Soo.... What did you just get???

[Peterpools]

Martin

Good luck with your eye surgery - all will be well and I'll be waiting for your build thread.

 

[Martinnfb]

Thank you Peter, my eyesight was declining for a while now, causing me lots of grief. I lost my confidence building especially to work with fine detail. My depth perception is quite distorted, it’s been like waging a war.  Denial didn’t help, it’s time to take action.

 

[Peterpools]

Martin

Absolutely. My brother has major issues with his eyesight and has gone through a lot. He has been so vigilant and with his doctors, he is doing everything he can. 

Once all your procedures are over and behind you, you'll marvel at what you now can see and wondered why you waited - just human nature.

Good luck and all will be well

 

[Bomber_County]

Good luck Martin, we will hold your place at the bench……

[BlrwestSiR]

Good luck Martin. I had eye surgery about 5 years ago to correct my severe astigmatism.

Now I just have to worry about glaucoma which runs in the family. 

Carl

[Spitfire]

Hope the surgery goes well, it's scary stuff, I have only one good eye and have just finished getting rid of cataracts in both eyes.

It was scary when they did the good eye but it turned out well, apart from now having great distance vision but poor close up vision which means I have to now wear glasses for reading and of course model building, it's quite a change.

Cheers

Dennis

[ScottsGT]

Good luck with surgery!  
 

And now back to our normally scheduled program.  
 

Hot off the front porch!  
 

[BlrwestSiR]

21 minutes ago, ScottsGT said:

Good luck with surgery!  
 

And now back to our normally scheduled program.  
 

Hot off the front porch!  
 

An Ekranoplane! Cool!

[Martinnfb]

x2

 

[Artful69]

Martin - All the best mate! ... Here's something to come back and look at

Ok ...

So ... another nice little storyboard post here ... I usually post this elsewhere too - but since I've recently been advised at that location that I am all sorts of nasty, evil things - I think I'll make myself scarce for a while ... If not more permanently ...

I arrived back from site today, back home by lunch time ... and made a trip down to the post office later to collect these:

If you remember back to my last post ... I went looking for 1/32 Tamiya Phantoms - specifically E's or EJ's - to build an RAAF bird ... I found a brand new EJ out of Japan at a reasonable overall cost ... But in the event that the store proved to be a hoax (there's no telling with some web-store designs these days!!), a guy that I had already arranged to buy a couple of Hobbycraft P.51A's from, threw his Tamiya F-4E into the works. Shipping from Japan to Australia is usually pretty safe - so that one then became a good back up option.

I'm pedantic about packaging - with every store and individual, wherever they are, that I ever buy from. Precisely because of this:

You can see that there has been a good 2-3 inches of compression on the one end of the box ...

The only guy to completely ignore my packaging requests was some dude from New Zealand who sold me a couple of Dragon kits a few years back. I was so disappointed when one of the kits came out so mangled it had to be thrown out - he was an active forum member too ... he should have known better being a modelling enthusiast!! ... But he failed to even acknowledge the feedback I sent him ... no apology ... nothing!

I digress ... 

In this case, Barry has made every possible attempt to weather proof and protect the contents from impact or crushing damage ...

Besides the large amounts of (Green!!!) bubblewrap the kits were wrapped in some sort of lightweight waterproofing cover ...

Unfortunately despite his best attempt ... the Postal service flipped the middle finger at us anyway!! 

While the box of one of the Hobbycraft kits was in good condition, the second took a beating ... and both were compressed slightly into the top of the Tamiya box.

 

 

 

 

Fortunately ... The Parts inside the hobby craft boxes and some in the Tamiya box were also encased in protective wrapping ...

From an Australian point of view, the USA has the most expensive shipping of anyone out there - and I'm beginning to wonder why! I don't think their postal service gives a rolling rats rear end about delivery ... They are becoming unreliable in other aspects as well.

On the balance though, as disappointed as I am with the manner of arrival, Barry's willingness to follow my requests in packaging have left me with usable plastic!

