right there with ya, theres so many techniques to learn, thank god for youtube lol

Another new guy

I returned to the hobby last year after 15 years away. A lot has changed. I am learning how to use an airbrush, don’t know how I lived without one before.

I am also starting to use acrylic paints as well as photo etched parts. 

My end goal is to build a model of ever aircraft that was used in Naval service, and also in the Marines since they are part of the Navy and I love my brothers in green.

I look forward to all the wisdom I will be able to tap into her.

Right, you were on the base, i should have guessed. I used to go there with my dad for the air shows back in the 80's, loved it. I worked at lakenheath for a year back in 2015.

For detail + fit, i would say AFV club, in both the Ausf C and D versions. For fit and ease of build, Tamiya, but of course they only do the D.

It laregely comes down to if you want a specific version. In some cases both Dragon and AFV club do kits of the same one, for others you only have one choice. Most of my kuts are AFV, i have gone for the others mainly where there was no option.

Next up on my to build list will be either the ICM A or Zvezba B, i am curious to see how they build up.

The weathering looks awesome! and yes I was at Mildenhall,  I spent a good amount of time in Bury and New Market as well as Cambridge.

In your opinion who makes the best kit, AFV, Dragon, or Tamiya?

Here are my 3 most recent ones. First is AFV Clubs /4 Ausf C i finished a couple of months ago. Having already built Tamiya, Dragon and an AFV Club Ausf D, this Ausf C kit is my favorite so far.

My favorite 251 is the /9. I have all 3 versions but so far have only built Tamiyas /9. Not as detailed as AFV Club and Dragon but still very nice kits and not as much trouble to build.

And this is Dragons /6 AusfC. The Dragon kits are as nicely detailed as the AFV club but a bit more work and you have to be more careful with some of the fit, especially the lower side pieces.

There are loads of 251 kits out there, all the main variants are covered and Dragon have done a few of the more obscure ones, there 3 in 1 kits arereally handy if you want spare parts.

If you lived just inside Suffolk,you must have been close to newmarket thyen, i am just a few miles further down the road just past Bury St Edmunds.

Welcome aboard.

Thank you for your service.

The 251 is a nice subject. Like Mike says, if you get a few behind you, you will be amazed at how superior the new kits are- that Tamiya 251 is an old goat.

Last one I ever built (sort of) was the donor for a new rear end for my Rommel's Rod!

Remember, this hobby is designed to be fun!

Yeah im looking forward to starting the Panther, should be a good challenge!  and heres the current build im finishing up, down to finishing the hoses in black, then dull coat, decals, and some light weathering.  Bish id like to see some of your 251's!  Also I lived in England for a couple years up in Suffolk not far from Cambridge.

Welcome to FSM Forums!

Your friend, Toshi

Sounds like your making the most of those old tamiya kits. They are not the best in regards to accuracy, but personally i think theyt are good way to learn the basics of bothy building and weathering. Assuming those other 251's are not the same kit, you will get a much nicer build out of those, more accurate than the old ''Hanomag'' kit.

And yes, i have a bit of a thing for 251's. I have 5 built so far with another 26 in the stash, so many versions to choose from.

I have a Tamyia Panther A and a panzerkampwagen II waiting to be built, once i get through those, and hone my weathering skills a bit more i have two different 251's picked out that im gonna give a go.  just gotta get this Albion 3 point refueler finished up, just down to weathering and decals

Sounds like you and Bish have a lot in common, except for the Spitfire. 

TankerEasy

haha i think im gonna do a whole line of german armored vehicles, i really enjoyed the 251 and wouldnt mind doing a few more, and its different since most folks just build german tanks lol

 

Well, you have a bit of choice, there were 63 versions and variants, almost half of which you can get as models. As you are new to armour i would recomend trying another of the tamiya kits, they do 3 Ausf D's, more recent and accurate than the Ausf C you built and very nice to build. The best 251 kits IMHO are the AFV Club ones followed by the Dragon kits which are both very detailed but i would not recomend to anyone until they have a couple of others behind them.

Yes i finished up a Hanomag 251 a couple weeks ago, first kit ive put together in years lol

Well !

 There's a lot you put at the last I've never heard of , But , Thats okay . Welcome Aboard . Did You say a Hanomag 251 was your first .Hoo , Boy interesting kit .My son hasn't finished his yet !  Again ,Welcome Aboard . T.B.  P.S. Have you ever driven an Abrams of any type ?

haha i think im gonna do a whole line of german armored vehicles, i really enjoyed the 251 and wouldnt mind doing a few more, and its different since most folks just build german tanks lol

TankerEasy

Thanks guys!  I currently building an Albion 3 point refueler from Airfix in 1/48 with the plan of doing a diorama with it refueling a Spitfire down the road.  and yes it definitely takes me back to my younger days when i sit down for a few hours and build for a it! 

 

Diorama, nice. I can overlook the Spit seeing as you just built a 251

keavdog

Welcome back!  The smell of paint and glue takes me back.  It's a great hobby for sure.

As soon as I saw 251 I figured Bish would be first to respond!

 

You make it sound as though i have some sort of fetish

Welcome back to the hobby, and welcome to the forum!

You'll probably find more sources online, for kits and supplies, once you get past a certain level of skill and a certain variety of subjects.  I used to hit up my local HobbyTown for basic supplies, but for the things I want to build, like Maschinen Krieger kits, I just couldn't find them there, and the owner didn't have any suppliers who carried them.

I look forward to seeing more of your builds!

Best regards,

Brad

Welcome to the Forums! Glad to have you aboard.

You have come to the right place. We are all members of Plasticaholics Anonymous. Some of us got the disease at a younger age (like me) and kept it up over the years. Some of us were temporarily cured for a short while but it never completely goes away. I started when I was six years old and am now 77. I've loved every minute of it, well, there was that time when ................... 

We're here to help you with any questions/problems that you might have. The members are very knowledgeable and ready to help out anytime you need it. Don't be afraid to ask as we've all been there at one time or another. Check out all the sections of this Forum and when you have a problem go to the section that you need and ask. 

Enjoy.

Jim  

P.S. I build anything and everything that strikes my fancy (and my wallet says OK).

Thanks guys!  I currently building an Albion 3 point refueler from Airfix in 1/48 with the plan of doing a diorama with it refueling a Spitfire down the road.  and yes it definitely takes me back to my younger days when i sit down for a few hours and build for a it! 

Welcome to the Forums!

Welcome back!  The smell of paint and glue takes me back.  It's a great hobby for sure.

As soon as I saw 251 I figured Bish would be first to respond!

Welcome aboard. 251 for a first kit, i like that. And that tamiya 251 is a good one to practice on.