April 2004 FineScale Modeler

Nothing in the April issue really interested me to be honest. I found it to be a bit lacking over all.

Darren

Don~

That was a bit of author humor. Its appearance in the April issue was pure coincidence. I guess I'm a Strict Constructionist, but I don't count pranks as legitimate April Fools jokes. Technically, you have to try to convince somebody to believe a tall tale, then when he's swallowed the bait and started to believe it you yell "April Fools"!!

i voted for the kit list myself,though the preist one would run a close secound,i don`t normally get worked up over a release by italeri but that armored car they are set to release sounds good!.hopefully it won`t be a re-box of that horific hipm kit!

Don,

Didn't even notice it until you mentioned it!

Not asked for but as we seem to have Lawrence's ear. . .
Quit putting in the pictures of sliced and bandaged hands in the April issue.
If you feel the need for an April Fool joke, do an article ala Scale Auto Enthusiast, but the bandaged fingers has been done before. . .too many times!!

Don

Loved the Fokker DVII! I'm a biplane nut and this one is my favorite. More WW1 stuff please!
greg

Lawrence, thanks for your comments. Actually the only reason I'm building the X1 is Matt's article. When I saw it I thought I can do that and bought it. Same goes for the Starfighter NF-104a in the March issue and the Goblin in the May issue.

Lawrence,would you welcome input on a build from the other side of the pond,
I have the Revell V11 U Boat and I am planning to alter it to a U-Flak1 modification (U441 1943).
What would be the best way to present it?.. perhaps in stages maybe? I have the facility of a good digital camera, but I was planning to approach the project as an ongoing build,taking several months as I am going to use a variety, of mediums, resin,(first time casting in such but I am able to make moulds as I used to race cars) brass, aluminium, plastic, and wood, I wondered if it would be of any interest to you and your readers?
I would welcome your thoughts and opinions on this
Great Mag, better than anything this side of the pond!, also making a whole new group of friends.
Nick.

I found the fokker the most interesting but only because I am building one at this time

Hi Lawrence,

Here's another one of your evil "there can be only one" multiple choice polls.

I chose the Fokker article because I really like WWI subjects, but the lunar rover was a exceptionally close second. The T-60 tank article was very interesting and an enjoyable read.

I was disappointed in the article on masking canopies. The aritcle was too short, liquid masks were not covered well, and the article seemed to focus on situations where one is either working with a 1/48 (or larger) scale model, or there are really nice raised window frames to help guide the knife when cutting out the mask (or both).

I ran into trouble on mh 1/72 scale F-4 Phantom canopy. I tried masking tape, but it didn't conform well to the small canopy. It worked better when I cut it into thin strips, but I still wasn't completely satisfied. What was more of a pain was trying to cut along the canopy frame without a raised guide to help (they were recessed lines). I ended up trying the Ambroid liquid mask and that worked exceptionally well. If I screwed up a cut, I simply brushed more on and waited for it to dry.

The article in FSM wouldn't have helped me one bit in that situation. [:(}

The new kit report was neat, but if I buy any more kits, I'll be broke and in trouble with my wife.

Regards,

QUOTE: Originally posted by nicholma The canopy masking feature was very timely as I'm about to start my first aircraft for 35 years (Eduard's X1).

Then if you don't have it already, you'll want Matt Usher's story about that kit from the Oct 2003 issue (p. 22).

QUOTE: I was a bit disappointed wit the quality of a couple of the Gallery photos, the Fletcher being to small to see any of the detail that I'm sure is there.

Gallery photos are always more variable in quality than the other photos in the magazine because they're submitted by the modelers themselves, many of whom don't have photo equipment costing thousands of dollars (though some do!), and they're not shot under controlled studio conditions. Even so, many of them are very good--the models AND the photos.

QUOTE: On the other hand the 2004 kit release list has a number of crosses and circles around kits to watch out for but I'm concerned at the paucity of 24th cars from Haseqawa and Tamiya so I hope they're just not releasing their full intentions at this point.

Keep a few things in mind with the New Kit Report: It's based on the information the manufacturers can provide us in Nov-Dec of the preceding year. Plans change, some projects are shelved, others are added. Some manufacturers also don't release their full new release plans to avoid tipping off competitors. But NKR is a good "watch" list.

I liked the Priest and was interested to find out they were used in the PTO. Keep up the good work, folks! Best regards, Dave

Well, I voted for the 2004 kit list, but the Lunar Rover article was really a tie for me, but I couldn't vote for 2!
Lee

Yes that Lunar Rover was a fantastic piece of modelling art. I seen to recall that several years ago there was a similar article in FSM on the manned capsule used on the first manned landing, the 2 would look good together. The canopy masking feature was very timely as I'm about to start my first aircraft for 35 years (Eduard's X1). The Fokker D. VII and resin sub chaser were also very good from my perspective.

I was a bit disappointed wit the quality of a couple of the Gallery photos, the Fletcher being to small to see any of the detail that I'm sure is there. On the other hand the 2004 kit release list has a number of crosses and circles around kits to watch out for but I'm concerned at the paucity of 24th cars from Haseqawa and Tamiya so I hope they're just not releasing their full intentions at this point.

Roll on April 6

Glad to hear some of you liked the lunar rover story (not just because I wrote it ) It truly is an awe-inspiring creation--real scratchbuilding at its best. Not a lot of modelers out there combining metal-working skills with sewing the way Steve does. I loved the bit about modifying his sewing machine's foot to accomodate the small items.

Great issue ... thanks ...

The article on the lunar rover did it for me ... really nice !!!

was looking for an easier way to mask. took some of the suggestions. i do like the new kit listing though.

joe

That Lunar Rover was over the top! What a wealth of scratchbuilding inspiration. If you haven't read that feature read it! Very cool.

I liked the priest