Having said that ... Many of you will know that, as I've been eyeing off the BIG Tamiya box that the F-4EJ came in and thinking that 32' scale is a little oversized for Jets ... I've been contemplating adjusting to '48 scale for my RAAF display. There are couple of other factors that push me toward this change and I'll note those later ...

Meanwhile - in doing my research and asking for feedback, Carl suggested that the exhausts on the Tamiya '32 scale F-4's needed an AM fix as they are undersized - and the only correction replacement available is the GT Resin ones ... I don't know why Gary deals only through Sprue Brothers - but here we go with USA shipping again!! ... Fortunately, SB's must have some sort of package deal going on with the USPS - because anything coming from them is usually markedly cheaper than from individuals and their packages tend to arrive more or less intact. I needed some seamless intakes anyway and Gary's F/A-18 stuff was great so ...

As expected ... The intakes are the usual top notch offering from Gary ... If they fit like the F/A-18 ones we're in business!!

 

A little disappointingly the exhausts look like they might need a LOT of work ... IF they will actually be serviceable at all ...

One looks a little out-of-round and the exhaust tips look to be discoloured and pitted in places ...

 

 

I've done some work with Resin ... but I'm a long way from being any sort of expert ... I'm just hoping that I can get these to work somehow - If not - screw the scale accuracy thing - I'll go with Reskit or someone - stuff that I can get through a local supplier. Besides exhausts I need RAAF decals - so where better to shop than local, right? ...

In amongst the packing pillows was a lovely packaged sheet with instructions ...

 

Feedback also told me that the cockpit needs a little detailing ... and I've seen people raving on about Quinta Studios so I thought this would be as appropriate as any other time - along with some Master turned stuff ...

Since the Mirage's are probably the next RAAF victim ... I grabbed these at the same time ... No Quinta stuff available, but it gives me the opportunity to test out Yahu and Eduard for comparison (since the store had only one of the Yahu panels in stock!)

As for resin replacements ... Eric Galliers completed an epic build a few years back and engineered a few items that were specific to the RAAF Mirages. Besides a revised cockpit IP, one of external changes was the fuel tanks - besides being thicker and longer that the ones in the kit, they were also rounded rather than tapered at the rear and had the offset bomb hard-point placements on the undersides ... Unfortunately, although he made a couple of sets - they were never released for widespread distribution ... I wish he'd sold the masters to someone who would - as that scratch build stuff is way beyond my skill set!!

Nobody has mentioned a need for seamless intakes on the Mirage ... but a few people have mentioned that the exhaust needs work in their builds ... so I grabbed these:

I've used thin cement previously ... but due to supply issues - until recently ... I've never tried Tamiya, although I've seen plenty of complimentary remarks ... so added these to round out the order ...

While doing my F-4 research I also took more than a passing liking to the Phantoms' interesting outline with all the angle changes everywhere. That, and my admiration for the ZM approach to life lead me to make the decision to collect their '48 scale Phantom line up! ... 

I started out with BNA again as they had a discount going on

 

Once again a superbly packed box by these guys ... and they had 5 of the (currently) 10 available kits in stock ...

Meanwhile I had a pre-existing order over at Metro Hobbies for the new ZM 32' scale Bf.109G-14 Eric Hartman ... So I added the 3 ZM Phantoms they had in stock as well as a new tool Tamiya '48 scale F-4B which I had read some great reviews on ...

 

 

The two ZM Phantoms that are the hardest to get a hold of are SWS48-04 ... the first one they produced ... and SWS48-08 the "Marines" Boxing. I don't know whether they underproduced this particular kit or it was just extremely popular ... but it took me a couple of days of online searching to find either of them at a half decent price point ... The first one (SWS48-04), I paid the least overs for by buying it out of USA on the e-Bay global shipping program (again ... postage is expensive ... but not as extortionate as that which an individual will pay!!). It has hit the Perth side of Australia Post ... but is still sitting in the main distribution centre at present - I'm a bit nervous about what state that kit will arrive in to be honest, perhaps the "Global Shipping Program" has a kinder transportation QA than normal!! ...

