Model Kit Reviews

[Geek44]

Oh yeah...I've been thinking about how beneficial it is to know a little about how your subject worked in real life. I'm a bit ignorant about these tanks and it shows. If you look at the main weapon, you'll see that it extends forward of the bar underneath it intended to push the radio aerial out of the way when the turret traverses. It shouldn't extend beyond the length of the barrel. Lousy Dragon instructions and my ignorance (and blindness to the references I DO have) have combined to produce this pretty obvious fault. Never mind...I'll just have to build another I suppose .
Peace.

[MAGNA]

I don't think it will matter Geek. You have got a really good metal look going there which is what it's all about with a weathered AFV. The colour filters are working well too. Worth every drop of paint and time. I like the chipping effect and how it all looks a bit sun baked. The kit moulding itself looks far superior to most other brands too which I assume means it all goes together well (not counting the instructions). I especially like the detail for the top of the turret and gun.

Your work on the hinges is also something a lot of people seem to overdo. They look used as they should but no more. Excellent work. The whole looks spot for Tobruk too - There weren't that many walls and trees to smack the guards into so they probably would have been reasonably straight.

[McCoy]

Originally Posted by Geek44

Oh yeah...I've been thinking about how beneficial it is to know a little about how your subject worked in real life. I'm a bit ignorant about these tanks and it shows. If you look at the main weapon, you'll see that it extends forward of the bar underneath it intended to push the radio aerial out of the way when the turret traverses. It shouldn't extend beyond the length of the barrel. Lousy Dragon instructions and my ignorance (and blindness to the references I DO have) have combined to produce this pretty obvious fault. Never mind...I'll just have to build another I suppose .
Peace.

No worries mate as it's in the right spot. It's not for the main gun but it's for the machinegun as the antenna never is in any danger from the main gun.

[Whiterook]

Holy cats Nick...that is an awesome beast! I agree with Urban...we need to see more armor out of you mate!

[Geek44]

I always end up living quite comfortably with any mistakes I make...and there's always at least one. I've never been a stickler for absolute accuracy as I think it kinda dilutes the fun a bit. Sometimes I just prefer to get on with the building rather than stressing about this or that tiny detail. There will always be another model to build. I'd rather build something with some character. I'm sure I weather inappropriately a lot of the time but that's where the fun is for me. If I'm honest, I don't think I'm a very good 'builder' because the painting is what I enjoy the most. This kit has a couple of pretty ugly gaps in it that are hard to spot because of their location...not a kit fault, but mine. MAGNA is right...it's a Dragon kit and the mouldings are probably the best I've seen. I always feel funny about using putty on armour kits. I have on this one but I should have appield some to the gaps as well. I'm not losing a wink of sleep over it though...I'm enjoying the model immensely and have plans for at least four other armour kits. Late Tiger 1 with interior, Panther G, Stug IV Ausf. G and the Elefant. All will be the biggest and best Dragon kits I can get. I also have their Sdkfz. 251 'Stuka Zu Fuss' half built. That's an odd motor.
Thanks again for the positive vibes guys. It means a lot to me.
Peace.

[MAGNA]

I will try to wait patiently for the Elefant pics when you get that going Geek. One of my favourites and I'm sure a 1/35 Dragon kit will be excellent.

[Whiterook]

Originally Posted by Geek44

I always end up living quite comfortably with any mistakes I make...and there's always at least one. I've never been a stickler for absolute accuracy as I think it kinda dilutes the fun a bit. Sometimes I just prefer to get on with the building rather than stressing about this or that tiny detail. There will always be another model to build. I'd rather build something with some character. I'm sure I weather inappropriately a lot of the time but that's where the fun is for me. If I'm honest, I don't think I'm a very good 'builder' because the painting is what I enjoy the most. This kit has a couple of pretty ugly gaps in it that are hard to spot because of their location...not a kit fault, but mine. MAGNA is right...it's a Dragon kit and the mouldings are probably the best I've seen. I always feel funny about using putty on armour kits. I have on this one but I should have appield some to the gaps as well. I'm not losing a wink of sleep over it though...I'm enjoying the model immensely and have plans for at least four other armour kits. Late Tiger 1 with interior, Panther G, Stug IV Ausf. G and the Elefant. All will be the biggest and best Dragon kits I can get. I also have their Sdkfz. 251 'Stuka Zu Fuss' half built. That's an odd motor.
Thanks again for the positive vibes guys. It means a lot to me.
Peace.

You got the absolute right attitude and methodology mate! I share the same feelings and way of the build as you, and I suspect, others here as well. If this was a bolt counter forum, I wouldn't be here. It's why after signing up with FineScaleModeler's site, I posted maybe three posts and left. It's not condusive to the fun I seel.

I like what you said about the weathering/painting. I've quickly come to see that the build process for me is like "building" two madels...the construction, and the painting. I'm in a totally different zone (no pun intended) with each process, and get something totally different from each process. I suspect that dioramas will add a totally different third process feel for me.

And I like what you mention about "character"...I definitely think a perfect model tends to slide toward the potentially blandness. The little differences are the spice!

[Whiterook]

Originally Posted by MAGNA

I will try to wait patiently for the Elefant pics when you get that going Geek. One of my favourites and I'm sure a 1/35 Dragon kit will be excellent.

I agree Mag...I can't wait to see Nick do the Elefant build as well! I bet that's gonna look absolutely splendid! Get busy Nick...your audience awaits!

[Geek44]

Well I've had my financial manager (Ms. Geek) rubber-stamp some expenditure lately so it' looks okay on that score. My unbuilt stash is very small, maybe five kits that stand a chance of ever being built, but this Pz. IV has kinda whetted my armour appetite. I went to the local hobby shop three days ago and came home empty handed. There was Hasegawa's 1/48 Henschel 129 for $50 and ICM's 1/48 Heinkel 177 Greif for...sitting down? $135.00! I also saw a 1/48 Hasegawa P-38. It's the kit my Verlinden set is designed to fit, but I stayed strong. Yesterday, I went to the local toy shop. They have a great selection that tends to survive on the shelves a lot longer. They had several good Dragon armour kits and some recet Tamiya releases too. Dragon's Stug III had me interested but I don't know if the kit includes the armour skirts...Tamiya's does but they're way too thick...I can't buy a kit and brass for it. There was a weird vehicle I'd never seen too. Best described as a Tiger 1 turret on a modified Elefant chassis. But I'm after specific stuff. A Dragon 'Permium Edition' Elefant or a Tiger 1 late model. I'm happy to do my own zimmerit (well, not happy but I'll cope). I also saw two copies of Tamiya's nice little Jpz. IV L70 which is a favourite vehicle of mine. Built it twice now but next time, it will have the 'works'. Tamiya persist in supplying the howitzer barrel and the 75 long barrel too. What they've neglected is the inclusion of two sets of steel wheels for the front bogies when using the long barrel. Ms. Geek has advised me that the big comp. is on in two weeks. Sadly, I'll have nothing (again) to enter this year, but I'll have some cash to splash...I'm holding off until then. So it's Panzer IV finishing time (going well incidentally) with pics to come in the next couple of days.
Peace.

[McCoy]

Originally Posted by Geek44

There was a weird vehicle I'd never seen too. Best described as a Tiger 1 turret on a modified Elefant chassis.

Well, it's the other way 'round. The Ferdinand/Elefant is in fact modified Tiger I (P) chassies.