[BF/ME 109 32nd scale kits....]

Ok ... I'm from the much maligned group (read leper colony) of ... "if it looks like a 109 ..."

 

Being a "Basic" modeler ... I don't count rivets or measure panel lines etc ... millimeters of inacuracies don't phase me ... I don't like 'drama' - meaning craploads of putty, scratch building ... or huge outlays in currency.

 

For me ... Trumpeters E (Emil) series is a mixture ...

 

In the positive, it is highly detailed kit with some cool extras that other (more expensive) manufacturers left to AM ... In other words I feel that Trumpeter gives you more 'Bang-for-buck' ... they assemble with relatively no drama ... compared to the "old tool" Hasegawa Emil (not to be confused with the new tool F and G series) that had me shying away from the brand for at least a few years afterward in much the same way as a regularly beaten wife will shy away from her husband!!! **Warning: Do NOT buy any old tool Hasegawa!!** - unless you like pain!

 

But Nick is correct in that Trumpeter have a bunch of noted accuracy issues to the trained eye ... I think that this widespread criticism and dissapointment was amplified because of the comparitively brilliant level of a couple of their previous releases ... (the Me 262 and some American prop dive bomber - I forget which one). Really, to most of the experts, it seems that they just threw the kit together without a lot of loving attention to the detail that counted. Lower fuse shape and rudder size were just a couple worth a mention.

 

The G's were a MUCH better effort (The F, of course, looking like a G-2 ... was released as just that, a few months later, much to the amusement and bronx cheers of the modeling community) ... but the rudder was still undersized - and remains so today ...

 

For all the enigma and frustration that trumpeter are (nothing frustrates so much as someone who CAN do better, but doesn't) ... I like them - they are user friendly - if you don't have the modelers version of OCD

 

For me ... at my skill level ... and time prepared to spend on any one given kit ...

 

Cyber-Hobby for the 'E' series if possible, otherwise Trumpeter

Hasegawa for the 'F'

Trumpeter for the 'G-2'

Revell new tool 'G-6' ... otherwise toss between Trumpeter and Hasegawa

Toss between Trumpeter and Hasegawa for later 'G' variants

Hasegawa for the 'K'

 

My two cents,

Rog

[Special Hobby 1/32 Hawker Tempest Mk.V (SH32049)]

Special Hobby are part of the CMK group.

 

And yes if you read Hyperscale you would perhaps be forgiven for thinking that the PCM kit I the only Tempest out this year...

 

... lol Nick

 

... I THINK I have Hyperscale in my Explorer list of favourites somewhere??? ... They do a lot of reviews or something, yes? ... Otherwise no, LSP has been my only online source of news and info ... I have pretty much discovered everything I know now (which amounts to bugger all, really) via either retail suppliers that I have used (Masterbox and miniart were discovered this way about 3 years ago), accident or LSP Forums or visiting the manufacturers websites (those that I know - most of my Dragon/Cyber Hobby stuff via frequent visits to the main pages) ...

 

... who is CMK? ... are there any other's that I am missing I wonder?

 

Rog

[Special Hobby 1/32 Hawker Tempest Mk.V (SH32049)]

Hey guys ... I don't wish to appear ignorant (but I probably am anyway!!!) ...

... and it probably sounds retarded, I know, But I've only discovered the likes of PCM and HPH in the last few months!! ... MDC 2-3 years ago.

 

Who is Special Hobby? ... Do they have a website? (I can't find one on Google) ... I have heard plenty about, and ordered, a PCM one, but I keep seeing all these pics pop up around for this Special Hobby "High Tech" job ... and there is PLENTY of love (and funding!) to have this one in the stash too!!!

 

Also ... any other smaller manufacturers, besides this one that I REALLY should know about??

 

Thanks in advance

 

Rog