Messages

121

Combat Warplanes / Re: Warplane No. 06 B-58 Hustler

« on: November 21, 2013, 12:27:56 PM »

I selected this nice shot for the book since it showed so clearly the difference in size between B-36 and B-58. The B-58 was not so big for a bomber; in particular its area-ruled fuselage was very slender!
Retrospectively we may say the B-58 was the most technically advanced aircraft of its time presenting all new kinds of technology. Its performances were far beyond anything that flew before and even today we can say that there is NO modern aircraft type of the same size and weight that can beat it; not even after 40 years. Yes....that B-58 really was an AWESOME machine!

122

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Avro Canada VZ-9 Avrocar

« on: November 09, 2013, 11:57:02 PM »

Only a simpler test model made some ground-effect hover flights but it was unable to fly because it lacked stability.
With modern fly-by-wire this would have been no problem but at that time such a device was not yet available.
The final Avrocar never flew!
Attached two nice shots set at 1250 pixels width. Pls enjoy the view!

123

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Float Spirfire 1/72

« on: November 06, 2013, 01:50:42 PM »

Here is a small photo update of the Spitfire float version including the converted Mk. IX MJ892.

124

Combat Warplanes / Re: New B-58 book!!

« on: November 03, 2013, 12:28:18 PM »

I can only agree on that!! Just for fun two sample pages......

125

Combat Warplanes / New B-58 book!!

« on: November 03, 2013, 11:10:27 AM »

In Lanasta's 'Violaero' series Volume 06 has been released by 01.11.'13 on the Convair B-58 Hustler.
We have managed to tell the concise story of the B-58 including a crash and a survivors list with no less than 85 nice black & white and color photographs + an additional five color profiles spread over a double page.

126

Warplane Art / Re: Bf-109G2 illustration

« on: October 31, 2013, 02:02:14 PM »

Ah, Croatian machine! Interesting.......

127

Miscellaneous Subjects / Re: Santa Claus

« on: October 30, 2013, 09:57:52 PM »

Santa Claus is in fact an American re-worked version of our Dutch Sint Nicolaas.
In our country he gives presents to little kids on 5 December aided by 'Zwarte Piet' (Black Peter).
At the moment there is a big political uproar from a very small minority who want to have this celebration removed from Dutch folklore because 'it is discriminating to black people'.
Really weird!!!

128

Warplane Art / Re: Sukhoi Su-24

« on: October 30, 2013, 12:31:10 PM »

Looking nice already. Think Fencer is a plane in the same class as the Panavia Tornado.

129

Warplane Art / Re: Siebel Si 204

« on: October 07, 2013, 09:12:12 PM »

Aero C-3A kit is still offered sometimes for sale! It was produced in large numbers and even at that time easily obtainable for a very reasonable price. It still is not a rare and expensive item!
I can still remember I purchased in the mid-eighties a complete assortment of PK kits in a toy-shop in Budapest for some Euro 5 in total!

130

Warplane Art / Re: Siebel Si 204

« on: October 07, 2013, 12:31:33 PM »

This is that nice KP kit! It is still available from the model kit inventory I still have from my deceased friend.
Si 204 is a quite neglected type and I still can remember from the sixties that one was lying derilict at Hilversum airfield. It was formerly used by the National Aeronautics Laboratory as general test plane. Plane was finally scrapped.

131

Warplane Art / Re: Arado Ar 95

« on: October 05, 2013, 03:48:28 PM »

Planet has 1/48 scale resin kit that can be built both as land and float version!
MPM has two 1/72 scale kits for both versions.
Items are still available; see http://www.aviationmegastore.com/quicksearch/LM50b4b01d1a1d5643ca29a5bcdd/arado%20ar-95

132

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Gloster Gladiator 1/48

« on: September 29, 2013, 11:22:27 PM »

Except for the Gladiator and the Hawker Fury Lindberg also had similar kits of the Fairey Flycatcher and the Bristol Bulldog. I also have built kits of these three from the same period.

133

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Gloster Gladiator 1/48

« on: September 29, 2013, 02:29:25 PM »

I have built this kit many years ago as a Lindbergh kit.
Must have been some 40 years ago when I did not even bother to wire wings and tail.
I am almost sure it is the same as your Impact kit!
As you see; never throw things away!

134

Combat Warplanes / Re: New imagery from my collection

« on: September 26, 2013, 05:07:28 PM »

Swift was an alternative for the Hawker Hunter and both types were developed in parallel.
The Swift was also planned with the 4 x 30 mm Aden gun; same as for the Hunter.
While the Hunter proved to be a great success, the Swift was over its operational career plagued by structural problems. This is the main reason why it was soon phased out (and forgotten!).
During the early fifties the Swift was top-secret with only very few images released.
Two Dutch aviation illustrators, the brothers Rudy and Rudolf Das became famous when the magazine INTERAVIA published a very detailed cutaway drawing of the 'classified' Swift made by the two brothers!

135

Aircraft Modeling / Re: [Draken35] Messerschmitt Me-163S Komet... from Luxemburg!!!

« on: September 08, 2013, 11:46:47 AM »

I can vaguely remember that an Me-163 replica is still flying in Germany as a glider!
It is a single seat replica, red painted of one of the prototypes.