Up Draft Model Works

04/09/2026

The first Have Blue kits shipped today! A few more to go yet, but the ball is rolling.

I will release another batch for sale in the coming months. Stay tuned!

04/03/2026

Picking the right color with no documentation and old scanned film photos is a bit tricky. In the end, it is up for you to decide which one is right.

There are a few photos of HB1002 under final assembly in the Burbank hangar, but it was a challenge to find the right color to recommend with my kit.

I decided to reference FS36473 "Sky Grey" for the instructions, but depending on the lighting and your perception, I think there are few other good options.

Which would you choose?

03/25/2026

SOLD OUT! 🎉
Thank you to everyone who pre-ordered! Shipping will start in April.
See the full update here: https://wix.to/MNj3xDl

The Pre-order is officially sold out! Thanks to everyone that ordered!Printing of the first batch is well underway and the final extras are being designed right now. I expect to start shipping in April. I might have a few available at CoMMiESFest 2026 for sale as well. Here is a fun photo of the ass...

03/18/2026

Production of the first 1/48 Have Blue kits has begun. It takes about 15 hours to print a fuselage for each kit.

03/16/2026

Canopy prototype for the Have Blue kit. Because this is a limited production kit and the sharp corners of this canopy make vacuum forming a challenge, I decided to go with a cast resin for the clear part. It takes a lot of polishing work to get a clear canopy, but the effort is worth it!

02/19/2026

Here are some prototype details parts for the Have Blue kit. I removed the protective cages so you can see everything. Doing some test fitting now

02/14/2026

Just a quick teaser for how the Have Blue cockpit parts are coming out.

02/04/2026

Discover the curious aerodynamic feature nicknamed the “Platypus” on the Have Blue test aircraft and how it's reproduced on my upcoming kit.

Read more: https://wix.to/atoeX5V

The Have Blue aircraft had a unique design feature called the "Platypus", often shortened to "Platy". This was basically a thrust deflection ramp aft of the engines that helped to mask the engine turbines from view as well as providing a nose-up pitching force on the aircraft. The F-117 has a simila...

01/13/2026

Here are a few Have Blue cockpit update shots:

This is just a quick update. I have been continuing to work the cockpit details and am getting close to finishing this section of the kit design. Enjoy!

01/02/2026

The KC-135R engine upgrade set in action, by David Horn!

https://www.updraftmodels.com/product-page/1-144-kc-135r-engines-for-minicraft

12/30/2025

A little eye candy. This is a test fit of the Have Blue nose gear. A few tweaks to make, but overall the fit seems good.

Based on my research, I believe the Have Blue used nose gear from an F-104. Most info on the web suggests other gear, but after close examination of the shape and size in photos and layout of "off the shelf" landing gear available at the time, the Starfighter matches better than anything else I have seen.