David Hingtgen

I've never seen droptanks on an F-8, and only once on a test plane have I seen Bullpups. I own nearly every F-8 book that's been published or re-issued in the last decade. F-14: Block numbers are never changed, no matter what happens to it. Same for all plane, it's part of the serial number. The final F-14 mods were the HUD's for the B's, and GPS/JDAM. LANTIRN was slightly before JDAM AFAIK. Acronyms galore!

Just a few comments: 1. Recent PS2 controllers suck compared to a launch day one. I am not the only one to notice, and it's very obvious to me. I searched for a while to find a "old" PS2 controller for sale to replace the one from my PStwo, and will buy another soon as a spare. And yes I popped them open to compare, and found small but definite differences. Different enough for me to spend 25 bucks on a new controller. Was NOT going to play AC5 on the new sucky one. 2. Hori pad for GC is nice, but if they'd have done SNES style buttons instead of GC it'd rock. The GC button arrangement sucks for many games, especially fighting games. 3. Actually preferred DC controller to twin-sticks for VO:OT. 4. Original US-style Saturn controller is the best I've used. The Saturn controller coming out for the PS2 is either the original JP style or later US style, I can never remember. Shoulder buttons are the main real difference, casing is mainly a cosmetic change. 5. I hate GC triggers. Gotta press them in half a foot before they register, then they "sprong" back up audibly. 6. Xbox S controller always makes my 3/4/5 fingers curl in weird angles, same problem as DC controller---the giant "trigger holder/handholds" scrunch my fingers behind the controller towards the center. I want nothing on the "back" of a controller---PS controllers are much better. If I stop playing due to finger pain, it's because my middle and ring finger are rubbing or pressed against a hand-hold/trigger button area, not due to button pressing.

Hasegawa is 95% planes, 5% ships nowadays. I'm surprised they even made a VF-1 battroid at all. A MG/PG style battroid is basically unthinkable.

Super Hornet's RCS has been reduced to that of an F-16. F-18A has a fairly large RCS, F-18C is smaller, and now F-18F is smaller than that. The Super Hornet isn't so much "stealthy" as "no longer such a blatant beacon".

Mentioning this because DOA/Kasumi fans are likely also NG/Ayane fans, there's a statue of Ayane in her NG outfit: http://www.hlj.com/product/KBYSV-04 Diamond is going to import it to the US in April, should be $40. There's also a matching very cool Ryu. http://www.hlj.com/product/KBYSV-03 Kasumi always gets more/better figs than Ayane, this is the first Ayane where the face doesn't suck. There's many Ayane figs, but I still don't own any because none have a face that looks like hers at all. (Ayane is WAY high up on my list of game/anime characters--I like purple hair) Now I'll finally be able to have an Ayane.

Their PW-powered F-16's have the big intakes, and none have AMRAAM-capable wingtip launchers. The F-18 is half A, half C. I could go on for days, but that's a nice sampling. In addition to the F-15E that can't carry bombs...

Dragon's page is updated: http://www.dragonmodelsusa.com/dmlusa/welcome.asp F4U, F-18F x2, F-14B. Sigh, look at the VF-103 plane's back end... Yes it's only a drawing, but it doesn't bode well IMHO.

The B-2 is decidedly stealthier than the F-117. It has like no visible panel lines, rivets, joints, etc. and actually uses differential thrust for control when in "stealth mode". Ever noticed how you ALWAYS see a B-2 with its ailerons partially split? That's because they are utterly ineffective when 'closed'. In normal ops, it always keeps them partly open like 5 degrees, as that is the true "neutral" position---only past that do they start to function. When it closes them (for stealth) it switches to pure engine thrust changes for control.

AFAIK removing the refueling probe doors throughout the USN is a fairly recent thing. If you saw one years ago without them, it's probably the reason they got removed: As in, they tend to come off rather easily on their own, creating one heck of a FOD hazard. Nowadays they just remove them to make sure they don't fall off in flight or on deck. As for HAWK missiles: seems that only 2 F-14's were ever modified to carry them, and it really couldn't use the AWG-9's signals at all well so the program was cancelled after the Iran/Iraq war. Rumors of 2 successfull kills though.

IRIAF had F-14 refueling doors removed from the start. Only recently have USN Tomcats had them removed. From what I've read, using HAWK's was only an experiment, never made it much past a few flights, maybe 1 or 2 firings. Certainly don't expect to see it carried on F-14's nowadays. PS-- AIM-54 clone? Russia calls it the AA-9.

Mislovrit, your post was 100% unrelated to aircraft. Talking about political policy killed the Chinese stealth fighter thread. And you tend to make 99% of your posts political in every thread you post. At least in all the aviation threads. To everybody: this is the AIRCRAFT versus thread, not the nations/policy/politics/nukes versus thread. Yes of course policy affects the procurement/reason for being for most military aircraft, but if you're going to bring it up, make it RELEVANT. Human-rights violations, religion, being communist etc all have no relevance to the planes. Wanna talk about Iraq? Talk about their MiG-29's, not mustard gas... North Korea? Talk about the Flanker rumors and how the Wolfpack or Kadena would go after them, not Kim Jong Il's policies...

