Looking to challenge myself

[Bruce]

I'd like to really challenge my model making skills by taking on an armour project, 1:35 or larger scale (eyesight is not what it used to be) and I'd like to include lots of Photo Etch components.

I'm not usually an armour modeller, in the past it's mostly been 1:48 aircraft where armour is a 'Target of Opportunity'.

I'm not especially fussed about the subject though I'd rather keep it to WWII. Any recommendations?

Bruce

[John Tapsell]

Bruce,

These days virtually any WWII armour subject has a raft a PE available for it from a variety of companies. The real issue is how 'good' those sets are and how much of the kit you want to replace.

I'd suggest a good quality (recent) Tamiya kit as a starting point (for buildability). The reason I say this is that you imply the journey is a new one for you, so not having to worry about fit and ease of construction for the base model would seem to be a good idea. I've stuck with large armour subjects for my suggestions.

With all the Tamiya kits, make sure you're picking up the 'new tool' versions of some of the kits. Some of the old ones are nigh on 40 years old and still being re-released periodically (generally very cheap by current standards).

German - any of the Big Cats (Tiger, Panther etc) and their Panzer IV, Panzer III and StuG III are really nice kits with a good range of PE available from the likes of Eduard, Aber and Voyager (and others)

US - M26 Pershing - their Shermans are also nice.

Soviet - JS-2, ISU-152 and BT-7 (all excellent kits)

British - Cromwell, Centaur or Matilda are all gorgeous builds.

For pretty much all of the above, you can pick up small or large photo etch sets, aftermarket tracks if you fancy them (nice but not essential) and turned aluminium gun barrels (both main gun and MG) so you can 'throw' as much or as little as you want at the project.

Hope that helps.

Regards,
John

[Bruce]

John,

Thanks for your suggestions - does anyone do a really nice M2, M3, M4 Half-Track that you know of (I always seem to pick the obscure projects).

Would like to tackle an all-out 'bells & whistles' project complete with a set of Fruils but I had probably better learn to walk before tackling a marathon.

Bruce

[John Tapsell]

Bruce,

Dragon offer the M2, M3, M4 (mortar carrier) and M16 - all are really nice kits.

Tamiya offer the M3, M16 and M21 (mortar carrier) but whilst they are nice kits, they aren't up the standards of the much more recent Dragon kits.

No-one offers the M5 or M9 series in plastic which is a shame as they were widely used in British and Soviet service (and post-war Israeli service).

Regards,
John

[Bruce]

I think I've pretty well decided on the Dragon M2A1 Half-Track. There are two 'big' PE sets available, one by Eduard and the other by LionRoar. Having only worked with Eduard details on aircraft - any feelings out these as to which might be the better set?

Bruce