True details...

It seems many people (in reviews) don’t get a kit and built as is. Seems the go is to get extra detail kits and add or combine these for a finer detailed model than would have been built out of the box.

Firstly…I think this is great…but only if the detail is visible on the final model.

What are the difference between the standard wheels and those offered by “true details” ?

I’ve ordered Revell-Monogram B-17, B-24, B-25, B-26 and B-28 so are looking at detail kits for these.

They all have reasonable priced wheel kits so thought this would make at least 1 easy to make upgrade.

I docovered the “Canopy/Observation Bubbles” offer clearer and thinner alternatives t the clear parts found in kits and are generally used so detail inside can be seen easier.

Photo-etched detail… are these hard to use? From the looks of the plate provided purchasing thse kits would multiply the complexity of the build considerably.

Also the B-17F/G Armament photo-etched extra…from my readings supplies ammo boxes and clips for the machine guns. Has anyone had experience with thse photo etching type extras?

I can’t find much on the Internet with regard to photo-etched detail kits…whether they’re easy or hard…whether they have easy to follow instructions.

In the meanwhile…I’m going to fill a cart with this stuff at squardon.com and park it there until I find out more details.

OMG… is nothing in life simple any more.

True Details wheels are “weighted”, slightly flattened and bulged on the bottom to look like a real tire would when mounted on the aircraft. I’ve found that they’re often more accurate than the kit supplied wheels as well.

Photo-etch…they can be very difficult to deal with but the results can be very good when completed. You’ve got to determine your threshold for pain here. I have a tough time with them so don’t use them extensively, but that’s just me. A lot of up to date, newer kits will not benefit a whole lot from PE, they’re already very good. I’ve found that they have a lot more impact on older kits that don’t have a lot of detail, I’m working on the old Monogram 1/72 Do-17 from the 60’s, the interior was pretty much non exisistent so I used the Eduard PE interior, a lot of work but really improves the kit. The pre-painted PE stuff is expensive, but the instrument panels are simply amazing on these kits, would very difficult to replicate on your own. I’d recommend a starting simple, the big PE kits take some experience and can be a little daunting at first.

HTH-

Mike

For the most part, the difference between True Details and the kit supplied wheels is that the TD wheels are flat and expanded on the bottom to show the weight of the aircraft resting on the wheels.

You’re opening a can of worms though when asking about the ease or difficulty in using PE parts. I build mostly 1/48 scale aircraft and use PE sets on almost everything. Difficulty in working with the parts really depends on the size of the part and where it goes or what it’s replacing. Many PE parts can be very small, almost microscopic, or at least so small that they require a magnifier to handle and work with them. The larger pieces aren’t hard to work with unless they require multiple and/or complex folds to put them together.

Eduard Model Accessories from the Czech Republic is probably the premier producer and distributor of PE sets for almost any model in any scale. You can find their sets on the internet at sites like Great Models Webstore or Squadron, or you can go straight to their site and order, though they’re a little more expensive if buy straight from them. Instructions for the Eduard sets are pretty detailed and easy to follow and use. And the best thing about them is that you can go to their site and open and look at the instructions for any of their PE detail sets. This is their web site - http://www.eduard.cz/ - take a look and you’ll see what I mean.

Also, for help or guidance, you can come to this forum and ask. Many members here will be more than happy to impart their wisdom.

Hope this helps

Sometimes you are better off using kit parts. Example is the Black Box cockpit for the Tamiya 1/32 scale F-16CJ. The flight control stick and throttle isn’t as good as the kit supplied one. The kit supplied instrument panel has better detail. Don’t just assume that after market parts improve the quality of a kit. The best thing is to ask your self, “Do I really need the AM parts or can I make my own or use the kit supplied parts”?

Thankyou for the replies so far… I’m a bit wiser now and it seems the wheels are a good modification for their cost.

I looked on the Eduard site and had a look at some instructions. I suddenly see how the seatbelts in a review magically appeared.

I will do a bit more research into all this as it will be around 2 weeks still before I get anything from the US. For once I can research before I stuff something up as I usually like to dive in head first without too much thinking.

The other aspect I have to think about is only detailing what can be seen and that will be a bit hard until I get the actual kits and sus that bit out myself.

You might want to stop in at http://www.meteorprod.com and pick up some B-17 Flaps and Crew Doors by Paragon while you are at it. Also those True Detail interior sets are pretty nice and the Vector R-1820 engines really add to the model. Aires Browning machine guns are an excellent replacement for the somewhat lame kit guns. I am currently acquiring inventory to superdetail 6 various B-17’s and can tell you one shopping cart is not enough. Oh, just noticed you are not in the States so for the Paragon stuff you’ll want to visit http://www.hannants.co.uk/

Hoek;

Swanny is pretty much the Guru on building models as with Pixilater and advise from those two is awsome and they even have some tricks of the trade that make things simple, but I’ve found True Details Cockpit sets are very nice too, as with Cutting Edge & Black Box sets too, these might be in your setting instead of PE because the small parts are molded into the side walls or instrument panels (most sets are only 10 to 15 pieces) and all you need to do is paint them, but sometimes even PE will help the resin sets with even more detail, but if your not wanting to go that far then try both out on different kits, do one with a resin set then a kit with PE and you decide which is to your liking, like I said before I like TD, CE, & BB resin sets, especially on my eyes those tiny PE parts are killing my eyes and if the carpet monster gets a hold of one of those parts then your hosed, and TD’s sets are fairly reasonably priced too so check them out too

I find myself more often than not taking the best part for the job that each has to offer…kit part may be better in some cases, whereas the aftermarket part may be the correct choice for other cases, for example, a resin cockpit tub with the kit control stick and a photoetched instrument panel.

Had to take my wife into town the other day as it’s 100KM from where I live. Took the chance to pop into the local hobby shop as I wanted to see what they had.

Well…they stocked about 0 in 1:48 and what they did have was the standard +400% on top of what I can mail order it for. I then asked about super detail kits and they had about 10 of them…mainly for tanks.

Didn’t have the heart to tell him his lack of stock, way over the top prices and my ability to get cheaper from the US would mean me being but a memory there.

I envisioned looking at a few kits I had so I could get the needed paint…but sisnce they had not a single box I couldn’t get a single can of paint.

I was thinking though…about painting large areas whether I should get an airbrush.

As it is already my wife is going to kill me when the mailman comes.

From what I have seen…the pre-made masks seem like good investments too. I for one always had a hell of a time painting the frame around the clear section or especially the frame between clear parts. With this in mind…it seems some of the extra detail sets provide for framing the clear parts. Does this then mean I wouldn’t need the masks? Spending $7 for what is basically a sticker set ( :P) when it’s not needed is a bit over the top. Maybe the masks can be re-used?

Also…I think the F17G will be built last because it has sooooo many extra’s. I don’t want to dive in on the most complex model.

The B-29…from what I have seen only seems to have the solid wheels so I might go for that or a smaller model first. Apart from the bomber fleet…I also got a TBD-1 Devestator which…also has a details kit…but unlike the F-17 does not have 5+.

I’ll have a good look through the modelling encyclopedia before I attempt anything too. I should feel safe enough to wash the kit in warm soapy water…dry it and at least paint the crew.