[PappyB]

OK Hornchurch you inspired me to do a quick reshoot of this model with my new photo lamp that came today... (I couldn't get all that dust off though! I had the model out on a shelf for a couple years before finally getting it behind glass... )

I was dismayed to see that my version has sticker decals, rather than pad printing... though that shouldn't really surprise me given when I got it (three years ago when FM was doing lots of stickers...). I may put this one up on the bay and try to replace it with a pad-printed one... we shall see. All my SBD models may be rendered obsolete when HM's 1:32 beast comes to town.

There I go, rambling again... on with the pics! Got some more tweaking to do but these are at least better than those old school shots I still have up on my site. Can't beat the history behind this scheme.
















I blew this last one out to highlight the interior cockpit detail....

[Hornchurch]

Originally Posted by PappyB

OK Hornchurch you inspired me to do a quick reshoot of this model with my new photo lamp that came today... (I couldn't get all that dust off though! I had the model out on a shelf for a couple years before finally getting it behind glass... )

I was dismayed to see that my version has sticker decals, rather than pad printing... though that shouldn't really surprise me given when I got it (three years ago when FM was doing lots of stickers...). I may put this one up on the bay and try to replace it with a pad-printed one... we shall see. All my SBD models may be rendered obsolete when HM's 1:32 beast comes to town.

There I go, rambling again... on with the pics! Got some more tweaking to do but these are at least better than those old school shots I still have up on my site. Can't beat the history behind this scheme.

Pappy, many, many thanks for posting......

Those Photo's are pure-class & knock your others into a 'cocked-hat' !!!!!!!!!!

If (by any chance ?) you DO have the "Operation-Torch" S.B.D , can you replicate the process, please ? ...... & do this 'F.M.''Bird' some much-needed justice !!!!!!!!!

I highlighted the print in your quote, as mine, too, appears to have Decals, rather than 'Pad-Printed', despite coming in a much-later 'F.M.' box.

I wish someone;knowledgeable on the 'F.M.' range, could explain at what point they changed from Decals, to 'Pad-Printed' markings ???????

The (Beautiful) Grumman F.6-F's I've picked up, have mostly come-in older CDC/Armour-Collection boxes, with their 'Silver-Top/Blue-bottom' (Earlier-style).

Without doubt, these two 'Moulds' are the 'Stars' (SBD/F.6-F) that are in amongst the discounted 'F.M.' aircraft, along with their various A.10's & B.25-Mitchell's

Maybe the rest, ('F.M' a/c) do rank as 'Also-Rans' or untouchables, but, for my (very-fussy) eye for profiles/colours/markings etc, the 'F.M.' SBD & F.6-F's look accurate enough & are considered to be "a right-bargain" as we'd say this side of the pond !!!!!!!

I fully understand your comments; Re the 'New' forthcoming Hobbymaster SBD.

I'd expect it to be 'awesome', too

No point in comparison - & not fair anyway, given the age & price differential.

I reckon (at a guess) that there ARE 'no-such' things, as a 'Pad-Printed' "Ace Of Spades" 'F.M.' SBD & that it - so not worth worrying about.

Times change - Goal-posts 'shift' - & Die-cast A/c get better & better....

Natural progression.........

So, given their age & discount price, these "Once-King" 'F.M' SBD's, are about to be 'de-throned' by Hobbymasters 1/32 offering !

[Cruver Collecter]

That does make for a pretty sharp looking Dauntless.

[PappyB]

I dunno Hornchurch -- there are plenty of FM models out there that come with all water slide, all pad-printed, or a mixture -- same mold... As I understand it, for a year or perhaps longer after the CDC acquisition FM tried several different manufacturers for the CDC line, and then it's own new molds, looking for the best bottom line cost and best overall quality (to them, at least). There was a real quality issue with FM during this time, and the decals were all over the map. I think now they use all pad-printed graphics, or at least mostly. I still can't figure out what my new Dragon and His Tail Lib conists of, looks like pad-printed or perhaps a mixture of both with the big noseart... but if they are decals, they are the best I've even seen so they've at least improved in this respect.

I do not have that SBD you speak of, the Ace is my only one. Pics of the Lib are in progress....

[Art LeBrun]

The FM SBD are super for me - open and closed cockpit versions. I have 6 only because I did not buy the Atlantic scheme S1 becasue it was so flat in color and devoid of markings. Sorry I do not own a digital camera yet. Torch is beautiful.

Still I might buy the S1.....the Wildcat will be bought for sure in Atlantic colors

[RockJock]

Great Job Pappy! Very Nice!!
I think Franklin needs to hire you to take photo's instead of their drawings.

[Ara1]

Originally Posted by RockJock

Great Job Pappy! Very Nice!!
I think Franklin needs to hire you to take photo's instead of their drawings.

Here, here... Pappy's got skills...

[Hornchurch]

Originally Posted by RockJock

Great Job Pappy! Very Nice!!


I think Franklin needs to hire you to take photo's

instead of their drawings.

Originally Posted by Ara1

Here, here... Pappy's got skill...

Originally Posted by Hornchurch

Those Photo's are pure-class & knock your others into a 'cocked-hat' !!!!!!!!!!

Pappy, with pictures as good as that, you could sell 'sand' to the Arabs !!!!!!!!

'F.M.' should 'wise-up'.......

[PappyB]

Hehe... thanks guys, that would be a fun job!

[Armour Addict]

Pappy, your pictures are off the hook!

What kind of setup you have? (digicam, artificial lighting and so on)

Thanks,
AA