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Make the others jealous


LSP_K2

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Ever since I found the old Leading Edge Models decal sheet for the CT-133 Mako shark, I'd wanted to do one in 1/32. Also no decals were available until now. 

 

PXL_20220829_163801185-600x450.jpg

 

PXL_20220829_163820303-600x450.jpg

 

Now to find a kit and suffer through the build a second time. :lol:

 

It's not that bad to be honest. 

 

Carl

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1 hour ago, BloorwestSiR said:

Ever since I found the old Leading Edge Models decal sheet for the CT-133 Mako shark, I'd wanted to do one in 1/32. Also no decals were available until now. 

 

PXL_20220829_163801185-600x450.jpg

 

PXL_20220829_163820303-600x450.jpg

 

Now to find a kit and suffer through the build a second time. :lol:

 

It's not that bad to be honest. 

 

Carl

Oh i want a set of those, cant find them on their website

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1 hour ago, Neo said:

Oh i want a set of those, cant find them on their website

 

According to their Facebook page, they've had to close down for a month as they've lost their business insurance and are in the process of finding a new provider. I think I must have just gotten my order in before the closure.  Hopefully they find one soon and get back to business.

 

Carl

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Got quite a fistful of toon tank conversion sets:

 

toon2pnfx5.jpg

 

Hetzer, Aunt Jemima, narrow turret Panther, HVSS Sherman, Grant, Jackson, Wolverine, Priest and some small parts to personalize my stash of Meng War Toon tanks:

 

toon4uud7i.jpg

 

This is just a part of my toon tank stash. Lots more of Shermans here. kscalemodels ist from Scotland, Retrokit from Belgium. Retrokit offers detail parts for TMMs and Freedom models "cute fighters" too. Yes, there are also some cute fighter kits underway :D

 

These kits are just too cute to stay away from :speak_cool:

 

Regards

- dutik

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Well ... It's been a hot minute ...

 

Last post was in April 

 

Some very sad news earlier in the year with Ps.John of AIMS having to cease operations due to a very cruel and debilitating condition.

This made it pretty much the last chance to grab some AIMS gear for the Ju.88 kits I have in the stash ... which I did!

 

A very unloved (by the shipping companies) box arrived back in early June ... 

 

4Mw2K0I.jpg

 

Fortunately (due mainly to Johns diligence in packing the goods for the obviously rough ride!!) ... the contents remain in pristine condition.

 

And in conversions now, we have 1x Ju.188 A/D for the A-4 kit, 1x Ju.88G-6 for the A-4 kit and some replacement parts for a G-6 conversion to the old A-1 kit ... plus some Master gear for upgrades!

 

LWV2Si0.jpg

 

I have no idea as to where all this stuff goes or what parts are for which conversion - but I'm sure the CD will show me some when the time comes ... which is not yet ...

 

I've managed to collect a few resource books on Wehrmacht gear over the last year - I don't think I've been posting them though ... there's the elusive hardcover edition of the Tiger book still outstanding ... but Thomas Anderson (NOT - a program writer for a respectable software company that goes by the alias "Neo") writes some good material and seems to know his subject matter very well.

 

JNn1ItJ.jpg

 

VulEFaP.jpg

 

fE5sg3T.jpg

 

And then in July a box arrived ... with a long time wish was delivered ...

 

LsO9PW3.jpg

 

My favourite tank chassis in 1/16 scale ... the workhorse of the Panzer Divisions and a favourite of most crews ... the Panzer III ...

 

vrbmoPR.jpg

 

Ok - so it's not my absolute favourite which would be an Ausf.L, M or N ... but if someone (looking at you Trumpeter!!) would release a Pz.IV Ausf.F1 or D with "The Stump" 75mm - then I'm in business to create an N out of the coming Heller 4-in-1 kit.

 

Once the Gecko Pz.II Ausf.F is released I'll have a comprehensive 1/16 set (thanks to the recent purchases below this post) ... And while the Hobby-Boss Tiger.I doesn't know which version it quite wants to be (early, mid or late) and isn't the BEST example (when compared to the super expensive Tamiya option) it IS, Bang-for-Buck, a better option  especially with all the AM getting around now ... unless someone else has a GOOD one, for a reasonable price, in the works?!?!

 

So ... now were up to date with the older stuff ... we're into the recent acquisitions ...

 

Since the sale of my ute happened just over 2 weeks ago (raising deposit funds for my house and land deal!) I had to Uber it into to the shopping centre where my post office is ... and order an Uber XL for my return trip due to the package sizes!!

 

CyTd3Ci.jpg

 

Opening the big box first ...

 

There was a couple of Academy 1/35 scale armour kits that I've been waiting to get my hands on ... Academy has come along a fair way in recent years and reviews of these two kits were good ... simple builds, no internals - but great external detail and accurate giving me 2 very good North African options ...

 

9LAYseS.jpg

 

QGDJQBY.jpg

 

I bought the first release of the Takom StuG.III / StuH.42 ... I should have waited ... This early version of the StuH.42 - with the muzzle break - was what I was after ...

