[smartd]

I cannot see the relationship between being a kid tour guide in a museum and having the ability to write an objective review on a model airplane.
If you check some of the archived threads I think you might be surprised to find how many members have actual aircraft experience, i.e. make their living in flying / maintaining all sorts of military and civilian aircraft.

I will agree that we should be buying models we like and that may have some significance to us on a personal basis. To be upset by a stranger's opinion and expression of their taste should not de-rail a collector.
You like it? You want it? Buy it? For yourself.

[hworth18]

Having been on this forum since its beginning (and the original Modelhangar since it started) I have seen many reviews come and go. I can't tell you how many times after a review was posted that I have heard the phrase "Oh, I didn't know that, I better cancel my preorder"!!
Reviews can be good for the industry and bad at the same time. I don't believe everything should be sugarcoated, but I do think that some restraint should be exercised when writing a review and more than just personal considerations need to be taken into account. No matter how much a reviewer doesn't like a model, there are probably many people that will like it if they just give the model a chance, instead of going off a review as to whether they will buy it or not. Many times, cancelling a preorder only hurts the retailer that was counting on that sale when they placed their order.
I am all for constructive reviews as long as they are realistic and within the expectations of the product being reviewed, and again, I always try to get a model in hand before I decide to buy or not..

[Captain Eddie]

Theodore, in post #78, you stated "Please do not take this the wrong way; this experience does make me better than any of you; it simply means that I had the incredible opportunity of Tom Reilly...."

In case someone does not realize, I believe you intended to put the word "not" in between "experience does" and "make me." You may want to correct that!

[theodore]

Originally Posted by lanslide

Hey theodore, I think you were my tour guide when I visited The Flying Tigers Warbird Museum in Kissimmee, Florida! Were you there about ten years ago at The Flying Tigers Warbird Museum in Kissimmee, Florida?

Yes, I was!! Hopefully, I wasn't too much of a smart-a$$ with my bizarre antics and sense of humor!! Were you there when the FW-190 was there?

[theodore]

Originally Posted by Captain Eddie

Theodore, in post #78, you stated "Please do not take this the wrong way; this experience does make me better than any of you; it simply means that I had the incredible opportunity of Tom Reilly...."

In case someone does not realize, I believe you intended to put the word "not" in between "experience does" and "make me." You may want to correct that!

Yes, I made the correction!! Thanks for catchin' this for me, Captain!! (shame on me, bad typo!! )

[lanslide]

Originally Posted by theodore

Yes, I was!! Hopefully, I wasn't too much of a smart-a$$ with my bizarre antics and sense of humor!! Were you there when the FW-190 was there?

Why yes, I do remember you and the FW-190 at The Flying Tigers Warbird Museum in Kissimmee, Florida. How could I have possibly forgotten you?!

[theodore]

Originally Posted by smartd

I cannot see the relationship between being a kid tour guide in a museum and having the ability to write an objective review on a model airplane.
If you check some of the archived threads I think you might be surprised to find how many members have actual aircraft experience, i.e. make their living in flying / maintaining all sorts of military and civilian aircraft.

I will agree that we should be buying models we like and that may have some significance to us on a personal basis. To be upset by a stranger's opinion and expression of their taste should not de-rail a collector.
You like it? You want it? Buy it? For yourself.

I would hardly think I was a 'kid' at 33 (and 34) years old. People write an objective review believing that they are accurate when sometimes they are not. Unless any of us have flown a P-51, F4U Corsair, B-17, etc. then I think that we are all in the same boat here. I'm not saying books and combat footage are not helpful; they are, but the best source of accuracy will be the actual aircraft, with the correct variant/sub-model. Also, there were many field modifications made constantly so ALL sources may not validate this. Perhaps this is what some of the diecast designers have encountered as well. You rarely will see me hammer any diecast because most people would be surprised at how accurate they truly are. Obviously, if there is a quality control issue (i.e. the drooping Dauntless prop), then one can point this out. When one slams a diecast (and this person may not be correct in his assumption), this hurts the sellers out there who make a living relying on the sales of these diecast and when we do not buy one because of a review, quality issues notwithstanding, then this can seriously damage the sellers who make an income soley on this business.

[theodore]

Originally Posted by lanslide

Why yes, I do remember you and the FW-190 at The Flying Tigers Warbird Museum in Kissimmee, Florida. How could I have possibly forgotten you?!

When you say, "How could I have possibly forgotten you?", was this a good thing or a bad thing?!! Did you enjoy the restoration shop/museum and my tour as well?!!

[lanslide]

ooops - my bad - I think it was Kermit Weeks' Fantasy of Flight Museum in Polk City, Florida I saw. Sorry theodore!

[jim]

Some interesting posts have been made on this topic, it has given us an insight into the different members view points.

If I may offer my 2 cents to the discussion, I read all the reviews, good bad and indifferent.

I then take a step back and weigh up all the comments and then decide if I want to go ahead and make a purchase.
Because there are no model shops near where I live, I rely to a major extent on the forum reviews.

I have learnt over time which of the members have similar likes and dislikes to my own and therefore I value their opnions very highly.
I have thus avoided wasting good money on a model that I know I will not like based on the reviews.
When I do get the opportunity to see those models I always find that the reviews I have read are correct.

On some occasions even though a model has had a poor review I have still gone ahead and bought it because it may be in the scheme of a favourite pilot or squadron, or perhaps a particular mark, as an example how about the IXO P40N!
The FM P40s have their faults but on the basis of reviews given I went ahead and bought 4 in total and I am happy with them, despite the glaring prop spinner mistake.

I want good reviews from the forum, I want to hear about all the bad points and all the good ones then I can make a balanced decision.
A point raised earlier would be a great example, Corgi Mustangs, I have a few of those and they are OK but when I read the bad reviews I also read that Dragon Mustangs are far better.
I went ahead and bought a Dragon Mustang to find out what the difference was, yes indeed the Dragons are far superior to the Corgi ones and so I bought more.
I still have my Corgi Mustangs and will not part with them, they are not as good as Dragon but they are not bad models and I dont have a problem with them.

We each have our own preferences, one mans meat is another mans poison.
Its interesting to read what puts some one off from buying a model.
I hate the canopy on the JU88, its a terrible bug eyed mess and stopped me buying into that one but to other members its not a problem at all.

Well I have typed a lot and said very little , but gentlemen keep the reviews coming, I am old enough to be able to read them and make my own decisions.
However a word of caution, saying that a model is crap is no help to me or anyone else, I need something better, like why its crap.

Ok I will shut up now.