For the SWS48-08 boxing, I managed to find in a UK retailer called Antics Online ... Again ... I advised I was prepared to pay additional for shipping, provided they follow my packaging requirements ... which they did, close enough 

 

When I made the order, they explained that the kit was located in one of their retail outlets and would need to be retrieved back to the main warehouse before shipping ... Customer service was excellent and they kept me informed by email for the process ... As for the kit condition - it had been located at the retail outlet since it's arrival in the UK and so I was warned that the box may not be in the best shape ... 

... and this little blemish on the top left hand corner was the only damage ...

Now ... I'm not used to giving "In-Box" reviews ... But the GT Resin exhausts were really bugging me ... so I thought I'd do a quick comparison with the Reskit Mirage stuff ...

Firstly ... the Reskit presentation an boxing is awesome ...

Now I think it would be unfair to rate GT on the packaging side of things ... because Reskit is much bigger operation that Gary's cottage industry style setup. But look at parts and casting quality here ...

I don't know if the F-4 Exhausts are actually supposed to be out of round ... but these are ...

a roll along the table confirmed it ...

The tubing has noticeable seam lines but from memory, looking at the aircraft, these wouldn't be visible anyway, I think??

 

Of more concern is the discolouration and pitting of the parts that definitely will be seen!

 

Both GT sets are the same so if anyone can chime in with thoughts to assuage my angst, I'd be appreciative!!

Another comparison I wanted to make was relating to the disastrously awful error in the ZM fuselage shape to the rear engine shoulder of the F-4 🙄🙄 ... My tongue is firmly in cheek as I state that - shape errors usually attract more political extremists from one end of the spectrum or other than a Federal election ... but the issues are to be afforded some import as they do catch the essence of the subject matter ... If something doesn't look right to you it impacts the entire build ... and just as there are hyper passionate Bf.109 or Spitfire fans out there ... there are those just as passionate about the F-4. Carl advised me of the issue - and that it just pertained to the shorter nosed variants (ZM's first boxing) as the longer nosed versions had corrections done to the shape before moulds were cut (such is ZM's passion to "get it right") ... I wasn't going to take the plastic out of the bags ... but lets play spot the difference as well as we are able ...

 

 

Have you seen it?? ... Well it is (technically) there ... but I'm not sure that its really necessary to make a $36 AUD correction (over 25% of the kit value!) to correct a minuscule "bump" that to all but the trained eye is a negligible blemish - in '48 scale to boot! ... by the way - for those still wondering what all the fuss is about ... in the photos above, the short nosed version is on the top right hand side of the first and on the bottom. Now - some photos from the Hypersonic web store ...

 

 

In these pictures the difference is obvious ...

But when looking at the two fuselage halves with just eyesight and not zoomed photography its really not such a big deal ... and having stated that ... I may just look to build these kits straight OOB with no AM at all.

With the limited selection of RAAF / RAN subjects in '32 scale available ... I may just go with to '48 ... as the subject choices are huge ... I can get a F-111C, Aermacchi MB-326, S-2G Tracker ... F/A-18A, A+ and B ... Mirage III.O ... the list goes on! ... and all of these come in boxings with RAAF decals already supplied ... 

Rog

 

 

 

 

[BlrwestSiR]

Rog, that's quite the Phantom haul there, regardless of scale. 

I have some GT Resin stuff that has a similar texture issue. I'm not sure if it's the resin not curing properly or a worn out mould. One was on his NSI F-16 intake. I ended up getting the KASL one which is absolutely superb and worth the money. 

When I asked Gary about the swirled colours in the resin, he said that was the dye not having mixed properly but that the parts would be fine otherwise. So far they've been fine to use. 

If Reskit is doing F-4 cans, I'd definitely consider them. 

As for postage costs, I think Canada Post has USPS beat in terms of being expensive. That quote I got you on the same F-4 kit was bonkers. 

Carl

[GazzaS]

2 hours ago, Artful69 said:

Martin - All the best mate! ... Here's something to come back and look at

Ok ...

So ... another nice little storyboard post here ... I usually post this elsewhere too - but since I've recently been advised at that location that I am all sorts of nasty, evil things - I think I'll make myself scarce for a while ... If not more permanently ...

