New Releases you are all worked up about

[Jacques]

Oh, you will get no argument out of me Shot. I am not trying to explain or argue that one set of vehicles are better than the other...I am just philosophizing on why the less-dedicated AFV modeller is far more attached to German WWII vehicles than any other.

 

I have never understood racial bias. I understand political/philisophical/cultural bias', for example I have a less tolerant view of extreem conservatives AND extreem liberals, but it is the view and not the race/color that I take issue with. Or, to be blunt, all races/colors have their less-than-stellar leaders. But I also realize that people are people and the Jewish race/creed tends to get more of a bad rep than others. (On a side note, I have a friend who converted from Catholicism to Judiaism (sp?) so I get a better picture than most on what the religion/culture entails, never mind my minister wife who does not allow me to remain in ignorant bliss... )

 

As fr anti-semitism vs. anti-naziism...well, it seems we have a easier time parsing German vs. Nazi than we do in parsing Jew vs. Isreali. Not fair, but it seems to be the trend.

 

I think there is just too much political and religous baggage in the whole middle east mess to draw simple, easy conclusions. You can't really hate the Palestinians, and you don't feel right rooting against the death of all those young palestinian kids. You don't want Isrealis to die from all those ignorant suicide bombers and mortar/rocket fire, but they keep doing things, for what they see as their own security, that leaves you not really wanting to root for the Isreali's either. Eventually, you wash your hands of the whole mess and go buy some WWII kits that are a lot more black/white in the moral dept. (Well, not really, but that is what we get taught.)

 

What does all this mean? Well, it is supposed to help you understand that there are a LOT of issues behind why a certain really cool kit has just not yet been made and why other are done ad-nausium. It just means that we have to do a LOT of general education to get the injection molded kits we want! Win-win.

[ShotMagnet]

ShotMagnet ignites a political firestorm, in the modeling forum no less. Bad, naughty Sbot.

 

Speaking of subjects that don't get enough attention, I'd like to see a lot more Soviet conversions, especially the SPAA versions of various BTRs. The T-72 APC would also make a great subject, and I'd buy a Tunguska pretty much no questions asked if only someone would make one.

 

 

Shot

Edited May 4, 2007 by ShotMagnet

[Corinthian]

ShotMagnet ignites a political firestorm, in the modeling forum no less. Bad, naughty Sbot.

 

Speaking of subjects that don't get enough attention, I'd like to see a lot more Soviet conversions, especially the SPAA versions of various BTRs. The T-72 APC would also make a great subject, and I'd buy a Tunguska pretty much no questions ask if only someone would make one.

Shot

 

Re:Tunguska, they do. I forgot the manufacturer but there's a 1/72 kit of it. ISTR there's a resin 1/35 kit of the Tunguska as well.

 

Jacques: Does SP Designs have a conversion set of the BMPT?

[ShotMagnet]

On Jacques' site there's a T-55 BTR thingie. For only USD 25, presuming that it's still in stock.

 

 

Shot

[Jacques]

Hey Shot, it is not a political firestorm...just a good discussion brought about by a most excellent hobby. That is what I love about this hobby, the information, stories, and discussion. And it allows me to be a big blow-hard!

 

Back to topic, I do not know about any 1/72 stuff, much.

 

The SP Designs conversion is for the T-55 based BTR-T. The BMDT is based on the T-72 and is now called Ramka. The Ramka is going into service with the Russian Army, not the BTR-T. No stock yet, Sergej is casting as fast as his little Ukrianian hands can go...)

 

I am looking forward to the release of the T-62 kits and the MAZ transporter, if it ever comes out.

[EW]

Speaking of new releases/cool subjects it seems a new actor have entered the market. A Chinese company by the name of Kinetic Model Kits. Nothing really fancy there initially IMHO, apart from a 1/32 F-86. Hopefully this company will follow in Trumpeters footsteps in releasing more exotic subjects.

 

Cheers

EW

 

 

http://www.kineticmodel.com/

[DougRichards]

Of course, far to many of the General Public think the German's Attacked Pearl Harbor for me to have restfull sleep. Really. (No , I am really not kidding.)

For a time there in the USA a conspiracy theory was going around that it was the Royal Navy and the USN that attacked Pearl, after all, it was no accident that those US carriers were not in port, they were off conducting an attack to draw the US into the war in Europe, and that the plan had been cooked up by Churchill and FDR.

 

It wasn't Zeros, it was Spitfires!

