How about a "What If" NZ Defense Force Group Build?

sounds like a cool idea!

Here is one I did last year. I wondered what the Apache might have looked like in Aussie camo scheme if our government had of purchased it instead of the ARH Tiger..

Count me in for the group build!

Cheers
Greg

ESCI F-16A

This could be an object lesson in the use of Blutac.
It might simply be the type of flat enamel - Revell 57 (FS36270) - that encourages 'bleeding' of the Blutac's carrier. Plainly seen is the darker areas where I'd masked.





I used Rev 57 as a base colour. Looking at it all-in-one I reckon I can darken it a bit with FS36118, as a scale effect. Full 36118 would be way too dark.
Dark green is Hu116 lightened about 30%, then diluted w/ light grey and misted on to break up the uniformity.
The FS34102 green is a rough mix of some spray bomb satin black and yellow, if I had to guess it would be about 6:1 yellow/black.





I did forget my usual addition of gloss clear to the paint mix, 50/50 paint to clear before thinning. I'll do that on the touch-up phase. It should reduce the Blutac smears.
The pattern's taken from the official A-4K scheme I've had on file since TTS days, adapted here 'n there to fit. Previous experience w/ tricky patterns prepared me for the work ahead. It won't be a quick process.

Regards

p.s. The fixed rear canopy part disappeared in to the Big Ether yrs ago. I'll try to heat-smash s/thing decent for a replacement. But, if anybody has a spare in 1/72nd laying around the parts bin and don't need it I'd be most grateful.

Are you going landing gear up, or are they doors tacked in place for the paint job?
I like the camo scheme, and that darker ring around the grey (from the Blu-tack?) looks cool too

Ldg gear will be down. If I can find where I put the nlg strut after carefully removing it and promptly leaving it s/where I can't find it!

Yep, them's the Blutac stains. Nertz.

Upside is, I've been bashing together a male mold from a pen tube. Couple of tries with smash-molding through a female former is looking positive for a rear canopy section.

Onwards and upwards.

Ross

I added a post the other day, but it seems to have disappeared. I have spare Revell and Hasegawa F-16 rear canopies, if you want to drop me your address. I'd imagine they should fit.

Would "What if the war hadn't finished in 1945" qualify for this? What if the RNZAF had gone on to get Hellcats, Bearcats, F4U-4 (-7) Corsairs, Skyraiders or if the XP-71(?) Bubbletop Kittyhawk had gone into production? Or our Mustangs and Mosquitos had gone into combat? Early jets as RNZAF aircraft in combat camo & markings?

IMO they all sound quite suitable for "what if" builds Wally.
Welcome aboard by the way

In the original WWII lend lease arrangement saw the Americans leasing British Bases. In the modern form of lend lease you suggest I have to wonder what exactly the United States could lease from us here in NZ?

citylimits wrote: In the original WWII lend lease arrangement saw the Americans leasing British Bases. In the modern form of lend lease you suggest I have to wonder what exactly the United States could lease from us here in NZ?

How about use of our airspace, and airports etc for their supplies being sent to McMurdo Station? I'm sure thats worth a few Abrams or F-18s