I arrived back from site today, back home by lunch time ... and made a trip down to the post office later to collect these:

If you remember back to my last post ... I went looking for 1/32 Tamiya Phantoms - specifically E's or EJ's - to build an RAAF bird ... I found a brand new EJ out of Japan at a reasonable overall cost ... But in the event that the store proved to be a hoax (there's no telling with some web-store designs these days!!), a guy that I had already arranged to buy a couple of Hobbycraft P.51A's from, threw his Tamiya F-4E into the works. Shipping from Japan to Australia is usually pretty safe - so that one then became a good back up option.

I'm pedantic about packaging - with every store and individual, wherever they are, that I ever buy from. Precisely because of this:

You can see that there has been a good 2-3 inches of compression on the one end of the box ...

The only guy to completely ignore my packaging requests was some dude from New Zealand who sold me a couple of Dragon kits a few years back. I was so disappointed when one of the kits came out so mangled it had to be thrown out - he was an active forum member too ... he should have known better being a modelling enthusiast!! ... But he failed to even acknowledge the feedback I sent him ... no apology ... nothing!

I digress ... 

In this case, Barry has made every possible attempt to weather proof and protect the contents from impact or crushing damage ...

Besides the large amounts of (Green!!!) bubblewrap the kits were wrapped in some sort of lightweight waterproofing cover ...

Unfortunately despite his best attempt ... the Postal service flipped the middle finger at us anyway!! 

While the box of one of the Hobbycraft kits was in good condition, the second took a beating ... and both were compressed slightly into the top of the Tamiya box.

 

 

 

 

Fortunately ... The Parts inside the hobby craft boxes and some in the Tamiya box were also encased in protective wrapping ...

From an Australian point of view, the USA has the most expensive shipping of anyone out there - and I'm beginning to wonder why! I don't think their postal service gives a rolling rats rear end about delivery ... They are becoming unreliable in other aspects as well.

On the balance though, as disappointed as I am with the manner of arrival, Barry's willingness to follow my requests in packaging have left me with usable plastic!

Having said that ... Many of you will know that, as I've been eyeing off the BIG Tamiya box that the F-4EJ came in and thinking that 32' scale is a little oversized for Jets ... I've been contemplating adjusting to '48 scale for my RAAF display. There are couple of other factors that push me toward this change and I'll note those later ...

Meanwhile - in doing my research and asking for feedback, Carl suggested that the exhausts on the Tamiya '32 scale F-4's needed an AM fix as they are undersized - and the only correction replacement available is the GT Resin ones ... I don't know why Gary deals only through Sprue Brothers - but here we go with USA shipping again!! ... Fortunately, SB's must have some sort of package deal going on with the USPS - because anything coming from them is usually markedly cheaper than from individuals and their packages tend to arrive more or less intact. I needed some seamless intakes anyway and Gary's F/A-18 stuff was great so ...

As expected ... The intakes are the usual top notch offering from Gary ... If they fit like the F/A-18 ones we're in business!!

 

A little disappointingly the exhausts look like they might need a LOT of work ... IF they will actually be serviceable at all ...

One looks a little out-of-round and the exhaust tips look to be discoloured and pitted in places ...

 

 

I've done some work with Resin ... but I'm a long way from being any sort of expert ... I'm just hoping that I can get these to work somehow - If not - screw the scale accuracy thing - I'll go with Reskit or someone - stuff that I can get through a local supplier. Besides exhausts I need RAAF decals - so where better to shop than local, right? ...

In amongst the packing pillows was a lovely packaged sheet with instructions ...

 

Feedback also told me that the cockpit needs a little detailing ... and I've seen people raving on about Quinta Studios so I thought this would be as appropriate as any other time - along with some Master turned stuff ...

Since the Mirage's are probably the next RAAF victim ... I grabbed these at the same time ... No Quinta stuff available, but it gives me the opportunity to test out Yahu and Eduard for comparison (since the store had only one of the Yahu panels in stock!)

As for resin replacements ... Eric Galliers completed an epic build a few years back and engineered a few items that were specific to the RAAF Mirages. Besides a revised cockpit IP, one of external changes was the fuel tanks - besides being thicker and longer that the ones in the kit, they were also rounded rather than tapered at the rear and had the offset bomb hard-point placements on the undersides ... Unfortunately, although he made a couple of sets - they were never released for widespread distribution ... I wish he'd sold the masters to someone who would - as that scratch build stuff is way beyond my skill set!!

