It USED to be like that in the UK, but now it seems any old billionaire can just come along and buy it! 

Things have not been so good today. I have been feeling down for most of the day, so I may not go to work and visit the doctor's instead tomorrow. It's a little over a year since my dad passed which, although it didn't have much impact at the time, might be having an influence this year.

Gondor

Quote from: Gondor on May 11, 2025, 01:25:01 PMThings have not been so good today. I have been feeling down for most of the day, so I may not go to work and visit the doctor's instead tomorrow. It's a little over a year since my dad passed which, although it didn't have much impact at the time, might be having an influence this year.

Gondor

Grief sucks, and is usually delayed.  I lost my Dad back in 2011 (14 years ago next month), my Mom at the beginning of 2017 (like 3 weeks into 2017).  There've been times when I've wanted to just talk with them - even just useless day to day Scheiße that comes up - and I can't.

Well, you can always do so anyway and pretend they're listening... ?

Quote from: Gondor on May 11, 2025, 01:25:01 PMThings have not been so good today. I have been feeling down for most of the day, so I may not go to work and visit the doctor's instead tomorrow. It's a little over a year since my dad passed which, although it didn't have much impact at the time, might be having an influence this year.

Gondor

I know the feeling. I lost my dad three years ago and the grief just comes and goes randomly. It's hard to deal with.

It's a subconscious impact as we were never close. Both my parents were only children, which I think has meant that they were not as close as they could have been.

Anyway, I have an appointment with the Mental Health nurse later this month, hopefully a step in the right direction.

Gondor

Quote from: Gondor on May 12, 2025, 10:38:26 AMAnyway, I have an appointment with the Mental Health nurse later this month, hopefully a step in the right direction.

Gondor

Very much so    Went down that path many years ago when I got divorced and the conversation I had with one was one of the best things I've ever done health wise 

Been thinking about the Mirage G8 I recently received. I have found fuel tanks to go under the wings. The Special Hobby's IDF weapons set for the SMB-2 should do nicely. I also have the Heller Weapons set for other things to hang under the wings, such as chaff and ECM pods. I may well make a what-if bucket of instant sunshine from an Exocet, modified of course.

Gondor

Quote from: Gondor on May 13, 2025, 09:03:02 AMBeen thinking about the Mirage G8 I recently received. I have found fuel tanks to go under the wings. The Special Hobby's IDF weapons set for the SMB-2 should do nicely. I also have the Heller Weapons set for other things to hang under the wings, such as chaff and ECM pods. I may well make a what-if bucket of instant sunshine from an Exocet, modified of course.

Gondor

I was looking through my stash of models for the IDFAF earlier today when I realised that I should have several quite large fuel tanks from the centreline of the Hasegawa Kfir kits. After a short search, I found the tanks and claimed two of them for the future G.8 build. I also located several Exocets that were in an Etendard kit box, so I removed one as it will be converted as stated in my previous post.

I have also been buying several F-16 related items to try and make the best use of the parts that I have. I have bought an F-16F in 1/48 scale by mistake  I missread the scale 

I have also been looking at Lightning decals, seeing that I have recently ordered a P.8 from @scautomoton so that I don't put mine in the same markings as his. Model Alliance decals MA-72134 are Ideal I think, with my pick being the Luchars Training Facilities Flight, nice and bright. I might have enough parts from the several Lightnings that I have on the go so that I don't need to do anything other than raid the spares box for parts. 

Gondor

Hasegawa was the only brand to release a 1/72 F-16F as a limited edition, same as the E, back in 2011. They do have the 1/48 F-16F kit available but never released the smaller kits again. Still, you get most of the parts for the F in the F-16I SUFA kit, except for a couple of specific scoops for the tail, the big mouth intake and GE engine nozzle.
Kinetic also has the F-16I and D Block 52+ in 1/72 but lacks all the specific bits for the E/F Desert Falcons so the Hasegawa SUFA is a better option in most aspects.

Air-Graphics does the spine and the conformal tanks. I believe that they also do some decals for the Singapore version, and that there are decals for the E/F available somewhere. When looking at pictures, I get the feeling that the base of the single-seat fin is thicker than earlier versions, but I could be wrong.

Gondor

I've got a plan to combine an F-16XL with a Sufa one of these days. Hopefully make the XL a two seater. I've got the kits, just need the time.

Quote from: kerick on May 15, 2025, 06:55:03 PMI've got the kits, just need the time.

Now, that does sound familiar, having said much the same on numerous occasions myself! 

Quote from: kerick on May 15, 2025, 06:55:03 PMI've got a plan to combine an F-16XL with a Sufa one of these days. Hopefully make the XL a two seater. I've got the kits, just need the time.

Funny that you should say that. Some of my recent purchases are the two-seater F-16XL and the Hasegawa F-16I. I also have in the stash an Isracast F-16I conversion set. The idea is that the Isracast parts go onto the Hasegawa kit, and the plastic parts, which are easier to lengthen, etc, go with the F-16XL. Just because I have the same basic idea, please do not stop with your idea. The Israelis have four squadrons of F-16I's and there are numerous different loadouts that can be put on an XL, so it's unlikely that we will have the same result. There is also the fact that although I have the parts, that is no guarantee that I will build it any time soon.

Gondor

Quote from: Rick Lowe on May 15, 2025, 10:05:53 PM

Quote from: kerick on May 15, 2025, 06:55:03 PMI've got the kits, just need the time.

Now, that does sound familiar, having said much the same on numerous occasions myself! 

What is this rare and precious commodity  "spare time"  and where might one acquire it?

  Since I retired  I've been continually occupied;  initially moving house then completely redecorating it  and quelling a jungle of unkempt bramble into a garden that Madame Rheged  (a former research botanist) finds satisfactory.  Then there's volunteering as a National Trust  guide, adult education lecturing in basic meteorology, teaching map work and knot tying to the local Scouts, Hereford Cathedral volunteering  and a considerable number  of  village social events.  I'm not complaining at all as it's been tremendous fun (apart from some of the redecorating)  but a good dollop of spare time occasionally would be extremely useful!