[Elmer]

I LOVE the wash. This is one detail that helps HM stand out from the rest of the pack. I purchased the Lexington Dauntless last fall and followed up with a tank buster Stuka (have since purchased a few more). These models are really growing on me -- I am extremely impressed with HM's attention to detail, fit, and finish; conversely, some of the models that I loved when I first purchased (e.g. Dragon's Corsair and Wildcat) don't strike the same chord with me anymore; it is hard to explain, but I believe the wash is part of it. No one else in the diecast world does such a fine job with this tricky art (I have done washes on plastic builds -- it is an art, it ain't easy, and it takes LOTS of practice to master). Good washes give the model several advantages 1) a weathered, used look and 2) contrast, a simulation of light and shadow falling on the model. Simply stated, I think the wash makes the model more beautiful and realistic looking. I hope HM's "experiment" "washes out" in favor of the wash!

[SkyBuffalo]

Well, here's my take on it :

How does the U.S. get to be the guinea pig for the no-wash test and the U.K. is getting a special release plane of their own? How did us Yanks piss off HobbyMaster? How 'bout letting the Brits be the experiment and the U.S. getting a zippy plane of our own? Hmmm?

I personally like the wash. If they only want to do one kind of wash, just do a light wash. It would be fine on the light colored planes and a little underdone on the darker planes. But it still looks better than factory fresh.

As for the pilots, I say YEAH!, but I am suspicious. Supposedly they are releasing TWO pilot figures. Are just these two pilots supposed to go with all these HobbyMaster planes:
Argentinian A-4 from 1982
U.S. A-10 from 1990
Greek F-104 from the 1970s
Soviet Mig-2 from about 1972
Saudia Arabia Mirage from 1991
U.S. Avenger from WWII
British Avenger from 1957
German Stuka from WW2

Seems that two pilots would not apply to all these planes. Unless I am being really naive in thinking that NOT all pilots all around the world pretty much wore the same uniform for the last 60 years or so. The two pilots might cover some of these planes, but not all of them. I'll wait and see just what the pilots are and what they look like before I get excited.

[kabelace]

The Pilot figure is a definite YES. I have been removing the figures from the Corgi's that got smashed up by the heating contractor and placing them in HM and Dragons and it makes a huge difference. The Fleet Air Arm Hellcat looks right at home now along with the Corgi's FAA aircraft. I think not having the panel wash will be a good thing if HM is having problems with it. I believe that in most of the 1/72 line its just to heavy, a little weathering is nice, just a little for realism.

[Spinnaker]

As I understand it, all the HM releases will have no wash, whether or not the go to the US, UK or anywhere else in the world.

As to the special release for the UK, that is a special commission by the UK distributor. I'm sure there would be nothing stopping the US distributor doing a similar commission.

Originally Posted by SkyBuffalo

Well, here's my take on it :

How does the U.S. get to be the guinea pig for the no-wash test and the U.K. is getting a special release plane of their own? How did us Yanks piss off HobbyMaster? How 'bout letting the Brits be the experiment and the U.S. getting a zippy plane of our own? Hmmm?

I personally like the wash. If they only want to do one kind of wash, just do a light wash. It would be fine on the light colored planes and a little underdone on the darker planes. But it still looks better than factory fresh.

As for the pilots, I say YEAH!, but I am suspicious. Supposedly they are releasing TWO pilot figures. Are just these two pilots supposed to go with all these HobbyMaster planes:
Argentinian A-4 from 1982
U.S. A-10 from 1990
Greek F-104 from the 1970s
Soviet Mig-2 from about 1972
Saudia Arabia Mirage from 1991
U.S. Avenger from WWII
British Avenger from 1957
German Stuka from WW2

Seems that two pilots would not apply to all these planes. Unless I am being really naive in thinking that NOT all pilots all around the world pretty much wore the same uniform for the last 60 years or so. The two pilots might cover some of these planes, but not all of them. I'll wait and see just what the pilots are and what they look like before I get excited.

[SkyBuffalo]

APOLOGIES!

I misread Hawkonevoodoo's first line in his text as only U.S. would get the no-wash planes, but we are just getting a later arrival date. Sorry.

So, U.S. distributor ... when do we get a special edition?

P.S. - Wash the planes so they look dirty and wash the pilots so they don't stank!

[hawkonevoodoo]

Originally Posted by aeroeng

Majority rules most of the time, but not always . I find it weird that Hobby Master is dropping the weathered panel lines when their surveys show the "overwhelming majority" want them .

