[ZS-VAN]

Originally Posted by PappyB

Well, to clarify, it has retracted gear doors for the wing gear... just not the nose, for some reason the gear doors for the nose are molded on (open). It's really not all that noticeable -- and I've got it on a Witty stand, which makes it easier to see, too.

Thanks PappyB, after waiting so long for a Mirage this is most disappointing especially since I prefer to display my models with gear up.

[hawkonevoodoo]

Originally Posted by PappyB

Well, to clarify, it has retracted gear doors for the wing gear... just not the nose, for some reason the gear doors for the nose are molded on (open). It's really not all that noticeable -- and I've got it on a Witty stand, which makes it easier to see, too.

I told Hobby Master about the nose gear doors and they said they apologize and they will be included in the third release. I'm trying to get them to make them from metal so it adds a little bit more to the front end. I mentioned the Witty stand and they are going to take a serious look at it to see if they can come up with some designs that will allow you to display your model on the stand with all the weapons and ordnance. I'll up date my site when I get more information on the stands.

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by hawkonevoodoo

I told Hobby Master about the nose gear doors and they said they apologize and they will be included in the third release. I'm trying to get them to make them from metal so it adds a little bit more to the front end. I mentioned the Witty stand and they are going to take a serious look at it to see if they can come up with some designs that will allow you to display your model on the stand with all the weapons and ordnance. I'll up date my site when I get more information on the stands.

That would be fantastic. I bought a witty F/A-18 Stand just for my Dragon Hornet so that it can displayed with centreline tank. I wouldn't mind paying a wee bit more for it as it'd probably be the same as buying the plane and the separate stand.

[Andrew]

given how small the nose gear doors are, maybe they could just make it a one piece compartment like Century's design

[ZS-VAN]

For those of you do that have the model, do you think the that the open nose gear doors detracts from displaying the model in flight on its own stand?

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by ZS-VAN

For those of you do that have the model, do you think the that the open nose gear doors detracts from displaying the model in flight on its own stand?

not if you don't see much of the underside. The nose gear doors are quite small actually, which is why i hope they use the approach like Century

[PappyB]

Originally Posted by ZS-VAN

For those of you do that have the model, do you think the that the open nose gear doors detracts from displaying the model in flight on its own stand?

Not much at all -- the angle of the bird in HM's stand makes it even less visible than with the Witty stand... the doors are tiny and pretty hard to see from your average viewing distance...

[Epapazian]

Originally Posted by hawkonevoodoo

I told Hobby Master about the nose gear doors and they said they apologize and they will be included in the third release. I'm trying to get them to make them from metal so it adds a little bit more to the front end. I mentioned the Witty stand and they are going to take a serious look at it to see if they can come up with some designs that will allow you to display your model on the stand with all the weapons and ordnance. I'll up date my site when I get more information on the stands.

This is very disappointing news since I, like many other collectors, like to display planes in the wheels-up or in-flight mode. As I commented in another post, HM is developing a disturbing habit of not getting it quite right the first time ( examples being the windscreen on the A-4 and the droopy tailplane on the A-10 ). At least they listen and make corrections, but I am increasingly tempted to hold off on first issues unless I get a detailed review and a peek at a plane's underbelly. That said, I still am very pleased to have this company's product to select from and expect to continue buying many of its collectibles.