Artful69

Ok Guys ... we're up and running in the LSM 1/35 and up WIP section! Rog

... OR ... as it was recorded in history ... the Camel Lotus / Honda 99T ... In the later years of the 'Turbo Era' of Formula 1, Lotus was trying to regain some of the dominance it experienced in the 60's and 70's. Partnering with Renault in 1985 and equiped with their awesome tried and tested turbocharged 1.5L V6, they recruited a young man who became arguably, the greatest Formula 1 driver ever to have lived - Ayrton Senna. Two years later - at the end of the 1986 season - Renault decided to depart from Formula 1, leaving Lotus to find another engine to power their vehicles - Honda was approached, themselves having re-entered Formula 1 a couple of years earlier ... Since Williams had exclusive access to the current Honda V6 turbo whose design was researched (read reverse engineered!) and based largely on the successful Renault design - but better, Lotus had to be prepared to utilise the previous years design. Thus in 1987 Williams were running an engine that had been developed and improved from 1986, while Lotus were using an engine that was a year behind! Honda's agreement to supply Lotus with race engines also came with another caveat ... The second driver spot on the team had to be offered to a Japanese driver - Satoru Nakajima (who could have easily become a Formula 1 meme - had memes existed in that era) ... While Senna dazzled the world with his driving brilliance, Satoru Nakajima DNF'ed his ride more than 50% of his racing career - quite often in spectacular fashion - and when not destroying the car or an aspect of it ... placing well down the finishing order. Having no British driver on the team, John Player Special - traditional sponsors of Lotus since 1972 - parted ways with the team leaving them to find another ... Camel Cigarettes jumped at the opportunity to have a team in full brand livery ... and along with Lotus' new 'active suspension' design ... the Camel Lotus/Honda 99T was born. The car remained as competitive as previous years ... though the team did not gain ground against the larger players in the Constructors Championship and as a result, Ayrton Senna switched teams for the 1988 season feeling that Lotus would not be able to deliver him a World Drivers Championship. This is a model of the 1987 Monaco Grand Prix winning car in 1/12 scale ... Since modellers like scale / topical accuracy, Tobacco sponsorship needs to be included on this car and some aftermarket decals were acquired. As always, it pays to scout ahead through the box and build instructions to try and predict major issues ... The box is neatly laid out and includes a few gimmicky (cute, but eye-roll inducing) items ... I had a quick flick through the instructions ... being eager to get started ... I do have a set of micro screwdrivers ... but was wondering where the one suggested in the instructions was hiding ... also, where were all these screws, bolts, piping etc?? ... the answer of course - was in the red toolbox 🙄 ... oh dear! * Nice to find the engine and gearbox assembly in there also. There's numbers and stuff all about the instructions ... I quickly found the paint chart, so I know how the numbers work there now. Fortunately ... They include Tamiya paint call outs and mix rates! Then there's this ... The camera manages to get a close up ... in reality those bags are about 2 inches or 5cm tall ... and I'm supposed to work out what screw goes where?? I figured they wouldn't leave it up to idiots like me to work it out ... and sure enough ... There's a parts listing on the instruction book. All I had to do was check the number/shape of items in each bag and use a permanent marker to number the bags. I'm unpacking some new tools as well as old ones as I go ... and these Bandai nippers are the goods! This is the first time I've used Tamiya Extra Thin - quick setting ... good stuff. The plastic is multi coloured ... as you can see by the open box reveal and some plastic feels more 'malleable' or softer than others. The 'silver' stuff is much softer than the black. I wish Beemax had used a uniform grey plastic instead - as at this price point, I doubt you'd have anyone young enough to enjoy the multi coloured stuff as a toy ... It will be interesting to compare the Meng McLaren MP4/4 when it arrives. Buy the way that this is going together there's almost a Zoukei-Mura feel to it - in that, you get the distinct impression that the designer wants you to understand how the actual car fit together. ... annnnnd then we run into the first instruction dilemma ... I'm supposed to use the pin vice to drill a 1mm hole into a marked indentation on the gearbox in order to connect part L5 ... Only there is no indentation. Working of the instruction suggestion as best I can ... I drill a hole in my best approximation of where it is marked on the instructions. Following instruction numbers 1 and 2 ... I arrive at #3 (below). The photo is a little out of focus on the instructions, but at the top - looking at the instruction for parts C27, C23, C28 & C24 you can see where it's asking you to cut a shaded area away with a blade ... no such area exists - as if they've done it for you already! Having completed assembly at #3 I've decided to pack it up for the rest of the day ... I've noticed what appears to be a misalignment at the top of one of the cylinder banks where the head will glue in ... maybe some sanding to do on the next entry. First impressions: I can't be too critical - even if PLATZ are involved with Beemax here, it IS their first 1/12 F1 kit. It is also the only Lotus 99T in town now, in any scale. Beemax however, are NOT new to the game and while there are no glaring ill fitment issues, the parts are slightly 'gappy' with ill defined instructions on where parts are to be placed when no positive male/female connection points are available ... as always the modellers dictum will be applied (though with a more studious application here!) - check thrice, glue once! While working out where, precisely, to glue each part may take some careful research time (often previewing the next stage of assembly to use as reference points) The 'gappy' issue is actually solved via the capillary action of the Tamiya glue ... at least enough that when primer and paint are applied you won't notice anything unusual. Since my work requires me to be away from home 2 weeks out of every 3 you'll be getting a weeks work of intermittent building here ... followed by 2 weeks of no updates at all ... Rog

