Tag: Cold War
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Yak 23 – Part One – Front Line Fighter?
Provided you are smart enough to put the front line as far away from you as possible. This was the thinking of the Soviet VVS when they donated Yak 23 fighters to the Poles and Czechs in the 1950’s. The Soviets had the MiG15 to defend the Motherland against the west and the inferior Yak…
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It’s Only Gotta Work Once
A cynical phrase, but perfectly true – if you are talking about kamikaze planes, nuclear bombers, or interceptors. The occasions upon which they are used to fulfil their dire fates are such that they only need to work the one time – but that needs to be done with a degree of success. No kamikaze…
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Douglas Skyray F4D – Part Two – Peacetime Colours
Or at least as peaceful as a Cold War aircraft could get… I am always happy to see military aircraft in bright colours – the yellow wings of the pre-war US Navy – the dazzling squadron codes of the pre-war RAF – the bright stripes of the pre-war Italians. Because brightly coloured aircraft are not…
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English Electric Lightning – Part One – Sad Box Special
Yet another orphan of the storm – a tattered, neglected box at the back of a shelf. An old decal sheet. An outdated model. Just my meat. The inner plastic bag was sealed and every part was there. And I have never built a Lightning before. This is a one of the classic early series…
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Supermarine Swift FR.5 – Part Five – NATO Eye
Call me suspicious and cynical if you wish – I mean a person like you would…but I suspect that the ranks of photo reconnaissance aircraft are generally made up of fighter failures. They are either not fast enough, nimble enough, or well-enough armed to succeed on the battlefield, and are relegated to flying above it…
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Supermarine Swift FR.5 – Part One – A Christmas Belle
Yes, I did get this for Christmas, and yes, I did select it myself. I know how to operate a holiday… This is a new Airfix kit – meaning that the plastic is a perfect consistency, the mouldings are accurate, and the instruction book is detailed enough to cope with even weird parts. There will…
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Convair F-106 – Part Two – Delta Dart
I have been fascinated by this aircraft for decades – they were flying north of my home province during some of the more critical parts of the Cold War. Every new Fifty Cent Fighter Series aircraft seems to be getting a slightly different treatment. In this case it is Mr Hobby aqueous primer and surface…
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North American F-100 – Part One – The Start Of A Project
I heard a suggestion a few weeks ago and took it on board – a good idea for the Big Local Plastic Model Show. I hope we are granted the blessing of it and are here to participate – in anticipation of which I have started a project to fill two display tables. It’ll be…
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Republic Thunderflash – Part Five – Box Art
I tips me lid to the artist who painted this Republic RF-84F Thunderflash on the kit box. His rendition proved to be the most helpful reference I could find for this aircraft. I find colour call-outs fun to look at as snapshots of what one might make from the box. But I still want other…
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Republic Thunderflash – Part One – The Flying Photographer
Without realising it I completed a couple of builds that could start a new shelf in the Air Museum – and now I have No. 3 and No. 4 in the stash; a Republic RF84F Thunderflash and A Lockheed RT33. Together with the P-38 PRU and Spitfire PRXIX they are the eyes in the sky…
The Little World 