Joe Hegedus

Like Steve said, "die-cast" are typically metal for at least all the major components; some use plastic for smaller detail parts. The ones I have are mostly metal, with plastic for smaller details.

The term "die-cast" is, when referring to scale models, typically used to mean models purchased that are already finished and assembled, ready for display with minimal assembly required. As you note there are several brands and the quality can vary widely, from a passing resemblance to the subject that are pretty much toys, to high-quality display pieces. The main market seems to be, as far as I know, collectors who are only interested in displaying the finished item, although I admit to owning a few.

Can’t help you with your request, but I’m pretty sure the F-16 does not employ the GBu-16; that’s pretty much a USN/USMC-only weapon. GBU-12 on a high-speed TER is more appropriate for an F-16.

BuNo 160264 (Last Skyhawk) in NATC markings.

But changing the outer mold line of the rack may have a detrimental effect on store separation characteristics. It’s a different shape to the front end, with a resulting change to the flow field around the rack. Although, since APKWS requires a “smart” launcher (MIL-STD-160 compatible), and the normal BRU-42 TER is not a 1760 rack, there would have had to have been some work done to make the interface work (I suspect that they got some BRU-70 ITERs that are 1760 compatible, but have the same OML as a BRU-42). Are High-Speed TERs 1760 compatible? I don’t think so (but I don’t k

When new, the paint would be gloss (typical for USN trainers), but weathering would probably reduce the sheen. I don't know if I'd go full flat on the finish, but probably semi-gloss if the plane has been used for a while. Actually, if it were me, I'd go full gloss because I like "new" airplanes in general.

International Orange. I like to use normal Testors square bottle orange for that color, as in scale International orange looks too red to me.

Yeah, the orange flight clearance stickers were prominent.

Darn near almost 20 years ago at this point. I had a flight in a Super Hornet back in 2005 that was configured as a 5-wet tanker and at least 2 of the tanks were unpainted (black carbon fiber) FPU-12s.

I'm nowhere near an expert, but I would think that the slats on an F-4E or G would be in whatever color the surrounding aircraft surfaces were, since those surfaces on that airplane were to enhance maneuverability. I don't know about red in the speed brake, but I again I suspect it would be the surrounding color. Red on moving surfaces was more a USN/USMC thing than a USAF thing.

You’re mostly correct here, except that VX-9 doesn’t do the work to clear weapon configurations. That is the role of the DT test squadrons (VX-23, VX-20, and the others at Pax; VX-30 and 31 out west are weapon development squadrons that evaluate how well the weapon actually works, generally after the east coast squadrons have established an envelope to use it). VX-9 is an OT squadron - they take the weapon envelopes that the DT guys determine and evaluate whether or not they are actually useful for the mission. In other words, the DT guys establish whether or not the weapon or system that th

Oldest by what measure? Oldest tooling? Probably the Revell 1/28 WWI kits (Camel, Spad, Triplane) or maybe the Lindberg Deperdussin monoplane, Testors/Hawk PT-20, or Revell USS Nautilus. Oldest boxing/release? Probably the 1/720 Revell USS Pennsylvania kit Been in the stash the longest? Not sure I can answer that one, as my stash has a pretty high turnover rate besides building kits - changing interests means selling off some kits to make room for the new direction as I have a personal desire to limit the number of kits in the stash at any given time (ide

VF(N)-513 was often employed in night interdiction missions, and it was not uncommon for them to fly with HVARs under the wings, napalm, and bombs. The kit ordnance is perfectly reasonable, although I don’t know if I’d put the large bombs on with the rockets. - one or the other I think. https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/VMA-513?file=F4U-5N_VMFN-513_Wonsan_1950.jpeg#

For the dark gray, I’d go with something closer to Gunship gray. It’s far too dark in those pictures for Dk Ghost gray. If not Gunship Gray, maybe AMC gray (the gray used on the C-17).

I've ordered from them in the past, but it has been several years. No complaints at the time, but I don't know if they are still operating or how the current political climate may impact US residents ordering from them now.