scalemates Green dot = account activated
Red dot = account not yet activated

Skywalker What do the stars mean? I've seen accounts with none, one, two and three.

Cuajete Contribution level in SM. You can see the legend passing the mouse pointer over the star.

scalemates Contributor level (to the database)

1 star = Contributor = auto assigned when you did one "edit"
2 stars = Power Contributor = when changes you make are matching the database rules (eg. understand topics) and you frequently make changes. I once did review every single change, 2 star changes would be skipped in the review process.
3 stars = Star Contributor (fully understand rules and specific functionality is needed = merging 2 kits. And can handle the "dangerous" features with bad UI. Also can see history in who did what, and communicate well in case mistakes are made)

There used to be more difference between the 1, 2 and 3 stars. Many of these differences have been removed over time.

There are likely users still on star 1, who should be a 2.

Main thing: do not worry about your stars!
Repeat... do not worry about your stars!

Skywalker Thank you. That info should probably be added to the FAQ page.

Skywalker Lol - you are right Alex, no one could refuel with that! I didn't see that problem. The refuelling probe broke off at least five times, so it doesn't surprise me the alignment is way off. It is framed up, so I will have to fix it when I do repairing in the winter.

Skywalker I didn't use the colours in the kit because in my opinion they weren't quite right. In addition I don't like using true acrylics because they don't sand well. Vallego paints are too rubbery and can't be worked with well as and after they dry. I prefer lacquer thinnable paints such as Tamiya and Mr Color.

Cuajete Very nice painting job. Congrats!

Andy Ball Hey! I built this very same one, used brush and enamels...remember it as a great kit-fit. You've taken it on really well!!, super specimen!

Skywalker Thank you Andy. This kit was a joy to build, with the exception of the refuelling probe breaking off at least five times, but that was my fault because I was being impatient and put it on too early. Yes, the kit fits well together. Nothing too dramatic; most of the seams can be filled with CA glue.

Neuling Distinguished choice of colors!

Łukasz Gliński Pics are bit dark, but from what I can figure out it looks grand

Skywalker I hope to make some better pictures in the winter when I open it up again to do the repairs. These were just quick snapshots.

Spanjaard i think they knew how to do them then... after probably tried to make them cheaper

Skywalker The pigments are the most expensive ingredient of paint, so maybe you are right

LucLuke B I kept all my Humbrols from more than thirty years ago, about forty or fifty of them. I checked them all and only threw away five or six. I managed to revive all the others and they work fine.

Skywalker I wonder if Mr. Color paints will last that long? Somehow I doubt it.

Treehugger What do you mean by "bad trenching issues"?

Skywalker The panel lines were dug in way too deep and wide.

Urban Gardini The work of the Mad Trencher?

Skywalker I could fill them with sprue goo but then I would have to sand and redo all of the panel lines.

Treehugger I will strongly recommend AGAINST using sprue goo for that purpose. Imo, the plastic tend to end up having air bubbles and being difficult to work with, so I think it is better to maybe fill with putty (how about Vallejo fairly non-toxic putty?) and then re-scribe into a layer of primer paint?

Skywalker I guess I will have to try Mr Surfacer 500 and see if it will do the job.

Alexander G. You've got to get your hands dirty if you want a good result mate so rescribing would be your best option...but applying mr. surfacer in a really thick coat (or several) and sanding the surface afterwards might actually work

Urban Gardini 2-part putty could be a valid option. Look upp Nightshift at Youtube and how he use it for weld beams.

Skywalker Tornados in progress... Cockpits almost finished. More photos soon.

Maciej Bellos Following!

Sergej I Following

Cuajete Me 3!

Matthew A Is the blue tonka the spirit boxing

Andy Ball Tonka-squared.....the Revell 72'r is the best in this scale?...watching with interest, twice!

Łukasz Gliński Following

Skywalker Matthew the blue model is the spirit IDS. The plastic is a bit softer than the ECR.

Skywalker Underpainting completed. Now on to the fun stuff

Cuajete Well done so far.
Andy, I consider Revell's latest mold as the best Tornado IDS for 1/72. And the Hasegawa mold for the ADV version. For the IDS version, I miss some decals for the RSAF's camouflage scheme

Daniel Nice preshading I'll take a seat

scalemates what do you mean with "model"?

Skywalker In the mobile version you have buttons show: popular, all, models, questions, trade. In the Beta version there is no show subject headline, but the buttons all, popular and trade. I use the models button often and was wondering if it would be in the Beta.

Also it is irritating that in Chrome the buttons go to the next line in the middle of a subject.
From: all, mates <br> engaged and in the Beta you have the same problem threads: all, my <br> mates.

scalemates Thx I noted this as well...On mobile there is limited space... so either i go to 3 lines (you loose space) or i make the links smaller = not good for usability

The "models" will no longer be there, extra filter options on the right give more granular control. And it had to make room for new "scales" filter

Matthew A Thank you for all your hard work Mr ScaleMates