[Cruver Collecter]

There has been a bit of discussion with regards to why HM went with plastic radar antennas as apposed to photo etch antennas. Argument being that the photo etched antennas would be appreciably thinner. I decided to see how close this might actually be. So I did some measuring tonight. I did a comparison between my Corgi Catalina photo etch radar antennas and that of the Hobby Master Bf 110 plastic antennas and found that they were pretty close as far as width goes. The Hobby Master measures right at 1/32nd of an inch in width where Corgi antenna is pretty close to the same. Corgi one may be slimmer by about 2/100th of an inch and that is about it. Based on measurements, they are both reasonably close to each other in with regards to width of the antennas. Between 1/100th & 2/100ths on an inch is really not that much of a difference. Side depth of the Corgi antenna is much thinner, but kind of think this puts it slightly out of proportion with regards to scale, would think dipole antenna would have same depth verses width (round), but that is one of the drawbacks with photo etche antennas, they are flat. The Hobby Master antennas measuring in at 1/32nd of an inch which puts close to 2.5 inches on the real thing. Yep 2.5 inches is pretty big, but true scale ones might be down right fragile small (Especially if antenna diameter was slightly less than and inch.).

[leeG]

I've been following the antenna discussion on the other side of the pond. I sense some hometown bias against the new kid in a few of the posts there. So far, HM has done a outstanding job of engineering good looking models and producing them at a reasonable cost. Give HM the additional $10.00 premium Corgi will demand for their 110 and several alternative antenna manufacturing and material choices become cost effective.

[djjeffhall]

I don't have a pony in this race one way or another but it certainly seems like folks are starting to look for things to complain about, as opposed to actual things that are wrong. I don't read the U.K. forum anymore as the general tone over there feels as if there is a contest to see who can find something to bash first.

Hobby Master has been doing a marvelous job with their birds. They give us planes that no one else has and for the most part, do an excellent job. The HM 110 looks great and it's a bird we have all wanted forever. I'm happy with mine, radar antenna and all.

[Cruver Collecter]

Originally Posted by djjeffhall

Hobby Master has been doing a marvelous job with their birds. They give us planes that no one else has and for the most part, do an excellent job. The HM 110 looks great and it's a bird we have all wanted forever. I'm happy with mine, radar antenna and all.

I like the looks of HMs Bf 110 night fighter and looking forward to their second one slotted to come out later this year. HM has done some fine work with thier BF 110s. (Hope HM has a few more in the works)

[SkyBuffalo]

I'll deem the HobbyMaster antenna a bit bulky, but acceptable enough that I'm looking to get their third release, the "Ghost of St. Trond" nightfighter. The paint scheme is a bit boring, but it's got a great pilot/story, it's a nightfighter, and its got the Schrage Musik guns. The model also has the rocket launchers under the wings (used to attack bomber formations), but I wonder if a night-fighter would use these as well as or instead of the Schrage Musik guns. Anybody know?

If you want a decent looking antenna, check out a picture of the IXO Heinkel He-219 for comparison. I know some folks here aren't hip on the IXO quality, but they did a good job on the nose radar antenna on this one. I have this model, which is why I'm not getting the 2nd HobbyMaster Bf-110, since the paint schemes are nearly identical.

[Cruver Collecter]

Originally Posted by SkyBuffalo

I'll deem the HobbyMaster antenna a bit bulky, but acceptable enough that I'm looking to get their third release, the "Ghost of St. Trond" nightfighter. The paint scheme is a bit boring, but it's got a great pilot/story, it's a nightfighter, and its got the Schrage Musik guns. The model also has the rocket launchers under the wings (used to attack bomber formations), but I wonder if a night-fighter would use these as well as or instead of the Schrage Musik guns. Anybody know?

.

Rockets like you stated were for going after bomber formations. I just left them off on my HM Bf 110 night fighter.

[Nitram Llub]

CC's right ; the rockets weren't used at night as they were for blowing bomber formations apart by day ( the effect of the flash on night-vision would also have been interesting....)

FWIW, I'll admit to feeling a little 'hometown bias' but despite that I have to give credit where it is due and say that I am very pleased indeed with my 'Drewes' 110. For the money, it's a very nice model of an aircraft type I've been waiting a long time for ( my only real gripe is the lack of a crew - I like to display this one 'in flight' ). But overall, I reckon the H/M model has just the right 'look'.

[Cruver Collecter]

Originally Posted by Nitram Llub

CC's right ; the rockets weren't used at night as they were for blowing bomber formations apart by day ( the effect of the flash on night-vision would also have been interesting....)

FWIW, I'll admit to feeling a little 'hometown bias' but despite that I have to give credit where it is due and say that I am very pleased indeed with my 'Drewes' 110. For the money, it's a very nice model of an aircraft type I've been waiting a long time for ( my only real gripe is the lack of a crew - I like to display this one 'in flight' ). But overall, I reckon the H/M model has just the right 'look'.

I am looking forward to their second Bf 110 night fighter too. Nice to have two different radar antenna configurations, and will look pretty cool having two 110 night fighters sitting on the shelf.

[mikeb1958]

Just picked up my Me-110 yesterday and happy with it overall. I would rather have these antennas than the photo-eched ones because the photo-eched ones are flat and not like the real forked-antennas that are round. So they maybe a tad 'oversize', they look great to me!

[Cruver Collecter]

Originally Posted by mikeb1958

Just picked up my Me-110 yesterday and happy with it overall. I would rather have these antennas than the photo-eched ones because the photo-eched ones are flat and not like the real forked-antennas that are round. So they maybe a tad 'oversize', they look great to me!

Photo-etch does have its draw backs in that it is great for flat objects, but as you pointed out, not so for rounded objects.