So it is. The fact that it's F-14*A* really messed me up. I thought it was the CVW-8 marking on the tail--it's rather similar, and was carried when VF-84 had markings quite like those in the early 80's. Saw F-14A in Jolly Rogers colors with a yellow spot on the rudder---thought VF-84 in the early 80's with the air wing marking. But looking closer it is VF-103. On an F-14A... Of course since their F-14A's have B back ends maybe the B's will have A back ends... ::edit:: Oh hey, the other pic actually labels it as an F-14B (and I have issues with that) and is clearer despite being smaller. (hey, I'm on dialup, I clicked on the "big" pic for only like 2 of the pics) Sigh, I keep thinking the DW F-14's are going to be far worse than the F-15's in mixing up parts. All the parts are there, they're just not assembling them right. And of course, much like the F-15's, they'll probably "fix" them after like 4 releases, leaving those first produced, highly-desired schemes really inaccurate. (DW's F-15C's finally have the tailfins right and no turkey feathers---F-15E's still have boatloads of errors though) They'll probably give us messed up VF-1, VF-2, and VF-101 planes, then "fix" it and give us accurate VF-14, 11, and other squadrons not many people care about...

Actually, if they do it like their "max number of variants" kits of the late 80's/early 90's, they could do EVERY variant. You should see what their F-4 kits are like. The number of molds and parts is insane to accomodate the ability to build any variant (except RR-powered ones, only Fuji did those). It's all a question of how well some variants would sell. But they most certainly have the ability and experience to make every single variant if they decide to. They just have to decide before the first one's made, not later. It'll be really obvious once the first one's out which other variants are planned.

I'll say it again: The Corsair is the coolest-sounding plane ever. Merlin-Mustangs have nothing on it. And the Mustang's sound is merely from the engine--you can take it out of the plane, run it on a test stand, and get the same sound. A Sopwith Camel would sound the same if you put a Merlin in it. The Corsair's sound is actually caused by the plane shrieking through the air at high speeds... At my last airshow, I actually ate lunch sitting in the grass next to a Corsair.

F-15K would rock at long range (massive power/speed, could do the "speed-boosted long-range AMRAAM launch" better than any other plane), but the EF-2000 could certainly out-maneuver close-in. Dual vert stabs are rare and rather pointless on delta-winged planes. Anyways, the real reason I'm posting is that Dragon has posted some stuff: http://www.dragonmodelsltd.com/05-NUG-Dragon-booth/index.htm Notables are the VFA-102 Super Hornet and VFA-122 drawing, the VF-111 F-14 again, and looking in the background, VF-84 F-14. (1980's, not white-belly) Still no nose-pitot on the F-14... Also the F4U is rumored to have movable wings (folded/unfolded).

http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com THE site for modelling planes. Their forum is gigantic and you'll find literally thousands of knowledgable people, dedicated "Tools and Techniques" sub-forum. http://s102164210.onlinehome.us/forums/ind...hp?showforum=12 Anyways, for brush-painting I've gotta say I get a lot better results with acrylics. And the "multiple thin coats" thing works even better with them than with enamels. My best advice for brush-painting: get the longest, softest bristles you can. And use the right size brush. Big part? Don't use 76 strokes of a tiny brush. Conversely, don't use a 1/2 inch brush on a wheel... Shopping? Mainly www.greatmodels.com (though they do have a rather "unique" ordering system, somewhat akin to HLJ), and www.squadron.com. Also try www.scalehobby.com

AFAIK, no sprue cutter will make a "perfect" cut. You will ALWAYS (well, 99.99% of the time) have to shave/slice/sand off that last little bit yourself. Sometimes, if you try, you MIGHT get a "perfect" cut. When building MG/PG Gundams or Zoids etc that I don't intend to paint (AKA, not "real" modelling) and I just want to snip 900 parts off quickly, I might get ONE "perfect" cut out of the thousands needed to free every part. (I think it happened twice on my PG Wing Zero) But the risk of gouging out the part is much higher if you try to make a flush cut. For every 1 part that comes out "perfect", 20 will have a gouge/tear in the plastic from attempting a perfectly flush cut. Since you have to finish it up anyways, it's best to snip a small distance away from the part to make sure the plastic doesn't tear/splinter. PS---if you attempt to snip a clear part, it'll shatter or at least get BIG cracks. Always simply use an Xacto and slice slice slice until it's free. Yes, it takes forever, but nothing's worse than ruining a large clear part by attempting to snip it. Or in summary: Phadeout, you're already doing it the best/recommended way, keep doing it. It's a lot easier to shave/sand extra bits away, than to go back later and fill in spots with putty.

