[hawkonevoodoo]

Originally Posted by SkyBuffalo

Uugh! The HobbyMaster News was updated today with changes to the coming line-up. :

HA0133 1/72 SBD-5 VMS-3, Cdr. Enterprise Group, US Virgin Islands 1944 "Major
Christian Lee" POSTPONED UNTIL OCTOBER. THERE HAS ALSO BEEN A LIVERY
CHANGE - NEW LIVERY WILL BE : USMC VMSB-231, "White 1", Marshall Islands, 1944

We finally get an Atlantic bird and they go and dump it. I am dissapointed to say the least!

@#%$*()> Now that I'm done emoting all over myself, hopefully HobbyMaster will put an Atlantic bird back in the line-up later.

Can you shed any light on this, Hawkone?

Could somebody tell HM that there is also an ocean off the east coast of the U.S. It's called the Atlantic. hellooo!?!

I have an email sent to Hobby Master and I'm awaiting the reply but I feel confident the Atlantic scheme will come. They know how much people would like to see this paint scheme. There is a long story behind these changes so it will all unfold in time.

[Andrew]

Any chance of something like Su-25 Frogfoot or Mig-23/27 in 1/72nd to replace the cancelled Mig-29?

[hawkonevoodoo]

Originally Posted by Andrew

Any chance of something like Su-25 Frogfoot or Mig-23/27 in 1/72nd to replace the cancelled Mig-29?

These 3 planes are among my favorite and I have already suggested them to Hobby Master. Hopefully at least one of them will be made soon.

[Shawn 507]

Originally Posted by hawkonevoodoo

I have an email sent to Hobby Master and I'm awaiting the reply but I feel confident the Atlantic scheme will come. They know how much people would like to see this paint scheme. There is a long story behind these changes so it will all unfold in time.

Did you throw in the idea of an Atlantic Avenger while you were at it? It too would be a nice addition to a collection.
- Shawn

[hawkonevoodoo]

Originally Posted by Shawn 507

Did you throw in the idea of an Atlantic Avenger while you were at it? It too would be a nice addition to a collection.
- Shawn

No reply yet concerning this model, I'll keep on it. Yes I did suggest the Atlantic paint scheme Avenger.

[flyXwire]

Originally Posted by Andrew

Any chance of something like Su-25 Frogfoot or Mig-23/27 in 1/72nd to replace the cancelled Mig-29?

Those two are my favorite a/c to have as well. I'd like to see schemes of Soviet machines used in the Afghanistan War of the 80's, or how about the two Libyan MiG 23s shot down by the Black Aces F-14s that Skunky likes so much?!!

[Shawn 507]

Originally Posted by hawkonevoodoo

Yes I did suggest the Atlantic paint scheme Avenger.

Thanks Hawk!

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by flyXwire

Those two are my favorite a/c to have as well. I'd like to see schemes of Soviet machines used in the Afghanistan War of the 80's, or how about the two Libyan MiG 23s shot down by the Black Aces F-14s that Skunky likes so much?!!

Not Black Aces, but Black Knights. The Aces shot down the Su-22 Fitters before them

[flyXwire]

Originally Posted by Andrew

Not Black Aces, but Black Knights. The Aces shot down the Su-22 Fitters before them

Okay, I just wanted to make sure I didn't have my history all mixed up and this is certainly not a slam to your comment above, so I hope you won't take any offense if I provided a little research of my own regarding the F-14s of the Black ACES....NOT the Black Knights were involved in shooting down two Su-22 fighters. It's also interesting to note that the opposing fighter aircraft are using "swing wing" technology.

1981 Engagement:

While on deployment in the Mediterranean Sea on August 19, 1981, during a routine combat air patrol mission over the Gulf of Sidra, two Libyan Su-22 “Fitter” aircraft were shot down by VF-41 Black Aces aircraft.

1989 Engagement:

On the morning of January 4, 1989, the Kennedy battle group was operating some 130km north of Libya, with a group of A-6 Intruders on exercise south of Crete, escorted by two pairs of F-14As from VF-14 and VF-32, and as well as an E-2C from VAW-126. Later that morning the southernmost Combat Air Patrol station was taken by two F-14s from VF-32, AC207 (CDR Joseph Bernard Connelly/CDR Leo F. Enright 159610 AC207) and AC204 (LT Hermon C. Cook III/CDR Steven Patrick Collins 159013 AC204). The officers had been specially briefed for this mission. It appears that, for some unknown reason, the pilots were advised to expect some kind of hostilities as well as to wait for a possible signal from the E-2C to open fire.

At 11:50 hrs, after some time on patrol, the E-2 informed the F-14 crews that four Libyan MiG-23s had taken off from Al Bumbaw airfield, near Tobruk. The F-14s turned towards the first two MiG-23s some 50km ahead of the rear pair and acquired them with radars. At the time the Floggers were 72 nautical miles away at 10,000 ft (3,000 m) and heading directly towards the Tomcats and carrier. The F-14s turned away from the head on approach to indicate that they didn't want to engage. The Floggers changed course to intercept at a closing speed of about 870 knots (1,000 mph, 1600 km/h). The F-14s descended to 3,000 ft to give them a clear radar picture of the Floggers against the sky and leave the Floggers with sea clutter to contend with. Four more times did the F-14s repeat this maneuver, still tracking the Libyans. At 11:59 the Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) of the lead Tomcat ordered the arming of the AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-7 Sparrow missiles it was carrying. The E-2C had given the F-14 crews order to fire if threatened, the F-14 crews did not have to wait until the Libyans opened fire at this moment.

At almost 12:01 the lead Tomcat pilot said that "Bogeys have jinked back at me again for the fifth time. They're on my nose now, inside of 20 miles", followed shortly by "Master arm on" as he ordered arming of the weapons. At a range of 14 miles (26 km) the RIO of the lead F-14A fired the first AIM-7M Sparrow; he surprised his pilot, who did not expect to see a missile to accelerate away from his Tomcat. The RIO reported "Fox 1. Fox 1." The Sparrow failed to track because of a wrong switch-setting. At ten miles (19km), he launched a second Sparrow missile, but it also failed to track its target.

The Floggers accelerated and continued to approach. At six miles (11 km) range the Tomcats split and the Floggers followed the wingman while the lead Tomcat circled to get a tail angle on them. The wingman engaged with a Sparrow and downed one of the Libyan aircraft. One of the US pilots broadcast "Good kill! Good kill!" The lead Tomcat closed on the final Flogger from the rear quadrant and at 1.5 miles (2.8 km) the pilot fired a Sidewinder, which hit its target. One crewman broadcast "Good kill!" and "Let's get out of here." The Libyan pilots were seen to successfully eject and parachute into the sea, but the Libyan Air Force was unable to recover them. The Tomcats then proceeded north to return to the carrier.