Artful69

Craig ... You can refer to me as 'Rog' ... My tag - Artful69 - is play on my nickname and the year I was born You know ... I totally forgot about Meng!! ... I've read some reviews and build threads - and I have to say that they do produce a quality product! It slipped my mind as did probably a dozen others as they don't produce anything within my subject parameters (ETO/Africa WWII). I know from various posts around the forums that the Tamiya Phantoms have a couple of issues in the accuracy department ... I'm not at all sure about how damning they are ... something to do with the intake/exhausts I believe? ... I'll let the hairdryer experts deal with that one ... remember to get reviews on each kit individually on this score (no matter the manufacturer!!) ... especially build reviews ... that way you can learn what needs attention in the accuracy department - and therefore, what you can live with. In the case of researching older kits, having the kit number handy really helps!! Matt (aka Doogs) does some nice work, doesn't he? ... I've a fair number of his build threads - they're entertaining. I don't have any of the gear that you have at present ... so I can't offer a 'personal experience' opinion ... but should you're subject focus shift? - I'm always happy to share gained info!! All the best Rog

Craig ... Hi mate! ... And welcome to a world of confusion for the unwary, lol I've found - in the 7 or so years that I've been back into modelling - that there is no hard and fast answer to your question. Some people will 'automatically' pre-order releases from particular companies - based on reputation and history. While this is not necessarily a misplaced idea, It can backfire if you are not talking about a new release. For e.g. I bought a Hasegawa Fw.190D-9 kit on e-Bay for, what to me, appeared to be a relatively cheap price. Now ... Hasegawa has a reputation for making decently accurate and well moulded kits - or at least it has developed one. Their newer tooled moulds (circa 2000-present) contain very few errors, are pretty accurate in outline and have crisp, recessed panel lines. Not so, with the kit I purchased!! It was an older tooled release (I actually have the newer tooled D-9's in the stash) ... Lessons learned over the period? - No matter the manufacturer - always look at on-line reviews (and preferably more than one - to gain objectivity away from the bias) for the particular kit you're looking to purchase ... especially with (but not limited to) older releases. - Watch out for manufacturer 'fan-boy' bias in reviews ... Trumpeter, for example, gets a constant (and often unfair, in my opinion) bagging about their 1/32 scale releases. While it's true that some are well below par in the accuracy department - their offerings are all well engineered, quite detailed, require very little clean up, fit together well and finish is better than average ... I selected their P-47D over the Hasegawa one - on balance of reviews offered. I simply selected a kit that 'fit' within my tolerances. - And so ... make your kit selection by measuring the reviews on offer against your personal criterion, remembering that everybody's opinion on what is good and what isn't will differ! Ok ... now, getting rid of the tedium ... most modellers would probably agree to the following (caveat: except where 'personal' is stated): - For any 1/32 WW.I subject - Wingnut Wings (WNW) has the market cornered ... I'll let those that drool over their offerings fill you in - I personally don't (drool over them - that is) ... because WW.I is not my subject preference. Never owned one - doubt I will ... but the area of this forum dedicated (shrine - like) entirely to their offerings, would surely underpin their popularity. They must be doing something right! - Tamiya ... not sure about their earlier releases (i.e. Jets) but their WW.II stuff is pretty awesome ... complicated builds - but well worth the effort in the finished product - which is staggering! - Revell (aka RoG) ... a bit of a mixed bag here (I'm talking newer tooled releases) ... some kits are accurate in shape/outline and some are in need of attention (in some cases, that's an understatement!). At Revells level of pricing, though, pretty decent offerings. Personally: I'd put them in the same grouping as Hasegawa, Trumpeter and Hobby Boss - Take each offering on a kit-by-kit basis! - Zoukei-Mura (aka ZM or SWS)... Personally - I put them on par with Tamiya for detail and accuracy ... there are some who won't of course ... I'd say: see for yourself! - Dragon/Cyber hobby - have the Bf.109-E and Bf.110 Market cornered ... accurate and detailed - and personally I'd say their like ... - HK Models ... Great kits and getting better with each new release ... I can't wait for their Mosquito, B-17F and Lancaster! I have named a few ... there are plenty of others!!! ... - Pick your subject - Do your research - Pick your kit - Shop around - Make your purchase - Have fun! Rog