 

see

http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3a3522a943db.htm

[nitflegal]

Hey Shot, it is not a political firestorm...just a good discussion brought about by a most excellent hobby. That is what I love about this hobby, the information, stories, and discussion. And it allows me to be a big blow-hard!

 

Back to topic, I do not know about any 1/72 stuff, much.

 

The SP Designs conversion is for the T-55 based BTR-T. The BMDT is based on the T-72 and is now called Ramka. The Ramka is going into service with the Russian Army, not the BTR-T. No stock yet, Sergej is casting as fast as his little Ukrianian hands can go...)

 

I am looking forward to the release of the T-62 kits and the MAZ transporter, if it ever comes out.

 

That's another one that suprises me. You can't get a good T-80, T-90, Type-99G, etc but you can get a big freakin' tank transporter? I've been really suprised that Trumpeter dropped their Type 98 upgraded kit as the old one is pretty darned poor.

 

And again, how the Hell did I get a nice 1/35 Ariete before I got a T-90??!!

 

Matt

[Jacques]

Hey, I would RATHER they do the Tank transporter first...better chanc eo fgetting both that way than the other way around...

 

As for the Ariete before the T-90, Trumpeter was paid off to do it... No, I suspect they were tailoring to a crowd that had more dough/interest than the T-series crowd. I think it is starting to slowly shift though...

 

And Doug, all you are doing is scaring me and reinforcing my own point. (Although Churchill WAS a dink... Never did like his form of pragmatism from before WWI to his ouster in 1945...but then again, I am a American, which may cloud my opinions... )

[DougRichards]

(Although Churchill WAS a dink...

Dual Income No Kids?

[Jacques]

Dual Income No Kids?

 

...something like that. He knew the system and the necessary outcome but "I might have gone another way" compared to his machinations. For what my opinion is worth anyhow...

[Jacques]

Trumpeter is making TWO kits...the T-62 and T-62M. There are already some test shots of the sprues out on the web, don't have them handy right now, and they could be out sometime in the next 3-4 months...or longer...

 

They also look to be VERY good compared to the Tamiya offering, but noone has a kit onhand to look over yet.

[Corinthian]

I wish I can lay my hands on them test shots and build them and make a review....

 

I have yet to lay my hands on the Trump BMP-3 test shot the club has.

[Corinthian]

double post

Edited May 15, 2007 by TomasCTT

[nitflegal]

Italeri just announced a 1/35 S-100 Schnellboot! If only Revell would do a 1/72 Type IXC and a Type XXI sub my large scale ocean based needs! Well, I'd love a 1/72 Calvi, K-21, River Thames, and I-boat but those ain't gonna happen!

 

Matt

[ShotMagnet]

Italeri just announced a 1/35 S-100 Schnellboot!

I'd be a lot more thrilled if someone other than Italeri were doing it. Their 234/4 put me off their kits, though if someone has a non-horror story I might be tempted after all.

 

 

Shot

[EW]

Sorry for "bumping" and "derailing" this thread again but I came to think of the comments made here when I was in the process of finding a new subject to build. If we all were totally oblivious of the past history, mythology and current events etc etc related to said subject wouldn't the modelling community still choose the same kits? What I'm trying to say that most people, if not all, have a natural ability to pick up what's beautiful vs. plain ugly in most things. So with that in mind, and if we randomly selected a 1000 modelers who looked at what's available with the eyes of a innocent new born, I strongly suspect that a Tiger would be the number one choice in the armour section and a Spitfire/Mustang in aircraft division and so on.

 

What my new armour project is? Take a guess

 

Cheers

EW

[Jacques]

NO way! I would make sure that ALL but 3 of those 1000 were only looking for the best and most modern Russian models. WUhahaha! So a Russian T-55 and a SU-27 would be the winners!

 

As for dealing with this seriously, I think that without the history and aura that the real vehicles have, people would probably pick what they were most familiar with (Ie modern like a M1A1/F-117 etc...), pick the coolest kit with the neatest features...ala DML's newest kits with PE, or pick out BIG kits, like 1/32 modern jets or 1/350 aircraft carriers or the Dragon Wagon etc.

 

Remember, in the eyes of the uninitiated, BIG and RED wins in popularity.

[ShotMagnet]

if we randomly selected a 1000 modelers who looked at what's available with the eyes of a innocent new born, I strongly suspect that a Tiger would be the number one choice in the armour section and a Spitfire/Mustang in aircraft division and so on.

