SCM Aggressor Group Build Fall 2019
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Still in shrink wrap waiting for another day....
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Initial construction has started! Getting the four forward fuselage parts lined up is always the hardest part with an Academy Legacy Hornet.
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One other thing to do is backdate the kit’s F/A-18C parts to the -A setup, in this case removing four antenna bulges and filling in the remaining panel lines.
![Album image #7 Album image #7](/albums/img/1/8/9/659189-25429-16-720.jpg)
Old kits are not necessarily worse than new ones. The 1980’s Italeri/Revell kit has better angled landing gear legs than the notoriously square Academy ones.
![Album image #8 Album image #8](/albums/img/1/9/0/659190-25429-53-720.jpg)
The rest of the kit is crap though and will serve as paint mule to get the paints to match the decals because of the countered colors for stencils and national insignia.
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Somehow the decals are darker and without the red hue from the cover picture, so I tested my mix on the Revell paint mule.
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Hard to see in this light, I’ll have to wait for daylight.
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Base color is good to go! On to the brown! 🙂
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It might need a smudgen of tan to get the exact hue. Also, note to myself: NEVER try to change a 0.2 needle setup into the airbrush I reserved for a 0.4 setup! The seal was widened, so the paint got everywhere and only spluttered out.... 🙁
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Even though, it gave me a broad idea about how the real one could look like. 🙂
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I started with a complete black primer layer and mottled the Ghost Grey on before blasting on the sand and brown. Seeing how faded the whole plane is, I think I mottle/marble all colors on.
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I need to catch up guys, sorry for my slow progress... I’m currently checking my seam work on that notorious four part lower fuselage.
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Consistent line down the glue line. Now I need to ignore any urge to ‘improve’ it. 😮
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What took the longest was to fill, sand, fill, sand, fill, sand...... my haphazard glueing of the LERX inlays.
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Now I prepared the rescribing of the access ladder, which was lost in the process. Wish me luck!!!
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Yesssss!!!
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A little painting done on the cockpit.
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Following Pierre’s guidance and taking a deep breath, I went ahead and measured and cut the cover panel. Easy!
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Taking a deeper breath however, now it was time to make the actual cut...
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Slowly without putting pressure on the scribing tool I went ahead until I saw white lines appearing on the bottom side, luckily at the exact panel line!
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And..... Snap! A separate flap/aileron!
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Getting there!
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Finally! Some progress! The forward fuselage is attached to the top part.
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Found out the radome is a tad wider than the fuselage. In order to save the details and not sand them off, I want to try something else. See if it works to narrow the radome by introducing a cut in the middle.
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That way, I can squeeze it while mounting it.
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This picture shows stiffeners on the verticals!
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Getting there.... I think I should have followed the Academy instructions instead of having self induced gaps and shifted panels.
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Today I received my order of MRP-233 and -243 through Hobbyworld-USA (thanks Matt!)
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Sadly the -243 was too dark (MRP-226 seems spot on though) and the -233 resembles chocolate milk. Tastes good but doesn’t have the reddish hue. Still looking for the perfect dark/red brown.
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Slooooooooooooow progress but at least I got the radome on! Cutting and squeezing it, worked!
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No cleanup required around where it meets the fuselage. 👍
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Now you see it.....
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....and now you don’t! Getting there. Just a drop of orange to this mix and I’m good to go.
Коментари
1 1 October 2019, 01:30
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Welcome Stephan! You might have to remove the seat cover before sitting down. I'm planning on covering the seat and HUD as seen in picture 2 and 3 to emphasize the Nevada heat on the Fallon ramp. 😉
1 October 2019, 15:41
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Fine fine fine! I'm very happy to see this project Patrick! I think it was 20 years or so when I built the #01 and used the same decal sheet of HDL...
modellversium.de/gal..hornet-hasegawa.html
1 October 2019, 15:55
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Aaah, now that you say that Bernhard, your hornet on MV was a huge inspiration to me some years ago 👍 this is the outcome:
modellversium.de/gal..=13058&origin=mb
1 October 2019, 16:28
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😄 What a coincidence! Both Bernard's and Daniel's builds are saved as a bookmark for reference for this build. I'm honored and humbled by your presence and can only hope I can live up to your expectations for this build. 🙂 @Hans, you know I'll always reserve a seat for a regular attendee. 😉
1 October 2019, 16:56
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Thanks guys! More to follow later this weekend after my camping trip in Texas. 👍
5 October 2019, 05:45
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Patrick, count me in as well...looking forward to see more photos of your progress! 👍 Have fun in 'The lone star State' ...we're going?
