Toe my line!

在Kinetic幻象2000戰機1/48比例模型上市前，法國品牌Heller是這美麗三角翼戰機1/48比例的唯一選擇。完成Kinetic國軍版幻象2000-5型雙座機後，就接著製作收藏多年的瑰寶。這款模型組件的開箱文，可以參考連結：https://www.cybermodeler.com/hobby/kits/edu/kit_edu_1123.shtml (註：這是Eduard用同一組件加上改套出售的，Heller不含改套。)套件組裝上接縫很多，主翼連接部位的縫最大；打磨過程需要有充份耐心與時間，慢工出細活。套件中的發動機噴嘴整流片有射出不全的潰縮現象，且無外部細節，製作時唯一使用改套更換原件，改套可從以下連結購得：https://the48ers.com/mirage-2000c-b-d-n-exhaust-nozzle-opened.html (註：the48ers是製作1/48航空器比例模型改套組件的專業網站，不定期有6折或7折活動。)

塗裝上採用法空軍「哈米克斯三角」(Ramex Delta)特技飛行小組紀念其所屬拉法葉戰機中隊成立100周年塗裝，其塗裝水貼係從Syhart Decal網站購得，如以下連結：http://www.syhartdecal.fr/references.php?lang=ENG&ref=Syhart%20098&page=description (註：Syhart Decal網站是法國網站，專門繪製法製戰機1/72與1/48比例水貼，購買金額達50歐元可享全球免運費，很划算；惟須配合網主開放購買時間，才能下單。)

法空軍有多支飛行特技小組，擔任宣傳工作，最著名的是「遊騎兵」(Patrouille de France)。2007年駐於法國東南方之伊斯特爾(Istres)的法空軍EC3/4「豪車」(Limousin)戰機中隊 2架幻象2000N型機受命在法國與歐洲的航展中擔任持技表演時大放異彩，隨後就以「哈米克斯三角」之名在航展宣傳場合，進行雙機特技表演。而「豪車」戰機中隊於2011年解編，其特技表演任務就由進駐伊斯特爾的EC2/4「拉法葉」(La Fayette)戰機中隊接手。

法空軍EC2/4「拉法葉」戰機中隊歷史悠久，追溯至1916年一戰期間成立的「拉法葉中隊」(Lafayette Escadrille)，成員多半是當時來自美國志願參戰的人員，該中隊即以美國獨立戰爭期間率領美軍對抗英軍的法軍將領拉法葉(Marquis de Lafayette)命名，以美國印地安「蘇族」(Sioux)側面頭像為中隊隊徽。2016年為該中隊成立百年誌慶，「哈米克斯三角」雙機中機號353的幻象2000N型機，則以亮麗的法、美兩國國旗圖騰為塗裝，加上鮮豔的「蘇族」側面頭像，機腹採用美國國旗托起法、美百年好合的圓形圖樣，非常漂亮。塗裝設計師為Régis Rocca，曾多次為法空軍設計機身塗裝，「遊騎兵」也是出自這位大師的設計，這位大師的介紹可參考以下連結：https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%C3%A9gis_Rocca 。

可惜，「拉法葉」戰機中隊自2017年開始換裝「飆風」(Rafale)戰機，「哈米克斯三角」於2016年完成最後一季航展演出後即解編。但法國防部總參仍認為有必定維持兩機戰術特技任務，因此將此任務轉交EC2/3「香檳」(Champagne)戰機中隊執行，並更名為「小刀三角」(Couteau Delta)，改為幻象2000D型機。換言之，這個「拉法葉」紀念塗裝也只存活一年而已。這份水貼中附有一份塗裝用遮蓋貼紙，材質為膠紙，可重覆黏貼，但是噴塗時切記要按照說明書步驟：一、先噴紅色部分(建議先影印遮蓋貼紙，剪下複本上紅色部位1至5後，浮貼在機身上畫出邊緣線後再進行噴漆)；二、靜置確認紅色乾後，貼上遮蓋貼紙1至5，噴藍色，參考說明書圖樣噴藍色邊緣； 三、靜置確認藍色乾後，不要撕下先前貼紙，再貼上遮蓋貼紙6至9，依圖樣黑、灰漸層色進行噴塗.；四、可用筆塗進氣道外整流小翼為銀色，左翼尖傳感器為白色，機背天線為黃色。完成機身基本塗裝後，依說明書指示上水貼，先上機身上側與機側：59、22、15、66、71至74，然後為機腹：67、63、62、69、60、26、31。完成上述步驟後，噴上亮光漆以固定與保護塗裝。待靜置確認漆乾後，用打磨劑維持全機光亮。機首雷達罩為無光澤黑色，確認全機塗裝完成後，進行機首雷達罩遮噴。最後再安裝起落架、副油箱、輪艙蓋與派龍架等小零件。

