Aussie Modellers

darson
I've just finished a three year posting in Canberra and loved every minute of it.If you need any advice on things to see and do,drop me a line (lots of things to distract kids while you go to the AWM!!) the Treloar annex in Mitchell is the AWM storage/maintenance area.I was lucky enough to do some restoration work on the Beaufort and George (I'm a Navy Aircraft Tech by trade) which was awesome.
For those asking about model shops in Canberra definately check out Toyworld and Fisher discounts.Fisher often has up to 50% sales and if they don't have it they can get it at very reasonable prices.The ACTSMS guys are a fantastic bunch,very helpful and nice to boot!Members also get discounts at Toyworld,Fisher and Monaro hobbies in Queanbeyan.
Cheers
Mick

Wayne I'm glad you decided to stay in the hobby and remain with us on the forum.

Sean's right motivation to go on can be an absolute killer sometimes when you are trying to balance work, family & hobby commitments.

Cheers
Darren

Wayne, wlecome back.

Motivation is a big one to hold onto Wayne.
I have had a problem with it for the last 8 months, trying to stick with the hobby, thinking maybe harder kits are what I need.
That was a way wrong decision!!

I'm sure that at some stage we will all have our own personal demon to deal with, and even though it's not brain surgery, it is a hard decision to make.

Wayne

Welcome back mate...I understand the motivation thing. AMS strikes hard and fast and like any nasty lurgy, takes forever to get out of your system.

Take care

cheers

Mike

Hi fellow Aussie Modellers and to those who have joined this thread since my last visit.

Over the past few weeks I have taken break from modelling and the forum so that I could assess exactly what I wanted out of scale modelling and if I would continue modelling and remain in the forum in the future. Was having problems with motivation and direction. Anyway to cut a long story short I have decided to continue with scale modelling and return to the forum.

Pingy i'm not sure if my models are up tp comp stage yet mate

Luke welcome back mate havn't heard from you in a while........

QUOTE: Originally posted by pingtang luke If you're still looking for hobby shops in Canberra, I might be able to help. First of all is Monaro Models in Queanbeyan. http://www.monaromodels.com.au/ There is also a couple of stores in Fyshwick that stock some hobby stuff. There is the Toy world shop and a hardware store called fisher's discount hardware (or something like that). Both in Barrier street Fyshwick. Hope that helps you. BTW, if you haven't already done so, check out the ACTSMS (www.actsms.asn.au).

thanks for this mate - very helpful and I plan to check em both out!

WAMSMEx 2005 is set for the 10-11th September. It is not as big as the shows held in the east but this is the big one for us here in the West!

A great 2 days of modelling and chatting about our great hobby. Last year at the buy and sell I got a number of great bargains. Two Horizon vinyl Stegosaurs for the lady wife and for me a 1:32 Matchbox Spitfire Mk22, Tamiya 1:48 F-117A with resin cockpit etc. Did well last year in the comps as well

cheers

Mike

to the forum Simon, it's alway nice to have another Aussie around.

Bandha ahhhh the good old days when a silenced 22 cal rifle (my dad was a cop ) was my favourite toy and my sisters dolls were damn nervous. We had a quarry directly behind our house, which had a huge dirt embankment around it, so it was like having a rifle range in the back yard with a butt behind the back fence. Between gunning down Barbie and putting penny bungers in models sigh....

Good to see you back on the forum Luke.

Dave you're right things sure have changed. The days of building a kit in an hour with a tube of Airfix cement (leaving cement fingerprints all over the kit) and then taking it out and dogfighting with your brother are long gone.

Cheers
Darren

Jules Just enter a few models in the comp mate. I always enter a few at the comps I go to. They don't always go very well, but you usually get some feedback on your models and it lets you know where you can improve. BTW, the swap meet is the best part of the show. especially if they have a second hand kit stall.

luke If you're still looking for hobby shops in Canberra, I might be able to help. First of all is Monaro Models in Queanbeyan. http://www.monaromodels.com.au/
There is also a couple of stores in Fyshwick that stock some hobby stuff. There is the Toy world shop and a hardware store called fisher's discount hardware (or something like that). Both in Barrier street Fyshwick. Hope that helps you. BTW, if you haven't already done so, check out the ACTSMS (www.actsms.asn.au).

Did any of you guys read the May edition of FSM "Scale Talk" section where ken Richards of the Baghdad Model Club writes to say thanks for all the kits that have been donated and goes on to say:-
"Interestingly I have noticed that the Australian soldiers seen to make more models than any other group, and they perfer WW2 tanks."

So if any of us have old unmade models sitting around why not send them to the Baghdad model club.

Reminds me of my childhood modelling days. I built up about 150 kits & one day I went up on the roof, stuck tom-thumbs up their tail, set fire to them & sent them into a flaming, exploding spin one-by-one. Killed the lot. Shooting up my sisters dolls just wasn't doing it for me anymore.

STOP IT!! STOP IT!! You're making me depressed because I couldn't go!!!!!! ..........*deep breath*...........*deep breath*........... OK I'm good!
Cheers,
John

Well IO had a great time at the model show. I went there with a mate on Saturday, and returned again on Monday to sniff out some cheep kits. Ended up with a Trumpeter 1/350 Liberty ship for $40. Man I cannot believe what you can get now for models. This is my second crack at building models, my last time was some thiry years ago when I was ten years old, we used to build tanks and aircraft slap a coat of paint then have huge "wars" using airfix 1/72 infantry. Needless to say few of those models survived. In those days you had a choice of Airfix, Revell, Matchbox and that was about the main three. These days you can get a amazing selection to choose from, I even saw a guy selling Axis and Allied 1/72 boots !