5 October 2019, 07:00
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Welcome Jos! Yesterday I returned from Eisenhower State Park at the shores of Lake Texoma just on the state line between Oklahoma and Texas. It was fun and I met a lot of fellow country men and women. 🙂 Back in the office again and hopefully I can find some time for this bird in this weeks evenings. On we go! 🙂
7 October 2019, 12:34
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Thanks Slavo! Glad you could join in and hopefully I might be able to pick your brain in the process. For now the only thing that looks promising, is that I have an order out for new airbrush needle seals and a completely new valve for my 0.2 airbrush and that I had set aside some new needle sets for all my airbrushes. Tonight I might be investing in thoroughly cleaning and servicing my airbrushes in front of the TV before any more work on the Bug can be done.
9 October 2019, 13:10
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I took it from the last comment in the pic that you´ll be taking the current splattered pattern as a base for marbling and then go over once again with fine lines... Which I´d be happy to watch, could give quite a result - I personally think marbling with tones of the final colors instead of just gray-scale is a thing😉 Regarding the "incident", it´s really strange, I sprayed several bottles of MRP colors dry and this never really happened not even with the somewhat sub-par primer... I go with rather low pressures and super-thin layers and they just work spot on - before a run, I blast 3 drops of cleaner through the Airbrush (iwata Neo, nothing too fancy...) and all goes fine 99% of the time...
9 October 2019, 14:30
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Oh no, not at all! The painted Bug is 'only' a slapped together Revell/Italeri 1980's vintage paint mule. I just wanted to know what mixing ratios I needed in order to get the exact same colors as the decals. Because the markings follow the contours of the paint scheme in the contrasting color, I need to be very specific. In case of a 'normal' Ghost Grey jet, any color would be fine as the markings are a different color anyway. So, that's my reason behind this paint test. On the real Academy Hornet, which I only just started on, I will go for black primer as well and then slowly build up all the colors with marbling the greys, sands and browns over a colorful palet to get that faded discolored look from being bleached by the Nevada sun.
In picture 9 you can see the MRP paints I used to mix the sand (basically Desert Tan with only a hint of Red Brown). The Ghost Grey was also MRP by the way... The Brown color is actually Tamiya acrylic NATO Brown mixed with their lacquer thinner and yes, I might have had the consistency wrong... 🙁 But I was also planning on stripping and overhauling my three airbrushes for a while as I felt the seals needed replacement and on my Harder & Steenbeck Evolution (0.2 setup) the valve was stuck, releasing only a very low air stream, which didn't atomize the paint as it should. Yesterday I 'needed' to paint and switched my 0.2 needle setup to my 0.4 other Evolution. That one needed new seals as well and I found out that the 0.2 needle could move freely in the 0.4 seal resulting in paint running through the whole airbrush body.
So, thank you for thinking along with me! See, I knew your brain picking would come in handy! 😄 But I know my airbrushes are the issue and not MRP's quality or even my pressure. I was pushing my airbrush overhaul past my 'next' projects but tonight might be a good night to get them fully stripped and ready for their new and fresh replacement parts. I think I just snug up on my couch and give them all my TLC they deserve. 😉
9 October 2019, 14:55
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PS. With MRP I hardly ever go over 10 psi (at least that's what my pressure gauge says) and they work like a charm every time. When I use Mr. Color I sometimes go up to 15 psi but only if I need broad coverage. 🙂
9 October 2019, 14:57
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Thanks for that tip Hans! 👍 I'll try that this evening. With only a couple of $$ for a set of three, it never hurts to have some seals on spare. 🙂
9 October 2019, 16:02
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Thanks Stephan but as already mentioned to Slavo, this is only my paint mule to test some colors. 🙂
9 October 2019, 18:05
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Guys, I need an opinion.... I want(ed) to build my Hornet powered down sitting on the Nellis concrete with covers over the exhausts, intakes, HUD and seat. Powered down also means that the flaps, ailerons and slats are lowered due to hydraulic bleed off. That means that for lowered flaps, ailerons and slats there are two options: 1) Getting the Wolfpack 72005 Flaps Down Set and 2) Cutting up the Academy wings 'ye old fashioned way'. But........ the Wolfpack set is long out of production and nowhere to be found, leaving me to option 2; cutting op the wings... In some pictures I can see only the flaps and ailerons down and the slats still in the up position. Now I'm trying to find the courage to start cutting....
