[b-huj]

Just a follow up, I posted pictures of the production release here
http://themodelhangar.com/forum/show...2&postcount=10


I am really happier to see the yellow "dot" (sun) instead of those blue pixels on the tailfin.


A detailed look. The dot is a bit thicker than I would like but I think it looks better.



Before the customization it looked exactly like the sample

[b-huj]

overall the model looks quite accurate, although the nose area could use some more work, cockpit bubble is too round and bubbly, the cross-section of the nose/radar area is more "squre" than the real plane. Here goes a picture (very low quality) of the actual plane taken probably during or around the war.
the photos stolen from A.net show it as it looks today, (wrongly) re-painted and sitting in a museum.

[stalag8611]

Well. that wraps it.
!I'm never going to buy another HM issue until I buy an electro-magnitic microscope and earn a PhD in national flag regonition.
The nerve of any die cast model manufacturer to make a mistake on a flag so tiny that only the cognosenti can spot the error is beyond acceptance. Now, misformed cockpit windshields, drooping propellers, and obviousloy incorrect color schemes, well that's worthy of critism. Bitching about a tiny microscopic yellow dot on an equally microscopic national flag is just plain "Jumpin' the Shark."

[b-huj]

Originally Posted by stalag8611

Well. that wraps it.
!I'm never going to buy another HM issue until I buy an electro-magnitic microscope and earn a PhD in national flag regonition.
The nerve of any die cast model manufacturer to make a mistake on a flag so tiny that only the cognosenti can spot the error is beyond acceptance. Now, misformed cockpit windshields, drooping propellers, and obviousloy incorrect color schemes, well that's worthy of critism. Bitching about a tiny microscopic yellow dot on an equally microscopic national flag is just plain "Jumpin' the Shark."

If u never buy anything is your own business.
If a manufacturer does a poor research and does not even know the flag of the country the plane is supposed to come from is poor resarch/documentation and execution and it is insulting to collector's intelligence, of course if you don't feel insulted...
I am sure no manufacturer would dare put a yellow star instead of a white one on an American insignia.

I remember people poiting out (not so much bitching but poiting sth out for the benefit of the manufacturer and the collectors) that a Revell Jolly Rogers skull had the crack on the wrong side. What about the wrong angle of canting tailfins or wrong ordnance for the time period of a certain livery? But I suppose knowing how the heck a flag from a country other than the US should look like on a 1/72 model requires a PhD...

Again, if HM wants to make 1/200 (!!!!) models as they have announced, they should not use the "too small, microscopic, nobody knows how that was supposed to look like anyway" excuse everytime something goes wrong.

[pulqui]

Originally Posted by stalag8611

Well. that wraps it.
!I'm never going to buy another HM issue until I buy an electro-magnitic microscope and earn a PhD in national flag regonition.
The nerve of any die cast model manufacturer to make a mistake on a flag so tiny that only the cognosenti can spot the error is beyond acceptance. Now, misformed cockpit windshields, drooping propellers, and obviousloy incorrect color schemes, well that's worthy of critism. Bitching about a tiny microscopic yellow dot on an equally microscopic national flag is just plain "Jumpin' the Shark."

That is what I would call a little myopic comment! What would you say if the US "Star and bars" was miss shaped and the wrong colors? Or that the British roundels looked like the French "Cocarde"? From a global perspective one could argue that the Chinese guys who make these models have no need to know the intricacies of the national markings of far away foreign countries that are much smaller and have far less population that China.

These models are not made only for the US market. They are made for the global market and we should expect a little more research on the part of the manufacturers in something as simple as a national marking. Data like this can be found on the net in ten seconds flat! This is no obscure data that is hard to come by.

By the way, the light blue color on the national markings has the wrong shade by far (too bright) and the flag on the fin should be made up of three fields of equal width, not two narrow blue fields and a wide white field.

The shape, looking from the side, of the electronics "buble" behind the cockpit is too square and the blade antenna should be angled a lot further back.

[stalag8611]

B-hul & Pulqui should not go away thinking I don't care about accuracy in 1:72, 1:48 or any other scale die cast model. I do care and I do use a magnifying glass to check the livery, color schemes, weathering, etc out. And, since I have 187 issues in my hanger, I think I even qualify for the title "collector."
However, suppose an A-4 was to carry a American flag of the same dimensions as the Argentine flag on its rudder. Do seriously believe the flag would be able to accurately seperate the 13 red and white stripes, as well as show all 50 "STARS" on a field of blue? I think not. Under the ultra strict requirements laid down by some members of this forum and many of our fellow British collectors, not even the production model of the Argentine A-4 will pass muster. The physical characteristics of the model, its QC, acceptable detailing, accurate liveries and price paid are legitimate concerns. Perfection in all things is preferable, of course. But don't expect it in real life; never mind die cast models. Pax vobiscum

[Andrew]

Well, if it can be corrected with a blob of yellow paint, then isn't that worthy for comment and improvement?

Who knows, maybe they DID get it wrong. But as a collector, then you of all people should know how small differences of accuracy can mean to purchasing one brand to another. HM isn't the only one doing an A-4. Corgi will come out with theirs too. But if you want to support HM to stay ahead of Corgi, the more correction suggestions, the better. If liveries and detail can be painted on 1/200 and 1/500 planes, then the same can be done with 1/72nd. Its not impossible. It just comes down to whether its worth the trouble or not. And that is something for HM to decide.

[Nockers]

Oh !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO the flag is still wrong should be three equal bands of color The blue bands look 1MM too narrow

[pulqui]

Originally Posted by Nockers

Oh !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO the flag is still wrong should be three equal bands of color The blue bands look 1MM too narrow

In fact, each band should be about 1 mm wide....I am astounded and amazed by your intelligence....

[Nockers]

Originally Posted by pulqui

In fact, each band should be about 1 mm wide....I am astounded and amazed by your intelligence....

Ok .25mm too narrow then