Kerr Avon

This is really well done. It looks so alive with the thrusters and positioning lights lit up like that. But what really put a smile on my face are the lit shoulder pads on the pilot - just the concept is so out there, and your implementation is really clever.

It's kind of a shame to cover up so much of the nice Hasegawa detail (and you work on it!) but you did such a nice job on the armor that it all matches and looks quite natural.

China will never attack the Japanese mainland. But the two might very well fight over disputed islands. Both nations import oil and natural gas, and as the world supply of them dwindles, pressure will get intense. There are yet-to-be expoited areas that both nations (as well as other, weaker nations) claim. And while this airplane talk is interesting, let me tell you that naval spending by both nations has absolutely exploded in recent years. Here is a recent article: http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/10907131.htm

You are not going to see a large improvement in F-22's ground attack ability. It was first designed "not a pound for air-to-ground" as the F-15 designers used to say. When the Soviets imploded, they needed to add air-to-ground ability to the F-22 to justify it. However, the problem is that its internal bays are just too small. It can only carry two specially designed 1000lb bombs, and that just is not enough for much. Besides, there are still big problems with the moving nozles on the thing. We haven't seen the end of the price increases with that beast. The AF should have picked the F-23. The X-35 is a lot better. It can carry 2 2000lb weapons internally, and way more outside if it needs to. And with up to 4 internal A2A missiles, stealth, and longer range than the F-16, it is a pretty good in the intercepter role as well. A stealthy plane carrying good missiles combined with Japan's AWACs aircraft are going to beat non-stealth world-class dogfighters every time. (By the way, I don't think the X-35 will be called the F-35. The X and F numbers don't match up anymore. It will probably be the F-25.)

These things are always political. Korea recently chose the F-15 over the Rafale and other competition not because the American plane is better (it certainly isn't) but just because of intense American pressure.

A needle with a bent tip can also cause splatter for the same reason a dirty one will - it provides a place for the paint to collect for a moment before the collection is blown off as a droplet. I don't think it necessarily has to do with canned air - I use it as well in pretty cold temperatures and I don't have any problem.

I've built a Dragon F-117. The pilot is rather shapeless, although this would probably help in converting him to a Macross pilot. The head/shoulder area needs work no matter what, as it looks bad as-is. The bigger problem is that he is part of a single pilot/chair/cockpit tub piece. It would take a bit of cutting to get him, or him and the chair out of there. Better if you can somehow fit the whole tub in there.