Artful69

As the Title says ... are these any good ... does anyone know if they address the undersized problem in the Tamiya 1/32 kits?? https://www.kopeckyscalemodels.com/product-page/32034-f-4-e-e-g-j-s-phantom-ii-exhaust-nozzles And why the re-designed tail?? https://www.kopeckyscalemodels.com/product-page/32035-e-e-g-j-s-phantom-ii-tail Rog

Along with my Tamiya Zero ... and a certain Trumpeter kit (I won't mention lest I scare it off!!) ... I'll be be about ready for Midway ... If I can get those Thatch decals for the Wildcat 🙄 Rog

Hi all ... A couple of days ago I messaged @Clunkmeister about how successful the pinned thread on LSM modelling announcements for 2022 had been - and that maybe we should start a new pinned thread for 2023. Ern agreed that it was a good idea ... and so what I was to do for the next couple of days involved scrolling through the complete 2022 thread and listing all the current announcements for this first post. It seems @Fran and I think along the same lines - as he launched a thread less than 12 hours after my discussion with Ern!! ... These will be merged. To simplify ... I have only included LSM announcements (1/35 and up) ... That is in no-way a definitive list parameter moving forward ... there were a few 1/48 announcements listed in the last thread (and smaller scales too) - and all of them were interesting! ... The list below will fall under several Titles ... "LATE" announced as a 2022 release but delayed for some reason. "ANNOUNCED" as a 2023 release, but not yet out for retail "RELEASED" as in any previously announced (or "surprise MF!" kit) that has now hit the retail sector (in 2023) "FUTURE" as a projected 2024 release. As such, I will expect the edit this post throughout the year ahead, as more kits make it to retail ... but nothing will hit the last 2 categories until next year, obviously! LATE ... * Airfix - 1/24 Spitfire Mk.IXc * Andy's Model Headquarters - 1/16 M4A3 'Easy' 8 Sherman * Beemax - 1/12 Lotus/Honda 99T * Border Model - 1/35 B5N2 'Kate' * Copper State Models - 1/32 Bristol Scout c * Gallery Models, Heller, MonoChrome, Trumpeter (yes, all 4, same boxing!!) - 1/16 Pz.Kpfw III Ausf.J / L / M * Gecko Model - 1/16 Pz.Kpfw II Ausf.F * GWH - 1/32 P-40B 'Pearl Harbour' * ICM - 1/35 CH-54 Tarhe * ICM - 1/32 Yak-9T (kit not due in Australia until late January 2023 ... showing for retail in other locations?? - First I've heard!!) * Infinity Model - 1/32 D3A1 'Val' * Infinity Model - 1/32 B5N2 'Kate' * Italeri - 1/32 Macchi C.202 Folgore * Kotare - 1/32 Spitfire Mk.1a (Mid) * Miniart - 1/35 Pz.Kpfw IV Ausf.H & Kfz.70 w/crew & Dio set * Revell - 1/32 Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIb * Trumpeter - 1/32 TBD-1 Devastator (🙄 yeah, I know! - but it was announced at a model show so I HAVE to include it! ... at least its a little more than vapourware now) ANNOUNCED ... * Andy's Model Headquarters - 1/16 Pz.Kpfw Tiger.1 Ausf.E (Early) 3 in 1 * Border Model - 1/35 Fw.190 (details are still sketchy on variant ... some are saying F.6 while others say F.8) * DBMK - 1/32 Hawker Sea Fury * Halberd Models - 1/32 Curtis SC-1 Seahawk * Hobby 2000 - 1/32 Messerschmitt Bf.110D (Dragon re-pop) * Hobby 2000 - 1/32 Messerschmitt Bf.110E (Dragon re-pop) * Hong Kong Model - 1/32 Douglas A-20G 'Havoc' * Infinity Model - 1/32 Messerschmitt Me.410 * Infinity Model - 1/32 Z-37A Chelak * Infinity Model - 1/32 Westland Wyvern * Infinity Model - 1/32 Bristol Beaufighter TF.X * Kotare - 1/32 Spitfire Mk.Va * Meng Model - 1/35 AH-64D 'Apache' * Plus Model - 1/35 M-16 Austro - Daimler 'C-Zug' * Revell - 1/32 Gloster Meteor F.3 * Takom - 1/35 AH-64D 'Longbow' * Takom - 1/35 AH-64E 'Guardian' * Takom - 1/35 Mi-28N 'Night Hunter' * VFS - 1/32 SR-71A 'Blackbird' If anyone can find anything I've missed ... or to add ... or advise of change in status (ie - kit in stock - physically!! - at the local HS) just list them below and I'll update this reference as often as I can! Cheers Rog

Annnnnd for late next year ... Apparently Revell are releasing an F3 Meteor (The only reason I didn't pull the trigger on the HK offering was that it wasn't an F3) ... I'm generally wanting either WWII aircraft or RAAF (any era) ... an F8 would have fit the bill for RAAF, but I'm more than happy for it to be WWII active. Rog

