The Tamiya late G model tank came with a screw and nut to hold the turret elevation parts together. that extra strength has never been needed before in any tank I have ever built.
How much would metal barrels add to the cost of a kit? I would rather have a metal barrel added to a kit rather then them adding a screw that is not necessary.
they seem to be adding PE, mesh for screens, etc these days.
Why not add the most obvious detail so we don't have any barrels with seams anymore.....
Craig
I think you'll find that the hardware is there so that it's easier for you to adjust the tension on the truunions of the gun, to prevent the dreaded 'Gunner's Droop', rather than for the added expense or complication. They've used the same system in their Challenger kit and probably in others.
RobG
It's why some of us call it modeling, rather than assembling. None of my model barrels have seams. Aftermarket parts, like metal barrels, only make sense when the kit part has a REAL flaw, like the wrong size/shape. If you can't deal with the rather simple issue of seams, then you might want to reconsider how you approach the hobby.
Hmmm......I always thought it was just supposed to be *fun*. That's _my_ 'approach' to the hobby.....
Revell of Germany includes a big huge aluminum barrel in their 1/35 scale PanzerHaubitze 2000 (modern W.German 155mm howitzer). The barrel is about the size of one of those souvenir baseball bats. I got my kit via a Model Expo 50% off sale, so I seem to recall that kit running for around $30-35 full price (I could be wrong though). Rob Gronovius Modern US armor at
The average barrel replacement will add about $8-25 to a model, based on source, material and quality. They make sense as noted if you can't smooth the barrel yourself (HINT -- get a Flexi-File!) or the barrel is noticably wrong (e.g. Eastern Express 45mm guns are not correctly proportioned, with one section being about 4mm too long.)
Cookie Sewell
you are taking this a bit too seriously.....
I have started using the Eduard replacement barrels. If you haven't seen one yet, they are well worth it.
I especially like the fact that the muzzle brakes are machined, instead of being cast lead like the Rubio barrels.
No. You're wrong. Fun is an accidental byproduct at best. It's important to be accurate, and neat, and uncompromising, and to make sure everyone knows it, so that the historical record is not compromised by misrepresentations of fact as depicted in your three-dimensional image of the past.
or
No. You're wrong, to the extent that you believe anyone can be truly happy with a major inaccuracy, or with purchasing something ready off the shelf when they could spend endless hours creating exactly the same effect themselves out of less-than-optimum components. Besides, the idea is total hobby hours per dollar spent as much as it is the final result.
or
Yes. You're absolutely right. You don't have any RLM 71? No prob. U.S. Olive Drab mixed with NATO Tri-black will look just fine, and how many guys are going to hold up a color fan deck to your model to check it, especially if you just put it on the mantel? Don't know exactly what the cockpit looks like? Well, rudder pedals, control column, instrument panel, seat with belts--that ought to do it, and who's to know, besides the three or four folks on rms who are anal enough to computerise all their references?
There are probably other variations on the above argument themes. Sometimes I think it's durn cool to take a pile of manure-resembling bits and make it into what it's purported to depict. Other times, I'd rather spend some bucks to buy a plug'n'play rather than hack on kit imperfections. For me, that's where the fun of the hobby is--doing it my way, just like your sig says, and that varies a lot, from one situation to the next.
Mark Schynert
who is anal enough to computerise his references
Bingo! And to take it a step further, looking down one's nose at another's modeling preferences or skills is most assuredly *not* my idea of fun.....
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