Messages

16

General Discussions / Hanomag 251D

« on: July 04, 2021, 12:18:10 am »

I noticed on the Rubicon USA site that the Hanomag 251D is marked SOLD OUT. I was wondering if that means the 251D kit has been discontinued, in favor of the 251D three in one, or if the 251D is just temporarily out of stock?

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Wish Lists / Re: Another Quartet

« on: June 27, 2021, 10:30:29 pm »

Concur on the Grant/Lee. That is a hole badly in need of filling.

I am a modeler, not a gamer, and I have the Warlord models of the Matilda, Cromwell, and Churchill. I found them less than satisfactory, for a number of reasons. Built them all before I knew Rubicon existed. I do see your point though. Plastic models are expensive to produce, and there must be better than good prospects on a return on investment.

I have gone over exclusively to Rubicon because of the options they provide, and their attention to detail, without requiring the builder to be a magician with the assembly of twenty parts to make a steel ball. The instructions are clear, leaving no question as to what parts go where. Compare that to the Warlord Matilda turret, where I spent more time researching exactly where all those bits and pieces go, than I did assembling the entire model . In short Rubicon makes a better product, for the same or lesser price. I can purchase a Hanomag 251 for instance, mail order, and pay less for it, including postage than I would if I go to my local hobby shop and purchase the Warlord 251 over the counter.

The only disappointment I have ever had with a Rubicon kit was the chunky hunk of plastic they give you for the headlamps/brush guards for the Crusader. Even then they give you the headlamps as a separate piece with the instructions on how to construct the brush guards from wire stock.

So to me Rubicon is the gold standard in 1/56 scale, a scale that perfectly fits my space for storage limitations. That's why I asked them to consider three of this latest quartet of mine. I can understand market forces though and will respect their decision. Now how about the A9, a tank that is both important historically and double ugly.?

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General Discussions / Re: Three in One Hanomag 251

« on: June 27, 2021, 10:10:21 pm »

Thanks. I thought so, but now that you have verified it I will proceed as planned.

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Wish Lists / Another Quartet

« on: June 27, 2021, 01:49:38 am »

I have a fondness for British Army tanks. Four I would really like to see produced by Rubicon are

The A9 Cruiser

The Matilda

The Cromwell

The Churchill

While I am at it, now that the M48 is in process, is there any possibility of an M48A5 being included when the M48A3 comes on the market? The 48A5 was not produced in time for the Vietnam War, but it is still the best and most capable of the M48 series. In fact the tankers I knew who crewed the A5 said it was a better tank that the M60A3 that it was meant to supplement. Except for the main gun and cupola the outside appearance of the A5 is nearly identical to the A3.

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General Discussions / Three in One Hanomag 251

« on: June 27, 2021, 01:41:34 am »

I intend to purchase the Hanomag 251/D Three in one set in the very near future. My question is can the parts in that kit be used to build a 251C as an Engineer, Ambulance, or Platoon Leaders track, or does the internal configuration of the troop compartment preclude that?

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General Discussions / Re: Painting German vehicles

« on: June 14, 2021, 06:17:53 am »

Well that is good news, thanks. I guess I will save Plan B for another day.

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General Discussions / Re: Painting armored vehicles

« on: June 14, 2021, 12:45:51 am »

Not a German vehicle, so I changed the title of this thread to be more universal for all armored vehicles.

Last night I completed construction and painting of my Rubicon A34 Comet, and found it to be a splendid model. I suppose it is due to the Pandemic, at least that is what I have been told, but the supply of Vallejo paint has been problematic for the last year or so. With the Comet I brush painted the entire vehicle, and was really pleased with the outcome. I normally spray on the base color and augment it with brush work, especially dry brushing.

I did the Comet as the post war version, but now comes decal time. The 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars has always been a favorite unit of mine, in that they were, throughout the war, the reconnaissance regiment of the 7th Armoured Division. I have all the appropriate decals but was wondering if the 8th Hussars were reequipped with Comets just after the war as many British units were. I know they had Cromwell's in 1945. If anyone knows I would be grateful for that information.  If the answer is no, I do have a Plan B

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General Discussions / Re: Painting German vehicles

« on: June 11, 2021, 11:55:17 pm »

I am grateful for everyone's input.

I believe trading ideas and techniques with other modelers is the most gratifying part of our hobby. I was a ship modeler until the Pandemic started to keep many of us near home, and the brick and mortar hobby shops were closed. That's when I discovered Rubicon models available on line, and ordered one. Have not done a ship in a year and a half and don't plan to re-start. In short, I got hooked. While my background in in the Army (26 years) I am quickly finding out I don't know as much as I thought I did about tanks and armored vehicles, and it's really fun learning. 

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General Discussions / Re: Painting German vehicles

« on: June 11, 2021, 05:43:05 am »

Thanks, that, and the link were very helpful.

Hope to see more of your work. I spent many an hour in a later model of your Deuce and a Half, and from what I remember, your's is spot on.

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General Discussions / Painting German vehicles

« on: June 11, 2021, 04:05:07 am »

My plan is, after clearing my current work off the Bench is to purchase a couple of Hanomag 251's, I have one, a 251C already, but after seeing that Deuce and a Half, inspired by the Monument Men on another thread, extremely well done I might add, I plan to build one of the Hanomags with a full canvas top. What I do not have a clue about is the color of that canvas top. Does anyone here know? I like to use Vallejo paints, but if there is some other brand that makes an match for the color, I am open to that.

Thanks in advance

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Showcase & Gallery / Re: Sd.Kfz.251/21 Ausf. D with Flakdrilling

« on: April 08, 2021, 12:57:59 am »

That really is a spectacular model Thomas.

By coincidence I was just reading yesterday how one such vehicle was used against one of the Combat Commands of the 4th Armored Division in the ground target role, while the division was on its way to relieve Bastogne. Looking at your model though it would seem that depressing these guns for use in the ground role would be problematic. Is there something I am not seeing here?

Really like how subtle and effective the camouflage on the Hanomag is. Excellent work.

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Showcase & Gallery / Re: Rather enjoyed the Tiger Ausf B

« on: March 28, 2021, 02:47:44 am »

I am looking forward to building the kit. Looks like those link and link tracks won't be a problem. Normally I dread them, but the instructions appear to have really simplified assembly.

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Showcase & Gallery / Re: Rather enjoyed the Tiger Ausf B

« on: March 27, 2021, 11:59:41 pm »

Noted, thank you. The red primer gives the model that added touch of realism.

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Wish Lists / Re: Late War Quartet

« on: March 27, 2021, 09:37:48 am »

Yes, quite true, but I am really interested in expanding past WWII into the late 1940's and throughout the 1950's. The JS III scared folks for a long time. I can still remember as a kid seeing JS III's in Hungary on TV during the uprising. While much of that period I cited was using the stuff left over from WWII, there was also a lot of new designs based upon wartime experience entering service. That era holds my interest. I am not a gamer. I am a model builder, so I don't know if vehicles of this era would find a market for a company like Rubicon, That said, I think the time between 1946 and 1960 is the most neglected era for armored vehicle modeling.

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Wish Lists / Re: Late War Quartet

« on: March 27, 2021, 06:31:33 am »

I was not aware of that. Thanks. Hope the Pershing has some USMC decals. My Easy 8 is getting real lonesome in my Korean War collection.