Artful69

Interesting!!! That’s a turreted A-20G … at the top there … I was under the impression that the RAAF didn’t get any turreted versions. I wonder if there is any collaborative evidence out there??
 
Rog

Thanks Rog. It's what I'm hoping for: a cut and drop-in resin greenhouse window for a P-70 night-fighter. The rest would be scratchbuilt. But maybe HKM will give it a go. Yes, and I'd gladly donate the turret parts to anyone who needed them. 
 
Tony 
 

Hi
    the AJ Bentley plans show the extra width was only around the turret area
 
 the plans show the engine nacelles are similar in shape and length below the wing to a III 
 
 I reckon conversion is possible to an boston III/ IIIa etc or Havoc II, with a bit of work
 
  maybe some aftermarket will save me some work 
 
but the small tail early boston/havoc would definitely  be a challenge 
 
cheers
   jerry 

It took me months and a huge amount of documentation to find the correct features for my Spit Mk.I and the Kotare kit ones I saw are identical. They incorporated features never seen on other early Spit kits. So, with regard to accuracy I can testify they did the job more than correctly. I'm also convinced the assembly will be perfect and the finish of the parts without a single default. Keep in mind these guys did the WnW test shot quality control for ten years! So, they know this job. I'm convinced this kit will be a terrific one. The only thing that is worrying me a little bit is the price of a model produced on the other side of the globe but I guess high prices are a sign of the times and we will probably have to live with that.

The anticipation (for those interested in this kit) is almost painful. I can hardly wait to see someone review and build the actual plastic. 
@Artful69, Rog, I agree with you entirely. I suspect Tamiya could have produced a model of similar quality (possibly even providing a fully detailed engine) but at what price point? Same story for ZM. 
If the kit is as good as initial impressions suggest this could be a real winner and a solid base on which to build Kotare. 
I've got my fingers crossed. 
Cheers. 

Having said all of that though, given the authors of this work, it’s still likely to be a mostly accurate early Spitfire in ‘32 scale - the present offerings sadly lacking in one area or another. I’m up for at least 2!
 
The only thing likely to sway me away is either a Tamiya kit or a ZM kit.
 
Rog

Having said all of that though, given the authors of this work, it’s still likely to be a mostly accurate early Spitfire in ‘32 scale - the present offerings sadly lacking in one area or another. I’m up for at least 2!
 
The only thing likely to sway me away is either a Tamiya kit or a ZM kit.
 
Rog

I’ll need to check my references when I’m back home from work in a week or so …
 

 
… but I’m fairly certain that the engine upgrades to the Wright R-2600’s that occurred fairly regularly during development would not have effected the shape of the nacelles too much - so a win there!!
 
There were no huge external shape changes - apart from the turret as previously mentioned - although the amount, location and type of armament situated in the solid nose’s would vary depending on the variant … If you were trying to recreate an earlier Boston the glazed area at the front has a lot more framework.
 
Personally, I can see the AM guys going nuts with the possibilities available here for resin conversion sets!
 
In short … there’s a little bit more to just cutting the turret flange out of the fuselage … you’d need to rebuild that area and create a glazed canopy … probably re-equip the interior in that area - source the correct defensive armament and ensure your nose had the correct layout … but otherwise- yes!
 
Rog

I’ll need to check my references when I’m back home from work in a week or so …
 

 
… but I’m fairly certain that the engine upgrades to the Wright R-2600’s that occurred fairly regularly during development would not have effected the shape of the nacelles too much - so a win there!!
 
There were no huge external shape changes - apart from the turret as previously mentioned - although the amount, location and type of armament situated in the solid nose’s would vary depending on the variant … If you were trying to recreate an earlier Boston the glazed area at the front has a lot more framework.
 
Personally, I can see the AM guys going nuts with the possibilities available here for resin conversion sets!
 