I know the feeling well brother! ... I just had everything moved from the rental into storage while the House was built ... Packings a pain! Rog

Back in my late teens ... just after I'd left high school ... I used to follow Formula 1. Even though I stopped setting my alarm clock for ridiculous times while I worked for a few years before I went back to school (uni ... where I could again, get up at ridiculous hours to watch each race of the season) ... I managed to keep up with new developments. Back then it was the pinnacle of motorsports ... and the drivers? - Well, they had to be a special kind of crazy. I saw the closing years of what became to be known as the "Turbo Era" ... Barely controllable cars, pumping out 1000+ horsepower through a manual gearbox ... Then there was the announcement that a 1/12 scale kit (their first) was coming from Beemax ... Ayrton Sennas' Lotus / Honda 99T ... first placed finish at Monaco in 1987 was brilliant drive from start to finish. From the moment this kit was announced I knew I would get it! ... Of course, model manufacturers have this obsession with failing to include Tobacco manufacturers liveries, which is frustrating no end to those who want a little authenticity to their display So I had to get some aftermarket ones ... There WILL be a WIP for this thing ... starting this week hopefully! Rog

Should be out in Aus by end of Feb I'm told by my hobby supplier on the east coast ... and we're usually one of the tail ender's for model distribution. Rog

There's the usual to-and-fro about this on TOS ... For my part I got back into scale modelling back in 2008 - wanting to build German WWII armour in a larger format than when I was a kid playing around. I started with 1/35 ... and then I went looking for comparative aircraft only to find they were all in 32nd scale ... Apparently Tamiya is to blame for 35th scale being a 'thing' ... The real question is ... can Border group the obvious "sets" together to help them get market traction ... Apparently their Fw-190A-6 was a winner! Kate, Val, Zero A6M2 ... F4F, Dauntless, Devastator Mk.V Spitfire ... Fw.190A-4 ... Bf.109F-4 ... P.51B He.111, Do.17z, Ju.87B, Ju.88, Bf.110C ... Spitfire Mk.Ia, Hurricane Mk.I Mk.IXc Spitfire ... Fw.190A-5/6/7/8 ... Bf.109G ... P51D The list goes on obviously ... but they ARE churning them out at a decent rate! ... I'm not sold yet ... but if they keep kicking goals it might be hard to avoid finally getting scale aircraft that MATCH my armour scale. Rog

I was going to post ... then read yours, so why bother when you did it all for me!! 😂 😂 😂 ... Seriously though ... Trying NOT to be the ZM fanboy that I am - and put the Fw.190 first ... It doesn't take much - having a quick look at that A-20G (in any guise - one of my favourites) - to see the improvement in HKM's work ... some said "expensive for a twin" ... I say worth every single cent and then some ... competing well against Tamiya and ZM for detail levels and accuracy. 1/ I just hope they keep that attention to detail and accuracy up to this level - where it needs to be, 2/ It's a crying shame it wasn't around in the Mosquito days (I feel that the kit was rushed to market to try to get ahead of the Tamiya one maybe?) ... Still ... onward and upward now! Kotare might not be heavy on the detail ... but they have done it properly where it counts! ... The most scale-accurate early Spitfire made - the end! ... Or the beginning - as we have a Va due out sometime in 2024 and hopefully (Please God! With a cherry on top!) a Vb!! ... Oh, My! Wouldn't THAT be something ... Finally a scale accurate Vb ... 😍 ... This was the kit that I struggled hard with voting ahead of the ZM kit. Andy's 1/16 Tiger gets a mention ... as well as Geckos' 1/16 Panzer II Ausf.F ... both great kits ... Heller technically released their 1/16th Pz.III Ausf. J, L or M optioned kit back in 2022 ... but most didn't hit the shelves until early this year ... I love this kit also! Rog