 

RAUfFZG.jpg

 

It doesn't come with metal barrels for the guns like the "Late" one did ... but I doubt it will make much of an issue with the barrel being slide moulded and so short anyway ...

 

Next was (aside from the still pending Gecko Pz.II F) the final link in the 1/16 chain ... a Pz.I ... and just to prove that no matter how long you've been researching stuff, there is ALWAYS something new to learn, During this exercise I found that there was  VERY obvious differences between the Pz.Ia and Pz.Ib ... notably, the extra length in the chassis and the resulting extra road wheel!

 

tWNV0UZ.jpg

 

JKFLhZa.jpg

 

... And finally, after a wait spanning eons (seemingly!) ... in its own little box of protection ... was this ...

 

ntMNM4j.jpg

 

... Except ... it's not a B.II ... because that would mean RADIAL engines, yes?? ... I think they mean either a B.I or a B.III surely??

 

M7iRvL1.jpg

 

Definitely a B Mk.I or III then!

 

Anyway ... before I bought it, I asked Frontline to open up the box and check the transparencies (knowing what an epic s*** show that was at the beginning of the release run!!) ... thankfully Border (probably realising this was a make or break moment for them) got onto the issue rather quickly - and my customer service rep advised that they had revised their boxing ... and added a separate box inside the kit to assist with protecting them. He checked them any way and left this note inside the box to prove it.

 

cUzXBbb.jpg

 

You'll note that in order to fit the protective box within the original kit box ... a whole bunch of sprues needed to be re-arranged, which in turn mean that they protrude about an inch or so above the bottom section of the kit box and so the box top will not completely close. Here's Border Models cunning little solution to that issue ...

 

yQq5mW2.jpg

 

A banner at the base of the kit box bottom!! Correctly marked B/Mk.I/III this time ...

 

And coming now, to the final package ...

 

I discovered a while back, while doing some research on the RAAF Mirage.III ... and some rather interesting reading on the delayed acquisition of the RAAF F.111 (geez I'd LOVE to get a 1/32 Aussie Pig!) ... that Australia "borrowed" (leased) some F-4 Phantoms as an interim sweetener ...

 

As until recently, I had never really had an interest for jets (excepting the end stages of WWII), I'd only ever looked at the F-4 in passing. But in deciding to build an RAAF one I've noticed how an incredibly interesting design it was ... leagues ahead of it's competition worldwide at the time it entered operational service, extremely versatile in a number of roles and with a 60+ year service history in multiple nations - some of which opposed each other in conflict!

 

Then came the research - which 1/32 Phantom to get? ... Thanks to the input of many who've gone before me - Tamiya was the wining candidate in the brand stakes, but getting the correct variant has proven a little tricky ... after a few hours researching the 'E' variant (and finding out that the Japanese 'EJ' variant is pretty much the same bird), then came the shopping ... It seemed that just about every available E/EJ variant going was asking drug money (due to the shortage of available kits!) ...

 

I kept up my google searching, changing up the search parameters and playing around with various SKU's before finally finding one in a place in Japan called "Japan Figure" (specialising in figurines from various anime shows, Gundam etc). At just RRP plus DHL shipping (which is fairly inexpensive from there considering the sort of cost in USA for example) I managed to get this - still wrapped in plastic!!

 

RrhSCrb.jpg

 

So now I just need some GT resin gear (intakes and cans) along with some RAAF decals and 3D cockpit decoration.

 

There is more on the way ... but since it won't get here until after I fly back out to work ... I'll leave those stories for later 

 

Rog :)

Edited by Artful69
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7 hours ago, Artful69 said:

Well ... It's been a hot minute ...

 

Last post was in April 

 

Some very sad news earlier in the year with Ps.John of AIMS having to cease operations due to a very cruel and debilitating condition.

This made it pretty much the last chance to grab some AIMS gear for the Ju.88 kits I have in the stash ... which I did!

 

A very unloved (by the shipping companies) box arrived back in early June ... 

 

4Mw2K0I.jpg

 

Fortunately (due mainly to Johns diligence in packing the goods for the obviously rough ride!!) ... the contents remain in pristine condition.

 

And in conversions now, we have 1x Ju.188 A/D for the A-4 kit, 1x Ju.88G-6 for the A-4 kit and some replacement parts for a G-6 conversion to the old A-1 kit ... plus some Master gear for upgrades!

 

LWV2Si0.jpg

 

I have no idea as to where all this stuff goes or what parts are for which conversion - but I'm sure the CD will show me some when the time comes ... which is not yet ...

 

I've managed to collect a few resource books on Wehrmacht gear over the last year - I don't think I've been posting them though ... there's the elusive hardcover edition of the Tiger book still outstanding ... but Thomas Anderson (NOT - a program writer for a respectable software company that goes by the alias "Neo") writes some good material and seems to know his subject matter very well.

 

JNn1ItJ.jpg

 

VulEFaP.jpg

 

fE5sg3T.jpg

 

And then in July a box arrived ... with a long time wish was delivered ...

 

LsO9PW3.jpg

 

My favourite tank chassis in 1/16 scale ... the workhorse of the Panzer Divisions and a favourite of most crews ... the Panzer III ...