In short … there’s a little bit more to just cutting the turret flange out of the fuselage … you’d need to rebuild that area and create a glazed canopy … probably re-equip the interior in that area - source the correct defensive armament and ensure your nose had the correct layout … but otherwise- yes!
 
Rog

Damn! … not modular … so a whole new design required for any of the not turreted earlier night fighter or interdiction stuff … at least there appears to be a glazed nose version of some description in the works there.
 
Design looks absolutely beautiful though!! At least one for me!
 
Rog

I got a reply from HK Models on Facebook and they stated "it will be an A-20 family of model kits." I have to imagine we'll see more variants past the G/J. But, time will tell!
 
Now, I really do need an additional Martin turret from this beauty for my B-24J...
 
- Dennis S.
   Mount Juliet, TN USA

I’d suggest that might be just because it’s a mock-up. They probably just want to promote this G variant and get the preorders going - but feed some anticipation for the future boxing at the same time … I think that they just haven’t tooled up the moulds for that section yet.

Rog
 

… Very nice work and the stash will make room for at least 1 or 2. I was kind of hoping for a V.b though!!
 
Rog

Damn! … not modular … so a whole new design required for any of the not turreted earlier night fighter or interdiction stuff … at least there appears to be a glazed nose version of some description in the works there.
 
Design looks absolutely beautiful though!! At least one for me!
 
Rog

… Very nice work and the stash will make room for at least 1 or 2. I was kind of hoping for a V.b though!!
 
Rog

A few pics I just received from Telford:

IIRC the answer is both a yes and a no … The RAAF we’re equiped with some A-20Gs … solid nose with armament, but without the turret equiped for the rear gunner / observer - having to make do with the old set up …
 
Im waiting to see some sprue shots of the fuse’ … if there is a sizeable chunk of plastic missing from the upper rear observers position - to be inserted by parts supplied on another sprue … that is the best indicator (besides the separate nose piece) that the kit is being designed for multiple versions.
 
The changes to aircraft design over the variants lend themselves to a modular style model construction. Even if there was no initial intent to make other variants - creating a modular assembly design leaves that door open for future boxings - which HK seem to like doing!
 
Rog

Did the RAAF use this version? I like to slap Roundels on things.

And here's the announcement text:
 
 
Kev

OK guys, you can start looking for errors now:






Source: HKM FB

Blasphemy!! ... A Buchon is NOT a 109 ... It needs to have a fuel injected, super charged inverted V12 Daimler Benz, to be a 109 ...
A Buchon is an abomination.
 
Rog

NP Thierry  ... I had an idea thats where you might be headed - but knowing how precise you usually get with your tweek lists, I thought you'd found a long lost sub variant!
 
Rog

Ahhhh … but the total cost + risk of transit damage is the real concern.
 
Sprue’s RRP may very well be more than the $105 advertised … but what is the shipping charge? … I tend to buy the majority of my merch within Australia as there is usually free shipping for orders above a certain dollar value and this usually counteracts any potential discount for OS shopping. Also there is less “baggage handling” from the origin to the destination - so less chance of damage.
 
Always more to consider than RRP at the source!!
 
Rog

Ahhhh … but the total cost + risk of transit damage is the real concern.
 
Sprue’s RRP may very well be more than the $105 advertised … but what is the shipping charge? … I tend to buy the majority of my merch within Australia as there is usually free shipping for orders above a certain dollar value and this usually counteracts any potential discount for OS shopping. Also there is less “baggage handling” from the origin to the destination - so less chance of damage.
 
Always more to consider than RRP at the source!!
 
Rog

Ahhhh … but the total cost + risk of transit damage is the real concern.
 
Sprue’s RRP may very well be more than the $105 advertised … but what is the shipping charge? … I tend to buy the majority of my merch within Australia as there is usually free shipping for orders above a certain dollar value and this usually counteracts any potential discount for OS shopping. Also there is less “baggage handling” from the origin to the destination - so less chance of damage.
 
Always more to consider than RRP at the source!!
 
Rog