Subject: Re: Monogram II Plus
From: "Steve Bamford ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 10 Nov 2004 00:51:02 -0800

Hi Don,
I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC today.  Thanks for sending it in.   

Steve Bamford
Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com
 
Live like there is no tomorrow;
Love like you've never been hurt.
Work like you don't need the money.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Don Manning 
  To: [email-masked] 
  Cc: 'Belljohn Bibay Jr' 
  Sent: Monday, November 01, 2004 8:52 PM
  Subject: Monogram II Plus

  Steve - 

  Submitted for John Bibay's proposed USMC B-Day special.  (he's cc'd).  Sorry about the 640x480 size.

  Regards,
  Don

  Gallery Template #10

  1/48 Monagram AV-8B

  by Don "Spongebob" Manning

  --------------------

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 01.jpg here 

  This is the 1/48 Monogram AV-8B kit.  It was updated with the AMRAAM II+ conversion (all this was bought for my stash before the Hasegawa kit was released), Eduard photo-etch, some Hasegawa weapons, the Black Box cockpit and Two Bob's Decals.  The kit itself went together just as other reviews on this site have described.  Careful filling/sanding in the intake trunk pays off.

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  Fit of the AMRAAM conversion was no worse than the kit itself (you can see from the filler) with the hardest part being the fit of the nose/windscreen interface, which took alot of putty and contouring.  In the process I managed to sand the Navigation FLIR a little too much.  Their ALQ pod is a gem. The conversion features recessed panel lines so plan on rescribing most of the kit after removing the raised lines.  Overall I was petty happy with the conversion.

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  The Eduard set is essential - it includes the Mild-Detonating Cord (MDC) for the canopy.  This was attached using by pre-bending it to fit then carefully clamping it into postion immediately after the canopy was dunked in Future.  Also included is the slip/pitot instrument, and the barrier flap for sealing the tunnel between the gun pods.  The Black Box cockpit didn't fit well and took alot of finagleling to get it to work.  The seat is nice, but is too wide for the tub.  I think the HUD came from an old Techniks set, as I've never managed not to break the resin ones that Black Box provides.

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  The model was painted with Testors enamels, and weathered by pre-shading, a light wash and a dusting of pastels.  The weapons load is not really realistic but looks cool.  The Two Bob's decals went on without a hitch, excpet of a couple stencils that silvered - and I'm sure this was my fault as the paint job was rough in these areas. I've since dumped the AZTEC and bought an Iwata airbrush which works significantly better, and have recently became a huge fan of Gunze paint.

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  Photos and text © 2003 by Donald Manning