+1 ... very nice! Rog

You're right about things being tight ... but I find the only way out of any financial difficulty is to give my way out - while maintaining an attitude of gratitude for what I do have ... I'm in with a gift voucher to your favourite local hobby store (worldwide) - equivalent to $100 AUD - however that translates into your local currency. Top of the season to you - one and all 🎅 🎄 Rog

I got the other one - because it saw WWII service ... I like the lines of this one and wish it had - so I would have an excuse!! Rog

😍😍😍 Rog

Weren’t these things using a high velocity 50mm? I think they also used the 75mm stump as an infantry support at one point also … and then there’s the earlier 20mm FF / MG34 combo … plenty of AM scope. Rog

I'm pretty sure this one will be based on the Figma kit representation of Mako's Tiger from Kuromorimine Academy in Girls Und Panzer ... I got the original Panzer IV Ausf.D and all 5 members of the Anglerfish team in the same scale (the Figma figurines are supposed to be 1/12) The Ausf.H upgraded version and the Mako / Erika figures were released later on ... Then I saw the Tiger being advertised (obviously to go with the new figures) although it's a bit weird as Erika is the commander of a King Tiger, not Mako's gunner. Rog

*Swoon!* 😍 Rog

Nice! ... What scale? ... I loved that era of Group C. I'm waiting on a Meng 1/12 Mp4 McLaren (Prost / Senna) with the same decal issue ... I think my Beemax 1/12 Lotus 99T (when it arrives!?) is also missing it's traditional Camel cigarette logos ... This obsession with trying to cover up or denounce history in any regard (same deal with swastikas on model aircraft, ships etc) is ridiculous ... I like to display my models in historically, period accurate (as far as possible) livery ... and the thought police trying to retcon history can go get knotted! Rog

The latest Old Man Blog is up! … and with it, straight outta the IPMS event in San Marcos Texas is … Rog

No doubt Kotare will be along shortly with a Vb, Vb Trop and various others in the common scale ... They'll probably be off down the Griffon road before too long also! Rog

Sorry to hear, Harv! ... Rest up, get well ... and be more bloody careful when doing Joe Biden impersonations in future!!! Seriously, mate - Shaken but wishing you - not stirred!! See you soon I hope Rog

I'm afraid I've been a little cagey about HPH kits since the bad build reviews started coming to light ... I paid some good coin on the Walrus, Me.410 etc and haven't gone near either kit since Bryan's loosing fight with his substandard F7F Tigercat ... An extortionate amount of money for a very mediocre kit - that's hard work to boot! The news in relation to this says: IM small parts and canopies ... Resin / fibreglass large parts. But waitaminute!!! Doesn't shrinkage affect resin casting?? If so ... the LARGER the parts ... the more prone they are to shrinkage ... I wish Infinity had been sold to an IM company TBH ... I'd feel more comfortable if Trumpeter kitted it! Rog

I like this one!! ... And that's a definite yes from me!! Rog

Saw Andy's You-Tube announcement ... not my cuppa, but glad to see more choices in 16th scale ... He's selling them at reasonable prices too! Rog

Rob? The Meng stuff looks good inside the box … I’m looking forward to having a crack. Gotta find RAAF decals for the EA-18G … (I might have a lead on some!) and some camo decal markings for the Mirage. got the RAAF camo markings for the Phantom … I might need some decals for the Aermacchi - the ones supplied are for a 2010 anniversary scheme - I want to make something based at Pearce. Rog

Happy Birthday Carl … mine was on the 22 July - I forgot it until I looked at my watch to check the date at about 10am!!!! 🤪🤣 Rog

I honestly think that both Trumpeter and Hobby Boss get a very unfair shellacking from the community ... Don't get me wrong - some of their efforts leave much to be desired (1/32 B-24 and A-26 being prime examples) ... but a lot of their offerings come in fairly decent ... especially on the fit/finish front. lol ... and I was taught to build engines, transmissions and other assemblies ... which is why I get off on assembly detail, putting things together - and also why none of my builds will ever win a show!! ... I just enjoy the hobby - my finished product is serviceable (and if real would probably run well!) Rog

Thanks for the tips - should I need them! ... I'm not really a mix-my-paint kinda guy ... more a near-enough-good-enough kind (which is why I bought that XF-4 in the first place) ... So I can paint my corsairs etc without the hoo-ha ... also I don't have a lab coat! 😆 Rog