Nice work with the research Nick ... I bought this edition of the 'D' because of the markings in the kit ... I also bought the earlier 'D' release (6265) because of the Magic Track ... no-one has said I have to use the markings from one kit with that particular kit ... soooooo ... you get the idea!! Like I said - I may actually still build the kit ... but I'm skeptical - mostly because of the DS tracks ... I still have no idea how many Pz.IV's I'll use in my DAK settings - and maybe I can find markings that I can use for a 'Franken-IV'? Funny ... the reviews and/or associated comments I've read for this kit mentioned the inconsistencies you've listed - which was the reason I was satisfied with the purchase, knowing what was amiss. At least there is no glaring shape issues ... So otherwise ... I'm satisfied with what I've been handed. Rog

Lol Nick ... yes, I understand that frustration very well ... *sigh!* ... But while the 1/35 Tamiya gear is ok ... and the instructions are easy to follow ... Dragon has become my kit of choice for LSA ... Hence the recent acquisition of Dragon gear. Now ... funny you should mention the DAK Pz.IV ... As always, I hunt around for reviews online for the various kit numbers I'm pondering ... The Scalemates database is actually quite good for this sort of thing as you can often find links to 3 or 4 reviews on the one page! I've read the banter on inaccuracies ... but then Bill offered me a couple of links also - to discussions held by the Panzer experts ... and VERY interesting reading they were too!! The evidence shown (via photographs mainly) is actually, when you think about it, quite typical of teutonic efficiency!! ... But the general theory is E.G. - Pz.IV Ausf.E's are being delivered to Africa - and arriving along with a myriad of spare parts ... including tracks, road wheels, return rollers, idlers, and drive sprockets. Some of these tanks are written off in battle ... but yet some older Pz.IV Ausf.D's that are still kicking are in desperate need of parts replacement. This issue is inflated due to supplies from Europe being hit and miss (mainly miss) because the Royal Navy and aircraft are smashing supply convoys. The result ... a 'D' is retrofitted with parts from an 'E' ... you'd be amazed at the stuff that was interchanged ... whole turrets, cupolas, whole drive systems (tracks, the lot! switching from 380mm to 400mm in the process), guns, mantlets etc ... it is seriously hard to recognise the difference between DAK D, E or F(1) variant because of this stuff ... in fact the only way to tell most times was by using serial numbers or markings ... and even then you have tanks changing units!! ... That's one of the reasons I needed Bill's help - I was getting so muddled!! Believe me ... A 'D' variant could well have 'E' drive sprockets (and tracks) in Africa an it wouldn't be out of place in the slightest!! ... Dragon were either very shrewd when putting this kit together or they side-stepped a land mine ... either way, I'm sure they'll take the result and run! Rog

Yes ... but specifically for USAAC ... P-70 and P-70A's were only used in PTO ... Since I'm doing ETO, I don't want a P-70 designation Just a Havoc Rog

P-70 was the US designation, yes?? If thats the case ... no ... I want to build an RAF night fighter version ... but - in agreement with you on liking the aircraft ... sturdy and practical in either bomber or FB variant ... and I always like a turret on an aircraft Rog

Damn ... you beat me!! ... Is any of the AM still available for this kit online anywhere? I'll definitely need a few upgrades ... and I'm pretty sure I'll need to do an "A" conversion for ETO Rog

