ssculptor

It really all depends on what you want in a Sea Fury kit. There is a wide range in requirements among modelers. You can range from a carved wood model which satisfies guys like me, to the most obsessive rivet counter who wants as much accurate detail as possible. In between you have the modelers who like to have some detail and are quite happy with the detail level and pricing of a $50 Hasegawa kit. Fisher's expensive resin Sea Fury is selling like hotcakes. When the less expensive injection molded HC Sea Fury comes out it will certainly outsell the resin model, giving Paul a well deserved rest. Then he can start on his next great model kit. So, apparently the problem is with the modelers who want the ultimate kit; can they wait until the less expensive HC comes out? However, it is not a life and death descision. What are we talking about, a $200 kit now VS waiting for a $100 kit to come out? I am glad I do not have to make that choice. However, when that Trumpeter 1/32 TBD Devastator finally comes out, watch out and don't get in my way. I guess we all have our weak points.

I saw the early castings at the Hobby Industry Trade show half a year ago. When will this 1/32 Sea Fury kit be available? Weeeeel, I also saw their 1/32 A-36 (P-51A) castings at the same show. This early Mustang is in their 2005 catalog. It has not yet reached the dealers as a complete kit as of this date. I am beginning to look at HC with the same disbelief I hold for Craftworks (1/32 VAL supposed to be released in 2002). Gentlemen, when a new kit is supposed to released I WILL BELIEVE IT WHEN I BUY IT AND HOLD IT IN MY GRUBBY PAWS! Until then it is all HOT AIR. Bah Humbug!

Ah, another who remembers the joyful odor of the "paints" that are bad for us. I still have a can of the old laquer primer that has been banned in the USA for some years. I use it occasionally and delight in the smell as the fumes enter my nose and wreak havoc with my brain. A lot better than booze. I remember the old dope we used to use to paint our wood models back in the 1940's. Yes, always paint in the kitchen with the windows closed. The delightful odor of the fuels we used for the flying models brings back sweet memories. And peeling the dried glue off our fingers after building a large balsa flying model. Ah, sheer pleasure! No super glue for us old timers. I detest the odor of the new super glues. All they do is irritate my eyes. Phooey. Those I use out of doors or in well ventilated areas. I prefer the manly odor of polyester resin as I work the fiberglass cloth. I just bought another 5 gallon can of that delightful stuff. And the smell of Bondo! Lovely, lovely. The guys who cast resin have to be careful as the ones that are easier to cast are also the most toxic. I really cannot see any reason to kill oneself with the really toxic casting resins. There are plenty of newer ones that are much less dangerous to use. You guys do protect yourselves from breathing in the dust when sanding the resin models don't you? Strong ventilation or sand outdoors. Hmmmmm? Well, it really doesn't matter. Eating the fats and red meats at fast food places will kill you off a lot sooner anyway. May I have a side order of deep fried chloresterol with my lard sandwich, please?

I have found that buying items on ebay is pretty much of a crap shoot in terms of prices. It all depends on who is looking for that particular kit and how much he wants it at the particular time the item is offered. If two bidders get fixed on a certain item the resulting competition can bring the price up very high. I have bought items on ebay for really high prices simply because I determined that I want it and to blazes with the cost. I have sold items on ebay that went to crazy high prices because two or more bidders were squabbling over it. Selling on ebay is how I can afford to buy on ebay, by the way. Auctions, like gambling, often bring out the irrational sides in people. In general, in the USA ebay, four engine bombers (1/32 vacuform) like the B-17 and B-24 and even the B-29 will bring an average of $110. One reason for this is that Combat Models is still in business and their bare kit prices are $65 for the B-17 and B-24. So why compete for an ID models kit at double the price? But if you get some bidders who do not know that Combat Models is alive and well you can see the prices go out of sight in an ebay auction. Also, what an item sells for on ebay depends on how skillful and knowledgable the seller is in listing his object. I have seen sellers who have no idea of what they have list the item so badly that the avid buyers searchs do not pick it up. When that happens the lucky buyers who do find it can snap it up at a song. Ebay is really just a game. Enjoy.

Well, I have been told that, outside of accidents, what kills us in our old age is most likely to be a Heart Attack or Cancer. Something to look forward to, I guess. Since I am in my late '60's I am in total denial. However, as with many oldsters, I am taking a variety of pills which at least serves to see that I take in enough fluids during the day. Also I watch my diet and limiit my intake of the wrong kind of foods. "Fast foods"? Haven't eaten at a fast food place in many years. David watched his diet even more carefully than I. We used to laugh about what we could not longer eat. However, my good friend David died before his time, courtesy of Agent Orange and its by-products.

Heart attack.

I don't know about you guys but I prefer the old radial engined models. In 1/32 I'd like to see the Fiat G-50 and the Re.2000 produced in injection molded kits. I'd love the Fiat Fr.32, Fr.42 and the Japanese Pete but I doubt if anyone will come out with models of those lovely old biplanes. I tend to like the airplanes that were in action at the beginning of WW2. I really like the WW1 airplanes. Those pilots had cahones to spare as far as I am concerned. Yes, I know, if I like these planes so much why don't I scratch build them myself like I'm alwaws hollering that you guys should do. Well, there is just so much time in a day. If I had the time, OK, but I do not. So I prefer to buy the injection molded kits when they come out. I guess one just gets lazier as one gets older. Old Coot Stephen

I guess I can reveal it now. David's secret project was a very accurate 1/32 Rex. I had given David my Revell mid-wing George kit and he used that as the beginning of his master. He discovered that the existing floats for other Rex conversions were off so he mastered his own, along with the correct struts. He did a new interior for it as the original Revell cockpit area was a joke. David did a lot of research for his models and by the time he started on his masters he probably knew as much as, and usually a whole lot more than anybody else in the USA about the airplane he was building. He had a second secret project under way, the Staggerwing Beechcraft in 1/32. We both used to laugh about the absolute toy that ITC had put out in the 1950's. We laughed even more about the later model kit of the Staggerwing that was issued by a different party as it kept so many of the original's errors. I miss David very much. He was a real friend and they are very rare.

