Beginnings of my 1:144 aircraft fleet

[aferguson]

bandai made a wwii era corsair and F toys made a korean war era corsair. There is also a diecast one i forget the name but it's like $115 on ebay. Dumb.

the hellcat/wildcat/dauntless was the latest airplane series from F Toys, released in Jan of this year. They released a helicopter series in Feb: apache, cobra and something else kinda boring. In April they have another single engined fighter series coming out, 109G, zero, p-47 razorback. So they're still alive and kicking. Nobody else is making much 1/144 these days though...too bad.

The F toys Hellcat is quite nice btw.

As far as putting together these small fighters; you haven't lived til you've tried the A5M Claude. The instrument panel is about the size of a grain of sand and has to be snapped into a locating peg in the fuselage, up and under the cowl. I must have dropped it 42 times before i finally gave up and did without it.

[Dauntless]

Yes those Avion X diecast are very cool, but overpriced. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Avioni-X-1-144- ... 4ac2090a6a

If they could bring the price down to even a single engine Hobby Master 1:72 or less then we'd have something.
They make a Val, Kate, Hellcat etc. I would pay a reasonable price for them. Imagine if this company did bombers as detailed as their little fighters.

Thats good theres another wave of F-Toys fighters coming out .

Good thing the Claude is not on my short list though.

[aferguson]

the actual retail price of the Avion X planes is around $40 or $50 plus shipping. The ebay seller is asking $115 for them.......not sure if he's hoping for suckers or they're out of production or what.

[Epap]

Having dabbled with some 1:144th scale fighters, float planes and attackers, I find that making kits of such a small size is, at best, problematical. So I limit myself to mediums and "biggies" in this scale with a strong preference for the ready-made stuff. I must say that upping the size a few notches-----to 1:100th or 1:87th------makes a huge difference when looking at and handling a MC-202, Oscar or Yak-3 and, accordingly, I have a rapidly growing collection of such models.

[Dauntless]

Found a few of those Avioni-X planes for cheaper than that ebay seller. In the $40 - $60 range.
Wouldn't mind having the Kate and Val at least. Well made it looks like.
The out of production F-Toys Kate and Val are $50 anyways at auction. Rather have the better detailed diecast I think.

Looks like Avioni-X made a 1:87 Rex floatplane and another Japanese biplane too Epap.

While browsing for those found a pic of the upcoming F-Toys Bf-109, P-47, and Zero you mentioned Aferg.
Could probably do without the Zeroes, but the other two look promising. Especially the P-47 Razorback, and it looks like none of the 21stC schemes are there which is cool because I already have those.

[The_Helicopter_Pilot]

As I don't have any 1/144 P-47's I think I might jump on those, they look pretty nice!
I can pass up on the 109's and zeros, as I can get bandi wings for a dime a dozen...

[Dauntless]

The 109G models are a little more scarce, but yeah primarily interested in the Thunderbolts.

Dragon Warbirds makes the same "Little Chief" P-47 in 1/72. Here's what it looks like.
http://www.flyingmule.com/products/DM-50305

The Tuskegee Redatail is a definite buy for me too.

[aferguson]

does anyone know what the specials are for this series?

[Dauntless]

Looks like they are showing one special checkered nose P-47 on the box.

Can't find anything on the other two. Though a Nishizawa Zero or a Hartmann 109 would be preferable.
Did Takara make a Hartmann Bf-109G?

[aferguson]

they usuallly make 2 specials per set now, so the other special will be either a 109 or zero but probably not both. I'd like a kamikaze zero as the special, complete with 500 pound bomb. That would be cool.

[Dauntless]

That would at least be something different. They seem to like to put the Zero in many assortments.

Ordered three F-Toys Mustang B/C's, the two regular US ones for less than $8 a piece and the special Old Crow D-Day for $14 from an online retailer.

[The_Helicopter_Pilot]

Does anyone have any of the F-Toys Spitfires they could post pictures of?
Also, has anyone gotten any of the 1/300 F-Toys aircraft?