昨天終於將AT-3完成了，這真不是個容易製作的模型，完成後，貼上Bestfong的建國百年紀念水貼，又為架上陳展品增色不少。以下是一些製作過程照片。

比照網上圖資，AT-3翼尖似乎沒那麼外凸，索性將它切削整形一下。翼尖燈另用其他模型剩餘件製作。

方向舵也切下來，用膠條整形；並將其與直尾翅安裝之槽座用補土補上。

襟翼切下後也要用膠條整形，另外安裝襟翼唧筒的整流罩，則用AB膠塑形重製。將機身與主翼接合時縫隙很大，試組後，切膠條填補。

打磨要花很多時間，上底漆後可檢查打磨效果；如果打磨情況不理想，再上補土，重新打磨。

As I mentioned in my last post, the project I'm doing is an 1/48 F-16B in lizard camo. Here is the progress of the project as the pics have shown below: 

The kit is taken from my stash, and is the one made by Italeri. When the project is done, more detailed texts will be added to explain the way I airbrushed the camo. 

However, I do want to mention one thing I found interesting about the masking tape. After using pencil to draw a demarcation line between colors, I apply the tape over it. Then I took it off, the pencil marks were attached to the sticking surface of the tape.  Knife came in handy to cut the tape into shape. Therefore, I could manage to airbrushed the kit with a much more accurate camo scheme in comparison with the real one. 

"No Step" lines were also airbrushed. 

The AT-3 will be the next project to finish. 

Succumbed to a struggle with pneumonia, my father, a retired army colonel, passd on. After ceremonial rituals were done, the urn of his ashes was placed at the columbarium in the Republic of China Military Cemetery as of yesterday. 

Before his fight with the illness, he suffered from laryngeal cancer, and had to be treated with 36 times of electrotherapy. Every time I escorted him accompanied by my mother to the hospital was painful to all of us. However, he now can happily do whatever he likes, such as playing mahjong, in Heaven, and I, together with my family, will continue to love him and believe we will meet again till the time comes. 

Well, it is about the time to move on the track of my life and restart my journey in modelling. My next project is an F-16B with lizard camo, which was worn during a competition with A-10 for the CAS role.

Written and translated by Henry, TML

在1980年代末期，國軍考量中共的戰術彈道飛彈已具備避開大氣層下防空火網的能力，且力士型防空飛彈屆齡、天弓飛彈系統部署期程無法有效填補空隙，極力向美方籌購「愛國者防空飛彈」，並列為美華會議軍售採購項目。美方則於1993年2月同意出售「改良型防空飛彈系統」(MADS, Modified Air Defense System)，由陸軍建案購入3套愛國者二型(PAC-2 Plus)系統及200枚飛彈，於1996年開始交貨，1997年1月陸續運返。(資料來源：中華民國國防部網頁https://www.mnd.gov.tw/Publish.aspx?cnid=3257&p=71094；「Y2K國軍武裝報告書(下)」第270頁)

In late 1980s, facing the threat from People's Liberation Army's ballistic missiles capable of avoiding air defense grid in the endoatmosphere and their own shortcomings like obsolete Nike Hercules missile system and insufficient deployment of newly developed Skybow missile system, the ROC (Taiwan) armed forces pushed hard to acquire Patriot missile system from the US, and prioritized such requirement in the annual bilateral FMS meetings. The US agreed to sell MADS (Modified Air Defense System) to Taiwan in February 1993, and the ROC Army was entrusted with the acquisition to purchase 3 sets of PAC-2 (Patriot Advanced Capability -2) Plus missile system with 200 missiles. The delivery began in 1996, and from January 1997 Taiwan counterpart began to receive components of such system. (Source: https://www.mnd.gov.tw/Publish.aspx?cnid=3257&p=71094; "Military Hardware of ROC Armed Forces Land-Based Systems," ISBN 9578902298, p. 270)

