This year I moved office and wanted a couple of small 1/48 models to sit on my shelf. So I built one of the superb Tamiya Spitfires and the Italiari 'new tool' Hurricane that has 'old tool' fit issues. Regardless of fit the Hurricane does build to a nice model and sits beside the Spitfire in pride of place.
When I moved my office out of the home, my old office was turned into my Modelling space with my spray booth permanently set up beside a build area.... very pleased with the set-up....
The rest of my builds were 1/32....
I started with the Dragon Bf110, a superb kit and the most satisfying build I have ever done. OK the instructions were awful but there was help in on-line reviews and a downloaded copy of the Eduard 48 scale 110 provide more help in the build than the kit instructions. The decals were terrible as well but that was easily solved in the aftermarket. I really recommend that kit depite these side issues, throughly enjoyable build.
I also built the Hasegawa Ki43. This was my first NMF in 32 scale and was a great kit. Another that I recommend strongly.
I spent about 4 months on the Trumpeter Avenger which I started in April. I found that the turret transparency was missing. The after sales service from Pocketbond and Trumpeter is non-existent, I fulfilled their excessive requirements in April and despite chasing I have never received a new turret so this model, 95% complete, is sat rotting and falling apart in a cupboard. It is a nice kit though (if you get a complete one) which has a few issues, a very weak wing join and poor quality decals - nothing that cannot be dealt with using plastic card and the aftermarket. My advice on any Trumpy kit or any imported by Pocketbond is to check the kit as soon as you get it and if anything is missing immediately demand it be sorted while you still have your consumer rights and do not let it sit in your stash for two years like I did.
Then I built my first limited run Special Hobby model, the Fiat G50 bis. Well, never again. I expected a poor fit, I expected an excessive amount of p.e. and I have no issues with resin. What I was surpised with is what I would call thoughtless engineering. It seemed to me that the model was engineered with no consideration at all for 'buildability'. Well at least the Fiat G50 was built and I am happy with the result even if I did not enjoy the experience.
But I also had the Special Hobby P39 Aircobra in my stash. I decided to get that out of the way and use it as a test bed for the new AK Interactive Air series weathering effects. It certainly lived down to my expectations but with one difference... I would label this kit unbuildable without replacement aftermarket front undercarraige. I got to the final fittings and sat there looking at the 7 or so pieces with no defined location points that needed to be butted up against each other in the right angles and with vague instructions. I could not work out how to do it, I just could not figure it out. I played with masking tape strips, I considered how I might build some kind of jig but in the end I decided it was simply not worth the hassle and the model is now sat broken up in the bin.
I will never buy or build a Special Hobby kit again. Life is simply too short and a company that shows such contempt and lack of consideration towards those who buy their products does not deserve my hard earned cash.
I did take a few photos (uploaded) more to show the weathering than anything else. I am impressed and pleased with these AK products and will be using them on my next build.
Whats next year? - the 1/24 SIG starting in January in which I will build the Airfix Hawker Typhoon and I am really looking forward to that. I will not have a chance to do any more building before the 5th January so tonight I will just be cleaning up my build area and seeing what materials I need to order.... After the Typhoon I am not sure. My house goes on the market in May/June and we have placed a reservation on a new build that will not be finished until October/November. I am not sure yet whether my new modelling space will be in a spare bedroom, the garage or a purpose built shed... Consequently I am not sure how much building time I will get in after the Typhoon...
Anyway - A Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and lot of great 2015 builds to you all......
You can see some of the offending parts in one of the pictures.
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[ATTACH]95005.IPB[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]95006.IPB[/ATTACH]
When I moved my office out of the home, my old office was turned into my Modelling space with my spray booth permanently set up beside a build area.... very pleased with the set-up....
The rest of my builds were 1/32....
I started with the Dragon Bf110, a superb kit and the most satisfying build I have ever done. OK the instructions were awful but there was help in on-line reviews and a downloaded copy of the Eduard 48 scale 110 provide more help in the build than the kit instructions. The decals were terrible as well but that was easily solved in the aftermarket. I really recommend that kit depite these side issues, throughly enjoyable build.
I also built the Hasegawa Ki43. This was my first NMF in 32 scale and was a great kit. Another that I recommend strongly.
I spent about 4 months on the Trumpeter Avenger which I started in April. I found that the turret transparency was missing. The after sales service from Pocketbond and Trumpeter is non-existent, I fulfilled their excessive requirements in April and despite chasing I have never received a new turret so this model, 95% complete, is sat rotting and falling apart in a cupboard. It is a nice kit though (if you get a complete one) which has a few issues, a very weak wing join and poor quality decals - nothing that cannot be dealt with using plastic card and the aftermarket. My advice on any Trumpy kit or any imported by Pocketbond is to check the kit as soon as you get it and if anything is missing immediately demand it be sorted while you still have your consumer rights and do not let it sit in your stash for two years like I did.
Then I built my first limited run Special Hobby model, the Fiat G50 bis. Well, never again. I expected a poor fit, I expected an excessive amount of p.e. and I have no issues with resin. What I was surpised with is what I would call thoughtless engineering. It seemed to me that the model was engineered with no consideration at all for 'buildability'. Well at least the Fiat G50 was built and I am happy with the result even if I did not enjoy the experience.
But I also had the Special Hobby P39 Aircobra in my stash. I decided to get that out of the way and use it as a test bed for the new AK Interactive Air series weathering effects. It certainly lived down to my expectations but with one difference... I would label this kit unbuildable without replacement aftermarket front undercarraige. I got to the final fittings and sat there looking at the 7 or so pieces with no defined location points that needed to be butted up against each other in the right angles and with vague instructions. I could not work out how to do it, I just could not figure it out. I played with masking tape strips, I considered how I might build some kind of jig but in the end I decided it was simply not worth the hassle and the model is now sat broken up in the bin.
I will never buy or build a Special Hobby kit again. Life is simply too short and a company that shows such contempt and lack of consideration towards those who buy their products does not deserve my hard earned cash.
I did take a few photos (uploaded) more to show the weathering than anything else. I am impressed and pleased with these AK products and will be using them on my next build.
Whats next year? - the 1/24 SIG starting in January in which I will build the Airfix Hawker Typhoon and I am really looking forward to that. I will not have a chance to do any more building before the 5th January so tonight I will just be cleaning up my build area and seeing what materials I need to order.... After the Typhoon I am not sure. My house goes on the market in May/June and we have placed a reservation on a new build that will not be finished until October/November. I am not sure yet whether my new modelling space will be in a spare bedroom, the garage or a purpose built shed... Consequently I am not sure how much building time I will get in after the Typhoon...
Anyway - A Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and lot of great 2015 builds to you all......
You can see some of the offending parts in one of the pictures.
[ATTACH]95004.IPB[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]95005.IPB[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]95006.IPB[/ATTACH]
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