Nobody has mentioned a need for seamless intakes on the Mirage ... but a few people have mentioned that the exhaust needs work in their builds ... so I grabbed these:

I've used thin cement previously ... but due to supply issues - until recently ... I've never tried Tamiya, although I've seen plenty of complimentary remarks ... so added these to round out the order ...

While doing my F-4 research I also took more than a passing liking to the Phantoms' interesting outline with all the angle changes everywhere. That, and my admiration for the ZM approach to life lead me to make the decision to collect their '48 scale Phantom line up! ... 

I started out with BNA again as they had a discount going on

 

Once again a superbly packed box by these guys ... and they had 5 of the (currently) 10 available kits in stock ...

Meanwhile I had a pre-existing order over at Metro Hobbies for the new ZM 32' scale Bf.109G-14 Eric Hartman ... So I added the 3 ZM Phantoms they had in stock as well as a new tool Tamiya '48 scale F-4B which I had read some great reviews on ...

 

 

The two ZM Phantoms that are the hardest to get a hold of are SWS48-04 ... the first one they produced ... and SWS48-08 the "Marines" Boxing. I don't know whether they underproduced this particular kit or it was just extremely popular ... but it took me a couple of days of online searching to find either of them at a half decent price point ... The first one (SWS48-04), I paid the least overs for by buying it out of USA on the e-Bay global shipping program (again ... postage is expensive ... but not as extortionate as that which an individual will pay!!). It has hit the Perth side of Australia Post ... but is still sitting in the main distribution centre at present - I'm a bit nervous about what state that kit will arrive in to be honest, perhaps the "Global Shipping Program" has a kinder transportation QA than normal!! ...

For the SWS48-08 boxing, I managed to find in a UK retailer called Antics Online ... Again ... I advised I was prepared to pay additional for shipping, provided they follow my packaging requirements ... which they did, close enough 

 

When I made the order, they explained that the kit was located in one of their retail outlets and would need to be retrieved back to the main warehouse before shipping ... Customer service was excellent and they kept me informed by email for the process ... As for the kit condition - it had been located at the retail outlet since it's arrival in the UK and so I was warned that the box may not be in the best shape ... 

... and this little blemish on the top left hand corner was the only damage ...

Now ... I'm not used to giving "In-Box" reviews ... But the GT Resin exhausts were really bugging me ... so I thought I'd do a quick comparison with the Reskit Mirage stuff ...

Firstly ... the Reskit presentation an boxing is awesome ...

Now I think it would be unfair to rate GT on the packaging side of things ... because Reskit is much bigger operation that Gary's cottage industry style setup. But look at parts and casting quality here ...

I don't know if the F-4 Exhausts are actually supposed to be out of round ... but these are ...

a roll along the table confirmed it ...

The tubing has noticeable seam lines but from memory, looking at the aircraft, these wouldn't be visible anyway, I think??

 

Of more concern is the discolouration and pitting of the parts that definitely will be seen!

 

Both GT sets are the same so if anyone can chime in with thoughts to assuage my angst, I'd be appreciative!!

Another comparison I wanted to make was relating to the disastrously awful error in the ZM fuselage shape to the rear engine shoulder of the F-4 🙄🙄 ... My tongue is firmly in cheek as I state that - shape errors usually attract more political extremists from one end of the spectrum or other than a Federal election ... but the issues are to be afforded some import as they do catch the essence of the subject matter ... If something doesn't look right to you it impacts the entire build ... and just as there are hyper passionate Bf.109 or Spitfire fans out there ... there are those just as passionate about the F-4. Carl advised me of the issue - and that it just pertained to the shorter nosed variants (ZM's first boxing) as the longer nosed versions had corrections done to the shape before moulds were cut (such is ZM's passion to "get it right") ... I wasn't going to take the plastic out of the bags ... but lets play spot the difference as well as we are able ...

