I haven’t been around for a while; I got totally immersed in a frustrating slog of a recent build doing three Indy 500 cars that took me way longer than I had hoped, but now I’m ready for some more armor! [:D]
I saw this strange beast in Aberdeen in 1986. Back then, the museum and famous “Mile of Tanks” was still basically intact; even all of the heavy German tanks were still there. Some of the massive tanks in the middle of the road going in have now thankfully caught the eyes of some major model manufacturers (LOOK AT THAT BEAUTIFUL M55 SPH, GUYS!! [:P]) and this baby is REAL, not just a “World of Tanks” fantasy creation (a sad trend, in my opinion [:(])
Ironically, that photo credit goes to the “World of Tanks forum” lol. Anyhoo…
So I’m starting this big sucker.
Here’s what you get in the box. In addition to the sprues, you get a small PE fret and of course those dreadful DS tracks. (I’m SO Over DS tracks!–I have some indy-link M48 style tracks on the way).
The build starts with suspension and wheels. I don’t understand the rationale behind using seperate wheel/rubber pieces (see left side of instructions). The inner metal part of the wheel is still molded onto the rubber part so you can’t just spray the wheel one color and then reduce your labor. All it does is make for double the parts that you have to laboriously clean up. Annoying.
Here you can see the wheel rims and the wheel parts. Four attachment points on EACH part. Two parts per rim…LOTS of clean-up.
Interestingly, the smaller road wheels attach to the top of the hull, not the bottom like you wold expect.
They are designed like that to allow for the proper undercut on the inside of the roadwheel. One-piece molded roadwheels are all incorrect since they do not show this undercut. You can see it in the below pic, where the water and leaves are trapped at the bottom.
Also, beware, the turret ring on the kit is way off. The cut-out section around the bottom turret edge is not present in the kit parts. It is not clear if the turret will even rotate without this cut-out section.
Check out more about it at a recent post at Armorama about the kit. Disregard all the whining and compalining. There is good info on how to fix it there.
I don’t know, I see it as a positive trend. World of Tanks has gotten gamers to try building model tanks. They are more concerned with replicating their in game tank than accuracy in the model kit. Therefore models that were once panned by modelers have found a second life with gamers unconcerned with accuracy buying the kits to get in game goodies or just wanting to build “their tank”.
It’s also opened up a fresh vein of casual modelers flowing into the hobby.
Another benefit is that companies will start creating new kits of tanks that appear in game that haven’t been done to death like the Tigers and Shermans. We’re getting new kits of tanks that existed in prototypes only. This gives more fuel to the modelers who like to do “what if” kits or Luft '46 type builds.
More modelers and more models; I fail to see the downside.
I looked at this when it first came out but was put off by the bad reviews and that same thread on Armorama. Looking forward to how you solve the issues here.
I can see the points here about WoT but I’m just happy to see new experimental and rare AFVs that aren’t German for a change. I picked up Takom’s new T30/34 and T29 and they’re beautiful kits, pretty darn good reviews too.
I am in league with Rob and Gamera. Why not do all the “what ifs?” and prototypes that are non third Reich that are inspired by WOT. Especially if it creates new kits and brings in new blood. I am happy to see all these long neglected AFVs from the West coming out.
This project looks like a real sweet one! Looks like an M48 hull with one high speed wazoo new dangled turret.
lol, do you guys know that I actually had a verified brain fart? I knew what they were called but I’ve been building those darned Indy cars so long I plum forgot what the parts are called! [:D] Thanks for the reminders!
Ahhh, that’s why. Thanks for straightening me out on this, Gino. I thought it was just some marketing nonsense because some guys hate to paint roadwheels. [:(] It makes sense now.
OMG, boy, you’re not kidding about the “whining”
“Styrene abortion”–someone actually used that phrase, haha. Sheesh! Get over it!
Thanks for the heads-up and the link. I hadn’t noticed that discrepancy but I do remember reading a discussion on it before when it was announced. I hadn’t seen the renewed moan-fest though.
I have studied the problem and think I have a very good solution to it. Different than from what the buider on Armorama has conceived. I’ll make sure to document it in detail. Thanks again! [Y][B]
O dear, you have been corrupted. Just play safe and before you get carried away, store all those bright metalic colours well out the way. Would not want any nasty accidents [;)]
An excellent rebuttal, Rob; well thought-out and well stated. [:D[
I guess what annoys me is that they’re releasing these ridiculously upgunned Panthers et al with gun barrels that are 30 feet long, instead of giving us some more cool offerings like this and my long-hoped-for M55 and the various cool Cold War US stuff that we’re sorely lacking. But, really, I must admit that they seem to be noticing this stuff too. Maybe we’ll finally get a good M55 and some of those cool little SPGs and APCs and whatnot from that era.
More modelers is definitely a good thing. I guess that I may underestimate the appeal of these WoT models; most people I talk to aren’t interested in them, but it just may be the crowd that I’m in.
Yeah, I’m not put off by some of the chronic whiners. Jeez, some of these guys forget what it means to “model”. They so spoiled these days----try building three of the old stone-aged AMT McLaren kits like I just labored through and you’d see what I mean!
I’m glad to see some of these cool vehicles being produced too. I picked up that T30 as well-a killer kit! I may build that next.
Yup, it’s based on the M48! I agree with you about the long-neglected kits finally being made! (Dragon, if you’re reasing this, how about an M55, please?!?!)