Ok ... Time for another update ... Again ... a BIG thank you to Bill Cross for assisting me with kit selection ... Returning to my thoughts for "Tobruk 1941" ... I need a couple of good Pz.III and IV variants ... I have the III's covered now ... so it was onto the IV's. Firstly though ... the second "Vorpanzer" kit arrived ... dunno whether this will make an appearance in the Tobruk dio or something like a "Barbarossa" dio ... Also ... these 250's were going at 50% off so I grabbed a couple - pluses are the Magic Tracks and the figurines!! ... Again I dunno whether these will be seen in Tobruk or not, but I'll alway need a few 'supplementary' vehicles and figurines. This is Dragons latest tooling of the Pz.IV Ausf.D ... and it's a DAK version!! ... with lots of marking options, the only negative for me is the DS tracks ... so I'll either have a crack at using them and see how they go ... or I'll use some Magic Tracks from another Pz.IV kit. Personally, I'm still sceptical of the whole "rubber band" idea ... but there are those that say DS is way better than the old school one-piece and you can't really tell the difference with individual links - we shall see! I ordered 2 of these kits from an online shop over east - but it turns out he only had the one in stock ... so I'll be grubbing around for another ... an older release (still good) of the Pz.IV Ausf.D ... with Magic Track and a few kit extras like a turned aluminium barrel. During my discussions with Bill (mainly revolving around which variants of Panzers we most prevalent at Tobruk during the 1941 siege) ... I decided, at some point, to do a second Tobruk dio - "Tobruk 1942 - the sequel" as I wanted to display the "up-gunned" Panzers that the British named "Specials" and found to be so lethal ... so with that in mind ... Ok ... so ... for the moment, I think I'm sufficiently "DAK-Ready" ... Time to have a look at the Eastern Campaign again ... It came as a surprise to me that the Pz.38(t) was used in extensively in Barbarossa ... I don't know why!! - It seems quite logical that, since so many were produced it would be inevitable. Also ... to add to either the "late" campaign or "Kursk" I grabbed a Rhino ... one of the Cyber Hobby jobs ... again because of Magic Track as opposed to the newer released DS track version. For something a little different ... and a dio conversation piece ... an up-gunned Pz.IV Ausf.D And finally ... some LSP content, lol ... I was flicking through the webstore of one of my suppliers ... and this kit was heavily discounted ... usually going for about $260-280 AUD in the local stores if available and about $250 AUD (translated) if ordered from the USA or UK ... I scored this for a lot less - shipping included from a local supplier ... not my usual subject, I did a little bit of research on both the kit and the aircraft and concluded that, if I can get some ETO markings it would make a great comparison display against the ZM He.219 and other night fighters ... now if someone will kindly make a Havoc?!?! Rog

Dave ... Thanks heaps for pulling that one out for me!! I've given it a brief look through ... and although it answers a couple of questions (due, mainly to my lack of knowledge on the subject matter) it doesn't answer some key questions ... The 'in-box' making options are for PTO birds, correct? ... Since I'm looking to build an ETO kite, are there any AM decal options available out there to your knowledge? ... Would I be looking to build an A variant for ETO ... or a B? ... That AM cockpit looks very nice! ... and with all that 'glass' frontage, I'd suggest that I'd probably need to acquire that one! Any other AM that you'd suggest given my target subject matter? Rog

Hi all ... Apologies to Mods if i've stuck this in the wrong topic section - feel free to shift it if needs be!! I just got back from my two weeks up north ... In my spare time, while I was up there, I did my usual hunting around on the net for kit's going at reasonable prices. I came across the P-61 going at a steal at one of my local (read Australian) suppliers. Not being familiar with the aircraft at all I did some brief research online - via Wikipedia. The key points for me were that: * It was developed specifically for the night fighter role. * It was used in all WWII theatres - meaning it fits in well with my ETO/African subject focus * It fulfilled it's design/role function remarkably well - and much better than a lot of it's peers (if not all) ... ... This gave me enough incentive to take a punt - and so, here we are! Basic Questions: * Being a Hobby Boss kit, I'm anticipating the need for corrections. Any glaring errors that need to be handled? * What adjustments are needed to construct the kit into a reasonably accurate ETO night fighter? * AM decals for ETO will surely be needed ... any suggestions? * AM details for Obvious areas (i.e.: gun barrels, cockpit etc)? TIA Rog

Love the box art ... I'm assuming the box size will be similar to the B-25? I'm assuming that they went with only the one type of engine configuration? (hence the marking options on the box) I look forward to the other variants, but this one's in the stash for sure ... I hope someone's going to start getting onto producing figurines for all of the multi-crew aircraft ... so far we've only got the one set for the B-25!! ... None fore the B-17 or the Lanc' yet?? Rog

This kit has been eagerly awaited by me for 2+ years. I wouldn't have minded the odd inaccuracy - although I very much appreciate the commitment to getting as close as humanly possible ... I'm wondering if there is very much difference between the Mk's ... appearance and general shape-wise? ... I liked the later dorsal turret, more flat in profile with the the .50 cal's ... I'm guessing that if the differences are not that huge, the AM community will have a field day with this one ... Chastise, Tall Boy, Grand Slam are all applicable to this variant ... I think? Certainly a lot more buzz in the community than the B-17G ... and that made waves! Rog

The stock/stash focus has shifted to earlier Panzer variants ... So ... thanks to an American supplier with a large stockpile ... This first kit was bought because it still uses Magic Track instead of single piece stuff. Not worried about the marking options as it will be used for other ... and this one was bought for the same reason ... although there are a couple of extra marking options I can use Just before I placed the order (for a couple more AFV's also), the supplier launched a "special" on Master Box and MiniArt kits ... Awesome! - I always need new figures This last set - the poses aren't fantastic ... BUT they are in tropical gear ... Fallschirm helmets are, thankfully, separate ... so they don't have to end up as paratroops in Italy. ... And finally ... while I was looking up figure sets, I accidentally came across this set ... glad I did! It was the last one in stock and reflects the sort of look that Panzers in Africa are likely to have. A fair bit more next time Rog

