So how many of us build armor kits out of the box? I’ve never used any aftermarket kits on anything, so I’m still a believer in heavy modification, but who still makes kits out of the box and who uses AM almost every time? Just wondering…
I generally use 1-2 AM pieces (grilles and tracks). Dragon fortunately takes care of that problem, at least anymore. Otherwise, it depends on the additives needed. I try not to spend more than the kit on AM parts.
I am basically an OOB Builder. I sometimes do some minor modifications but that’s as far as I go. I don’t really buy AM/PE parts because of budget constraints.
And at this stage, I am still happy building OOB.
Wow, quick response Eric! -Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, the only AM I every use is PE brass grilles. Your post reminded me! The grilles aren’t Eduard or Verlinden brand, their just genaric Architechture brass supply items. I also make my own tow cables from copper wire…
I mostly build out of the box. I do use AM parts when I want to build a special project or when I want to correct errors in the kit. My first choice of aftermarket parts are engine deck grills and metal barrels.
Armor Master: I do Tanks out of the box sometimes is more great to wait until the PE get to your mail…and that’s the old way, the best!
Gabriel Salazar
[:-^]
Keep on modeling!!! [:D][:D][:D][:D]
romelio
i’m not sure this forum is the best place to advertise your USA election perferences…[:(!][:(!][:(!]
we try to keep politics out of here, as things tend to get a bit heated when people don’t agree.[B)][:0][B)][:(][xx(]
ED, how come you didn’t block this?
regards,
Nicholas
[:D] i build mostly oob,i still like the other kits bit i find them to costly.[:D]
gdarwin[roy]
For me, it’s about a 50/50 split and it really depends on the kit I’m building. Some of the AM stuff that’s available make the basic kit look so much better that it’s hard not to want to put they on every build. However, every once and a while a straight OTB kit is a great way to “cleanse the pallet” and just relax during a build.
I still do both. I tend to detail stuff where it needs to be, but my last award was for best OOB kit (it also won 1st).
On armor I almost always use PE, almost always use aftermarket tracks (that really depends on the kit), ocassionally use metal barrels, and ocassionally use resin parts.
Of course, my basic rule is that the AM pieces must be substantial improvements over the kit parts, supply details omitted in the kit, or provide parts to convert the kit to the version I desire.
nmayhew: I don’t think is “bad” to add what I think, armormaster probably likes bush and I respect that, and first, you live in London and I live in the border with the USA [#oops] and we are free to say what ever we think, and I’m not saying nothing bad.
Don’t panic is the last time I’ll do it…[XX]
And keep on modeling…
Gabe…
I personally don’t like to use AM and PE stuff. I think it is all way overpriced. I can make most, if not all the details I need from scratch. I like the old style of build it yourself too. Granted, once completed, the super PE and AM models look great, but they usually end up costing 3-4 times the original kit price. I also think you need more skill to build it from scratch yourself, I respect the modelers that build it themself more, as opossed to those who buy an add-on AM kit and lots of PE to build their “masterpieces”.
The answer is called censorship!!
Don’t know what romelio had said, but, Armormaster has done nothing wrong by posting a picture of an election sticker. And you seem to be the only one offended by it. He did not write anything in the post about who to vote for or why/how you should vote. Blocking the post is called censorship, thats why. Maybe we should block your post just because we don’t like that you are from England, or because that your sig banner has a red/white cross flag on it… That is about as absurd as blocking this post for an election sticker.
Lets not get petty on how these forums operate. If you are too offended, don’t read the post.
I’m bringing this to a halt before it goes any further. Both Armormaster and romelio had politically motived items in their posts (Armormaster in his signature and Romelio in the post itself.) Both have been removed because this is not a place for discussions about political endorsements, this is a place to discuss modeling. If someone would like to spin this particular discussion back to the question of how many build armor kits out of the box, feel free. If not, we’ll lock it and move on to something else.
Good Old Days…Good Old Censorship…Gotta love political correctness on what are supposed to be open forums. Glad we allow one dissenting voice to change what is viewed by many. Now back to modelling.
heavyarty
you have missed my point entirely, and also perhaps that 2 well established contributors recently left because they got into “off-topic” stuff instead of focussing on the modelling side of things.
let me explain myself so you don’t think i’ve gone PC mad etc etc
if people want to talk politics all day long, that’s fine with me, but shouldn’t we be doing it it somewhere else?
given what’s happened here on this forum in the recent past i’m surprised that others don’t think so.
personally, i don’t mind if someone says “i support so-and-so”, even if their political bent is not mine…i think my political views are robust enough to justify to all and sundry.
this forum is for modellers to talk about modelling and have fun, not to advertise or promote their political beliefs.
you guys seem a little paranoid on the censorship front: it’s just courtesy or etiquette as far as i’m concerned.
the “Off Topc” forum was removed basically because people couldn’t behave themselves.
happy modelling to one and all[:)][:)][:)]
kind regards,
NIcholas
Micheal,
i apologise; i wrote my response just as yours was going on, otherwise i would have kept away.
sorry if i appear to fan flames.
HeavyArty, please, let’s be friends.[:)]
I kind of fall in between the extremes. In the 1/72 world, its usally straight out of the box, limiting the mods to simple fixes such as drilling out the ends of the gun barrels. Sometimes just assembling a kit without killing myself on the detail is a nice change of pace. I just got done with the 1/72 Bradley that was reviewed in this month’s FSM, and built it almost straight from the box.
For 1/35, I do like the effect of photo-etch and will continue to use it in the future. I’m not real keen on buying after market parts unless it for something that is truly not feasible to scratch build, such as tracks. With a little creativity, a pile a Evergreen sheet styrene, and some patience, one can fabricate almost anything. Recalling the article in this month’s FSM on the Sherman Firefly, I would have used the two piece kit gun barrel, spending the time to carefully join the halves, sand it, and fill it rather than plunking down the cash for an aluminum one.
I mix them up. Occasionally I just need to do a simple, profanity-free and PE-free (synonyms!) build. this month I am doing a King Tiger with PE, indie AM tracks, aluminum and resin barrel with figures AND a Sherman right out of the box (although I may add a couple AM figures.) When the Tiger changes my build from a G rating to NC-17, I will switch!!
Heavy Artty,
I removed my post because I suddenly felt inadequate (well, downright stupid) for using PE. So my question is: can you perhaps post how to make tool clamps? I too would like to build from scratch, and am in the process of setting up my own PE production facility ( I suppose then it will be scratchbuilt). Until I get all this going, how can I make these parts without PE?
Thanks so much for your help in advance.
Ted