JaseGill

Thanks Rob. I have to admit the winner for me so far is the Thunder Models kit.

So, I finally got something done this weekend on both of the engines. I went slightly off instructions, as you do, so that I could compare the engines as sub assemblies. There are quite a few differences but I will discuss each engine on its own before moving to the comparison. The IBG Engine. The IBG Engine is spread across a couple of sprues (G and H) along with 2 pieces from the PE Fret, notably a bracket and the cooling fan. It's a pretty simple affair and on its own it looks like quite a decent shot at an engine. However, once compared to the Thunder Models engine it does look to be a little bit simplified due to the lack of some details and some of the pipework. More of that later. The IBG plastic feels a bit soft and when cut with sprue cutters doesn't give that satisfying click like perhaps Tamiya plastic does but otherwise its fine to work with, sands well and I had no problem with the liquid cement I use, Slaters MekPak. The PE is good, bends well and is quite sturdy. The lack of detail on the fan stands out a bit on the PE but one is unlikely to see much of it once the model is complete even if the engine panels are left off the model. The instructions are clear, there weren't any issues there at all and I do like the fact that the completed assembly at the end of each stage is shown, I think thats a very nice touch that other manufacturers ought to copy if possible. Altogether not bad and looking at the references it looks to be pretty accurate other than some of the simplicities. The Thunder Models Engine. The Thunder Models Engine is spread across quite a few sprues (A, B, C D and E) along with 2 pieces from the PE Fret, a filler cap and the cooling fan. Compared to the IBG engine it is a lot more detailed, and seems to have more detail in that the parts themselves seem to be more intricate. The engine is also broken down into smaller pieces, with the engine block being 7 pieces compared to the IBG one which is 4. All in more detail and more intricate than the IBG one. The Thunder Models plastic is harder, perhaps more brittle and when cut with sprue cutters it does give that satisfying click, it also sands well and I also had no issues using MekPak. I did manage to snap the fanbelt (and a piece of it was claimed by the carpet monster whcih I will need to fix. Its clearly visible in the phot'o's here. The PE is a little thinner and more fragile than the IBG etch. It bends well but feels a bit flimsy. There is also a lack of detail on the fan so maybe this is just what the real thing is like, though references seem to show otherwise. The instructions are pretty clear though I think not as good as the IBG ones. I think they could, in something that could be as complex as an engine, be a little more clear in places. It's a small issue but given the number of pieces I think they could have put them all on a couple of sprues like the IBG one, even with more parts in play here. It's a personal thing but jumping between sprues for small fiddly parts is slightly annoying. Someone with a small bench and limited space may get a little annoyed by the back and forth between sprues. What I like the the IBG model is lacking is the callouts for paint by Thunder Models. They are all MIG colours and there is no conversion chart but this shouldn't be too difficult to convert to your paint preference. In summary then the Thunder Models looks to be more detailed and accurate than the IBG one and is less simplified but spread across more sprues and has less sturdy PE. Side by Side When the engines are seen side by side the differences are really easy to see. The Thunder Models engine looks much more impressive. The other surprise is that the Thunder Models engine is also larger, noticeably so when side by side. Which one is correct i do not know as the references I have do not give dimensions for the engine itself. They may be different engines, though I doubt it given the similarities, even when taking into account the difference in detail. With respect to detail its a clear win for the Thunder Models kit. However, the IBG kit has more sturdy PE and for those not bothered about displaying the engine is probably good enough. In my case I want to open the IBG engine up and close up the Thunder Models one which had me thinking of swapping the engines between kits (to have the mode detailed Thunder Models engine in the IBG Tractor) on show. However, the size difference may be an issue there so some detailing of the IBG engine, using the Thunder Models one as the reference may be on the cards. Hopefully that gives everyone an idea of what it's like so far. Neither kit so far has major issues, other than losing some of the fan belt on the Thunder Models kit, which I'll probably remedy at some stage. More to come soon I hope with the Chassis and suspension to come before the builds split when the Tractor gets its crane and the Transporter gets its trailer turntable fitted.

Thanks Rob, Yes saw that Thunder Models are doing more of them. I also bought the new radiator from their website for 1 Euro. It seems from their website that they were quite close to IBG at one point but now upset that IBG had the Heavy Breakdown Tractor planned and didnt say anything. Still for me a little choice goes a long way.

Hi all, It's been a while, busy year last year. I got both of these kits for Christmas and so I thought I would do a comparison build on the tractor itself. I know there are a few differences, not least that one has a trailer and the other has a load carrier with a crane in it but I thought it might be of interest to some. I also got the Army Wheels in detail book and its pretty good so I will be using that for reference and maybe some detailing if I can fit it in. I doubt it'll be a fast build, may take me all yea for all I know as work is busy and once the flying season starts that usually takes up a lot of my free time. Lets hope it allows me to get some lost mojo back though So for starters this is what I have, hope to start building them over the next few days.

Thanks Rob. Yes needs a few touchups and changes. Jsut fancied something a bit different. May do their Normandy Airborne guys next. Really nice kits and look great together.

Well this guy I thought was complete but after the photo's have noticed he needs a bit more work. Mitches Military Models do full figures and busts and I love their work. Last year I picked this and a few others up and this is the first one I have tried. Been a long while, over 15 yeras, since I did any figures but really enjoyed this one so going to do a few more. Figured (no pun intended) that he is an LSM given his scale. So what did I notice post pictures? Well he needs eyebrows, his T-shirt is too gloss and needs to be flattened down and I'm not 100% happy with the eyes or the drawn on (with coloured markers) shoddy attempt at the 8th airforce emblem. Need to fix these up

Cracking work Jeroen. Looks amazing.