Soooo ... To the latest gear! ... With the decent write ups on Fly's new(ish) Arado 234's ... I thought I'd grab one ... couldn't make up my mind which one though, so I grabbed both!! Always looking for extra AFVs and figures to fill out the LSD's (Large Scale Dioramas) ... I decided to grab some more gear while the Dragon discount was on ... This time the focus was on the "Kursk" setting, so ... A Pz.III Ausf.M ... actually theres a photo of three of them winding their way up an inclined road that I'm going to create the dio' around - so I'll need another two at some point! A Pz.IV of the same setting ... The main mobile anti-tank platform being created at that point in the conflict was the adapted (High velocity weaponed) StuG ... Dragon Tigers are pretty popular ... and I needed an Early variant for the Kursk project (Panther and Tiger being the main debuts at Kursk) ... so I grabbed this one ... will need some 1/35 decals to suit the duo setting though ... While it was going cheap(er) ... I decided to grab a mid production ... I have a Late variant already ... It'll probably come in use for my winter setting (post Kursk) later on. I saw the write ups on this kit a while back ... I was given the thumbs up ... and I wanted to add this brilliant adaption of the Pz.38(t) chassis - It wasn't nicknamed "Troublemaker" for nothing!! Finally ... you can never have enough figures ... especially AFV crews - finding those with pose-ability for Panzer Mk.III's or IV's is not the easiest ... so when I spot them - I grab them! ... Theres more on the way ... and many thanks to Bill Cross for some shared knowledge and an exchange of some emails in making those particular choices (when they arrive!!) - But more on those later!! Rog

So ... just to remind me when I come to fix mine ... what do you do? - cut 2mm off the rear edge, glue it and fill it to the wing and the assemble slats as normal? Rog

I grabbed the 410 a while back ... I have the Walrus in the stash already (as well as the Catapult mentioned above) ... Resin kits can be a pain, I'm told ... I have the GMF Hs.129B-3 in the stash and I'm told there'll be a fair bit of fiddling'n'filling to get it to go together - obviously one to do once I have some resin experience ... but as far as building goes - HpH are the closest to a reasonable IM kit that you'll get (or so I'm told) in terms of assembly and they are certainly well detailed - with enough being supplied in the box so that no AM is really necessary. If you do what should be done with every model kit (IMO) - measure 3 or more times before cutting and dry fit a few times before 'sealing' - I don't foresee too many dramas. As an aside ... I'm told MDC are shutting down the retail side of their business - shame, that - but for Bob's sanity I guess it's a decent option as opportunities open up ... If you want a 1/32 Hawker typhoon or a more accurate Arado 234 (than the new Fly IM one) then now would be the time ... Mirek and the team at HpH usually select subjects that have a minimal chance of being made in the 1/32 IM world - the only exception being the Arado 196 (Revell) which, let's face it, no-one saw coming! ... and even then, HpH got some AM correction gear onto the market for that one anyway! ... I don't think you'll see a 1/32 Me.410 IM on the market for quite some years (if at all) so HpH will be 'it' I'd say. Having said that ... HpH don't tend to 'limit' their runs - which means they'll always have some stock around ... no need to panic about missing out! Cheers Rog

Awesome Matt ... One of my online ref's ( http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/nazi_germany/Panzer_IV.php ) shows an F1 from Tobruk in March 1941 - It just goes to show you really have to be careful!! To date, I have an Orange Box Pz.III Ausf.G in the stash ... so perhaps one or two more of those ... a couple of Tamiya Sd.Kfz's too ... I also have the Dragon Pz.IV 6301 Ausf.E 'Vorpanzer' and 6315 'Ausf.F1' kits atm ... I was unsure whether to buy additionals of these or go for others, particularly CH 6512 - 'Ausf.D Vorpanzer' and DR 6779 - 'Ausf.D DAK' Considering the siege timeframe: 10 Apr 1941 - 27 Nov 1941 ... Any suggestions re: which kits would be best or appropriate decals for any of the above vehicles? Rog