戰鷹公司於2016年3月17日在官方臉書上登載1/35愛國者二型防空飛彈系統模型完成相片，模型組件包括M983重型增程機動戰術卡車(HEMTT, Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck)，M901發射架、M860拖板車與1枚MIM-104型愛二型飛彈。不久各模型通路就有現貨販售，價格在2800元上下。接到友人交付代工的組件時不禁一愣，這盒子真大，組裝完成一定壯觀。盒面左下角有「小號手」圖示，顯示這模型組件是「小號手」生產的，戰鷹則加上國軍型別的樹脂改套與水貼，重新包裝上市。

AFV Club (Hobby Fan Trading Co., Ltd.) of Taiwan wrote a post on Facebook on 17th March 2016 for a completed 1/35 miniature of PAC-2 Missile System. The model includes M983 HEMTT (Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck), M901 Launch Station, M860 Semi-trailer, and 1 MIM-104 missile body. Before long, hobby shops islandwide were seeing these new kits on their shelves, and the tag price per kit is roughly TWD 2,800 (approx. USD 88, shopping not included). When I received this kit as an outsource project from my fellow, I was quite amazed by its size, and assumed the model would be magnificent once it is done. The lower left corner of the upper box art has shown a symbol of Trumpeter, revealed the sprues of the kit are made by this manufacturer from the Chinese Mainland. AFV Club simply adds some aftermarket resin parts and decals to repackage them for interested markets.

為了這架眼鏡蛇，腰都快折斷了。製作過程充滿挑戰，完成後上架也是滿有成就感的。能夠做成陸軍A型機的1/48比例的超級眼鏡蛇，市面上買得到，而且價格不高的，大概就是義大利這架了，盒子外觀如下：

這盒模型是義大利公司於23年前在1993年出品的，後來Revell廠也借模生產。我只收集1/48比例航空模型，要做超級眼鏡蛇還有戰鷹公司1/35的國軍版可選。國外模友的製作範例請參考：http://www.hyperscale.com/features/2001/ah1wcb_1.htm 。但開盒後會發現，如果要製作國軍的超級眼鏡蛇要修改的地方很多，在外型上主要有發動機噴口護罩，以及機腹下的儀裝整流罩，而且網路圖資也未顯示陸軍有將響尾蛇飛彈掛於上派龍的情況，所以要動手之前參考網路相關圖資是很重要的。決定開工後，要先購水貼，我選用Bestfong出品的1/48水貼，品質不錯，但黏貼處與實機有些許不同，製作時還需比對網路圖資才成。

(PS: 為維Bestfong著作權，其他部份就模糊化了)

我使用紙黏土(一包35元，各文具店售)大概捏出形狀，再輔以田宮膏狀補土與郡氏液態補土來補強，用在打磨、塑形上花費許多時間。

打磨過程中還不小心將起落架與機身連接處的凸耳折斷，要再將起落架黏合回去也費不少時間。黏完後用幾個10元銅板墊在機身上減輕起落架負重，以使膠水黏合發揮效果。

義大利的1/48龍捲風戰機很好做，這架戰機是去年底完成的，塗裝很容易，水貼也很吸睛，細節可就沒那麼重要了，這也是練兵用的材料。這是一架「阻絕打擊」(Interdiction and strike, IDS)型戰轟機，這模型提供了幾枚BL775型貌似東施的集束炸彈、偵蒐筴艙外，就只有響尾蛇作伴了。東施外觀的炸彈就先免了，先看圖吧。

這架是1991年英國皇家空軍派駐沙烏地阿拉伯Tabuk空軍基地第20中隊的龍捲風GR1型戰機，其任務是執行戰場阻絕與轟炸任務。

龍捲風戰機的勞斯萊斯RB199型發動機配備有反向推力裝置，以輔助戰機落地後快速煞停。所以在直尾翅上會有煙漬的痕跡，本人技不如人，不敢亂噴，所以就當它在清洗棚廠泡過澡了。

