21
Stories / Re: Jackrabbit
« Last post by GTX_Admin on Yesterday at 12:53:15 AM »
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22
Land / Re: Claymore's AH AFVs: Take 2
« Last post by Claymore on March 02, 2026, 07:06:49 PM »Oh, that's right! Because it's fun!
Thanks mate.
You've hit the nail squarely on the head there - it’s all about the fun - no more, no less!
23
Land / Re: Claymore's AH AFVs: Take 2
« Last post by Old Wombat on March 02, 2026, 06:09:47 PM »Shakes head in stunned admiration. 
... And wonders why he even bothers buying models, let alone bother building them.
Oh, that's right! Because it's fun!
... And wonders why he even bothers buying models, let alone bother building them.
Oh, that's right! Because it's fun!
24
Land / Re: Meng 1/35 Leopard C2 MEXAS (21B)
« Last post by Old Wombat on March 02, 2026, 06:01:54 PM »Excellent finish, Frank! 
A little splodge of dust/mud will fix that mis-placed paint issue in a jiffy!
A little splodge of dust/mud will fix that mis-placed paint issue in a jiffy!
25
Aero-space / Re: LS 1/144 Scale Nakajima Ki-43-II 'Oscar' and Nakajima Ki-84-KO 'Frank'
« Last post by Old Wombat on March 02, 2026, 05:45:28 PM »This LS dual subject kit was released in 1976. It was yanked out of my stash for a "quick build" whilst on a bit of leave in 1983, a Sunday, and 42 years, 7 months and 8 days later, finished.
Ooh! Now I'm feeling OLD!
Nice work, mate!
Only trird to build two 1/144 models - Eduard Spitfire Dual set - but I lost a couple of parts, broke a couple more & said "Bugger it!" & they went into the Greeble Box with the other 2 or 3 1/144 kits I've bought.
26
Land / Re: Meng 1/35 Leopard C2 MEXAS (21B)
« Last post by Claymore on March 02, 2026, 04:50:46 PM »A beautiful job Frank - crisp and clean build, great paint work and subtle weathering. Stunning! 
27
Land / Re: Meng 1/35 Leopard C2 MEXAS (21B)
« Last post by Kerick on March 02, 2026, 11:47:18 AM »This model is outstanding! Very nice building and painting skills!
I’m surprised this kit even gives you antennas. First I’ve ever heard of one doing so. I’ve tried stretched sprue but that breaks too. I finally switched to spring steel wire from my LHS. Just drill a hole in the top of the base, perfect. That little ball is one of these;
.JPG)
It’s meant to protect the tip of the antenna and the operators from each other. I simulate them with a drop of UV resin. I hold the wire with the end with the drop pointing down and then shine the UV flashlight on it. Works great. Paint it black or very dark green. Hope this helps.
I’m surprised this kit even gives you antennas. First I’ve ever heard of one doing so. I’ve tried stretched sprue but that breaks too. I finally switched to spring steel wire from my LHS. Just drill a hole in the top of the base, perfect. That little ball is one of these;
It’s meant to protect the tip of the antenna and the operators from each other. I simulate them with a drop of UV resin. I hold the wire with the end with the drop pointing down and then shine the UV flashlight on it. Works great. Paint it black or very dark green. Hope this helps.
28
Land / Re: Meng 1/35 Leopard C2 MEXAS (21B)
« Last post by Frank3k on March 02, 2026, 09:08:24 AM »Finished! I didn't weather the tank like the Kandahar examples - just some light dust and mud.
I got some of the interference paint on the cover for the driver's vision blocks:
I used part of the kit's decals for the serial number and added 2603 for the date I finished it. The giant tow loops seem to be in white, gray, exposed aluminum or camo. I went with the camo color:
"What am I forgetting?" Says the French Mechanic:
I forgot to attach the antennas! The antennas and the can holders at the rear of the turret have been the two most difficult and frustrating part of this build. The PE for the straps on the holders was stiff and difficult to work with - and poorly detailed. I eventually replaced the straps with painted Tamiya tape. The antennas had bad flash, difficult to remove attachment points and they weren't very flexible; both broke during cleanup. So I kept the bases, the ball at the top (may be a sprue bit but I thought it looked good) and the connectors between the two antenna sections. I replaced the antenna wires with 0.025" (0.64mm) and 0.20" (0.5mm) plastic rod. The bottles for the glow sticks also came from a Meng accessory kit:
Thanks for all the comments and to Greg and Stephen for the inspiration.
I got some of the interference paint on the cover for the driver's vision blocks:
I used part of the kit's decals for the serial number and added 2603 for the date I finished it. The giant tow loops seem to be in white, gray, exposed aluminum or camo. I went with the camo color:
"What am I forgetting?" Says the French Mechanic:
I forgot to attach the antennas! The antennas and the can holders at the rear of the turret have been the two most difficult and frustrating part of this build. The PE for the straps on the holders was stiff and difficult to work with - and poorly detailed. I eventually replaced the straps with painted Tamiya tape. The antennas had bad flash, difficult to remove attachment points and they weren't very flexible; both broke during cleanup. So I kept the bases, the ball at the top (may be a sprue bit but I thought it looked good) and the connectors between the two antenna sections. I replaced the antenna wires with 0.025" (0.64mm) and 0.20" (0.5mm) plastic rod. The bottles for the glow sticks also came from a Meng accessory kit:
Thanks for all the comments and to Greg and Stephen for the inspiration.
