1/144 aircraft with 1/150 models

[Sunray]

Obviously we all use them as they are the closest scale.  I do however find myself going for smaller types of aircraft so they fit in and don't look too out of scale.  

Not that I use a lot, as BKC and related modern rules negate the need for air to air combat, so with superiority decided by dice or theatre, airpower is ground support and interdiction.

My latest Latin American post war scrap is partially inspired by The Wild Geese  Pendraken (para) mercs up against US and Argentine infantry with a shed full of WW2 surplus.

At first I was going to use a 1/144 C-130 Hercules, but so as not to hog too much table space, have opted for  a nicely priced A-Models Fairchild Provider.  It is in real life, about 20ft shorter in both length and  wingspan.   In the movie Die Hard 2 a Provider is actually fitted with a pair of fake engines to resemble a larger transporter aircraft.

[fsn]

My latest inspiration has me fighting over an airfield.

1:144 aircraft. the SU15s look OK next to Pendraken stuff, but I'm a little worried about the Vickers Vanguard.

There is a dearth of suitable models in the period I'm looking at (early 1960s)

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Airfix used to do a fairly good range of airliners - 707, BAC111 and Caravell for 3.

IanS

[Matt J]

picked up a decent F4 Phantom for couple of quid for my Vietnam stuff. Nice model I'll post some pics when its done

[Sunray]

My latest inspiration has me fighting over an airfield.

1:144 aircraft. the SU15s look OK next to Pendraken stuff, but I'm a little worried about the Vickers Vanguard.

There is a dearth of suitable models in the period I'm looking at (early 1960s)

Hannetts have a useful stock. I game 1960s in a 10mm version of Peter Pigs AK47 scenario's.  I have sourced small fuselage aircraft like Attack's  MiG 15s and 17s.(£8), and the neat  A Models AN-14 which is a 1960s STOL transport.  I converted a B-25 Mitchell into a maritime patrol aircraft with wingtip tanks, sonar bulge and radar tail cone.  The ubiquitous  DC-3 was still around up until the 1990s.  It is Ok with 10mm.

The Pendraken (GR192 ) Stork is a useful addition to any game. The French manufactured and used them into the late 1950s, a few examples still flying.  If there is a gap in the 1/150  market, it is for small and relatively cheap kits of liaison/recon aircraft like the Storch - The Piper L-4 Grasshopper, and post war Cessna Bird Dog, the Auster AOP 9, all of which feature in BKC and modern OFBs and make a valuable addition to a wargame.

Now I don't want to get you excited but Osborne Models, Ontario Canada, (www.osbornmodelkits.com)  do a very neat de Havilland Beaver in N gauge. It would fit so well with a squadron of 1960s era  Centurions.....

The American wedsite Esty-     www.esty.com/listing.....click on 1/144   has an extensive range of military 1/144 small aircraft from post war and Vietnam era. I have no idea of the quality, but the box art is enticing ...as it always is.

[Sunray]

Hannetts have a useful stock. I game 1960s in a 10mm version of Peter Pigs AK47 scenario's.  I have sourced small fuselage aircraft like Attack's  MiG 15s and 17s.(£8), and the neat  A Models AN-14 which is a 1960s STOL transport.  I converted a B-25 Mitchell into a maritime patrol aircraft with wingtip tanks, sonar bulge and radar tail cone.  The ubiquitous  DC-3 was still around up until the 1990s.  It is Ok with 10mm.

The Pendraken (GR192 ) Stork is a useful addition to any game. The French manufactured and used them into the late 1950s, a few examples still flying.  If there is a gap in the 1/150  market, it is for small and relatively cheap kits of liaison/recon aircraft like the Storch - The Piper L-4 Grasshopper, and post war Cessna Bird Dog, the Auster AOP 9, all of which feature in BKC and modern OFBs and make a valuable addition to a wargame.

Now I don't want to get you excited but Osborne Models, Ontario Canada, (www.osbornmodelkits.com)  do a very neat de Havilland Beaver in N gauge. It would fit so well with a squadron of 1960s era  Centurions.....

The American wedsite Esty-     www.esty.com/listing.....click on 1/144   has an extensive range of military 1/144 small aircraft from post war and Vietnam era. I have no idea of the quality, but the box art is enticing ...as it always is.  Shipping is expensive- their Beaver was $16 +$12 postage.

[GrumpyOldMan]

Hi Sunray

The esty website seems to have died  .

Cheers

GrumpyOldMan

[Sunray]

Sorry about that Vic, I was not keeping tabs on who was still up on line.

[GrumpyOldMan]

Hi Sunray

Was it  esty or etsy? I've found etsy which is an eBay type website.


There is this listing https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/UniqueTrader?section_id=7631333&ref=shopsection_leftnav_8 that shows a lot of 1/144 resin stuff. From Artfire another selling site on his WW2 stuff:-

"The kits were originally designed and produced by Vitaslav Kopecky [Kopecky Resins] in the Czech Republic and are now molded and cast in South Carolina. The decals are designed and printed by Yuuichi Kurakami [Y-Kraft] in Japan."

Is this the one to which you were referrring?


DHC Otter

I'm just wondering if these are some of the Don Schmenk's stuff as well, since his old website is not around any more?

Cheers

GrumpyOldMan

[Sunray]

Hi Sunray

Was it  esty or etsy? I've found etsy which is an eBay type website.


There is this listing https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/UniqueTrader?section_id=7631333&ref=shopsection_leftnav_8 that shows a lot of 1/144 resin stuff. From Artfire another selling site on his WW2 stuff:-

"The kits were originally designed and produced by Vitaslav Kopecky [Kopecky Resins] in the Czech Republic and are now molded and cast in South Carolina. The decals are designed and printed by Yuuichi Kurakami [Y-Kraft] in Japan."

Is this the one to which you were referrring?


DHC Otter

I'm just wondering if these are some of the Don Schmenk's stuff as well, since his old website is not around any more?

Cheers

GrumpyOldMan

Yes, Vic, I do apologise for the typo - you are on the correct site.  And yes, the moulds could well be Schmenk's

[Risaldar Singh]

Yes, this Beaver is definitely from Don Schmenk. I bought one directly from him eons ago. The Edsy shop looks a lot like what someone by the name of AirAlex used to sell.

[Sunray]

I have just finished the build of the A Models Fairchild Provider.  It is not for beginners.  A world removed from the crisp injection plastic of Revell or even Airfix.  Spent an hour alone filing and sanding flash, the instructions are a work of pure fiction worthy of  a Booker Prize, as I had to drill non existing guide holes, and a host of parts are outsized and need to be filed down to fit.  Cut the slots for the wings prior to assembly as they too don't exist.

That being said, with a rear ramp scratch built, reinforced wheels and a decent paint job, the Provider is a decent size for the Wargames table.  Not much bigger than the DC-3 and a lot more capacity with the ramp from post war games.

My 'French Indo-China' Paras are inching to go, and I just ordered a brace of Panhard AML A/Cs from Leon as cargo.  They will give a good game against Chaffes and M4s.

  The assembled Third World landing strip, shanty town and VIP villa are scratch built, and when last in Tennessee,  I picked up a big bag of what will pass as  1/150 palm trees from ....a cake decoration store.