Wimp as I am, I found another option all together: Don't have the Hornet powered down but actually crewed and ready to roll out or just returning from a training. This means that the covers are a no-go and that I have to fit in a pilot. Good news on that is that in the early '90s both old and new style helmets were in use.
My question to my audience is how I should perform from here: Should I cut off the flaps and ailerons and reattach them in the down position and stick to the parked setting or should I build my jet crewed up with running systems (meaning that the wings stay neutral)? I'll leave my decision up to you and go ahead with the rest of the fuselage for now.
16 October 2019, 02:45
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Same Jet - same problem! 😉
I also had to solve that. I will sit a pilot from PJ in, close the canopy and display the Hornet on a taxiway!
16 October 2019, 06:17
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I went flaps down on my build of this kit and can assure you it was a much easier process than getting the nose seams sorted right - basic straight cuts, simple reshaping and basic scratching with plasticard and metal rods. Will definitely try folded wings on the next one, which looks much trickier to me.
I prefer the flaps down look on hornets, but then again, PJ pilots and rolling jets look great, so both ideas sound good.
16 October 2019, 09:02
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I like the taxi idea very much. Maybe with a flag-waving Pilot or so? Or with a cigar and a can of beer? Right after his first flight without instructor?
16 October 2019, 11:23
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Thanks for your feedback guys and thanks for the links Hans! Putting either a flag, a cigar or a beer in a 1/72 pilot's hands seems somehow more daunting than actually cutting up those wings....
Hans, I know what you mean with that full length aerodynamic cover and I already figured I would have to scratch build that one. Especially since making the cut means that I would have to cut right through that section. The flaps and ailerons have an ever so slightly gap between them when moved down, so yes, I have to cut them up along the panel line. Should be doable.... I guess....
Pierre, I looked up your build and saw that you pulled it off using a scratched aerodynamic cover as well. It looks doable.... but could you elaborate a bit more on how you did it, please?
So........ I'm diving in head first and will cut the wings up!
16 October 2019, 14:52
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Thanks Sergej and Harry! The grey is MRP and the black is brushed Vallejo thinned with water. I mixed some light grey for the buttons and used a damp cotton bud to clean up any black out of the panels. The glass parts on the screens and dials are done with Alclad II Aqua Gloss.
16 October 2019, 15:42
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Well, IIRC I cut .2mm plasticard to shape for those covers prior to cutting, using the kits engraving as a template, then cut with a scriber. Filed up the flaps leading edge to shape (should have removed more material to get a bigger "slot" effect with the cover), separated flaps and ailerons, cut the actuators leaving the hinge on the wing part, drilled both wing and flaps for metal rods around the actuators (randomly, as I had no picture, but things are pretty much hidden once glued/painted ).
I think I then glued the covers after taping them in place at a seemingly correct angle using TET, possibly reinforced the inside with CA, then worked out the flaps alignment with those metal rods, patafix and CA.
This was the trickiest bit, I'd do it differently now that I have more reference pictures by actually reproducing the actuator slots, which should make it easier to use plastic all around.
I also cut the leading edges entirely, it might be better to just scribe the underside as needed then bend at correct angle.
16 October 2019, 17:00
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Thanks Stephan and wow Pierre! 👍 Thanks for the explanation! 🙂 Now I have to give it that try! Knowing that the Wolfpack set is out of stock and having a couple of those Academy Hornets planned, I'd better get a way worked out to achieve this typical Hornet feature.
16 October 2019, 17:47
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reddogsmodels.wordpr..lden-dragon-landing/
Finding some more reference and future ideas at once. 😉
16 October 2019, 17:48
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Yes Bart, I'm a really slow builder... Just take a look at all the projects I started (but still haven't finished) compared to my actual finished projects. 😄 In fact, I'm so slow that if I don't force myself to build more and more often, my kits start creeping back into their boxes out of sheer disappointment... 😉
But this one has a commitment towards the Group Build participants, this one I will put through it's paces! 👍 😉
17 October 2019, 13:29
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I think we are two builders alike... I hardly finish a project...
17 October 2019, 13:42
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Make them builders three. I start a kit with good intentions to see it collect dust.
17 October 2019, 13:49
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My 'problem' is that while waiting for some paint or glue to dry, I start this 'quicky' side project while waiting, only to see that quicky turn into my main project and forget about the previous one. Then my desk gets cluttered and I clean it all up, just to put projects away in the stash of doom... 😄
17 October 2019, 13:53
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yep, sounds familiar... somebody interested in a GSA-meeting? (Glue Sniffers Anonymous)
17 October 2019, 14:24
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So recognizable Donald. At the moment I'm also starting a little project for one of my clubs's nautical build. But that IS a quicky, as it is a modern submarine. Two hull halves and some stuff sticking out and then I can hit it with primer and paint! 👍
17 October 2019, 18:08
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Until you realize you need to buy 2 PE sets to make it look just right. And then you find reference pics showing weathering you didnt consider...