 

 

Have you seen it?? ... Well it is (technically) there ... but I'm not sure that its really necessary to make a $36 AUD correction (over 25% of the kit value!) to correct a minuscule "bump" that to all but the trained eye is a negligible blemish - in '48 scale to boot! ... by the way - for those still wondering what all the fuss is about ... in the photos above, the short nosed version is on the top right hand side of the first and on the bottom. Now - some photos from the Hypersonic web store ...

 

 

In these pictures the difference is obvious ...

But when looking at the two fuselage halves with just eyesight and not zoomed photography its really not such a big deal ... and having stated that ... I may just look to build these kits straight OOB with no AM at all.

With the limited selection of RAAF / RAN subjects in '32 scale available ... I may just go with to '48 ... as the subject choices are huge ... I can get a F-111C, Aermacchi MB-326, S-2G Tracker ... F/A-18A, A+ and B ... Mirage III.O ... the list goes on! ... and all of these come in boxings with RAAF decals already supplied ... 

Rog

Holy shit, Rog!  That's some haul.  Bummer about the crushed cartons.  I hate weak packaging myself.

[Artful69]

2 hours ago, BlrwestSiR said:

Rog, that's quite the Phantom haul there, regardless of scale. 

I have some GT Resin stuff that has a similar texture issue. I'm not sure if it's the resin not curing properly or a worn out mould. One was on his NSI F-16 intake. I ended up getting the KASL one which is absolutely superb and worth the money. 

When I asked Gary about the swirled colours in the resin, he said that was the dye not having mixed properly but that the parts would be fine otherwise. So far they've been fine to use. 

If Reskit is doing F-4 cans, I'd definitely consider them. 

As for postage costs, I think Canada Post has USPS beat in terms of being expensive. That quote I got you on the same F-4 kit was bonkers. 

Carl

Carl ...

The main reason I ordered the GT Resin cans is because you told me the kit ones were undersized ...  I thought that these were the only corrected set? Otherwise I could have placed these in my BNA order for less ...

Rog

[ScottsGT]

That kind of haul would require a divorce attorney in one of those boxes for me.  

[Bomber_County]

46 minutes ago, ScottsGT said:

That kind of haul would require a divorce attorney in one of those boxes for me.  

I hear you on that one, I’m waiting for pictures of Rog’s stash warehouse……….

[BlrwestSiR]

7 hours ago, Artful69 said:

Carl ...

The main reason I ordered the GT Resin cans is because you told me the kit ones were undersized ...  I thought that these were the only corrected set? Otherwise I could have placed these in my BNA order for less ...

Rog

Rog, sorry about that. I didn't know that Reskit   was making burner cans until you posted it. Which means I'm not sure about their size either but hopefully they're correct. 

Carl

[Artful69]

37 minutes ago, Bomber_County said:

I hear you on that one, I’m waiting for pictures of Rog’s stash warehouse……….

Here you go ...

The Tamiya kits are somewhere up on the left of this row ... The ZM collection is located under the light green tarp over there - next row on the right.

HTH

Rog

[Peterpools]

Rog

I fell off my chair as I scrolled through your latest purchase, absolutely a Guinness Book of World Records of epic proportions.  Enjoy the F4's and the ZM 109. Only major F4's missing are some of the Hasegawa kits. I tip my hat to you.

 

 

[Landlubber Mike]

Rog, that is an epic post for this thread!  Good luck with your builds!  

My wife similarly would be giving me the evil eye if I didn't have a chance to sneak all those boxes into the basement before she saw them.  🤫

[Artful69]

On 9/22/2022 at 7:49 PM, ScottsGT said:

That kind of haul would require a divorce attorney in one of those boxes for me.  

 

On 9/22/2022 at 8:36 PM, Bomber_County said:

I hear you on that one, I’m waiting for pictures of Rog’s stash warehouse……….

 

2 hours ago, Landlubber Mike said:

Rog, that is an epic post for this thread!  Good luck with your builds!  

My wife similarly would be giving me the evil eye if I didn't have a chance to sneak all those boxes into the basement before she saw them.  🤫

 

Guys ... what y'all are missing here is that I'm single

At least until Jane arrives in country next Feb ... She's seen my stash ... and knows I collect ...