Only built the lower hull of mine, up to about issue 46 even though I have up to issue 81 too. Will be watching with interest as I think my life will be busy with work for at least the next few months

Very nice mate. Like it a lot Love the figure and the grass mat too

Mine arrives tomorrow Cant wait now, thanks Jim

Very nice. Love that grey and red scheme too.

I have an M3D. Good but could be better. Was only $399 plus postage to the UK though. Thinking I need a better one soon and will probably go with an Ultimaker or something like it. Great fun though, not that Ive ever printed anything useful for modelling. Mostly printed stuff for my Phantom 3. J.

Ive got one and its beautiful. Something about that Polikarpov and 8 Sqn in Iraq really called out to me

Merry Christmas Everyone. I went for a ride to Shuttleworth (Old Warden airfield), my favourite place on the planet yesterday. I love this place, really old school place and so many vintage aircraft you turn round so fast your head almost comes off. Im lucky enough to know a few of the engineers here and some of the volunteers as I fly in here quite a lot in my little toy airplane (they're nice to me even though its not vintage). So whilst walking around I took a few photographs in the Engineering shed of the Lysander, Brisfit and a Chipmunk thats being renovated. AR501 the Spitfire is getting there too and looking great. Peter Vacher's old Hurricane (R4118 the only flying Hurricane that actually fought in the Battle of Britain). Pete just sold her and she is going to live at Shuttleworth for now and may be a permanent fixture with Shuttleworths own Sea Hurricane. The Gloster Gladiator was out doing a few engine runs and I took some of the lovely Ryan thats in one of the hangars too. I took tonnes of photo's and this isnt the whole set so can upload more if people ask for them. Shuttleworth really is a living museum and all the better for it. If you havent been do, its beats Duxford hands down in my book and is full of vintage aircraft, some of them the only flying examples in the world. Great place. Full details at: http://www.shuttleworth.org/ Shuttleworth Lysander. Shuttleworth Brisfit Shuttleworth Spitfire AR501. Hurricane R4118 Others RCAF Chipmunk, Shuttleworth Gloster Gladiator and Ryan and Moth.

Gepard, I didnt take it as bad intention at all, if it reads that way Im sorry Think were all here for the same thing to learn from others and I know Im learning a lot from everyone here Thanks again, J.

Gepard, Thanks. Good news on the RBF I didnt use salt technique to give a carrier feel to it, I just used it as a means of weathering the paing and given a worn, weathered and faded look and feel. Ive used it for all sorta, naval and non-naval subjects

Nice. Getting that trolley and the Schlepper for the Meng Komet. Figures looks great too. Is it Christmas yet?

Great review Jim. As you know I have one waiting for me when I get home in December. Going to have to be the Raspberry Ripple one for me as Im ex Boscombe Down Cant wait to see it in the flesh now I bet yours is done and dusted before Im home though

Cracking Jim. Love it.

Outstanding. Love this jet and weathered like that its even better.

Very nice review. Right down my boulevard so will order this

Its stalled a bit as Im doing the Italeri F104A as NASA 818, pics to follow Once thats done I'll be straight back to the F86D methinks

Cracking review Jim. Should be a great build if the F86D is anything to go by and some of those schemes are very attractive too Cant wait to see this built.

Hi Andy. Nothing. Not a jot sadly so its still on hold. J.

Sabre Models 1:35 German Railway Schwerer Plattformwagen Type SSys SBM 35A02 Available from many online-stores around £36.99 The Kit and Contents This comes in a sturdy cardboard box and whilst the artwork is subdued its detailed and shows that this is large enough to take a decent sized armour piece. Sabre Models are totally new to me and Ive not heard of them before I saw this kit advertised. I don't know why but I have always liked the look of Rail Car Models. Im not so taken by the trains but the choices for weathering and load that these offer is something that really gets my attention. I can see this with a tank on it, an aircraft or aircraft parts or even just dumped and weathered up at the side of a railway sidings covered in undergrowth. The options are limitless. The contents in the box are: 14 Grey Plastic Sprues, 1 Small decal sheet, 1 User Manual - Construction of the car itself, 1 Instructions for the rails and sleepers that has the colour chart on the back of it. The Sprues. There are quite a number of sprues here, though most are duplicates and in a couple of cases quadruplicates. They are very crisply cast and have no sign of flash. The flat beds themselves, which in reality are wooden, are really well cast and show a very convincing wood effect. I reckon this will build up really nicely. Sprue A (x2) This sprue contains the wooden pallets and some of the larger parts of the bogies and the side panels. Sprue B (x4) This contains the remainder of the metallic car parts themselves. Sprue Y1 (x4)on the left and Sprue Y2 (x2) on the right. Sprue Y1 included the wheels and the axles for those wheels. Sprue Y2 is mostly parts of the buffers and ancillary parts of the car itself. Rail and Sleeper Sprue (x2) Unnumbered. These include the sleepers and the rails on which the car rides. Instructions. The instruction are really well done. They remind me of Trumpeter instructions and I wonder if Sabre Models use the same suppliers. There are no colour callouts on these instructions at all, these are kept for the markings and decal sheets. The Colour Callout Sheet. This is printed very nicely on the rear of the rail instructions. All colours are marked as Hobby Color and Gunze Sangyo Mr. Color so you will need a conversion chart if like me you don't use these suppliers paints. As there are no colours in the main instructions the modeller will need to refer back and forth between this and the instructions as the build progresses. Decal Sheet. The decal sheet is small and looks to be very good quality. I cant read german so how accurate they are I do not know but they look the part. Conclusion. In conclusion this is a really nice little kit. It'll give the modeller the chance to exercise those weathering muscles and to have a go at replicating the metallic parts of the railcar and the wooden slatted bed itself. I cant wait to build it and come up with a few ideas as to where to place it and what to place upon it. If nothing else it'll be an interesting addition to any collection. Highly Recommended to all.