Artful69

Couldn't resist!! Rog

Another good point! ... Although I remember someone posting (somewhere) that the Do.335 didn't have one on purpose - because it wasn't supposed to need one ... The He.219 definitely does!! ... and from memory I added some additional ballast in moulded lead also just to make sure (and even then I was stressing that I may not have enough)!! My HKM B.25 kit didn't have one included - but I think Neil realised early on that it would need it - I got a cast one in an added on separate box I think? The kit is a stash queen atm so I can't remember specifics - the boxing was one of the first edition releases. Rog

Now isn't THAT weird ... I'd actually heard it was the other way around - That if the ZM kit was built as per instructions, straight OOB, it was not a natural tail sitter, whereas the HKM kit was! - I didn't hear about the little prop either!! ... Either way, there's no way I'd build a tricycle landing gear configuration kit up without some sort of ballast in the front end - it would just feel weird! ... and thank's for the pick up on the CAST ballast - I forgot that bit - a specifically fitting ballast makes assembly life much easier. Rog

Oh wow!! .... A hard one - as the answer is purely personal ... Both kits are good in that they have no generally listed accuracy, engineering, fit or finish flaws. The ZM kit has transparent plastic for the external skins - the idea being that you'll be able to see the typically ZM styled internal engineering when built - the problem being, that it's opaque!! ... Some people declare that the "clear" plastic is more brittle and harder to work with than the standard grey stuff, though I've never had this sort of experience ... mind you - my "experience" is limited to the standard clear canopies etc. HKM has the benefit of: 1/ Slightly cheaper in most countries ... 2/ Made in the traditional style of configuration with the traditional grey plastics throughout and 3/ Containing a a nose weight inside the kit!!. If you've built ZM kits before, you're probably going to lean that way, regardless. I have both ... build priority will be with the HKM kit. Rog

I Posted this elsewhere ... but for those interested in books ... particularly the "Classics" series ... theres a new one coming out. For the Dornier Do.17 ... Due March next year ... From Crecy - The publisher who bought the rights to the Classics Publications series from Ian Allen Publishing. Hopefully some manufacturer hears the cries of those hungry for some Do.17 1/32 action. http://www.crecy.co.uk/dornier-do-17 Rog

Easy fixed!! ... Beaufighter Mk.X Rog

At the height of production we we getting between 4 & 6 new variants in 1/35 ... per month!! Ridiculous by anyones standard. But I got just about every conceivable Pz.III chassis available from the 'E' onward. Think of a WWII AFV in 1/35 ... and odds on Dragon popped out a kit for it! Rog

There are several ... But the one I want most of all is ... a ... Do.17z Rog

One I'm in the middle of working on currently ... Siege of Tobruk 1941 - Title is "Next Move?" Starting point was some miniart figurines with Rommel looking at maps with his officers sitting on top of a Panzer. Rog

I'm in the same boat really!! ... The only reason I started buying Tamiya 1/35 in the first place is because I used to buy their F1 cars when I had a 2yr dabble into modelling 1988-90 ... I got so far back into the hobby - but then let it go again ... spewing ... because I had a lovely pair of Edinberger Ford Cosworth Sierras - Gloss black with the high vis orange Texaco decals and a couple of Awesome Ferraris alongside Benneton Ford's and Senna and Alian Prost's McLaren Honda's ... all gone!! My prize was a Lotus Honda in Camel cigarettes logos that Senna used to drive before McLaren. I digress ... Once I started doing my research into 1/35 ... about 2009-10 ... ALL my Tamiya kits became redundant (The unstarted ones will be up for sale shortly once my stash audit is done). Dragon make everything - and better ... the only thing that ticked me off is when Dragon switched to DS tracks instead of those awesome Magic Track links. And now ... we also have AFV, RFM, Meng and Takom. Tamiya for 1/32 A/C ... and F1 (plus other) cars ... but nothing else I'm afraid. Rog

I could swear, at one point, he had a production line for Corsairs resembling some of the old WWII photos!! I WAS originally thinking of putting in a Post Script for "Honourable Mentions" and a Hurricane Mk.I / Mk.II was top of that list. The only reason I didn't include at least one is that we have a half decently priced, accurate and detailed one in the Fly kits - I'd still buy one though! Rog

Me either!! ... well ... close to. ____________ So I had to research their online catalogue!! 1. Spitfire Mk.I 2. Spitfire Mk.Vb 3. Bf.109G-6 4. P.47-D 5. Beaufighter Mk.X

The new SWS 15 & 16 are re-boxings of the original kits ... BUT with the previously separately sold weapons sets added (choose your load out WoW style!!) ... apparently at the same price as the older kits ... we don't have them here yet but I'm sure they'll be along soon with the Hs.129. Rog P.S ... You really do come up with some interesting "Top 5" discussions ... I enjoy 'em bro ... keep them coming!!

... OBC ... Classic ... Interesting about LSP_Matt ... I smell favouritism in the air regularly ... I honestly think that they're scared of losing him to the forum. It sure looks like it with the amount of hyperbolic enthusiasm displayed. More's the pity ... I wonder how that will go when they reject one of his suggestions?? Rog

Oh he WAS .. no "probably" about it!! ... Standard MO ... Starts flinging poo around and then cries foul when someone returns serve ... Rog

No meltdown about Me.262 slats, or Mustang wings?? ... Disappointed!!! ... I am not entertained!! Rog

Soviet Velociraptors?? Is that from some weird A** Ukrainian version of Jurassic Park?? Rog

Reading said thread with the morning coffee ... LMAO at the ridiculous behaviour ... and with a sigh declared ... "Well that escalated quickly!" Funny as ... Rog

In all honesty Harv ... If there was a conversion out there for what looks like a Legion Condor bird ... and it didn't break the bank ... I'd be in too! The design adds just a little extra "interest" to the shape. Rog

Funny thing is ... If Trumpeter had released the original BoB kit instead of Revell, it's just the sort of weird A** iteration they would do as a boxing (remember the Stuka Ju.87A?) ... for all the bagging that company gets they've kept the interest up in '32 as a standard scale. There's that many changes between the B and the P and H Types it would probably take someone like a HpH to do a conversion set ... if that was even possible? And then the question would be ... with the kit now OOP, would it sell at all? Rog

Champion!!!! ... I found out ... from other sources ... * The P-51B should be out soon also ... apparently the Old Man declared this himself while handing out a P-51.D ... whether "Out next" is an exaggeration or not remains to be seen. * SWS 15 and SWS 16 are new boxings of the Spads ... Essentially SWS 15 is the A1-H with the previously released weapons set included .... SWS 16 is the A1-J with the previously released weapons set included. The relief point here ... is apparently they are going to be at the same price point as SWS-3 & 7. We've come a LONG way from the Shinden, gentlemen ... I don't think one kit in the entire release schedule to-date would have sold poorly and he's fairly cranking up production now! Rog

John, Mate! .... As far as I am aware ... you and the rest of the modelling world walk in different time dimensions. Mathematically, normal speed for you is (Avg Mt x 26) where Mt = Modeller's time to build. So maybe you on a slow build is like (Avg Mt x 15) or something?!? Either way you'll still have it done before I even plan the next build. Rog

Excellent!! Yet another JohnB "How to build Tamiya s**t fast and accurate like" build thread Rog

HBD! Rog

You, sir ... are a very naughty boy!! Rog