PS. Please drop the weathered panel lines on the 1:48 scale also .

The main reason for this is because when a few months ago I asked whehter or not people wanted the panel lines it seems like 9 out of 10 replies were in favor of dumping them. Now I seem to see a swing in the other direction because people have changed their opinions or those who didn't express their opinion in favor are now doing it. Hobby Master would like to settle this one way or another and put an end to yes or no. So your opinion positve or negative will be appreciated, I guess it is now or never.

[hawkonevoodoo]

Originally Posted by timbo

Yes but how did they get that data in the first place?? Could be that they didn't ask the people that buy the planes. Unwashed versions have been available for some time, so I wonder if they have done a comparison of Predator sales with their own version?

Personally I'm pleased to see the back of it. Not sure if I'll purchase due to funds exhaustion, but it will be interesting to see a HM/HM comparison.

It would have been even more interesting if they had taken one of this batch and washed 50% so that we would have 2 versions of the same side by side to see which one sells best.

People were polled at trade shows in Beijing, Nuremburg, and a couple of others as well as asking people here and on 3 other forums. It seemed that the forums were against the lines but the people at the shows where they could see the actual model at the time loved them. This yes and no thing has been going on too long so they decided to do some models without the wash to see what the comments would be when you actually had them in hand. It simply is a matter of trying to do what the majority of buyers want. This debate has been going on for several months so it has nothing to do with Predators. This all started before Predators came along. I hope everyone expresses their opinion this time so there will be a true gauging.

[hawkonevoodoo]

Originally Posted by SkyBuffalo

Well, here's my take on it :

How does the U.S. get to be the guinea pig for the no-wash test and the U.K. is getting a special release plane of their own? How did us Yanks piss off HobbyMaster? How 'bout letting the Brits be the experiment and the U.S. getting a zippy plane of our own? Hmmm?

I personally like the wash. If they only want to do one kind of wash, just do a light wash. It would be fine on the light colored planes and a little underdone on the darker planes. But it still looks better than factory fresh.

As for the pilots, I say YEAH!, but I am suspicious. Supposedly they are releasing TWO pilot figures. Are just these two pilots supposed to go with all these HobbyMaster planes:
Argentinian A-4 from 1982
U.S. A-10 from 1990
Greek F-104 from the 1970s
Soviet Mig-2 from about 1972
Saudia Arabia Mirage from 1991
U.S. Avenger from WWII
British Avenger from 1957
German Stuka from WW2

Seems that two pilots would not apply to all these planes. Unless I am being really naive in thinking that NOT all pilots all around the world pretty much wore the same uniform for the last 60 years or so. The two pilots might cover some of these planes, but not all of them. I'll wait and see just what the pilots are and what they look like before I get excited.

The UK will get there chance about a month later like always. And as you put, Yanks didn't PO anyone, they are trying to give you the chance to put this whole damned yes or no thing to rest. They seem to be damned if they do and damned if they don't.

[RonO]

I vote no on the "Wash". HawkOne are you sure it is a wash? I have assumed the panel lines were pad printed. In either case when I compare the panel lines on my HM SBD or TBF to period photos the model panel lines do not look correct however weathered the prototype. Printed lines are especially objectionable over light colored surfaces.

Compared to a quality plastic kit, almost all diecast panel lines are over done before the "wash" is added.

Even so, my HMs are keepers and I thank them for bring forth much needed SBD and TBF models.

Ron

[Elmer]

Originally Posted by hawkonevoodoo

The main reason for this is because when a few months ago I asked whehter or not people wanted the panel lines it seems like 9 out of 10 replies were in favor of dumping them. Now I seem to see a swing in the other direction because people have changed their opinions or those who didn't express their opinion in favor are now doing it. Hobby Master would like to settle this one way or another and put an end to yes or no. So your opinion positve or negative will be appreciated, I guess it is now or never.

Hawk,
Several months ago, I was one expressing some concern with what appeared to be dark washes (I think it was a pre-pro shot of a Hellcat, but I don't remember for sure). I think the Lexington Dauntless's wash is a bit too dark, but, I would rather have it a bit too dark rather than no wash at all. I was hoping HM would tone down the panel line wash a bit; given your previous posts, that appears to be difficult to accomplish. I prefer a darker wash to no wash at all. To my eye, some models (e.g. the tank buster Stuka) have OUTSTANDING washes. I would hate to see them all go by the wayside because some do not like dark lines on light liveries. Eliminate the wash and you are left with a model that looks more flat and two dimensional. Add a well done wash and you have a model that looks more robust and life-like.