[jjgilz]

Hey everyone,

I guess you could say I'm doing "research" but I was more interested in what you think about custom/exclusive Hobby Master models. It's no secret that they are REALLY expensive to do. But I also think that it has a neat effect of expanding our addictive hobby with a model that normally might not be made. In the past, I don't think I was any more likely to buy a model if it was an exclusive by a certain store, sometimes I used to be less likely to buy one if only a certain store sold it. But I've recently bought a few exclusives from other stores for myself. In any case, I'm just curious as to what you think about custom models. Do you like them? What factors do you consider when you decide whether to get one? If you were able to pick any custom model, what would you do?

Right now my top 4 I would consider are:
1.) F-4 Jolly Rogers
2.) Pardo's Push F-4
3.) A-10 flown by Maj Kim Cambell
3.) Test Colors A-10 (from the A-9 and A-10 competition), that hideous 70s clean bluei-sh white prototype color!

From a fans perspective, I would love to have all 4 of my top 4. From a retailers perspective, I think it has to justify the intial investment of the equivalent of a BMW 3 series...ie-it would have to be a good enough exclusive to actually sell!

Random late night thoughs/dreams!

Have a good night,
Jeff

[PappyB]

Personally, I really like special commissions and wish there were more of them available stateside -- most seem to be in the UK. I mean I'm looking at $90 to bring a Gemini F-4 into the hangar, which is nutty. I don't know why more aren't made available here as I'd think the U.S. market is bigger than most

(I'd think a JR F-4 will likely come from HM at some point, and I'm a little tired of the ol' JR, sorry... I'd love to see a Screaming Eagle And I'd pay a premium for one, with the hopes of it having a more limited run, too -- sorry, I'm one of those nuts that likes that.)

I'd think a cool HM special commision model would jump off the shelves now, though.

[parsig9]

I think a HM comm. model is a good idea but I don't really think any of the ones you mentioned are the right ones. Sorry.

I'm really not sure what the right one would be but I'd know it when I saw it I think.

It may not be a matter of What plane? as it is Whose plane?

[weiwencheng]

I agree with Pappy, I am tired of trying to hunt overseas for custom models. Also having to pay out the rear for shipping is not my cup of tea.

[rdenham]

If I could get a HM F-4 from VF-84 Jolly Rogers I would buy it in a heart beat. I would much rather have my Jolly Roger Phantom with the Flag on the tail rather than the black tail, however that would require a B model HM does not currently support.

The J model Phantoms I am really pushing for are a MiG killing VF-114 bird & a VMFA-333 "Shamrocks" Marines F-4.

[Epapazian]

One special edition I would welcome from HM would be the single TBF survivor out of six Avengers from VT-8 that went out to attack the Japanese fleet at the Battle Of Midway. It carried the code 8-T-3 and sported early war insignias--sans the red dots or red/white rudder stripes. All that would be required to create this model would be a change to the cowl to show the single MG positioned there while filling in the wing gun ports on the current model. No doubt there are other minor differences, but I could live with the gun reconfigurations. Of course, there would be no rockets on the Midway TBF.

[ZS-VAN]

I'd go with a Jolly Rogers F4. I've always wanted an F4 in that scheme.

[Lakota Mech]

Originally Posted by ZS-VAN

I'd go with a Jolly Rogers F4. I've always wanted an F4 in that scheme.

I'll second that!

[Kaptin_Kirk]

I'd go for the JR F-4.

[forcerecon85]

Bring on the VF-84 Jolly Roger F4 As far as I know there isn't a diecast 1:72 version of it. I rather see the tail fin all black instead of the black flag.