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Many thanks Gil. Your work is superb! Mark

Hey guys, I finally finished my Shooting Star after more than a year and 385 hours later. Here it is: e This is old Monogram 1/48" scale kit I had lying around for over 40 years and I decided to do something with it. I sanded off all the raised panel lines and rescribed with a No. 11 X-Acto blade for starters. Decals are the old Micro Scale and markings represent the 94th "Hat in the Ring" squadron based at Elmendorf Army Air Force Base in 1947, hence the Artic red used for ID purposes. Cheers, Mark

Way to Go, Gil! Mark

I thought it originally was an Oscar. It seemed to bear the silhouette. Cheers, Mark

Great job! But isn't this a Nakajima Ki-43 Oscar? Mark

Hello Gil. This is the old 1/48" Monogram kit I had hanging around in my closet for over 40 years. I sanded the raised panel lines and other details completely off, then used Tamiya Black lacquer primer. The NMF is Alclad II Hi -Shine, and masked off here and there to add Testor's Model Master Aluminum where indicated. Best, Mark

Well guys I'm getting closer to finishing this F-80B. So far, this is what I have: Cheers, Mark

Welcome aboard, Jim! Unfortunately, as the Duke says, we see fewer and fewer pure hobby shops. Online hobby shops seem to be the current wave. We hope to see your work sometime. Happy modeling, Mark

Very nice David! Keep up the good work! I will be joining you soon, with a 1/48" scale Monogram F-80B from the 94th "Hat In The Ring" squadron markings. I'm around three weeks from completion. Mark

Thanks for the additional information Pete. Mark

Many thanks, Eagle and Pete. I'll look them up. Happy Modeling, Mark

After 27 years my old air compressor finally bit the dust around two weeks ago. I'm looking for a new adapter since my old hose is a 3/8" female coupling which will not fit the new air compressor's 1/4" male fitting. I have been searching all the local hardware stores and the web with no luck so far. Any suggestions? This really shouldn't be a big deal, but I am trying to finish my Monogram F-80. Many thanks, Mark

Excellent! Way to go, Carlos! Mark

Very, very nice, Carlos! A Pacific P-47N, no less! It looks great! Keep up the good work! Mark

Welcome aboard Roger! Fasten your seat belts, this hobby becomes more interesting by the day! Mark

You're a man after my own heart! Great job Gil! This is an aircraft from my favorite era. Mark

The only other specialist that may or may not know about this is possibly Mike Quan or Ed Grune of IPMS North Central Texas (Dallas), I have known Mike Quan for many years and is very knowledgeable in many areas. He has been on the Forum before and you might leave him a message. Ed is a ship specialist. I hope this may help you out. Mark

That's a good question, Buck. I haven't really looked at the technical details. It was a wonderful build, no doubt about it! By the way, welcome aboard and Happy Holidays to you! Mark

Welcome Larry. You are in great company! Mark

Welcome aboard Hank! And this comes from an avid old aircraft buff! Ships are in a class by themselves! Your work on the battleship looks great! Mark

Keep up the good work, Gil! Mark

Speaking of F9Fs, I wonder if Aeromaster or another decal company might come out with a set of decals for Navy Lt. Royce Williams Panther, whose epic dogfight with seven MiG-15s took place on 18 November 1952 with VF-781. Williams was attached to the USS Oriskany. Williams was later credited with four of them many years after the Korean War ended in 1953. Source: F9F Panther Units of The Korean War, Osprey Combat Aircraft #103. Mark

Nice going, Duke! Keep up the good work! Mark

Nice work Gil. I love the markings! Leading edge port wing landing lights ( and underwing dive flaps) first appeared on the P-38J-25-LO through the entire L models, and the M night fighter. Yours looks like a late J or Early L model. Keep up the good work! Mark

Welcome aboard Scott! We have a terrific group here! Mark