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BloorwestSiR

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Posts posted by BloorwestSiR

  1. On 1/15/2024 at 6:34 AM, Zola25 said:

    It is priced very similar to their other 1/32 kits of the same size - I think that was to be expected. What would be the reason why this kit would be priced differently?

    I have not really ever seen HpH kits drop in price unfortunately - I wish thye would because I would love to build both the PBY Catalina and the C47

     

    My LHS has a Catalina ithey got in from a collection for $675 CAD. Not sure how much cheaper that is compared to new. 

     

    https://wheelswingshobbies.com/hph32021l-mph-models-1-32-pby-5a-catalina-wwweb10110852/

  2. Toronto used to have several well stocked hobby shops but one by one most have closed. Fortunately one of the best (Wheels and Wings) is still in business and has even expanded their inventory. They only carry scale models. They're carrying more stock these days of AM, tools and supplies than I've seen in the past. They have regular sales where they'll offer blanket discounts in the store or sometimes targeted sales. Plus, they're cognizant of who they're competing against and do their best to price accordingly.

     

    With the rise of shipping costs, oftentimes I've found them more than competitive with the online shops. 

     

    The best part is going there and chatting with the staff and owner. It's always an enjoyable visit. 

     

    Carl

  3. 18 minutes ago, MDuv said:

     


    Now that you mention it, I was fool enough to even think doing this

    6H47VzC.jpg

    But a Seafire XV is definetly a more reachable goal, and both served in the RN after all..

    Cheers

    M

     

    Matthieu, if you do a Seafire XV I'm sure you would make a lot of Canadians happy as well since it also flew with the RCN. It would be the perfect complement to a Sea Fury. 

     

    Carl

  4. Sadly, I've binned many a kit partway through. 

     

    I had a pair of HK B-25Js on the bench and the constant work on the rear half of the  fuselage interior just wore me down. I gave up after a while and eventually tossed them when I knew I'd never go back to them. 

     

    The Takom M29C is probably going to share a similar fate. The suspension parts are ridiculously tiny, fiddly and have a vague fit. None of mine line up and the link and length track is off. 

     

    Carl

  5. Don't forget to look at the second hand market for kits and AM.

     

    I managed to pick up the 3 Tamiya Tomcats I have for around $90 USD each and two came with resin cockpit sets and other AM. 

     

    I built one at the same time @ScottsGT did his Revell one. It was an interesting comparison between what needed improving on both kits. 

     

    i-wnSNhzR-L.jpg

     

    i-2qdVwVD-L.jpg

     

    Cockpit was the Technix resin set. 

     

    i-jt2GfFr-L.jpg

     

    i-sWs4HkR-L.jpg

     

     

     

  6. I think there was a limited edition clear version that was sold through Sprue Brothers. It had a complete clear fuselage assembly and 2 different style of noses. 

     

    HK did several boxings like that. One of mine came with the optional nose weight and metal gear legs. Both were cast in zinc so weren't the squishy SAC stuff. 

  7. 11 hours ago, MikeC said:

    Certainly the XVII could probably be done using the Tamiya Mk XVI as a base, but you'd need to swop the wings with a Mk IX; but then you'll have the means to build a high-back Mk IXe as well.  Hmm :hmmm:now look what you've done, you've set me off down another modelling rabbit hole :whistle:

     

    No need to swap the entire wing, just the inserts for the respective versions. 

     

    Can't wait for a XV to come out. Would be nice to have one in RCN markings next to my RCN Sea Fury. 

  8. My wife and I debated which way to go 18 months when we were car shopping. We looked at EVs, talked with neighbours who owned them and looked at the pros and cons. 

     

    Charging wouldn't have been an issue as we have a garage and it has 240V power. Range also wasn't an issue for everyday stuff. 

     

    The two biggest hits were the price and the technology, especially the batteries themselves. The Chevy Bolt would have been the cheapest option to meet our needs but at the time they were on a stop/sale due to a battery recall. Everything else was out of our budget. 

     

    Then there's the batteries themselves. The tech keeps advancing and as a result, the older stuff gets harder to source so if down the road you need a replacement battery, you could be SOL. Or facing an absurd bill like a Hyundai owner found out when he was quoted $50K for a battery.

     

    We ultimately took the middle ground and got a RAV4 hybrid. Best of both worlds. Still have to wait 8 months for it to arrive but we've been very happy with it. Beats our Honda Element for mileage that's for sure. 

     

    Carl

     

     

  9. 23 minutes ago, Shoggz said:

    Here's the under-bench area.. Yes I can just about get my feet in when I'm modelling.... :wub:

     

    The ones at the right are five (yes, five) 1:24 Spitfire Mk.IXs. (And I've already built one!)

     

    53457976446_7576705d1c_b.jpg

     

    I have so many plans for them.. Early, late, 'e' wing, Mk.XVI low back conversion...

     

    I broke down and finally bought the Airfix 1/24 Spitfire kit. Okay, two after Laminar Flow announced he was going to do a XIV conversion. 

     

    We're getting a new heating system installed this weekend so my shelves are in a huge upheaval at the moment. Which means I've found stuff I forgotten about. Once the work is done, this will give me a chance to sort everything out. 

  10. 6 hours ago, mozart said:

    That’s also SERIOUS financial investment there Carl….. wonder which, if any are appreciating or depreciating in value? 

     

     

    Max, there are a few kits in there that have definitely appreciated. I usually don't find out until I've actually started them so for me, it becomes moot. 

     

    There's the usual culprits like the few Fisher kits and conversions I have but my sci-fi kits I would say have gone up the most. 

     

    I bought a Yamato 1/3000 SDF-1 kit years ago on clear out for about $120. I built it last year and when searching for references on it, found they were worth close to $1,200 now. 

     

    Likewise I have a Max Factory 1/20 VF-1S that is now about $1,700 which I bought for a 1/3 of that. 

     

     

     

     

     

  11. The debonder I use softens the CA. I'll soak it and then if needed,  use a micro brush to work the debonder into the joint a bit and help things come apart. 

     

    Also, G-Factor made brass legs for the kit but I have no idea how hard it would be to find a set. 

  12. The intake splitter plates breaking seem to have been a common issue. When I bought my Twogar, the intake splitters were broken off. Like you, I managed to find part but not the other. 

     

    I asked Paul Fisher about it and he said he had a mould of just the splitter plates for that reason and would send me a couple replacements.  Sadly that was a week before the fire that destroyed everything. 

     

    As for the cockpit fit, I can check mine later tonight and see how it fits together. 

     

    Carl

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