Italeri No 7003

The Dragon Wagon and Famo are both supposed to be fantastic builds. If you like braille scale stuff, Revell Germany has some nice stuff, especially their Tigers, and Dragon and Trumpeter have just started coming out with some. Trumpeters Elefant even has PE grills in the kit. I've heard people say they like ESCI 1/72, but I got one of their JagdPanzer IV's and think it's terrible. I've got an Italleri King Tiger and it's not too bad, not as nice as the stuff from R/G, or Dragon, but not as wacked as ESCI or Airfix (or even Hasagewa, for that matter).

Good luck in whatever you get.

That Italeri Sherman is the old, but good Esci Sherman. It was marketed in several versions, with and without calliope rocket laucher. Rudimentary interior and engine compartment are neat. Be aware that if you open the engine compartment, the access doors are too thick for the scale. Also there is no turret interior to go along with the hull interior. Nice kit.

Thanks for the heads up guys! What's the quick fix for the access doors Rob? If sheet styrene, what thickness?
John

You can just sand them down from the underside to save the detail on the upper side. Just eyeball the thickness, if you prop them open as is, they will be about a scale foot thick!

Thanks Sabot!
John

Bill, Major Rob,

Ever do any PST models ?

I happend across one, a KV 1-s, looks pretty clean. Has indy links in 1/72 . That should be something. I think it might be descent. Any experience ?



Sorry to horn in on your thread, Johnpo.

Yes, I have the KV-1E, IS-2MT and the T-54 and T-55. They look good, but I haven't got around to building them yet.

Build, no problem...my original post asks about stuff to keep an eye out for and this falls into that category!
John

QUOTE: Originally posted by johnpo Picked up my first braille scale kit, the M4. I was wondering what the scoop is on this model.... Any insights, biased or not are welcome. John

John:
i like this kit a lot, and am using it as the basis 4 a conversion to M32 ARV variant. the 1st one i built OOB...
one heads up: the transmission cover (part # 19, if i recall correctly) doesn't fit properly if it is installed as shown in the instructions with the notched-out part facing up... it will require some plastic surgery 2 make it fit. it does fit perfectly with the notch on the lower side... u may want 2 look at some ref photos 2 decide what u want 2 do, but i installed mine upside down from the instructions after much time spent doing just that !

re: PST kits, just watch out 4 the soft plastic they use 4 some parts; if u r not very careful while cutting them away from the sprues, u'll gouge ur part !
awhile back i posted some in-progress pix of a 1/72 PST KV-T tow tractor here if u want 2 check out what 1 of these kits looks like... Duke Maddog has built a few of these little pups and posted pix in his Armor Factory tours as well.

HTH,

frosty

Thanks Johnpo


Major Rob, thanks. I think it might be a good experience. Good luck with yours.


Frosty,
thanks for the pointers, I'll keep it in mind. Yeah, they have like 5-6 different KV's alone.

So, you like Tony's hey John?

Yeah, I love going there too. He has such a great selection. Email me if you ever want to come with me to my IPMS Club meeting.

Build22, I have built about 8 or 9 PST kits, and I've always found that they go together very well, and have nice detail. Their link & length tracks go on smooth, and the always have extra so you can really work on a good track sag! As Frasty mentioned, sometimes they mold in soft plastic, so watch yourself when removing parts from the sprues.

If you want to see pics of my PST models I built, let me know, I'll get them reposted here.

Thanks, DM,

I appreciate the "heads up". I thought they looked descent just from the box.

But indy links in 1/72 ! I don't know if my fat thumbs can handle that.

Thanks

QUOTE: Originally posted by Build22 Thanks, DM, I appreciate the "heads up". I thought they looked descent just from the box. But indy links in 1/72 ! I don't know if my fat thumbs can handle that. Thanks

Lol! Mine are pretty fat as well, but I manage! Especially since every time I'm ready to put them on, my tweezers disappear!

Really, they are good kits that are fun to build. Don't let the indy tracks intimidate you, you'll do fine!

Frosty - just now checked this post. Thanks for the pointers!Positive!
Duke - thank you as well, can't wait for my next trip to Tony's. I'll keep the meeting invite in mind.
John