Beg to differ.

Some will doubtless go the 'cool behemoth Wehrmacht' route. Some will choose the 'underpowered but willing to try' Allied route. And some, like me, will seek the 'cool-looking variant' route.

 

What I like most about contemporary modeling: the freedom to build what you will.

 

 

Shot

Edited May 18, 2007 by ShotMagnet

[EW]

Shot,

 

I'll guess it's my inability to express myself properly in English, but what I meant/mean is if those 1000 selected didn't know that a Tiger was a Nazi tank, or the F-16 was American made and so on and just saw all those subjects for the first time ever and at the same time being totally clueless, I guess that the "usual suspects" would end up as top picks, based on that they have the "right" lines/symethry(sp?)/proportions. In short they just look better.

 

Cheers

EW

[ShotMagnet]

I think I understood you. Perhaps the fact that I'm American, and therefore suspect in the first place, is what's causing the misunderstanding.

 

What I was flailing and failing at trying to make clear was that yes, some would choose the cool-and-sexy stuff; but there would be as many who'd choose the also-rans. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, after all.

 

I'll never build a stock Sherman, or a Tiger I. Neither is particularly appealing to me, even the super-cool Dragon kit that has just about everything you need to build OOB the sweetest Tiger that can be had (OOB, anyway). On the other hand, I'll build a Firefly, or an Isherman, or a Soltam, etc. I'd also like to see a Tiger II with all the fancies that the Tiger I has.

 

I think I take your meaning, that the average modeler wants to build what looks cool. I agree, I certainly want to, but I think that 'cool' is in the eye of the builder, which is why there's such a variety to be had.

 

 

Shot

[EW]

 

"Old news" maybe for the initiated but I thought it was newsworthy enough to bump this thread. Yes it's the Hasegawa 1/48 J35 that will be available in the US in april. Price unknown. I'm very pleased that they are willing to take the risk to release a rare bird like this one. But then again isn't she beautiful? I sure hope that enough people will buy it so we get the school and reccon version as well. Plus it might inspire the other bigger companies to release more "odd" planes.

 

Anyhow the above is more than welcome to me and if by chance Trumper will release their 1/48 Su-24 this year, I'm gonna be more than a happy camper. So what about the rest of you? Got your sight set on any specific target, like a Revell 1/32 Ju-88?

 

Cheers

EW

[FITZ]

 

"Old news" maybe for the initiated but I thought it was newsworthy enough to bump this thread. Yes it's the Hasegawa 1/48 J35 that will be available in the US in april. Price unknown. I'm very pleased that they are willing to take the risk to release a rare bird like this one. But then again isn't she beautiful? I sure hope that enough people will buy it so we get the school and reccon version as well. Plus it might inspire the other bigger companies to release more "odd" planes.

 

Cheers

EW

 

I have all of their 1/72 versions and am quite excited about this one.

[ShotMagnet]

Just read an article in SAMI about the J35 that made me all warm and tingly and wanting to build one. Thanks to Hasegawa, maybe now I will.

 

 

 

Shot

[DougRichards]

I have the Italeri Bofors 40mm about 95% complete. An expensive kit for sure, but as I have said often that I wanted that gun released in injection moulded I decided I had to buy it. It hasn't taken long to build, of course the figures are not particularly special, and you only get three clips of ammunition. I am not great at figures, but I will make the effort here as I think that they will make a difference.

 

Goes together fairly well. a few minor things of course to watch for (like getting the feet, the wheels and the stakes all set up the way they are meant to be, no clues in the instructions of course), but I can also understand why it took so long to be made in polystyrene.

 

It is so much like a 'spider', nothing neat and compact, lots of long bits and pieces going in all directions. The German FlaK 37mm guns are positively compact in comparison.

 

I have seen on other fora (sounds as good as forum or forii) that the main towing vehicle in US service was the deuce and a half. Whilst I can understand that, I would have thought that the 1 and a 1/2 tonner would have been more appropriate, as it was used to tow the 57mm AT gun, of not dissimilar weight. Any comments?

 

And yes, when the AFV Club version of the Bofors 40mm comes out I will probably get that also. I can only hope that it is the British version, even if it doesn't come with crew, and I will have it towed by the Chevy Blitz that has been gathering dust waiting for me to build for around 7 years now.

 

Why don't more model manufacturers provide crew for their artillery? Guns without crews look so damned naked!