Moments of Zen

[NARSES2]

I'll "cross my fingers" for you     

[zenrat]

🤞🏼

[DogfighterZen]

Your support is much appreciated, gents! 
I'm already thinking of my next two projects, one real world and the other will be whif. Leaning towards a real world PoAF A-7P Corsair II because i've never built a SLUFF. For the whif i still have to choose one from three ideas i have in mind but i wanna check if i'll need any aftermarket bits or not.

[su27rules]

  

[DogfighterZen]

Well, finally finished the Heller Alouette III... not totally happy with the result because the kit fought me the whole way but still, reasonably satisfied with the end result.

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There's something very wrong with the kit's dimensions. I figure it's one of two options so, it's either the main rotor blades that are too long or it's the tail boom that's too short. The main rotor blades hit the tail rotor blades but i think the tail boom is too short because the tail rotor blades are way too close to the stabilizers...
I am happy with how it came out but in hindsight, i should've gone ahead with scratchbuilding the steps below the front doors, the kit's parts are way too big and chunky compared to the real thing...
Could've done a more accurate cabin interior but only found the proper photos after it was all closed up... 
Anyway, it's done. All i have to do is to take some beauty pics and put it in the cabinet.
That means it's time to finish the Mustang!
I'm also preparing the next real world build which will be the Fujimi A-7A, to be converted into an A-7P.
As for the next whif, i'm still trying to choose what to build but it will be another one of my Whif PoAF project.
Considering that my latest 3 finished builds were helicopters, the only other build on my bench is a prop fighter and my next real world build is a jet, maybe another chopper is what i need...

 

[Old Wombat]

She may have fought you all the way, but she looks good, meu amigo! 

[NARSES2]

It does look good my friend   

[zenrat]

What they said.

 

[DogfighterZen]

Glad you like the "Lobo Mau", gentlemen! Muito obrigado!     
This build has boosted my mojo a bit and, along with the Whifs, i'm gonna keep the real world PoAF builds going. Still have to set up the photo background for beauty pics, though...
Since i got back into modelling over ten years ago, i've built over 50 models, 33 of those being what-if PoAF builds, and i'm almost ashamed to say that the AL III is my second build of a real machine used by my own country's air force...   This is mainly because i've been trying to acquire the proper kits for the variants in question, decals and whatever aftermarket bits are needed for the aircraft i wanna build and i've also been trying to improve my skills a bit before i really get into it. I've also been waiting for some kits and parts to come up on the market... i just didn't wait long enough for a new AL III kit so maybe in the future i'll build another one of these choppers.
Again, i've recently ordered some parts to help reduce the workload for both Whifs and RW projects and just a couple of days after i received the flare dispensers for the Fujimi A-7P build, a 3D printed conversion set with everything needed for the Hobbyboss kits was announced by a Portuguese company, JR models... 
I've already ordered a set in 1/72 but a fellow modeller has recently shown me the set he received and the main part, which everyone was expecting to correct the squashed shape of the intake of the HB kit is nearly the same shape, just with a few added details so, a big disappointment there.
The rest of the bits look good so i'll be using them on the Fujimi kit.

Guess it's time for an update, now that i've finished a model so, the Whifs... I still have to finish the Mustang Mk.XX but i've got news for Guy!
I've also revived the PoAF P-40B build that i'd put back in it's box in 2023. I'd already bought the decals needed when i was building it but then i lost the motivation for the build when i was painting it... 
Yesterday i got it out of the box and did some work i'd neglected when i first built it so, it's time to move on with the build.
Like i've mentioned on my previous post, i'm probably also going to start another chopper soon, just haven't decided if it's gonna be real world or Whif. IF i go RW, it's probably going to be another Airfix/Heller kit, this time it'll be the PoAF's SA-330 Puma. If i choose a PoAF Whif, i've 3 ideas that i'd like to build sometime soon, including a PoAF SAAB J35 Draken.
Dizzy built one in SEA camo a few years ago so if i choose the Draken, it'll be done in a different scheme, probably an air superiority type.
As for the other two, one is a Special Hobby kit and the other is Fujimi/Hobby 2000, both of jet fighters that were also considered by PoAF generals back in the 1970s...

Non-PoAF builds, i have one in mind but have to chose from two or three countries and i'll probably need to buy decals for all options so that is on the back burner for now...

News regarding xmas/year end modelling purchases, there's the 3D printed correction/conversion detail set for Hobbyboss kits. It's available in 1/48 and 1/72 so i've ordered the smaller one now and the shop owner is just waiting for a new batch to be delivered to him to ship them out to me.
From the same Portuguese store, a set of 1/48 decals of another Portuguese brand, owned by the store's owner, called West garage models, for the "30 years of F-16 in PoAF service" tail art, which was the aircraft i sat in when visiting this year's PoAF exhibit in my hometown.
Still on the A-7 subject, i've managed to finally score what, with all things considered i think is a reasonably priced, Fujimi 1/72 A-7D after months of searches on Ebay and similar sites.
Also waiting for an order from SuperHobby containing a Special Hobby 1/72 Spitfire 21 contraprop, another RS 1/72 P-51H, the ANG boxing and a Def models 1/48 3D printed GE F404 closed exhaust nozzle for the Freedom models F-20 Tigershark kits.
Finally, i've gone a bit wild and placed an order on the Reed Oak rubber composites shop and my wallet didn't like it very much but i've been wanting these for quite a while...
I've ordered two pairs of AH-64E Apache crew figures, one pair is 48th for the Hasegawa kit and the other's 72nd scale, for the Academy kit.
I have both kits, both look really good in the box and i really want to build both with good crew figures to match the quality of the kits so, that's my excuse! 
They come out expensive, mostly because of the shipping costs but with that said, i may go back and buy some more of their range, there are quite a few good looking figures for different countries and eras and situations/scenarios.


 

[NARSES2]

Good to see actual progress and plans for such   

[DogfighterZen]

Good to see actual progress and plans for such   

Thank you, my friend! 

It's good to finally finish something but it's been taking me so long to finish a single model that it's becoming a bit frustrating.
I do have plans but time has not been on my side...

[NARSES2]

Good to see actual progress and plans for such   

Thank you, my friend! 

It's good to finally finish something but it's been taking me so long to finish a single model that it's becoming a bit frustrating.
I do have plans but time has not been on my side...

I don't think Time is on anybody's side 

[DogfighterZen]

So, finally had some spare time to set the lights and background up for some beauty shots of the real world PoAF Alouette III.
Don't think i'll have the time to finish the other two models on my bench so this will be this years last completion.

PoAF's Alouette III in gunship configuration AKA "Lobo mau" or "Bad wolf", which is a reference to the big bad wolf of the three little pigs and little red riding hood stories...
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Now that i have that helo in the cabinet, i think maybe it's time for the PoAF's Puma...

[NARSES2]

That has come out really, really well mate   

[PR19_Kit]

Looks pretty darn good there. 

Are those HUGE filters on the exhausts anti-IR measures?