Another another new model kit, coming sort-of soon.

ET2SN · 12-15-21, 02:45 AM

For 80 bucks, this kit should be large enough to put a strain on your marriage.

So, go into this with your eyes open. Once built, this kit will dominate a table.
Otherwise, there has been good "buzz" about this kit since 2020. One thing to watch out for, large plastic slabs as parts will tend to warp- especially during shipping. Plan to spend a lot of time doing basic parts fitting and prep work. In other words, don't expect to knock this thing out over a weekend.

The one area I see that will be tricky are the (full) engine inlet and spike assemblies. There are a lot of parts and they'll need to be gnat's keister tight so the alignment doesn't go wonky. Invest a lot of time dry fitting and prepping the parts and you should be fine.
Decals look, ah, OK I guess? The basic idea of markings is white and full color roundels if flying over the US. The over-all red markings were used exclusively on forward-deployed Habu's (Kadena AFB and RAF Mildenhall).
I really like that they included all-red markings for airframe 967. 967 wound up as the SR with the highest amount of flight time and very little of it was done over the US.

As a side note, yes there were SR's that carried "tail art" on the vert. stabs. The reality was that the artwork was applied using chalk. Paint and Blackbirds didn't stay together for very long.

The Ultimate One Trick Pony- The SR-71 did one thing better than any other manned aircraft. It flew high and fast in a straight line. If you want to try this in Flight Sim or DCS its actually pretty easy. Keep the air speed indicator glued to 450 Knots (actually, measured as "keys" or "knots equivalent"). That's pretty much it.

Aside from take-offs, refueling, and landings the SR always stayed at 450 knots.

ET2SN · 01-04-22, 08:48 PM

One quick update on the Revell Blackbird, it looks like there are TWO basic variants of this kit- One from Revell Germany and a different kit from Revell USA.
The USA kit has the same parts, there are just less of them.

The German kit has the display stand and high detail display J58's included. So, do your homework when you order and know what you're buying.

Next up, some new 1/72nd scale kits from Poland:

As Mustang fans should know by now, North American Aviation had developed the A-6 Apache for ground attack operations and worked hard to sell it to the RAF and USAAF. The Apache used what was known as a Laminar Flow main wing, an idea the NACA had been kicking around and leased to North American. The RAF thought the Apache was a dog and came back with some suggestions to turn the basic fuse and wings into something they needed more, a fighter.

The result was the Mustang.

It would take some more trials by the RAF to fit a "blown/Malcomb Hood" canopy that offered much improved vision plus the idea of swapping the Allison V-12 engine for a Rolls Royce Merlin V-12 (the Allison performed better at low altitudes for strafing while the Merlin kicked ### at higher altitudes for escort duties and dog fighting).

So, if the P-51D is your modelling idea of building another Panzer tank, try the older-variant P-51 B and C models.

ET2SN · 01-20-22, 06:25 PM

With everything that's going on in Ukraine, now might be a good time to look at Mikro-Mir and snag some new kits.

http://www.mikro-mir.com/en/ships-1-350.html?start=30

Note the USS Parche, available in its early conversion layout and its final layout. Also some new pre-Ohio class SSBN/SSGN kits.

Show these folks some support with your wallet and snag some of their unique ship models.

12-15-21, 02:45 AM	#1
ET2SN Ocean Warrior Join Date: Oct 2017 Posts: 2,652 Downloads: 60 Uploads: 0	Another another new model kit, coming sort-of soon. For 80 bucks, this kit should be large enough to put a strain on your marriage. So, go into this with your eyes open. Once built, this kit will dominate a table. Otherwise, there has been good "buzz" about this kit since 2020. One thing to watch out for, large plastic slabs as parts will tend to warp- especially during shipping. Plan to spend a lot of time doing basic parts fitting and prep work. In other words, don't expect to knock this thing out over a weekend. The one area I see that will be tricky are the (full) engine inlet and spike assemblies. There are a lot of parts and they'll need to be gnat's keister tight so the alignment doesn't go wonky. Invest a lot of time dry fitting and prepping the parts and you should be fine. Decals look, ah, OK I guess? The basic idea of markings is white and full color roundels if flying over the US. The over-all red markings were used exclusively on forward-deployed Habu's (Kadena AFB and RAF Mildenhall). I really like that they included all-red markings for airframe 967. 967 wound up as the SR with the highest amount of flight time and very little of it was done over the US. As a side note, yes there were SR's that carried "tail art" on the vert. stabs. The reality was that the artwork was applied using chalk. Paint and Blackbirds didn't stay together for very long. The Ultimate One Trick Pony- The SR-71 did one thing better than any other manned aircraft. It flew high and fast in a straight line. If you want to try this in Flight Sim or DCS its actually pretty easy. Keep the air speed indicator glued to 450 Knots (actually, measured as "keys" or "knots equivalent"). That's pretty much it. Aside from take-offs, refueling, and landings the SR always stayed at 450 knots.

01-04-22, 08:48 PM	#2
ET2SN Ocean Warrior Join Date: Oct 2017 Posts: 2,652 Downloads: 60 Uploads: 0	One quick update on the Revell Blackbird, it looks like there are TWO basic variants of this kit- One from Revell Germany and a different kit from Revell USA. The USA kit has the same parts, there are just less of them. The German kit has the display stand and high detail display J58's included. So, do your homework when you order and know what you're buying. Next up, some new 1/72nd scale kits from Poland: As Mustang fans should know by now, North American Aviation had developed the A-6 Apache for ground attack operations and worked hard to sell it to the RAF and USAAF. The Apache used what was known as a Laminar Flow main wing, an idea the NACA had been kicking around and leased to North American. The RAF thought the Apache was a dog and came back with some suggestions to turn the basic fuse and wings into something they needed more, a fighter. The result was the Mustang. It would take some more trials by the RAF to fit a "blown/Malcomb Hood" canopy that offered much improved vision plus the idea of swapping the Allison V-12 engine for a Rolls Royce Merlin V-12 (the Allison performed better at low altitudes for strafing while the Merlin kicked ### at higher altitudes for escort duties and dog fighting). So, if the P-51D is your modelling idea of building another Panzer tank, try the older-variant P-51 B and C models.

01-20-22, 06:25 PM	#3
ET2SN Ocean Warrior Join Date: Oct 2017 Posts: 2,652 Downloads: 60 Uploads: 0	With everything that's going on in Ukraine, now might be a good time to look at Mikro-Mir and snag some new kits. http://www.mikro-mir.com/en/ships-1-350.html?start=30 Note the USS Parche, available in its early conversion layout and its final layout. Also some new pre-Ohio class SSBN/SSGN kits. Show these folks some support with your wallet and snag some of their unique ship models.