If I had to caption this dio it would be: ** Achtung!! Achtung!! - Fighters please be airborne and prepared for imminent attack!! ** (Pilot to ground crew assistant) - "Bloody neighbours cat coming in over the back fence again!!" Rog :)

Lol We use this one … Rog

Ok … It’s a little harder to do this year with the home loan thing going on … but count me in with a Gift of $100 AUD (approximately, given international exchange rates - but will round up to the nearest domestic whole dollar / pound) to anywhere … I’d love to give a kit, but shipping is pretty much criminal these days! Rog

Ok so … an update … nothing pictorial yet, but an update to the preliminaries … I just signed off on the Brokers application forms and the Stat Dec for the Government Guarantee … This little piece of COVID stimulation saves me having to pay LMI (Lenders Mortgage Insurance) … it’s an amount you pay to the bank (drawn from loan proceeds) to insure THEM against default - if your loan constitutes more than 80% of the property value. On the size of this deal - it would amount to $15K+. Anyways … this lot will get me “pre-approval” in principal from the bank … next steps are: * Building Contracts (needed by the bank for formal approval) - before Christmas * Debt consolidation and satellite account closures - As soon as building contracts are signed * Formal loan approval and contract signing - approximately 2 weeks after all documents submitted. * Settlement (on the land) - approximately 2 weeks after home loan docs signed. * Slab down - approximately 3 weeks after settlement. Im hoping to get a photo next to the “sold” sticker on the lot number sign once the settlement happens. Rog

Slow production from closed down businesses (during the panicdemic!) plus high demand pulls prices up across the world. Low disposable incomes (generally) mean the higher costs can’t be mitigated. Result - inflationary pressures on the market. Instead of just letting production ramp back up to meet demand, the government, in its infinite wisdom, decides to “combat” inflation by widening the gap that created it!! Tax the crap outta everybody and raise interest rates!! … another “Let’s Go Brandon” moment brought to you by globalist elites!! Rog

This is the shiz, Gaz!! 👍 Rog

For those of you who don’t know … This will be making an appearance early next year … I’m looking forward to it! Theres been a couple of negative comments about it by the so-called experts (or narcissistic “blow hards” as I call them) - trying to steal everyone’s joy … They might be right in their assessment of errors - but with their attitude - they can shove it! Other than this, you have 3 options in this scale: - The OOP Tamiya kit … From what I understand from reviews and the like - is the choice option … if you also chose divorce or a 3rd mortgage! - Heng Long has a similar option … initially much cheaper, just with a (mostly) metallic medium as a base … By the time you buy enough detail to fit it out, though - you’ll be wishing for a Tamiya … - Hobby Boss … very reasonably priced (and the option I took) … The kit suffers from some suspect details and a general confusion on which Tiger it wants to be (Early, Mid, Late etc). Still a good base to work from though! What we’ve looked for - for a while in this scale, is a more-or-less accurate Tiger at a reasonable price, with satisfactorily supplied in-box basic detail, while providing the builder with options for extra detail from the purveyors of AM - while being easy enough to “correct” any (god forbid) minor errors for the rivet counters. From what I’ve seen on You Tube - this will more than fit the bill at $150 USD. Rog

Cheers Gaz ... It looks like I'll have to order the entire Barracuda parts catalogue! Will read when I have time. Rog

Apparently I have a couple of Amur Reaver correction sets and props on the way to fix up the G-10 Erla kits I have … BUT … they have no stock of the G-6 correction, which - to my knowledge - was the best out there. So - needs must … does anyone else do anything to fix that mess that’s actually worth the outlay? Rog

It seems like fairly complex story! At least you made some money along the way ... The mining construction boom in Western Australia lasted a fair few years ... beginning to thin out around mid 2015 ... In the 15 years or so of growth (early 2000's onwards) property values skyrocketed!! I was basically priced out of the market. The property market went into a period of recession from about 2016 onward. It was JUST getting to the point where a house and land was within my affordability while working a Pest Technician, when the Federal and State Governments decided to "Stimulate" the economy during the early stages of the COVID debacle. Throwing taxpayers money at the housing market, without any real thought as to how to apply the funding in a fiduciary manner, meant builders took the absolute mick' and prices skyrocketed again overnight. Furthermore there wasn't enough land to feed the instant demand growth and ... the end result was that I was priced out of the market again - and I was not happy. I was almost at the point of getting some building contracts made up too. I gave it about another 6-12 months and then decided that I just needed to go find more income - which I did - in my current FIFO role! Banks look at 12 months in FIFO roles as being the minimum acceptable ... so that hurdle is overcome. Because of the size of the income increase I can fund something better than I was originally getting too - despite recent rate rises. It seems things worked out decently for both of us! Rog