17 October 2019, 18:49
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Sifting through both Hans Robben's and my own reference pictures, I can not see any scab plates next to the slime lights on the vertical tails, which leads me to the assumption that these Hornets didn't go through the structural enhancement program adding the scab plates and the supports at the inside bottom op the verticals. F/A-18As from the late '90s can still be seen without those stiffeners, so it could make sense. Can somebody please prove me right or wrong on my assumption that I don't need to add the stiffeners at the bottom and more importantly, shave off the stiffeners on both side of the verticals as well? Thank you very much! 🙂
4 November 2019, 00:32
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Never mind, picture 29 shows the stiffener plates, so I can safely assume the whole structural enhancement program was applied to this airframe. Saves me some shaving and sanding! 😄
5 November 2019, 03:15
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Fingers crossed it works the way I want... I figured sanding the smooth radome surface would be easier than around all the details around the radome's circumference.
6 November 2019, 00:05
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Thanks guys! Hopefully I find some time this week to put it to the test. 🙂
6 November 2019, 15:47
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looking good. kit surgery... needed sometimes to get the right result... but it can get a bit scary😉
6 November 2019, 15:53
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It's scary until you scribe or saw that part off. Then there's no way back and the only thing that can happen, is that you actually improve the build. 😄
6 November 2019, 20:01
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I think you did all right! The gaps are on the same places like on mine! 😄
A pity with the colours...
7 November 2019, 06:12
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Never mind the colors, I'm on a color quest, riding my paint mule. 😉
7 November 2019, 06:56
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Gotcha! I just ordered MRP-387 and the Mission Models equivalent as I found that to be a little bit more reddish. It's the matching up with the decals that makes this so hard to find the right hue as I want te contrasting markings to be the exact match to the paint scheme. In any other scheme I wouldn't care for it that much.
7 November 2019, 14:48
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you can make some masks for those decals, and not worry about the exact hue anymore..... just an idea.
7 November 2019, 16:36
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Could be an idea. Are there any laser cut Hornet masks that you know of by any chance?
7 November 2019, 16:49
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Apart from the warning text next to the cockpit, the most prominent would be national markings, NAVY titles and intake triangles.
7 November 2019, 16:50
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F-14 Tomcat National Insignia (Eduard XS542, 1:72)
Spanjaard, I'll wait for my ordered paint to arrive and see if it works. Otherwise, this might be an option. Thanks for the tip! 👍
7 November 2019, 17:03
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Nice progress on that aggressor Patrick...lots of Hornets on SCM...😉👍
8 November 2019, 06:07
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Hey! Slavo is back!!! 😄 Welcome again! Besides my little (not yellow) submarine, this one is prominent on my modeling table for the upcoming two weeks. Should be some progress from now on. 🙂
2 December 2019, 14:06
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Nope.... No progress for now and no progress for the year 2019... Today I start my trip home to girlfriend and family. The Hornet will be patiently awaiting my return in 2020. Merry Christmas and a happy modeling year to come!!! 🙂
14 December 2019, 14:05
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Sounds great - enjoy your holidays & unleash your imagination to let some great 2020 ideas grow on! Nice Christmas & "guten Rutsch"!
14 December 2019, 16:07
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Vielen Dank Slavo und Stephan! Ich habe gerade während den ersten Flugabschnitt mal meine Gedanken den freien Lauf gelassen und habe schon gute Ideen bekommen. 🙂 Frohe Weihnachten und guten Rutsch!
14 December 2019, 20:03
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Merry Christmas Patrick, hope you have a happy and safe vacation.
15 December 2019, 20:10
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Thanks guys! A merry Christmas to you too èn een goed uiteinde!
16 December 2019, 21:29
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Not for long when I'm not building much and when I build on other projects instead. 😉
11 February 2020, 00:21
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Thanks Clifford! 😄 Sadly I won't be touching any model (kit) until I get back from a business trip this Friday. I still need to exert some patience...
11 February 2020, 01:12
Project info
Group Build
![SCM Aggressor Group Build Fall 2019 in](/events/img/11528-48987-14-p.jpg)
SCM Aggressor Group Build Fall 2019
1. Октобар
1. Октобар