[Dauntless]

Bought one a while back. An F-Toys in 1941 camo, no D-Day stripes. Just haven't put it together yet. Kinda gun shy with the fighters after the Ki-43 Oscar experience.
Sometimes you can find pics on ebay, or close ups on the web. Or wait for one of us to put one together.

Hey just got my three P-51's from Model Wearhouse.com and the special/ secret P-51 B/C is not Old Crow but rather a silver bird with a yellow tail. What's up with that? Never seen one before. Anybody know anything about it?

Still have to get an Old Crow though.

[The_Helicopter_Pilot]

You know, the F-Toys models are supposed to come with a piece of gum, how come when you get them off of eBay, the seller takes it out?
Is it a law not to sell it with the model?

[aferguson]

i've received several with gum but i imagine the seller usually takes it out when they are inspecting what's inside. I've never chewed any of the gum, btw.

[jlspec]

I think the Old Crow P-51 is a regular issue in the Select Vol 1. This almost like a "best of" series with the P-51, F-86, F-4, F-14, Bf 109, Fw 190 and some others.
I have the yellow tailed special also. Did some checking, it is from the 5th FS, 52nd FG, Madna Italy, 1944

[The_Helicopter_Pilot]

i've received several with gum but i imagine the seller usually takes it out when they are inspecting what's inside. I've never chewed any of the gum, btw.

I'd never chew it, but I just figure if the seller says its complete, everything would be there, even the gum haha

[Dauntless]

I think the Old Crow P-51 is a regular issue in the Select Vol 1. This almost like a "best of" series with the P-51, F-86, F-4, F-14, Bf 109, Fw 190 and some others.
I have the yellow tailed special also. Did some checking, it is from the 5th FS, 52nd FG, Madna Italy, 1944

I get it now. Forgot about the Select series.

I do like the special Mustang anyways. It's good to know where it was operational, thanks.

Anybody have the 1:144 Aeroart P-51D Aferg mentioned earlier in the thread yet?

I ordered "American Beauty" now that it's back in stock at the Mule. They seem to have the best deal on these.
http://www.flyingmule.com/Merchant2/mer ... ch=aeroart+

[Dauntless]

Hey guys, think this is a good deal for the set, plus maybe a chance to get a special version in there with ten planes.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/F-Toys-Wing-Kit ... 1c24c8de3b

Going to change the French Aircobra into this if possible:

[aferguson]

i'd be interested in your opinion of the Aeroart Mustang.

[Epap]

i'd be interested in your opinion of the Aeroart Mustang.

I almost bought the 1:72nd scale version, which, except for the extra stars and bars on the wings, looked like a pretty accurate replica. Now, I hear that the extra insignias may actually be correct----though I can't confirm this. In that event, the scaled down 1:144th scale version of the P-51D should be a good bet,

[aferguson]

yes i think they are. A number of US planes in Italy had extra stars and bars on the other wing, where there are normally none carried. I don't know the reason behind it but i've seen P-47's based in Italy with them.

It may have been an attempt to make the planes more recognizable to friendly anti aircraft gunners.

Edit: i just noticed the 'Bunnie' p-51 by Aeroart also has extra stars and bars. While based in Italy, i've never seen or heard that it had them, so it may be a screw up by Aeroart. Calls 'A B' into question too. Well, if they turn out to be wrong they are probably easily removed with nail polish remover.

[Dauntless]

Got both of the P-51's coming in so I'll update.

Scored a new in box IXO Mavis on ebay a couple days ago. The seller had a buy it now $55 with free shipping.
Though it was high but don't know when I'll get the opportunity again, so barely any hesitation.
The seller later e-mailed that it comes with the French magazine too.

[aferguson]

i bought the F Toys blue nose P-51B. Does anyone have any info on it ie when and where it was based? I can't find anything on that specific plane.

[jlspec]

i bought the F Toys blue nose P-51B. Does anyone have any info on it ie when and where it was based? I can't find anything on that specific plane.

Bodney, England Col John C Meyers, 352 FG, 487 FS, "Lambie II"

http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/URG/meyer.html