - CMR Models.  This model kit comes with markings for 2 different aircraft.


Thursday, May 22  2014

Yemen National Day

Gene A. "Gene-o" DiGennaro Jr. has done an exceptional job on this 1/72 North American X-15A2.  This is a lesser know X-15 and Gene tells the whole fascinating story in his article as well as what was required to make this beauty.  His added detailing and weathering make this model a show stopper. 

Gianni Cassi has taken the 1/48 Zvezda Lavockha La-5 FN to a whole new level.  His model is loaded with aftermarket detail sets and then displayed in a very attractive diorama.  You will love seeing the photos of this masterpiece.

Here's a product article for the 1/72 P-38 Lightning Correct Engine Covers from QuickBoost.


Here's a product article for the 1/72 CF-5 Freedom Fighter "Wraparound Camo" decal sheet from Leading Edge Models.


Here's a product article for the 1/72 P-47D Thunderbird Part 6 decal sheet from Lifelike DecalsAll 3 aircraft have noseart including sexy noseart.


Wednesday,   May 21  2014

 Anniversary of the Chilean Navy and the anniversary of the Iquique´s Naval Combat (South Pacific War, between Chile, Peru and Bolivia) 

Paul Coppin had a fun time building his first chopper.  This is his 1/48 Academy AH-64A Apache.  Paul dressed up the cockpit with Eduard photo etch and then modified the chin gum so it could be posed.  All that was finished with a subtle weathering job and US Army markings.

Mohammad Adl joins us from Iran with his latest beauty.  This is his 1/72 Revell Mirage 2000C in a bare metal finish and wearing Spanish markings.  The finish is quite impressive, especially considering the lack of modelling supplies in Iran and many other countries.

Here's a product article for the 1/48 MiG-21MF Air Scoops from QuickBoost.  his set is designed for the Academy kit.

This detail set is available directly from Sprue Brothers Models.


Here's a product article for the 1/32 Vympel R-60 - AA-8 Aphid missile from Zactomodels.  This missile has been carried by a variety of Russian jets including the MiG-21, MiG-29.


Here's a product article for the 1/72 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I "Early Version" model kit from Czech Master Resin - CMR Models.


Tuesday,   May 20  2014

Cameroon National Day

Cuba Independence Day 


Monday,   May 19  2014

Turkish Remembrance  of Ataturk and Youth Day for Turkey

Alexandre Bigey starts today with afloat plane which always makes my day.  This is his 1/72 Khee Kha Art Products Cessna A185F Skywagon equipped with floats for a plane in Norway.  Alexandre did an outstanding job on the floats, struts and control cables and rigging wires.  The detail in this area really shows off well with a float planes that is finished to such a high standard.

Lucian Capraru is here with another of his Romanian jets.  This is his 1/72 Bilek MiG-23MF with a full weapons load.  Lucian converted his ML to an MF and I added the tail spine and modified the landing gear.  It's great to see the MiG-23 in Romanian markings.

Here's a product article for the 1/72 A-7A interior photo etch detail set from Eduard Model AccessoriesThis set is designed for the Hobby Boss kit.

This detail set is available directly from Sprue Brothers Models.


Here's a product article for the 1/32 WW II US General Purpose M43 H.E. Bombs 500 lb (2 pcs) from CMK.


Here's a product article for the 1/72 Aermacchi MB 339 resin cockpit set with vacuformed canopy from Pavla ModelsThis set is designed for the Italeri/Supermodel kit.


Sunday,  May 18  2014

  US Armed Forces Appreciation Day 


Saturday,  May 17  2014

Norway Constitution Day


Friday,  May 16  2014

Dambusters Raid - RAF bombing of Ruhr Valley Dams 

naioh2 – Saran S. joins us from Thailand with an exceptional 1/48 Hasegawa F-4EJ Kai.  This Phantom has aftermarket detail parts along with an amazing amount of weapons.  This is a spectacular model...enjoy every photo.


Kit is here from Italy with a first class RCAF Spitfire.  This is the 1/48 Tamiya Spitfire Mk Vb Trop in it's weathered beauty. The cockpit detailing is excellent and the faded paint job looks very realistic.


Here's a product article for the 1/48 P-51 Mustangs (Part 1) decal sheet from Mike Grant Decals.


Here's a product article for the 1/48 Supermarine Spitfire Pilot Access Doors without Crowbar (two doors) from Ultracast.  These parts are designed for the ICM kit.


Thursday, May 15  2014 
Cessna joins us from Vietnam with his excellent looking 1/72 Trumpeter An-2 Colt.  This Vietnamese Colt has weapons under the lower wings and is given an exceptional weathering job.  It's interesting to see an An-2 in Vietnamese markings.  Well done Cessna.

Dragan Cvetic has done an impressive job with his 1/72 Airfix MiG-29b 9-12.  Dragan used his scratchbuilding skills to upgrade the cockpit and other detail before selecting an Iraqi paint scheme complete with weathering and a weapons load.  This MiG looks perfect in every way.

