Under construction

[McCoy]

Em, you're a great builder n' you'll make it fine with a Dragon kit! My fourth kit was a Dragon kit with indy links n' all but no PE. It went rather well n' I'm confident that you'll do just fine with a Dragon kit! Come on join the fun part of modellin', join the dark side n' build Dragon kits!

[Whiterook]

Thanks Urban...that means a lot to me! It was because of you and your recommendation on the Tamiya kit (Panther) that brought me back into the modeling biz at a nice easy pace. I still remember openning the box, seeing all those roadwheels, and saying to my wife, "Oh my God, what have I gotten myself into?". She laughed and said I'd do just fine, and she and you were right. What a blast...I have gotten more enjoyment of kit bilding now than I ever seem to remember as a kid (though in truth, I'm still a big kid!). Thank you!

And yes, I will join the Dark Side wholeheartedly!

[McCoy]

You see! I allways recomend a Tamiya 1:35 kit newer than '90 as a first kit for a newcomer/newstarter n' I still think that I'm not in the wrong in doin' so. Especially when I keep gettin' results as you Em!

Hmm, roadwheels eh? Ever looked at a Matilda Mk. II, Churchill or a Char B1 bis? Then you can come n' say that the Panther have many roadwheels...

[Whiterook]

Heee heeee, I stand corrected on roadwhels, my friend! It seemed like a lot to me at the time, but no longer. Yeah, it really is excellent advice on the 1/35 Tamiya's...and hey, I've been learning from the best!

[McCoy]

I've even heard people complainin' on the amount of roadwheels on the Pz IV series. Yiakes, what a bunch of crybabies...

[Whiterook]

Too funny!

I know many here probably handpaint their roadwheels, but honestly, the method I used on my Panther was, a sharpie marker! Worked great!!! Comes out a bit shiny, but nothing a dullcoat can't handle! And, very accurate!

[Geek44]

Originally Posted by MAGNA

I agree with McCoy and Geek about the various manufacturers. I have not had experience with 1/72nd scale Tamiya (planes) but I have had Roden and Dragon experience in that scale. The same as mentioned in earlier posts applies. Roden tend to supply AFV kits that are not easily available but they are a bit 'loose' on where everything has to go. Just a matter of finding the right photo's to help. With the Dragon kits you need even more photo's and each sequence of instructions has to be nutted out beforehand, otherwise you end up with bits stuck down and something else needing to go there first - the instructions are not exactly brilliant. The PE bits are a total waste on 1/72nd AFV kits but I can see they would really enhance 1/35th.

Tamiya in 1/35th is, in a word, easy. You would have to have an IQ two points lower than a tree not to be able to follow them.

Here's the inevitable next question - Amhar and Trumpeter. Good stuff ?

I'll defer to McCoy on Trumpeter kits excep to say that they do some exceptional kits as well as some forgettable ones. Their aircraft have been described as 'too detailed' by a guy at my club and they do larger scale stuff unavailable by other manufacturers. Their 1/32 Mig19 has me all a-quiver as does their 1/35 Br.52 Kriegslokomotiv (have I mentioned that kit enough times?). As for Amhar...I assume you're referring to 'Emhar'. If so I only have one piece of advice. Take the money you planned to spend on an Emhar kit and flush it down the toilet. I bought a 1/72 Mark IV Male WW1 tank. I brought it home, opened the box, closed the box and promised to give it to a guy at my club. They're bloody awful. I would hesitate to recommend them even to beginners since beginners may be discouraged by such a bad kit.

[Geek44]

Originally Posted by Whiterook

Thanks Urban...that means a lot to me! It was because of you and your recommendation on the Tamiya kit (Panther) that brought me back into the modeling biz at a nice easy pace. I still remember openning the box, seeing all those roadwheels, and saying to my wife, "Oh my God, what have I gotten myself into?". She laughed and said I'd do just fine, and she and you were right. What a blast...I have gotten more enjoyment of kit bilding now than I ever seem to remember as a kid (though in truth, I'm still a big kid!). Thank you!

And yes, I will join the Dark Side wholeheartedly!

And then you went straight into one of the most challenging types of kit available. A biplane with lozenge camouflage and multiple struts...it's like a guy finishing a marathon asking if he can manage to walk to the corner shop for milk.

[MAGNA]

Thanks for the advice Geek. It's good to find these things out before the choice is made.

Cheers.

[Geek44]

I exist to serve mate.