[CAT]CplSlade

I agree; most every pic I've seen the tools look relatively dark rather than bright. Plus if they aren't coated to begin with, they tarnish pretty quickly from use as anyone who owns a steel shovel can attest to. This can easily be addressed even with the track guards attached, as that is the stupid way I do it all the time. It's the 'harder, not smarter' approach for me, matey.

I took that pic two years ago... That's how far I plan these things in advance! Freak on that.

It is an early Takom release. There are fit issues and missing details, but it does look good when done. Here it is compared to a...VOLKSWAGEN! Finished:

Mount it ahead of the rear wheels to counter the weight of the engine.

I think the lifting hook over the driver's side vision port is upside down.

People like that get my special finger in response.

I used to visit that one in its early days. It has grown amazingly over the years.

Gotta stay looking flash, man.

Oh, it's actually very easy. First, you build it. Then, you paint it.

Remember when they actually got out of the truck and walked up to your porch with the mail? Now you have to have a USPS-approved mailbox out on the street or share a cluster box with a bunch of neighbors on your block. Or go pick it up at the P.O. Oh well, I'd love to talk more on this but I have to check my porch and see if the milkman has made his rounds yet.

You would be able to use the three-color schemes, just not specifically ambush pattern as that was introduced mid-August 1944. Unless your vehicle was part of the post-D-Day fighting.

Are those for a halftrack? I did both sides of a set for a 251 in about three hours and managed to keep them workable. I like Magic Tracks.

AFV made a few of these combo kits a while back; think they did one with the Falke and Uhu infrared units also. Their 251s build a bit differently than Dragon's or Tamiya's, and I found them a bit fiddlier although they look good once done.

I know shipping overseas can get pricey but I have never been able to figure out the deal with postage up there in the Great White North. Can't blame on your current politicians (which would be easy) as this has been a thing for a long time. Does your government just not like mail?

You will have to contend with zimmerit on those Jagdpanthers, I do believe. Meng doesn't pre-mold it on their kits AFAIK but they sell the decal type as I have it for my Panther. Also pretty sure you can't use the Hinterhalt-Tarnüng ambush pattern, either; too early.

That's WITH shipping, btw, to the U.S.

If I had this kit in one hand and the Dragon version in the other, it would fly. Out my window.

Hate to break it to you, but that big rectangular piece in the front is... ...armor! (Technically)

You can get the G1 kit on ebay for as low as $36 from China. Sunlightmodelstore is the vendor I used.

Shhhhhh....just go with it.

You could distract her by throwing a diamond tennis bracelet out in the front yard and telling her, "Finders, keepers" and hustle it in while she's busy. You don't even actually need the bracelet, but it'll only work once if you do that.

Yeah. Pretty much.

Of the modern kits I have built an early Dragon Ausf G (the IR-equipped night fighter kit) and have a few of their newer kits. However, I am currently working on a Late Ausf A by Meng. I chose the Meng as I got a idiotically good deal on the workable tracks and suspension add-on set and then had to have the kit they fit; plus the Takom Panthers weren't quite available yet. You can see pics of the kit here: https://imgur.com/a/Eg0zFGp (If link doesn't work for you LMK and I will provide an alternate) Here's the Dragon Ausf G (kit 9045): As an early Dragon kit it has rubber tracks (plus indy links you have to de-sprue and clean heavily if you're feeling tough). I have a replacement for it that is a newer Dragon, but if I buy another G it will probably be a Takom just to see what that's like. I have one of Takom's Bergepanthers, and while I think both the Meng and Takom are as good as anything Dragon has been doing lately, the Takom has a slight edge for me just looking at the box contents; I have built a Takom kit in the past that had some issues (12.8cm Flak gun) but the reviews have been very good for these new kits fortunately. So make of this what you will- Tamiya: If you want relatively easy to build and decent price-wise, this will be your best option but you will have rubberband tracks and no screens included to contend with, as well as a simplification of some details to make that buildability possible. Dragon: Their kits from the 2000's will be from the peak of the companies ripeness, in terms of what you get in the box. Earlier kits are less refined, and later kits dropped a lot of the extras and moved to DS tracks, which are a love/hate item Dragon includes free of charge to test their customer base's loyalty. You will have to hit ebay to get most of those kits, and try not to pay more than $40 U.S. before shipping. Takom/Meng: Seem about equal in my eyes at the moment, and they cover several versions so you will have lots to build if you enjoy the experience. Other companies like Zvezda/Hobby Boss/Revell/etc: I'm sure they are all quite serviceable kits. No one really talks about them much, though. I like Zvezda's trucks and other softskins. Their armor doesn't excite me like the other kits do. I think they cater to the less particular model builder.

If he was building a plane he wouldn't need that part at all, since the plane is compensating for the lack of that piece.

Sorry, but I personally can't have Tamiya on the shelf next to my other kits now. They may go together easy but they lack a lot of the detail of the other companies. They look less refined sitting next to other manufacturers.