All planes become maintenance nightmares after 30 years, especially those with complex/unique systems (F-14 anyone?). Simple planes (DC-3's, or even DC-9's) are easier. And from what I've seen/heard, DL pretty much just ran their Tristars until they needed a D-check then sent them to the desert. I've never seen a fleet so "mis-treated" until retirement. Most airlines tend to maintain a "we're going to get rid of it soon" type decently well, but DL really seemed to give no attention at all to their Tristars once they knew they were going to phase them out. (not to rag on DL mx, I like DL a lot--but boy did their Tristars seem to get not an ounce of care in the last few years of their lives) I actually flew on DL once (with an extra stopover at ATL) purely to get a Tristar before they went out of service.

I thought the current Australian was a totally new airline, unrelated to the previous one. PS---no "airplane vs" topic is as heated as Airbus vs Boeing. That's just asking for trouble on a lot of forums. Of course, my answer is always MDC, but most people know the REAL answer is Lockheed and automatically exclude it. The Constellation was so awesome some airlines kept them around a few years instead of buying jets (or at least, not as many jets). And the Tristar is still the best and most advanced airliner ever. There's more to a plane than the cockpit, it's the other systems that really show technology. Only airliner with an all-moving tailplane. And the same DLC as the Tomcat. And an auto-land better than any 777 etc.

Thanks very much for the photos--I love airliners, but never see anything like that here in Iowa. (And Airliners.net doesn't like "normal" planes they tend to only feature gaudy cartoon-character one-offs) Anyways, top to bottom: Tiger: A320-200 Singapore: 777-200 Australian: 767-300 British Airways: 747-400. That is their standard tail now, all will be repainted like that, if they haven't already. (I do think every "world tail" is gone now) The "fog" I'm guessing is just the engine starting up. Large RB.211's tend to do that, though I didn't think the newer -524's did, only earlier -524's and -22's like on the L-1011. (Though if an RB.211-22 does it you KNOW it, the cloud is as large as the entire plane--I have some pics I took myself of an L-1011 starting up) 2nd post: Garuda: 737-300 Korean: 777-300, which are longer than 747's. Bangladesh: A310 (-200 and -300 are identical most of the time) Singapore: 747-400 Bangkok: 717-200 The 717 is what Boeing calls the McDonnellDouglas MD-95, which is really a DC-9. It's exactly the same as if Boeing decided to call the DC-10 the 797 after buying out MDC. The 717/MD-95 is the only one they felt like changing the name. The MD-95 is an awesome airliner, it just didn't sell well. (Mainly because everyone expected NW to make a HUGE order and never did, and TWA was bought out by AA who cancelled the order)

I've always liked brass for most "metal modelling". Pretty close to copper (for obvious reasons).

Magnum ammo is hard to find. Maybe 40 rounds in the whole game. However you shouldn't need much. Even the hardest bosses should fall in a dozen shots or so. It's that powerful. My Broken Butterfly (which you can get for free, though I bought mine) is currently at 28.0, next upgrade is 50. Which is about 5 times more powerful than an upgraded shotgun at close range... Even the un-upgraded magnum has twice the power of most shotguns. And its power goes up by the power of a shotgun every time... Basically--it's the boss killer. Far more effective than any other weapon (besides a rocket launcher). Also good for any "really tough" regular enemy. Just use one round, they'll probably drop. Or save and go on a killing spree. I did on my second game and got all the way from the opening scene to inside the church in about 25 mins, since I was nigh-invincible with the magnum (and leftover ammo from the first time through).

Beat it, liked it much more than all previous RE's combined. Thermal scope is awesome, and be sure to use grenades if you've got them---you come across far more than you'd ever need, and you end up having to either leave behind or sell a lot of them. PS---Attache case L is probably skippable---you won't really need it until just before Attache case XL is available. I wasted 40K, since I bought XL right after L. PPS---best tip I can give: upgrading a weapon's ammo capacity refills it (not from your supply). By far the best way to acquire Magnum ammo---use it on a boss (don't reload, or if you do, use it all up), then go upgrade its capacity for a "free" refill.

Food coloring+Future is one of the most common ways of doing it. The other way is simply airbrushing thin coats of Tamiya Clear Yellow, possibly with some Smoke or Clear Orange mixed in. Word of advice: don't overdo it. It's quite subtle in real life 99% of the time. All those shots you see that have really "orange" cockpits are mostly the work of the orange light from a sunset, strongly accentuating the golden canopy. That, or the photographer kept trying to get JUST the perfect lighting angle that it'd "flare" orange. On a normal day, you really need to look, it's more like "slightly dark glass with a slightly yellow-brown tint". And F-18's tend to have pink-yellow, vs the F-16's orange-yellow. (Though Super Hornets are brown-yellow) I have plenty of pics of the real thing in normal lighting.

Wonder if whoever probably got paid $$$$$$ for planning the SuperBowl events realized a NIGHT flyover is really pointless. Schedule it earlier next time! Instead of pre-pre-pre haltime concerts, have the flyover... I could tell they were F-22's from the V.stab outlines, but I honestly couldn't tell if they were *Super* Hornets. Good look at the slime-green formation lights though.