Carrying on the tradition RonUSMC started with the December 2003 issue thread, this thread is devoted for discussions regarding the January 2004 issue. So gather round and take a moment to share your comments regarding the January issue. Everyone feel free to post comments.
[img=left]http://www.finescale.com/fsm/objects/images/fsm031201.jpg[/img=left]Trumpeter’s big new Thunderchief by Larry Schramm Amazing fighter collection Airbrush roundup, part one by Matthew Usher Build a bigger Jagdtiger by Doug Groom From Futura to Batmobile by Dan Thompson Big, beautiful Memphis Belle by Louis Armour Superdetailed WWII ambulance by Michael D. Bedard
I enjoyed the article on the WWII Dodge ambulance because I have on on the shelf waiting to be done. My made by Bilek complete with the Italeri marking on the bottom of the kit. I was curious to know if it was the same kit as what Mr. Bedard used. He did say it was reissued by several companies.
I have the Dodge ambulance kit ready and waiting in the wings. I also really enjoyed the Memphis Belle diorama. The first 4-engine plane I ever built was the old Revell 1/72 B-17F with the Memphis Belle markings. I also really enjoyed the airbrush article. My older daughter found it very useful as she’s a beginning user. She’s looking forward to part 2 of that series. - Ed
I kinda ripped through it , but I enjoyed the issue. I like Mike Usher’s article on making airbrushes look simple. Also enjoyed the large Jagdtiger article by Doug Groom. The Batmobile is always fascinating. Nice issue.
I saw a Futura kit today and I thought seriously about getting it and following the Batmobile article. I’ve always liked 4 engined bombers so the Memphis Belle was appreciated but the Dodge ambulance has to be the pick for me. Very very well done.
Several things I enjoyed in the issue…Memphis Belle B-17 Article was great!
Cant believe Tamiya is going to be putting out completed models for collectors though…Did anyone notice the prices? [B)] OUCH!
The Brian James Portfolio was nice and showed some great aircraft. Ive seen several people use that method of displaying aircraft. I have been unable to find Acrylic rods similar to that locally though…
The Airbrush round up article was good helped explain some things to Diane that I had been trying to tell her…funny how when she heard/read it from someone else she didnt question it and understood…[:-^][:-^][:-^]
The F-105 article was less than I expected. Really did not address all of the problems with the kit. He did do a good job on the model though. He even posed the speed brakes in the correct position. Nice detail of the engine, even if you would not be able to see it when the tail section is installed.
I enjoyed the B-17 Memphis Belle article. The James’ Gang Portfolio was very nice. There was some great looking aircraft in his collection. The F-100D looked great.
The Jagdtiger conversion was very good reading. It was enough to make me want to try something like that someday.
I really like side-by-side comparisons between the two manufacturers of the same kit. I normally stick with cars and aircraft, but occasionally I like to do something different - like a railway gun. Nothing takes the fun out of an offbeat project like fighting a poorly designed kit, and the manufacturer’s name is not a sure indication of quality. That’s why comparison articles are helpful. It is nice to know the strengths and weaknesses between competing kits before making a purchase.
Although the railway gun was interesting, I am a bit intimidated by the parts count. This is not a weekend project.
It was a good issue overall. I would have enjoyed an in depth build article on the Leopolds but that’s just me as I have both kits and can’t wait to start one of them. It was a good comparison article however. I’ve always loved the big guns like that, so that’s what caught my eye. Now when is Trumpeter going to release a Dora in 1/35??? [:p] [:D] I’m all over that if I can build a room to display it in!!
I’d love to comment, but i haven’t even seen the november and december issues over here! Hey, J-hulk, did you get yours already? I wonder if dwight and allan beat me to 'em… [:)]
I though it was a good issue. Really like the idea of the 1/16 Jagdtiger but I can’t afford one - much less an extra to cut up. The leopold shoot-out is something I would like to see done with other kits as well.
I like the Leopold kit match up. That is a pretty handy article when getting ready to make a purchase.
The B-17 article was good, but a fluff article. Just enough to wet your appetite and let you see some of the steps involved with a project like that. Not very informative beyond a general look at this type of project. Although I suppose you could come up with a whole book devoted just to his build. So I suppose it was o.k.
The King Tiger was lacking I thought. Pretty ambitous project despite the disclaimer in it. Sort of like trying to make Dune a movie. The book has so much more and the movie was just icing. That type of project needs more press and would have served as an excellent demonstrative piece to illustrate and inspire undertaking a similar endeavor. It did serve as a good starting point and showed us that type project is possible and within the realm of modelers and that we aren’t limited to “out of the box” even in the big scales. The little added plus was the inclusion of the authors step to order a separate chasis pan for this kit to make the conversion. Something that I’m sure many have always thought it was necessary to buy a whole other kit rather than just the pieces parts to do something like this. Something I may test in the future on smaller scaled projects.
The airbrush article was good, realtively informative but poorly timed in my opinion. This should have started last issue and ended this issue. I’m sure there are more than a few modelers with airbrushes on their wish list and this would have come in handy to help them decide what to ask Santa for. I look forward to the conclusion.
I liked Matthew Usher’s article on airbrush’s. The memphis belle article was good too. The shootout was interesting. The trumpeter has so many more pieces but they both took about the same amount of time 75 -73 hours.
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