這架飛機模型是古早古早就買了放在架上發黴，手邊剛好有著做完F-16B剩下的武裝，查查我的水貼收藏也有一份Twobob's 的Too cool for school的水貼，那就拿它來練練兵吧。愛廠這架戰機模型應是從F-15D型機的模具轉用的，只加上「打擊鷹」戰機的適形油箱、 儀表，派龍，加上水貼，就開賣了。模子品質不錯，做起來也有模有樣。既然完成了，就先來看圖吧。

這架F-15E序號為900257，隸屬於美國內華達州奈里斯空軍基地的美空軍作戰中心(USAF Warfare Center)第57聯隊第17武器中隊(Weapons Squadron)，該聯隊專責美空軍的高級作戰訓練(advanced air combat training)，轄有美空軍武器學校(Weapons School)，是美空軍戰機飛行員的搖籃。網路資料上稱這架戰轟機是該中隊的「旗艦」(flagship)，想必是中隊長座機吧?

F-15E標配的AN/AAQ-13地形追沿導航筴艙(機身右側)與AN/AAQ-14紅外線標定筴艙(左側)懸在進氣道下。武掛則有翼下內側派龍的AIM-9L響尾蛇短程飛彈、AIM-120A先進中程飛彈與JDAM聯合直攻彈藥；以及適形油箱外側派龍上的GBU-12鋪路(Paveway)II式雷射導引炸彈。其實F-15E左右適形油箱上應有6個派龍，而模型只有4個。看倌會問，武器學校的戰機應該要裝ACT用的ACMI筴艙吧?沒錯，它是該裝上AN/APX-95筴艙，我可是為了秀出模型的雄壯威武樣才裝上這般武掛。愛廠模型的接合孔緊度夠，我上的派龍沒黏死，那天搞到那TACTS筴艙，再把它換上。

這張照片凸顯了愛廠模型的錯誤。這架F-15E的水平尾沒有加強條，末端是尖的，沒將示警感測器(我猜是RWR)做出，這些在Revell廠的模型上都有。

整架模型噴上Gunze Sangyo的305號漆；製作時沒多少修改，有些F-15E細節其實是在機腹，俯視是看不出來所梗概的。

This is my third bulid after retirement, but the completion was long overdue because I had spent some time long ago to do part of the work. The Kinetic 1/48 ROCAF F-16A/B was said to be a difficult one for mediocre or part-time modeller, and it turned out quite true as the work unfolded. I used the decals from Tiger Wing to set up a scheme of the 401st Tactical Composite Wing for the model, and chose an air defense configuration for the model, namely with AMRAAM, AIM-9 and ALQ-184 ECM pod. Some of the decals have yet to apply for the sake of appealing myself at the moment. When it is all done, more photos will be shown. Cheers!     

I bought this model long time ago, and couldn't recall the reason to make the purchase. It was made in Italy and it was odd to see that the box was printed in Japan. To build this model gave me a lot of headache.To begin with, the halves of the fuselage needed to go together vertically, and as one can image, sanding job could erase some of the panel details. I had to pick up some scribing skills, and made a quite of mistakes, which required instant glue to fix them up. I almost finished it, except for the ejection seat, which I lost during the process. Aftermarket kit is coming, anyway. 

Assemblying model kits is my life-long hobby, but I was not able to complete even one after coming back from my foreign assignment. Now I got more time to spare, aside from daily chores as being a son, a husband, an in-law, a chauffeur and many others, I can find some time and stamina to resume my long-lost pastime activity.

This 1/48th model kit is made in Korea, but officically is distribued from a Canadian Company, "Hobby Craft." I selected the scheme of a ROCAF ace in the "War of Resistance (Second Sino-Japanese War),"  Gen. Lo Ying-te when he was assigned to the "Soviet Volunteer Group" during the war. According to the decal instruction I got, the plane he flew was an I-16 Type 5; however, I could only make do with the one available to me, a Type 10.  

Gen. Lo was claimed to shoot down 5.5 japs' planes, and this one, number 72, was portrayed as the one he flew as 1st Lieutanent in the SVG against a Mitsubishi A5M, Type 96 Carrier-based fighter during Nan-chang aerial battle on 7th January 1938. 

My next kit in the making is an F-5E "Thunder Tiger," an acclaimed demonstration team in Taiwan, and I will adopt the scheme when the actuaul aircraft was flying in Tainan AFB. TBC...