 

vrbmoPR.jpg

 

Ok - so it's not my absolute favourite which would be an Ausf.L, M or N ... but if someone (looking at you Trumpeter!!) would release a Pz.IV Ausf.F1 or D with "The Stump" 75mm - then I'm in business to create an N out of the coming Heller 4-in-1 kit.

 

Once the Gecko Pz.II Ausf.F is released I'll have a comprehensive 1/16 set (thanks to the recent purchases below this post) ... And while the Hobby-Boss Tiger.I doesn't know which version it quite wants to be (early, mid or late) and isn't the BEST example (when compared to the super expensive Tamiya option) it IS, Bang-for-Buck, a better option  especially with all the AM getting around now ... unless someone else has a GOOD one, for a reasonable price, in the works?!?!

 

So ... now were up to date with the older stuff ... we're into the recent acquisitions ...

 

Since the sale of my ute happened just over 2 weeks ago (raising deposit funds for my house and land deal!) I had to Uber it into to the shopping centre where my post office is ... and order an Uber XL for my return trip due to the package sizes!!

 

CyTd3Ci.jpg

 

Opening the big box first ...

 

There was a couple of Academy 1/35 scale armour kits that I've been waiting to get my hands on ... Academy has come along a fair way in recent years and reviews of these two kits were good ... simple builds, no internals - but great external detail and accurate giving me 2 very good North African options ...

 

9LAYseS.jpg

 

QGDJQBY.jpg

 

I bought the first release of the Takom StuG.III / StuH.42 ... I should have waited ... This early version of the StuH.42 - with the muzzle break - was what I was after ...

 

RAUfFZG.jpg

 

It doesn't come with metal barrels for the guns like the "Late" one did ... but I doubt it will make much of an issue with the barrel being slide moulded and so short anyway ...

 

Next was (aside from the still pending Gecko Pz.II F) the final link in the 1/16 chain ... a Pz.I ... and just to prove that no matter how long you've been researching stuff, there is ALWAYS something new to learn, During this exercise I found that there was  VERY obvious differences between the Pz.Ia and Pz.Ib ... notably, the extra length in the chassis and the resulting extra road wheel!

 

tWNV0UZ.jpg

 

JKFLhZa.jpg

 

... And finally, after a wait spanning eons (seemingly!) ... in its own little box of protection ... was this ...

 

ntMNM4j.jpg

 

... Except ... it's not a B.II ... because that would mean RADIAL engines, yes?? ... I think they mean either a B.I or a B.III surely??

 

M7iRvL1.jpg

 

Definitely a B Mk.I or III then!

 

Anyway ... before I bought it, I asked Frontline to open up the box and check the transparencies (knowing what an epic s*** show that was at the beginning of the release run!!) ... thankfully Border (probably realising this was a make or break moment for them) got onto the issue rather quickly - and my customer service rep advised that they had revised their boxing ... and added a separate box inside the kit to assist with protecting them. He checked them any way and left this note inside the box to prove it.

 

cUzXBbb.jpg

 

You'll note that in order to fit the protective box within the original kit box ... a whole bunch of sprues needed to be re-arranged, which in turn mean that they protrude about an inch or so above the bottom section of the kit box and so the box top will not completely close. Here's Border Models cunning little solution to that issue ...

 

yQq5mW2.jpg

 

A banner at the base of the kit box bottom!! Correctly marked B/Mk.I/III this time ...

 

And coming now, to the final package ...

 

I discovered a while back, while doing some research on the RAAF Mirage.III ... and some rather interesting reading on the delayed acquisition of the RAAF F.111 (geez I'd LOVE to get a 1/32 Aussie Pig!) ... that Australia "borrowed" (leased) some F-4 Phantoms as an interim sweetener ...

 

As until recently, I had never really had an interest for jets (excepting the end stages of WWII), I'd only ever looked at the F-4 in passing. But in deciding to build an RAAF one I've noticed how an incredibly interesting design it was ... leagues ahead of it's competition worldwide at the time it entered operational service, extremely versatile in a number of roles and with a 60+ year service history in multiple nations - some of which opposed each other in conflict!

 

Then came the research - which 1/32 Phantom to get? ... Thanks to the input of many who've gone before me - Tamiya was the wining candidate in the brand stakes, but getting the correct variant has proven a little tricky ... after a few hours researching the 'E' variant (and finding out that the Japanese 'EJ' variant is pretty much the same bird), then came the shopping ... It seemed that just about every available E/EJ variant going was asking drug money (due to the shortage of available kits!) ...

 

I kept up my google searching, changing up the search parameters and playing around with various SKU's before finally finding one in a place in Japan called "Japan Figure" (specialising in figurines from various anime shows, Gundam etc). At just RRP plus DHL shipping (which is fairly inexpensive from there considering the sort of cost in USA for example) I managed to get this - still wrapped in plastic!!

 

RrhSCrb.jpg

 

So now I just need some GT resin gear (intakes and cans) along with some RAAF decals and 3D cockpit decoration.

 

There is more on the way ... but since it won't get here until after I fly back out to work ... I'll leave those stories for later 

 

Rog :)

 

Nice to know a billionaire :thumbsup:

 

Regards

- dutik

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