Here's a product article for the 1/48 OV-1 Mohawk Pylons from QuickBoostThis set is designed for the Roden kit.

Here's a product article for the 1/72 J28C Vampire T.11 cockpit set from Maestro Models.


Here's a product article for the 1/48 A-6A / A-6E Intruders Pt 1 decal sheet from Fightertown Decals.


Here's a product article for the 1/48 Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX Large Style Cannon Bay Covers from UltracastThis set is designed for the ICM kit


Wednesday,   May 14  2014

Paraguay Independence Day

Olivier Barles starts today with his exceptional looking 1/32 Tamiya Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero Model 21.  Olivier  chose a very interesting paint scheme and I do love the look of the finished model.

Axel Grundmann has done a beautiful job detail and weathering his 1/48 Kinetic Mirage 2000-5Di.  Axel used a variety of aftermarket detail parts and finished it all with full weathering and Taiwanese Air Force markings. 

Here's a product article for the 1/48 Su-22 Air Scoops from QuickBoost.  This set is designed for the KOPRO kit.

This detail set is available directly from Sprue Brothers Models.  


Here's a product article for the 1/32 Vympel R-27R - AA-10 Alamo-A missile from ZactomodelsThis missile is carried by MiG-21, MiG-29, Su-27 and Su-30.  This resin set includes 2 complete missiles.

Here's a product article for the 1/32 WW II US General Purpose M44 HE Bombs 1000 lb (2 pcs) from CMK.


Here's a product article for the 1/72 Folland Gnat T.1 resin cockpit set from Pavla ModelsThis set is designed for the Airfix kit.


Tuesday,    May 13   2014 
Colin Latta has back dated his 1/48 Monogram He-111 to a H-2.  Colin built his He-111 as a Battle of Britain bomber to mark the 75th Anniversary of this epic battle.  Colin used some aftermarket tiems and plenty of scratchbuilt parts to complete this weathered masterpiece. 

Lucian Capraru has done an exceptionally fine job on his 1/72 Italeri MiG-29 UB.  Lucian chose Romanian markings for his MiG-29 and include some interesting history as well as a photo of an abandoned Romanian MiG.  I love the look of his Romanian jet.

Here's a product article for the 1/72 B-25J solid nose interior photo etch detail set from Eduard Model Accessories.  This set is designed for the Hasegawa kit.

This detail set is available directly from Sprue Brothers Models.


Here's a product article for the 1/48 OV-1 Mohawk Corrected Cowlings from QuickBoostThis set is designed for the Roden kit.


Here's a product article for the 1/72 BAE Hawk 200 Conversion for Airfix Hawk 100 from Neomega.


Monday,    May 12  2014

USS Enterprise CV-6 Commissioning


Friday, May 9  2014

Liberation Day for the Channel Islands  May 9 1945

Russia - Victory Day

 End of Great Patriotic War 

 European Union
Europe Day

  Malta gets Spitfires 64 Spitfires are ferried to Malta by USS Wasp 

Burt Gustafson starts your update off in style with his 1/48 Trumpeter T-38 Talon.  Burt built his Talon with the canopy closed, but the cockpit does look very well detailed as you will see in his photos.  This is one sweet looking USAF T-38....nicely done Burt.

Zhe Zheng has given his 1/72 Dragon Heinkel He-219A-7 an exceptionally complicated camo scheme.  From every angle in every photo his He-219 looks perfect.

Here's a product article for the 1/48 British WW2 Reflector Gunsights from QuickBoost.


Here's a product article for the 1/32 Vympel R-73 - AA-11 Archer missile from Zactomodels This was carried by MiG-21, MiG-29, Su-27 and Su-30.


Here's a product article for the 1/72 Sea Venom FAW.21 resin cockpit set from Pavla Models This set is designed for the Cyber-Hobby kit.


Here's a product article for the 1/72 Martin Baker Mk 4 ejection seats from PJ Production.  You get 2 seats in each set.  These seats could be used on the Mirage, Etendard, Jaguar, Strikemaster, MB-326, Mystere, Vautour. 


Thursday,  May 8  2014

V.E. Day - Victory in Europe 1945


Wednesday,   May 7  2014 
Lee, Seok Joo is here with the most famous Spitfire.  This is the 1/32 Tamiya Spitfire Mk.IXe given a full detailing job and then equipped with beer kegs under the wings for the Spitfire flown by British Ace Johnnie Johnson when he flew beer from England to his Squadron base in Europe.  Seok detailed every area of this Spitfire during the 10 month build and I know you will enjoy every photo of this masterpiece.  Grab a beer and sit back and enjoy.

Alex Cimenti has done some excellent detailing and painting on his 1/72 Italeri F-104 G Starfighter.  This is an early Luftwaffe Starfighter and Alex paid close attention to getting all the small details correct...including his exceptional paint job.  I love seeing Luftwaffe aircraft on ARC.