Good question! Firstly … I currently rent a 3x2 unit. There is a master bedroom with an ensuite, a second bedroom that is almost the same size as the master … and a third bedroom that is smaller. currently I use the master bedroom as my bedroom, the second bedroom as the stash room and the third bedroom as my study / office. in the new place the bedroom without robes or doors is the office (bedroom 4) and one of the rear bedrooms will become the stash room - leaving the other as a “guest room” Later, I will install a drop stair ladder and some MDF boards into the roof space and some insulated cladding for a storage space where I can probably leave the stash. the front of the house faces ESE … so the RHS of the building will catch most of the sun. Rog

Had to move out of even the outer-burbs to get this sized block - 17m wide and 25m deep … $148K AUD about an hour south of Perth City and 10 mins from Mandurah … the build will cost about the $305K mark and has a few inclusions besides the slab, bricks, windows and roof. More to come buddy! Rog

There’s always a smart arse or two in the room! … To answer Scotts questions on my priorities … there are a couple of things to be considered here - bank valuation is one of them. Regardless of fit out and inclusions (detailing and AM In modeling parlance!) the bank wants to know how many bedrooms, bathrooms, square metre-age of living space etc etc an so forth before agreeing to finance the damn thing!! … Airbrushing (and anything creating fumes) will be conducted in the oversized garage - There is enough space for shelving and a VERY generous workbench! … primary assemblies will be conducted in what is now titled “Living Room” (the Theatre being the lounge room with TV) … you will note the high window on the RHS wall - allowing for me to build a lovely sized display cabinet there … so build, paint, display ✅ Al fresco is an old friend of mine … we've shared many a cappuccino, pasta, dolcetto or bourbon together … holds a special place in my heart and so is allocated an appropriate outdoor area to share a sunset and muse over the days. Engineering reports just about done … awaiting on some documentation so I can apply for finance (which is a “slam dunk” I believe!) … as soon as that’s approved we’ll be moving to pre-start where all the colours and styles are picked out. There is a lot I have elected to do in parallel with the builder but will save me money doing separately … more on that later … and yes this will be the build thread, so I will provide plenty of updates and photos as they happen. Rog

Yesterday afternoon (when I woke up - because I’m on night shift presently!!) the final preliminary sketch plans arrived for the house I intend to build … To date I have selected the block of land - which was a mission!! … and FINALLY engaged a builder who was willing to provide the closest possible outcome to what I wanted. After several sketches and a bit of back and forth, this is where we are up to! Rog

FINALLY!!! ... One of my holy grail kits makes an appearance!!! ... If they build this thing modular (and with that separated nose assembly it looks like it!), they can sell a few variants ... and in that case I see me landing 2 or more kits ... The A-20 was always a fav of mine ... Now if they'll just get on with that Ju-52 and Do-17z my life will be complete!! lol Well ... Perhaps a Vickers Wellington Mk.III also ... Rog

Bill, I take it that Fw190D-9 comes via that discount I posted?? Rog

Kev ... Actually the FV101 was the Scorpion light reconnaissance tank ... the Spartan was FV103 ... I dug up the article listing all types built on the same chassis here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_Vehicle_Reconnaissance_(Tracked) All in all, the array results in quite the miniaturised panzer division - with the diversity of vehicle types represented on the same chassis. Either way ... the FV432 is not based on the same chassis - just a similar one Rog

If you're referring to the guitarist from The Who ... the nose is out about 10 scale mm ... Rog

This thing looks like it was built on the Scorpion FV101 chassis! Rog

Hey hey ... Boxes arrived!! ... I have some more traffic inbound ... but the missing link in my '48 ZM F-4 collection arrived ... Purchased off e-Bay out of USA on the global shipping program ... Not wrapped up as I asked ... but bulletproof nonetheless! SWS48-04 ... the first of their F-4J's Going back a few posts on here ... you may remember I got a few kits from Hobbyeasy out of Hong Kong that turned up in a less than satisfactory state due to poor packaging ... by far the worst was the GWH P.40 which had broken and damaged parts all through the badly crushed box ... I had to press my point to them - but they agreed to send a replacement ... Originally I was looking to get my Border Lancaster out of the same store ... but I decided that the risk of damage in transit was too great and arranged to buy that one locally ... I advised them to send the replacement - asking them to use a complete cardboard box - not an "assembled" one - and to use a different shipping company ... At least they got the second one right! ... but it appears that they are still making up their own cardboard boxes!! The box seemed to be sturdy but once again suffered some compression damage to the underneath of the GWH box ... ... but at least the box top is without any real blemish ... ... and more importantly ... thanks to the additional bubblewrap placed inside the box ... there's no damage to the kit parts ... almost! Unfortunately once again ... the PE, being in its own wrapper and floating around separately inside the box, has been partly lodged between the sprues and the box side - as well as the bottom ... not badly and certainly not almost destroyed like the last lot ... but enough to suggest that maybe GWH should look to summarily bag instructions, decals and PE like most other companies do! ... Rog

U poor bastard ... lol Rog