[PappyB]

Originally Posted by aeroeng

Doesn't bother me. Never really noticed it till you brought it up. But, it's your own opinion that really matters.

I agree completely -- I've learned to overlook certain things with FM, but to be fair, there are join lines on just about any model you look at these days -- I mean I can see clear through my CW tomcats if I look hard enough... and then there is Corgi...

The tailfin join is a by product of them looking for a cost effective way to handle the different versions, verus looking for the best cosmetic way I think. I can live with it. You're right about it being less noticeable with the black tail though ....

(nice haul, BTW, Hornchurch -- what p-38s did you acquire?)

[Hornchurch]

Originally Posted by Hornchurch

Today (this afternoon), I've had in my hands.....

SIX = 'F.M.' P.47's that all have one 'nasty' trait...... the tail-fin front/fillet-join line.
it stands out ENOUGH to put me off........!!!!!!!!!

Anyone else wanna comment on the P.47 front tail-fin/fuselage joint, or doesn't it bother them?????? I'm curious

Originally Posted by aeroeng

Doesn't bother me.
Never really noticed it till you brought it up. But, it's your own opinion that really matters.

Originally Posted by PappyB

I agree completely -- I've learned to overlook certain things with FM, but to be fair, there are join lines on just about any model you look at these days -- I mean I can see clear through my CW tomcats if I look hard enough... and then there is Corgi...

The tailfin join is a by product of them looking for a cost effective way to handle the different versions,
verus looking for the best cosmetic way I think. I can live with it.

You're right about it being less noticeable with the black tail though ....

(nice haul, BTW, Hornchurch -- what p-38s did you acquire?)

I'm SO GLAD you read my post & commented Pappy, (& aeroeng) -

I DON'T wanna be seen to be overtly-critical of 'F.M.'s stuff (God knows they've got ENOUGH detractors already !!!!!!!)

As aeroeng said "it doesn't bother me"......

I'm pleased for him & ANYONE else who can put up with, what to me, looks like a 'Glaring-Error' !!!!!!!

THAT'S BECAUSE I've been buying 1/48th Franklin-Mint SBD's & F.6-F's by the 'bucketload' over the last few weeks.

THEY DON'T HAVE THAT PROBLEM = so, naturally, I WASN'T expecting it, on the P.47 !!!!!!!!!!!

Pappy's pix of B.292 convinced me, that THAT was "THE" P.47 to have..........

Pappy's pix of "B.292" ("Angie"), show EXACTLY why HE could photograph SAND, & (still) sell it to the Arabs !!!!!!!!!


Well, I didn't see "Angie" today - but 6 of her 'sisters' allowed me to see their (potential) "Achillies-Heel", at 1st-hand.

With the ACTUAL-model in your hand, you can 'pour' over it in some detail, BEFORE you buy..........

I ALMOST "pulled the trigger" on the "RAF-Burma; S.E.A.C" P.47, as it's REAL-NICE paint & markings.
(SEE ARMOUR-ADDICTS thread.........)

But seeing THAT tail-joint, & THEN picking up several F.6-F's, Me.262's (your fault, Pappy !!!!!!) leaves ya disappointed.
(well, it did me.........!!!!!)

I left the store with
---- "B.579" 800.Sqdn "Royal-Navy-Hurricane"
---- "B.927" "F.86-Sabre, Butch"
---- "B.546" "P.38 Lightning - 'Virginia-Marie" ( x 2, as they were going cheap)
---- "E.186" "P.38 Lightning - 'Jack' (....an 8/9th Air-Force '38, in Olive-Drab = LOOKS GORGEOUS !!!!!!!!)
& finally
---- "B.569" "B.25, Mitchell" - "Helles-Belles" (for £20 !!!!!!!!)

Well happy with them - & photo's to follow (gimme a week !!!!!!!) /// this pic' was 'snapped' in the front garden !!!!!!!!!

[PappyB]

Impressive Hornchurch -- as for FM's faults I can certainly understand them being deal breakers to some, it's just a different strokes sort of thing. If you like metal content, FM is tough to beat ... and for "wow" power for your display when those "not in the know" venture into our man caves... versus 1:72.

BTW: I had a Vraciu Hellcat and sold it off, I couldn't stand the seam on the front of the cowl, where the spinner/hub is joined to the fuselage... see... I can be "finicky" too Too me, this is much less acceptable than the tailfin issue.. do all the hellcats share this or was I just "lucky"?

[Hornchurch]

Originally Posted by PappyB

Impressive Hornchurch -- as for FM's faults I can certainly understand them being deal breakers to some,
it's just a different strokes sort of thing.

If you like metal content, FM is tough to beat ... and for "wow" power for your display when those "not in the know" venture into our man caves... versus 1:72.

BTW: I had a Vraciu Hellcat and sold it off, I couldn't stand the seam on the front of the cowl, where the spinner/hub is joined to the fuselage... see... I can be "finicky" too
To me, this is much less acceptable than the tailfin issue..
do all the hellcats share this or was I just "lucky"?

I've just had a quick count up (the 'stack' in the 'other' room)!!!!!!!!!!!

In the last four visits to my Die-cast 'store' (warehouse) = I've bought NINETEEN 1/48th 'F.M.' aircraft = (Yikes !!!!!)

That's NINETEEN, this year (2008) so far........ (& counting, as "the 'Fat-Lady' ain't 'singing' yet !!!!!!!!)


(I'm NOT including what I ALREADY HAD) = Well; I've been "cherry-picking" the best moulds.


Pappy; Your explanation....of "metal-content/tough to beat" rings true.... hence why I've gone 'beserk' !!!!!!!