Yes, David was UMIRESINS.

I have the unhappy task of letting everyone know that my very good friend, David Thompson, has died. He passed away last Tuesday. You can access the entire obituary on http://www.goerie.com/obituaries David served during the Vietnam war and saw a lot of combat. He was a master model builder and was featured in Scale Modeler magazine. He had won the North American Championship for Model Diorama. David was also an avid motorcyclist and a great lover of animals. Friends are invited to call at the John J. Quinn Funeral Home, West 9th & Liberty St. Monday from 2-5 & 7-9 p.m. and are invited to attend Funeral Services there Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. Private burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

Photos? Where is your sense of adventure? We no need no stinkin' photos. :angry: Buy the kit and you can take all the photos you need Not only that, you'll be able to fondle the kit all you want. Oooooooo, fondle. However, If you guys can wait a week or so I will photo the kit when I get it. I ordered two yesterday.

Another point to consider is that since this will be the only kit of this airplane we are likely to see in 1/32 it really does not matter if we wait until someone does a review of it and we see pictures of it. Really, do I have a choice? No, I do not. I want a model of this airplane in 1/32. So I will buy this kit because the alternative is to scratch build one. I do not want to waste the time making a scratch build so I'll buy it. Its as simple as that. Yes, I will read the reviews and if there are any flaws then I can decide if I want to correct them or to just live with them. Now if they can only come out with a Fiat Cr.42 or 32. He he he, we are never satisfied. Stephen

Brad, Why dont you ask them? Suggest that they show pics on the forums or Modeling Madness. You have the link to the web site so you can write to them. We are not PCH so we cannot show the photos. We do not have the kit. Ask the people who do.

Pacific Coast Models just announced that they have and are shipping their Reggiane Re.2005. 1:32 plastic & resin kit. Code: PCM 32004 Price: $53.95 The link to their site is: http://www.pacmodels.com/index.shtml I just finished perusing their on line catalog and I am so glad that I got out of 1/48 scale so many years ago. There is just no way I could afford all their 1/48 airplane models. And they are just one distributor. Phew! They have just a few 1/32 scale offerings and I can rest easy that my pension is enough to cover one or two items each year. No, I will not spend over $100 on any kit. Which is why I do not have the old Italian Racer airplane resin kits in 1/32. One has to draw the line somewhere!

I'm curious. Leonard Niemoy (Mr. Spock) is still alive. Did anyone think to ask him what scale he would like to be?

Wasn't there one episode where Spock radios up to the Enterprise, "Very funny Scottie. Now beam down my clothes!" Seriously, I would prefer a 1/32 Vulcan but since I cannot afford a 200 pound price tag then what I say is of very little import. I would however, caution you to beware of the guys who say, "Yes, I'll buy it" and when push comes to shove they do not come across with the money. It is very easy for these guys to talk big but they are just blowing hot air. Thus I agree with your decision to limit the production to 25 kits. What I would like, of course, is a 1/32 Japanese Betty, especially the early one with the teardrop canopies. I am still looking for the ID Models 1/32 Sterling bomber. Happy modeling (or as you in the old country spell it, modelling). Stephen

Picky picky picky! Just because there are so many errors that the plane is completely wrong that is no reason for trashing it. Why not just put Mainland Chinese decals on it and consider it to be their version of it? Make it a Chinese knockoff! I am wearing a Frolex (Fake Rolex) watch which was knocked off in Asia, so why not build a model of a knock-off airplane? Personally I am going to put Israeli decals on my 117 because they always modify the US planes they get to make them perform better for operations in their part of the world. Since the kit requires almost a total makeover why not just have some fun with it? There is much more to life than just making direct copies of something that other people created. Use your imagination. Be creative. Have some fun! Enjoy your life (even if it hurts to do so ). Stephen

Ah nostalgia! I still have my 1966 Corvette that I bought back then. However, at times I do long for my 1957 Chrysler Imperial with the giant fins. I got that from my dad after an electrical fire took out the wiring. He gave it to me and I replaced the necessary wires and then painted the entire car in three color camoflage in a British shadow pattern. It's greens and browns just did not quite fit in with the red brick Chicago scene but I liked it. Sure was a fun car.

What we really need now is a 1/18 and a 1/32 scale B-36. Of course that will make a real dent in the world's supply of oil (to process into plastic) and will disrupt oil prices, starting new local wars in the middle east which will spread to a global conflict destroying tens of millions of lives. All over a silly model airplane. What ever happened to 1/72 scale? Forty five years ago most of us were happy with that. Back in the 1960's we had Marijuana and Hash and LSD and Free Love and three ton cars with 450 horsepower and 1/72 scale models. Why couldn't we have been happy with all that? Why?

Y'know, after all the problems associated with the inkjet decals, I wonder if the new laserjets would do a better job of printing the decals. I have to buy a decent printer anyway, maybe I should go to a color laserjet. Two questions: 1) Has anybody made any decals with a color laserjet and if so, was it necessary to spray a clear atop of it? 2) How do the manufacturers of regular decals that we get in the kits make their decals? Does anyone out there know what equipment they use? Stephen

I am going to try to produce my own decals. I do not have an Alps printer nor do I want to buy one. So, does any one who has tried it have any ideas about producing decals? I have Corel Draw and I was wondering if that was a good program to use. I also have AutoCAD and was wondering if that was a good one to use. Any informed ideas? Stephen Auslender