A couple of arrivals this week ... I've wanted to add this one to the stash for a long time ... When I came round to get one GMF weren't producing them any more ... I tracked one down in Canada to buy ... 3 months to get here - by boat!! (seriously a WTF moment - who does that any more?????) ... still, the prize was worth the wait in the end. Another I've wanted for a while ... an RAF Mustang More to come ... later Rog

Hi All ... I posted this on another forum without much joy earlier ... ... help? It's time for me to order some more gear!! I'm updating my collection of ground gear ... specifically for two dio's I'm designing: Kursk ... and Tobruk 1941 (siege) ... 1/35 scale. Kursk, I pretty much have sorted ... thanks to numerous references in my possession ... but Tobruk is proving a tad more difficult since many of my references refer to the British/Australian side of things. As far as DAK is concerned ... I find reference to machines used in general, throughout the war ... but I'm getting confused with was Rommel had available to him at the time ... I'm assuming the odd Pz.I and II ... but as far as Pz.III and IV are concerned I'm unsure about the 'Ausf.' used at the time and therefore which Dragon/Cyber Hobby kit(s) I should utilise. I know for the Pz.IV that the 'D' was around ... but also the 'E' and 'F' were too? ... and to make matters worse ... the spare parts bin was raided and we have 'franken-panzers' (bits of all of those thrown in!) ... So ... Focus ... Tobruk 1941 ... * Which Ausf. for both III and IV? ... * Which Dragon/C.H kits would be best ... either as a stand alone kits or as base kits and grabbing AM decals?? * I have a preference also for Magic Tracks over the new DS arrangement ... but that wouldn't completely scare me off as tracks can be grabbed AM. Rog

Dave ... I've spent the last few days looking around all the major web-stores ... in multiple countries ... at separate track links ... Thank's for the tip!! ... Kaizen do look good ... or at least good enough for me! ... but I have the same issue as with Fruil track links - in that everyone is just about out of stock of every item except a couple ... I'll have to do a bulk order somewhere in order for the shipping to be viable for me ... Know anyone who could bulk order without charging drug money and with certainty of delivery? Rog

... and I picked up 3 for a steal at a hidden away hobby store in Melbourne when they were all but extinct for retail worldwide - except for ridiculous prices on e-Bay!! The schemes are nice too ... Rog

Oh God ... I only wish!!! ... That and a 1/32 Ju52 transport ... Please???? ... Someone?? ... ANYONE!! ... Rog

I can definitely understand why Magic Tracks would drive some people insane ... I've almost had to be committed once or twice, myself! ... but for detail, track sag etc individual links were always worth the pain to me ... if you hear any more on those snap together items - or for any other Panzer type, for that matter (especially Tigers, Panthers and other late war vehicles) that are in the "Not-Ridiculously-Expensive" bracket ... please let me know!! Rog

Yeah ... I'm definitely not a big fan of the "rubber bands" ... That's why I started replacing most of my older tooled Tamiya collection with newer tooled Dragon stuff. The new tooled Tamiya stuff, however, is excellent in every other way, and they usually include figurines - which, these days, are as decently tooled as most others on the market. I wish Dragon would give us the in-box option of either DS or Magic-Tracks, rather than just assuming everyone loves DS ... it's almost getting back to 'toss-the-coin' stage now ... nice box art!! Rog

Okies ... Time to chip in again ... To kick off ... ever since I got that first ZM kit (He.219 Uhu) I've been wanting to buy an original boxing and 1st edition of their very first kit ... and thanks to an Austrian connection, on LSP, who was willing to part with it - I have it! Next a couple of handy reference books from Classics fame: the Me.210/410 - a handy reference for building that awesome HpH kit (and perhaps modifying) ... and an old favourite of mine, the Ju-52 - which I am hoping will be useful for an IM or Resin kit in 1/32 someday. We call all dream!! ... Meanwhile ... I'm loving this moulded Dragon Zimmerit stuff ... I did some with putty on a Tamiya kit a while back - It turned out ok looking, but definitely not to scale and rough as guts - now an effective paint mule ... Enter: Another kit for the "Late War" diorama. I've wanted to do an FAA Corsair since I bought the birdcage ... Corsairs are awesome aren't they? I can certainly understand why John builds a lot of them ... anyway, scored this one for half the price they retail for here from a connection in Hong Kong With my "Kursk" diorama deep into the design stage, various AFV and figurine collections almost complete ... and German LSP's of the campaign lined up ... It was time to add the main opposition air support contender to the list: Finally ... for this post anyway ... I couldn't resist those flared pants!! ... shades of the Bee Gees and Stayin' Alive: Rog