Yes, I’d like to get a new 1/48 F6F-5 to replace my old Monogram one that I pitched years ago. (and built long before that) I am really wanting the Hobbyboss kit for the wingfold option. Eduard is my second choice. But after years of building, shelf display space is at a premium, so folded wings…
As acurate as possible but the fun, exciting, and passionate part is always there for me. More so I have a building buddy. My grandson Ezra! He’s two and a half years old! He’s a blast to build kits with although he seems to enjoy breaking landing gears. Lol!
I‘m still a novice compared to the many amazing Forum Members builds. Yet the motivation is the key to a successful completed model. Albeit, I feel to each his own, we’re only human and mistakes/mishaps happen. I feel in any hobby, one must always enjoy their time.
Your friend, Toshi
Rob Gronovius I agree, putting in a few ‘more accurate’ improvements on a kit is part of the fun. I did something similar to your tank builds, back in the 70’s, when I recreated the helicopters in my unit. The Revell kit of the Jolly Green Giant (HH-3E) didn’t have a FOD shield in front of the engines. FOD was an acronym for Foreign Object Damage, and basically the shield help keep rocks, or birds, from going into the engine intakes and causing damage. At that time ‘Aftermarket’ was unheard of, so I built a proper shield from very thin cardboard, and I discovered I could glue it on by putting liquid cement on first, briefly attaching the part, and waiting for the cement to soften the plastic. After that, I just put Elmer’s Glue on the cardboard and attached it while both the glue and cement were wet. The glue and the cement dried together, and it actually held. A little sanding and paint made it look like it was factory produced. I also at that time needed see-through green for the upper cockpit ‘Greenhouse’ windows, and all I did was mix food coloring with Elmer’s Glue. The glue dried clear and my windows looked just about perfect. Nowadays you can just buy a tinted clear paint, but that wasn’t an option back then. Anyway, the kit could never be called 100% accurate, but it was pretty realistic, and in the modeling world a realistic appearance is about the most you should ever expect to get.
The HobbyBoss wingfold kit is the best IMHO also. I laughed at your point of limited shelf space. I have plenty of that because I have nothing on there yet LOL.
I’ve been building snap type kits with my 8 year old son lately and enjoy quite a bit. I am creating great memories for my son to remember me by rather than being a rivet counter.
He makes a great point of what plastic modeling is about. Having fun. It be just doing with a child, or going crazy with putting one together with super detailing and a tons of reserch. It’s all good.
[dto:]
Toshi !
Hey guy , breaking Landing gears Must be fun .My son did it all the time and now my grandson does it !Who’da thunk ? T.B.
Keep doing it !
It is a total Blast ! T.B.