Why pay £70 + for ONE 1/72nd Corgi -

.....when the same money can buy = 5 - 6 GOOD 1/48th 'F.M.'s ?????????

It's a complete 'no-brainer'


Without going in "the other room" (again) - I've got (roughly) EIGHT 'F.M.' F.6-F 'Hellcats' = (I "cherry-picked" the best)......(on Jan 15th, I had 'none' !!!!!!!!)

Funny you should mention 'Vraciu's' "19" the actual 'Duxford' bird (flyer) - as I asked if they would kindly "put it to one side" as I've spent enough 'today', (so, next time = she's mine !!!!!!!!)

The 'seam' on the front of the cowl (you mention) CAN differ, from individual model, to model.......
Different (human) individuals, in 'China' fitting the components & markings, etc..... they DO vary (as does final 'Finish')

I turned one away, with a 'defective' windshield front-canopy (a 'Friday-Afternoon' job, as Kabelace calls 'em....)

So, I check EACH individual model (my own 'Q.C.' - LOL !) before purchasing........ (the Advantage of a store)

I'd STRONGLY recommend it IF you have the luxury of a direct-supplier,
rather than 'Mail-Order', where "you get what you're given".

I've enclosed/added a rough 'out-take' (pix)... of my "00" "James-Flatley" - CAG 'bird'

You'll see it's 'acceptable' = or, at least in my eyes, LOL

[PappyB]

Originally Posted by Hornchurch

I've just had a quick count up (the 'stack' in the 'other' room)!!!!!!!!!!!

In the last four visits to my Die-cast 'store' (warehouse) = I've bought NINETEEN 1/48th 'F.M.' aircraft = (Yikes !!!!!)

That's NINETEEN, this year (2008) so far........ (& counting, as "the 'Fat-Lady' ain't 'singing' yet !!!!!!!!)


(I'm NOT including what I ALREADY HAD) = Well; I've been "cherry-picking" the best moulds.


Pappy; Your explanation....of "metal-content/tough to beat" rings true.... hence why I've gone 'beserk' !!!!!!!

Why pay £70 + for ONE 1/72nd Corgi -

.....when the same money can buy = 5 - 6 GOOD 1/48th 'F.M.'s ?????????

It's a complete 'no-brainer'


Without going in "the other room" (again) - I've got (roughly) EIGHT 'F.M.' F.6-F 'Hellcats' = (I "cherry-picked" the best)......(on Jan 15th, I had 'none' !!!!!!!!)

Funny you should mention 'Vraciu's' "19" the actual 'Duxford' bird (flyer) - as I asked if they would kindly "put it to one side" as I've spent enough 'today', (so, next time = she's mine !!!!!!!!)

The 'seam' on the front of the cowl (you mention) CAN differ, from individual model, to model.......
Different (human) individuals, in 'China' fitting the components & markings, etc..... they DO vary (as does final 'Finish')

I turned one away, with a 'defective' windshield front-canopy (a 'Friday-Afternoon' job, as Kabelace calls 'em....)

So, I check EACH individual model (my own 'Q.C.' - LOL !) before purchasing........ (the Advantage of a store)

I'd STRONGLY recommend it IF you have the luxury of a direct-supplier,
rather than 'Mail-Order', where "you get what you're given".

I've enclosed/added a rough 'out-take' (pix)... of my "00" "James-Flatley" - CAG 'bird'

You'll see it's 'acceptable' = or, at least in my eyes, LOL

Good to know someone's on a bigger binge than I

Thanks for that pic, it's still... unsightly but better than my example -- a friday afternoon special if ever there was one! I think a better way would have been to mold the entire cowl as a separate piece so the join would fall behind the cowlflaps and look more natural... ah well.

I bought most of my FM collection in the year or so after the FM buyout of CDC. I've found that models made during this period are particularly inconsistent in regard to QA. That's one reason I sold most of my collection off a year ago and am now rebuilding it wtih a bit more care. I do not have the luxury of a local retailer to cherry pick as the prices at all the brick and mortar shops are simply way too high, so I takes my chances. There is not a "warehouse" around here -- or anywhere in the states that I am aware of where you can get the deals you seem to be getting on these.

I've found, generally, that buying original CDC releases of WWII fighters is pretty safe, but not necessarily CDC branded jets or bombers. For FM branded stuff, it seems models made in the last two years and new releases are pretty safe -- at least when it comes to getting a consistent finish and pad printed graphics instead of stickers. 2002-2004 seem to be the years to avoid... but I could be all wet. We shall see as I have a CDC Testa Indiano P-47 inbound that may tear holes in my "theory" -- hopefully not!

[FormerViperDriver]

Originally Posted by PappyB

Thanks FVD, I think that's why I'm on a bit of a FM "binge" -- the prices on ebay right now for good stuff are, well, too good for me to pass up.. I agree that the P-47s are one of FM's better efforts. I hope the Razorback isn't as screwed up as the pre-pros suggest!

Agreed on the Razorback. Keeping fingers crossed. Though I'd like to see the EI one even more (sometime in my lifetime)...

I also took advantage of recent FM sell-offs on e-bay and at various retailers. Stuff I wouldn't have bought at normal prices, but at $10 to $20 a pop (for WW II fighters), I'm in there.

So now I'm up to 6 FM/A P-38s, 4 Hellcats, 4 P-47s, plus an extra B-25 (2 total), a couple of A-10s and MiG-29s, etc... I've learned to live with the FM/A flaws, I guess (up to a point, that is).

FVD

[FormerViperDriver]

Oh, and I checked all my Hellcats, none of them have that ugly seam as on your Vraiciu.

FVD