29
Land / Re: Meng 1/35 Leopard C2 MEXAS (21B)
« Last post by Buzzbomb on March 02, 2026, 05:33:29 AM »Good work.
I now am thinking how this added armour and fittings would fit on the Leopard AS1 which is closest to the 1A3 type turret, as a life extension upgrade.
Did you read the original inspiration to this build?
Yes and get the concept of the article , most logical and well thought though.
What my thoughts were was more in place existing vehicle life extension upgrade as defence budget get more pressure on it as threat assessments get watered down
Still liking the build, I really like to see builds from inspiration posts.
30
Stories / Re: Jackrabbit
« Last post by upnorth on March 02, 2026, 01:37:51 AM »RCAF Station Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada - March 1, 1967
It was an eventful week at Cold Lake. On Moday, February 27, 419 Squadron officially reactivated and the ceremony took a good part of the day.
On Wednesday, March 1, 403 Squadron unveiled Wolf 100 to non-squadron personnel for the first time. Based on the red wolf head in the squadron crest, the aircraft's front end was painted in red with a snarling wolf head. The tail fin was black with the official Canadian Centennial emblem in red.
The aircraft was rolled out of the hangar to a waiting group of military and civilian journalists and photographers and then went aloft with a Jackrabbit for an in flight photo session.
A former pilot of the aircraft recalls:
"It was great to finally see the aircraft painted up and in the air, a lot of us were having doubts about Wolf 100 becoming reality for a while. The restrictions that had been placed on Prairie Rattler flying during the Zweibrucken investigation in 1966 created some probelms and delays in our training for the 1967 airshow season and planning of the display routines.
We planned our display routine and special scheme of the aircraft with a good degree of secrecy. Everyone knew about the Golden Centennaires, but very few people outside of 403 Squadron knew about Wolf 100, we were going to be one of the surprises for the 1967 airshow season.
There was some very unfounded concerns by the few outside the squadron who knew about it that the Golden Centennaires might not take well to another RCAF team that could take attention from them. As the commanding officer of the Centennaires was one of the people who knew about us, he quickly dispelled such concerns and said he was happy to see us and that because the teams used different versions of the aircraft we would complement each other rather than compete with each other.
The display routine used two aircraft and was a demonstration of the tactical role the Prairie Rattler carried out. The other aircraft didn't have the wolf head painted on the front, but did have its tail fin painted black with the Centennial emblem on it.
We had three aircraft in total, two for the routine and one for the static display. We would rotate them so that some people at some shows could get up close to one of the special painted ones on the ground.
Like the Golden Centennaires, we only lasted for the 1967 season, but it was vewry memorable season and our aircraft never let us down once.
Canadair Prairie Rattler "Wolf 100"
RCAF 403 Squadron
RCAF Station Cold Lake, Alberta
1967
It was an eventful week at Cold Lake. On Moday, February 27, 419 Squadron officially reactivated and the ceremony took a good part of the day.
On Wednesday, March 1, 403 Squadron unveiled Wolf 100 to non-squadron personnel for the first time. Based on the red wolf head in the squadron crest, the aircraft's front end was painted in red with a snarling wolf head. The tail fin was black with the official Canadian Centennial emblem in red.
The aircraft was rolled out of the hangar to a waiting group of military and civilian journalists and photographers and then went aloft with a Jackrabbit for an in flight photo session.
A former pilot of the aircraft recalls:
"It was great to finally see the aircraft painted up and in the air, a lot of us were having doubts about Wolf 100 becoming reality for a while. The restrictions that had been placed on Prairie Rattler flying during the Zweibrucken investigation in 1966 created some probelms and delays in our training for the 1967 airshow season and planning of the display routines.
We planned our display routine and special scheme of the aircraft with a good degree of secrecy. Everyone knew about the Golden Centennaires, but very few people outside of 403 Squadron knew about Wolf 100, we were going to be one of the surprises for the 1967 airshow season.
There was some very unfounded concerns by the few outside the squadron who knew about it that the Golden Centennaires might not take well to another RCAF team that could take attention from them. As the commanding officer of the Centennaires was one of the people who knew about us, he quickly dispelled such concerns and said he was happy to see us and that because the teams used different versions of the aircraft we would complement each other rather than compete with each other.
The display routine used two aircraft and was a demonstration of the tactical role the Prairie Rattler carried out. The other aircraft didn't have the wolf head painted on the front, but did have its tail fin painted black with the Centennial emblem on it.
We had three aircraft in total, two for the routine and one for the static display. We would rotate them so that some people at some shows could get up close to one of the special painted ones on the ground.
Like the Golden Centennaires, we only lasted for the 1967 season, but it was vewry memorable season and our aircraft never let us down once.
Canadair Prairie Rattler "Wolf 100"
RCAF 403 Squadron
RCAF Station Cold Lake, Alberta
1967