Here's a product article for the 1/48 F8F Bearcat engine from QuickBoostThis set is designed for the Academy kit.

This detail set is available directly from Sprue Brothers Models.


Here's a product article for the 1/72 MiG-21SM/M/MF (Fishbed J) Pitot Tube from Master.


Here's a product article for the 1/32 Heinkel He 111P Wing fuel tanks  from CMK This set is designed for the Revell kit. 


Tuesday,    May 6  2014
Kees Kuyper starts today in a very creative way with his what-if Fairey Rotodyne Submarine.   This started as a Rotodyne and then got modified into a submarine......Kees has a very creative mind and I love seeing his latest model on ARC.

Kenan Turhan has done a outstanding job on his 1/48 Kinetic F-5A Freedom Fighter.  Kenan finished his F-5 as a Canadian aircraft complete with a flawless camo job and subtle weathering and excellent cockpit detailing.  It's good to see the Kinetic F-5 here on ARC.

Here's a product article for the 1/48 F-5F interior photo etch detail set from Eduard Model Accessories.

This detail set is available directly from Sprue Brothers Models.


Here's a product article for the 1/48 WWII Luftwaffe Pilot figures from JaguarThese are unpainted figures.


Here's a product article for the 1/48 Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX C Wing Cannon Bay Covers from UltracastThese are designed for the ICM kit.


Monday,    May 5   2014 

Israel Independence Day

Mexico - Cinco De Mayo  

Yoav Efrati gets things started on this special update with the grand daddy of Israeli Spitfires.  This is his 1/72 AZmodel Spitfire Mk.9e finished as Spitfire ד-130.  Yoav added weathering including exhaust stains to complete his Spitfire.

Gidi Vitkon is here with a wide and gorgeous selection of Paper Modeling the Israeli Air Force from last years IPMS contest in Israel.  Most are aircraft finished to very high standards and there is even a Knight in a full suit of armor.  The IPMS Israel contest is a show well worth visiting.

Yoav Efrati is here with Weissman's Black Spitfire made from the 1/72 Sword Models Spitfire Mk.9e.  The paint scheme is from the 2013 airshow season.  It's pretty cool to see this one as a scale model. 

Yoav Efrati has done a marvelous job building and finishing his 1/72 AZmodel Spitfire Mk.9e.  This is a Scorpion Squadron Spitfire complete with black and yellow tail.  Very nicely done indeed.

Yoav Efrati also has this bare metal Spitfire flown by a pilot of Czech descent.  This is the 1/72 AZmodel Spitfire Mk.9e in a bare metal finish with painted markings and exhaust stains to complete the look. 

Yoav Efrati has equipped this 1/72 AZmodel Spitfire Mk.9e with wing drop tanks and a centerline slipper fuel tank to show how it appeared during the top secret "Villveta II" mission.  This was the non-stop flight delivery of Spitfires bought from Czechoslovakia in 1948 which gave Israel critical aircraft for it's war of Independence.

Yoav Efrati is here with another Scorpion squadron markings Spitfire.  This is the 1/72 Sword Models Spitfire Mk.9e complete with the yellow and black striped tail.  It looks great from every angle.

Yoav Efrati finishes off this impressive update with his 1/72 AZmodel Spitfire Mk.9e.  This one wears the markings for the Flying Tigers OTU complete with noseart and exhaust stains over the bare metal finish.


Saturday,  May 3  2014

Poland Constitution Day


Friday,  May 2  2014 
Andreas Gordes is here to make all the F-16 modellers very happy.  This 1/48 Tamiya Indian Feathers F-16 is loaded with many after market parts plus a huge amount of love and attention to all the fine details that make this F-16 so exceptional.  sit back and enjoy all the glorious detail that has been installed on this masterpiece.

Jens Gerber joins us from Germany with an aircraft seldom seen here on ARC.  This is his 1/48 Zvezda Sukhoi 2 with added scratchbuilt details and a very amazing winter camo and weathering scheme.  These weathered winter camo schemes are difficult to do, but Jen did an excellent job on his Sukhoi 2. 

Here's a product article for the 1/72 B-25H interior photo etch detail set  from Eduard Model Accessories This set is designed for the Hasegawa kit. 

This detail set is available directly from Sprue Brothers Models.


Here's a product article for the 1/72 MiG-29 (Fulcrum) Pitot Tube from Master.


Here's a product article for the 1/144 Avro Shackleton MR.3 Long-Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft model kit from Czech Master Resin - CMR ModelsThis model kit has markings for RAF and South African aircraft.....6 aircraft in all.


Thursday, May 1  2014

May Day Labor Day

Anniversary of first engagement of Argentine Airforce in Malvinas / Falklands War (1982)

No update today.  I've been working long hours focusing on the walkaround section.