[Elmer]

Originally Posted by PappyB

I think you'll be saying you under-rated the Buffalo, Elmer, I wasn't jazzed about it either -- but it is very cool. I'll be interested to hear your opinion on it.

If HM does go down the road more travelled and dupes FM's efforts I think they should be very afraid -- particularly with HM's price points. If the Buff is truly the standard they will keep in 1:48, HM is going to be a real force to be reckoned with.

Just my $.02 (and I hear you on the desire for better "common models" at 1:48 Elmer.. but you already know that )

Good to hear Pappy... I am sure you are right. Right now I am so TICKED OFF with Franklin Mint I want to throw a hunk of metal against the wall. Be very afraid FM!!!! (See my post under Franklin Mint).

[STARMAN 352ND]

Thanks for posting the great pictures Pappy.
I think i'll be getting this one as well.
As good as this 1:48 looks ...I would really like to see them make a good P-51D Mustang with the correct looking landing gear.
JP

[Elmer]

Has anyone seen the Buffs in stock anywhere yet?

[FormerViperDriver]

Originally Posted by Elmer

I don't think you are wrong Cardo. Generally, I am not a fan of FM/A models because I want more detail at 1:48 scale than FM/A molds typically deliver. Now Dragons 1:72 T-Bolts, on the other hand, are packed with detail at a much smaller scale. I love Dragon's T-Bolts (although I wish they would do Gabby's D variant with invasion stripes!!!) Although I would prefer a 1:48 scale T-Bolt, I simply can't get excited about FM/A's when I compare it to Dragon's. I really, really, really want a razorback and bubbletop T-Bolt at 1:48 with detail (e.g. rivets, positionable control surfaces, crisp panel lines, etc); but, that is just my "quirky" want. Those of you who are happy with your FM/A T-Bolts and want "non-typical" types (e.g. Italian, Japanese, Soviet, etc.) produced before the more typical types (e.g. P-51D, Corsair, Spitfire, T-Bolt, Hurricane, etc.)... great; I understand this. I want the non-typicals produced also. Nevertheless, no model would excite me more than a P-51D, Corsair, Spitfire, T-Bolt, Bf-109, etc., produced with the same TLC to shape, detail, and finish that EI gave the P-51B/Cs. I believe the iconic fighters deserve this, and deserve it now.

I have my order in for HM's Buffalo, and I am only mildly excited for it... it appears that HM is going down the road of non-typicals. I wish they would give us a classic P-51D, Corsair, and Spit first (although it appears the Spit is coming).

Elmer, I get you loud and clear. I'm pretty torn myself between the requirement to re-do some more classic models, and my desire for new types. Personally, I'm pretty exited about the Buffalo, there's a lot of interesting history to that plane in conjunction with Japan's early push through the Far East and Pacific.

Maybe a compromise, which I would highly recommend to HM (and would pursue if I were part of their management) would be to alternate between new, non-typical moulds and the more traditional, iconic types. I also want better 1/48 P-51s and Me-109s, but I'd like to see a YaK-3, an La-7, a Bloch 152, a Macchi-205, and an IL-2 (not to mention some Japanese planes done better than Marushin). So it's a tough choice. Maybe my "alternating" idea might keep most 1/48 collectors happy (?).

FVD

[Elmer]

Originally Posted by FormerViperDriver

Elmer, I get you loud and clear. I'm pretty torn myself between the requirement to re-do some more classic models, and my desire for new types. Personally, I'm pretty exited about the Buffalo, there's a lot of interesting history to that plane in conjunction with Japan's early push through the Far East and Pacific.

Maybe a compromise, which I would highly recommend to HM (and would pursue if I were part of their management) would be to alternate between new, non-typical moulds and the more traditional, iconic types. I also want better 1/48 P-51s and Me-109s, but I'd like to see a YaK-3, an La-7, a Bloch 152, a Macchi-205, and an IL-2 (not to mention some Japanese planes done better than Marushin). So it's a tough choice. Maybe my "alternating" idea might keep most 1/48 collectors happy (?).

FVD

This is the best solution to this problem I have heard yet FVD. I love the idea and would applaud any manufacturer who took this approach.

BTW, I found this little article entitled "The Brewster F2A Buffalo: The little fighter that could . . . and did!" I would love to see a Finnish Buff, or several:
http://www.chuckhawks.com/brewster_buffalo.htm