Hey Lads

I'm back . . . It's been ages since I've posted anything on this site (seeing I introduced myself when this thread opened up ages ago!). I've taken a look at a few of your model pics and GB's and things look pretty good as ever!

I've since moved from Perth and now am in Canberra, studying (again) strategic studies. I've searched for a good model shop ere, but one small one is closing down, and the other major one doesn't seem to exist (I couldn't find the bloddy thing - maybe wrong address).

been a bit slow with the models and all cos of uni and I didn't bring my things with me!

later

ps - welcome Simon!

Welcome to the forum Simon, hopefully you will find this a friendly and helpful place as the rest of us have. If you are able, why not post a few photos of your work for us?

Jules,
The show up here in brizze is a good show the crowds arent that bad ive been a couple of times not game to enter anything though maybe one year
mick

Hi Fellas,

I live in Brisbane and have been modelling for about 2 years. I build aircraft but don't really have a theme, I just build what I think looks good!

I am currently working on a 1/48 scale Tamiya Corsair and a1/72 scale AModel Yak 52.

The idea of having a few Aussies on my favourite forum is pretty damn good!

Simon.

sounds like an excellent buy Darren I imagine that all the local dealers would go to the show so maybe i could pick up some cheap AM parts at the next Bris show.....

Jules, I couldn't agree more the crowd was really driving me crazy but the prices you can get kits for made it worth while. I was pretty strict with myself by I still came away with a Tamiya Stug III Early for $20 and a Tamiya Schwimmwagen for $10. Both kits were still shrink-wrapped and in top condition, I was wrapped $30 outlay for $95 worth of kits .
Next year I'm going to make a point of entering at least one kit, just for fun.

Cheers
Darren

Y'know i've never been to a show before, the only people who have even seen my models are my family and you guys.....I think there is a show coming up soon in Brisbane so i'll have to get of my lazy butt and go.......
But i think i may avoid the sawp 'n' sell, i don't like being pushed around in a crowd.......... >>>eye starts to twich<<<

From all the reports i've seen so far it seemed to have been a popular time at the swap meet. A pity I didn't get there but next year I may be living in Melbourne so it will be easier to get there.

John, nice job on the M1. Oh yeah, sorry to tell you this but you missed out big time by not coming to ModelExpo, the standard of work on offer at the show was awesome and there were some huge bargains to be had in the kill or be killed swap 'n' sell.

Dave it was exactly as you described it, hundreds of people jammed together and it seemed like every one of them wanted the kit I was after

Cheers
Darren

Thanks for the pics John.....looking good mate.

It's the basic tri-colour AusCam that you can see on all the Aust Army's vehicles, Leopards, ASLAVs, M113s etc. Even the Blackhawks and Kiowas are painted that way. I'm not sure what the actual pattern will be for the tanks, but I think this is pretty close.
As for the armament thing, yes it is! And don't we love it?
Cheers,
John

Darren Yeah mate i enjoyed having a chat, lucky the Missus pulled me up cause i woulda talked models all night

Your Abrams looks good John it's certainly bristling with armaments isn't it, BTW is that the colour/camo scheme the Australian Army is going with

Jules: no the Abrams is not yet in active service with the Aust Army, however some tank crews from 1st Armd Regt are undergoing transition training in the US right now. Apparently, they've been most impressed by the tank's abilities.
http://www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews/editions/1120/topstories/story01.htm
As for pics, give me a minute...they'll be up.
*minute passes*











Hope you like 'em. Sorry if they're a bit blurry, my camera is only a 3.2MP, so up-close it loses some of the clarity. Anyone want to copy them for reference, feel free. Or I can email.
Cheers,
John

Dave sorry it's a bit of a novel, but this is from a US defence site. The only thing not mentioned here is the fact that the Aussie M1A1s will run on diesel not JP8 jet fuel.
The Abrams Integrated Management (AIM) Overhaul Program is an innovative teaming of the prime contractor, GDLS, and Anniston Army Depot (ANAD) to refurbish the tank to a like-new condition. The AIM Overhaul is the Army's under-funded program to sustain the nearly 7,000 Abrams Tanks as part of the total recapitalization plan. AIM is funded at 135 tanks per year which translates into a 12-year rebuild cycle for the active component. As the M1A2 fleet ages, the Army must expand AIM to include about 90 M1A2 SEPs per year beginning in 2012. With a 20-year rebuild cycle for the reserve component, the Army must implement a 90 tank per year program beginning in 2006.
AIM alone is a sustainment process only and does not insert new technologies nor address obsolescence. However, by exploiting the synergy created by integrating the AIM program with a viable Abrams recapitalization program, the Army has a cost-effective opportunity to apply and field these high-payoff projects. The current high-payoff projects include 2nd Generation FLIR, frontal & side armor upgrades, Vehicle Integrated Defense System (VIDS), digital turret & hull networks boxes with built-in test, and a new engine.The AIM Overhaul program is the optimum time/location to complete applied improvements. The AIM Overhaul program in its objective state will produce M1A1Ds. Currently the process applies many product improvements with some M1A1s receiving the M1A1D configuration retrofitted in the field.

John you see you should never have opened your mouth because now I have to see your Abrams.

Jules it was great to have have a chat in person mate.

Cheers
Darren

thanks for the replies guys, John I would like to see you abrams. Please forgive me but what is an m1a1 AIM? how is the aim diferent?

Thanks

Dave