I've told her I want to start rationalising the older stuff apart from the new (A couple of Kotare Spitfires will replace the Revell/Hasegawa/Hobby Boss stuff in the stash etc) ... and some of the double ups ... I will sort out what to sell before we move into the new place and she will look after e-Bay while I'm away at work ... She also wants to build (Tanks) alongside me ... So a win there also ...

The stash is built NOW so I don't have to do it LATER when my available funds will be limited to a couple of kits per year ...

Rog

[belugawhaleman]

Got this today; Tower Hobbies, failing in their usual next-day delivery, I got it

a day later. Anyway, it's another Tamiya kit.  The kit is their Panzerkampfwagen IV

Ausf.f Sd.Kfz.161 (35374). Released in 2020, this kit uses the lower tub and suspension

units from some of Tamiya's earlier models but everything else is new and looks very nice. It features some nice link & length tracks with assembly jigs for the upper track

lengths. There's also a new sprue with three figures that look pretty good. Some thread

for towing cables and a length some copper wire is also included. Looks like a great kit.

I'm still working on the Valentine tank right now so it will be a while before I get to another kit.

[GazzaS]

57 minutes ago, belugawhaleman said:

Got this today; Tower Hobbies, failing in their usual next-day delivery, I got it

a day later. Anyway, it's another Tamiya kit.  The kit is their Panzerkampfwagen IV

Ausf.f Sd.Kfz.161 (35374). Released in 2020, this kit uses the lower tub and suspension

units from some of Tamiya's earlier models but everything else is new and looks very nice. It features some nice link & length tracks wirh assembly jigs for the upper track

lengths. There's also a new sprue with three figures that look pretty good. Some thread

for towing cables and a length some copper wire is also included. Looks like a great kit.

I'm still working on the Valentine tank right now so it will be a while before I get to another kit.

The New Generation Tamiya kits are worth buying just for the figures.  I wonder how many great figures get thrown in the can every year cuz some guys don't build them.  My Dragon kits all need figures.  it's hard to find them economically.

 

[belugawhaleman]

3 minutes ago, GazzaS said:

The New Generation Tamiya kits are worth buying just for the figures.  I wonder how many great figures get thrown in the can every year cuz some guys don't build them.  My Dragon kits all need figures.  it's hard to find them economically.

 

I was thinking the same, the figures are very nice. I've saved some ...but i also tossed

some.....mostly the half-torso ones. I'll be saving these, along with those from my other

German Tank-Destroyer kits. The Archer kit I got recently has some very nice figures.

[Artful69]

3 hours ago, GazzaS said:

The New Generation Tamiya kits are worth buying just for the figures.  I wonder how many great figures get thrown in the can every year cuz some guys don't build them.  My Dragon kits all need figures.  it's hard to find them economically.

 

3 hours ago, belugawhaleman said:

I was thinking the same, the figures are very nice. I've saved some ...but i also tossed

some.....mostly the half-torso ones. I'll be saving these, along with those from my other

German Tank-Destroyer kits. The Archer kit I got recently has some very nice figures.

Actually the ONLY things I think I'll be saving from my earlier Tamiya kits ARE the figures ... Most of them being replaced by Dragon equivalents.

The vehicles themselves are accurate, easy to build and well detailed ... It was a combo of Tamiyas' rubber band tracks and Dragons all-in-one Smart Kit approach (photo etch and metal barrels) that did them in for me.

These newer generation jobs with the link and length track bring Tamiya back into serious consideration!

Rog

[GazzaS]

1 minute ago, Artful69 said:

Actually the ONLY things I think I'll be saving from my earlier Tamiya kits ARE the figures ... Most of them being replaced by Dragon equivalents.

The vehicles themselves are accurate, easy to build and well detailed ... It was a combo of Tamiyas' rubber band tracks and Dragons all-in-one Smart Kit approach (photo etch and metal barrels) that did them in for me.

These newer generation jobs with the link and length track bring Tamiya back into serious consideration!

Rog

I actually have the new PZ II C and PZ IV G on the way from Praza Japan.