[Jim Ripley]

That would work , I just didn’t feel like messing around that much when the Warlord plastics were easier arm swaps , just remember to have the same cuff on both arms .

[Jim Ripley]

I wasn’t that keen on the Victrix Germans when I got them . Very nice detail , loved the heavy weapons sprue , and although you could have 3 or 4 arm versions per body , you couldn’t use all the arms on all 10 body styles , at least that’s the way it seemed to me . So I passed the kit off to one of my fiends , who’s quite happy with it . To each there own I guess . I’ll stick to the Warlord plastics for my kit bashing , although I do have some RKX files to have printed of multi part late war Germans and Canadians , I’m hoping the bodies and arms are compatible with my plastics

[Jim Ripley]

Yea they do look a little plumper than the original plastics . I guess a few  sprinkled amongst a squad would look OK if the weapons are of comparable size . I wonder how they are height wise ? They look taller than the originals . And as there are only a few heads on that sprue , there is probably a separate smaller head / base sprue like the new Ivans . Will still probably get 1 box …..I think I need an intervention

[Jim Ripley]

Thanks guys . Found the one I was thinking of , a small boat with a 4 man crew from Black Tree Design . But that larger Barrage Miniatures boat and crew looks good as well . If I can figure out aa realistic water base for the BT one , I think more boats will be in my hobby future next year

[Jim Ripley]

One thing I like  to do , is open up the hatches that are molded closed . A lot of the newer kits are staring to have separate hatch covers but the older stuff is sadly lacking .

• This reply was modified 1 month, 2 weeks ago by Jim Ripley.

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[Jim Ripley]

Cool .  I did something similar converting the Puma to a 234/3 with the  Warlord 251/9 sprue they always seem to have on a half price sale . In fact I grabbed all those 251 sprues on a “just might need it one day ” kind of thing

• This reply was modified 1 month, 2 weeks ago by Jim Ripley.

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[Jim Ripley]

You’re right  , generic is boring . I’ve always wondered why Warlord’s resin vehicles have molded on stowage as opposed to separate stowage so you can place it where you like , or better yet no stowage at all , leaving it up to the builder to add what they like . I’ve always wanted to build a beach diorama with DD Shermans , but having 2 or 3 with the same molded on  gear , which is sometimes placed blocking hatches , periscopes or air intakes on the engine deck  doesn’t sit well with me . The same goes for the new resin Priest Kangaroo kit , too much molded on junk IMO . Just look at any period photo of a row of tanks , the amount of diversity in how each crew stores their gear is crazy , from barely anything except fuel cans , to tarps , ammo boxes , personal gear and “found” items like bicycles to chickens . I like the option of choice .

 

[Jim Ripley]

I  built   a box a couple weeks ago , and I like the 2 older Russian sets ( Summer & Winter ) better . While the separate rain capes are a nice touch ( not really a fan of those molded on ones , and the backpacks ) the size differences of various parts is annoying . Example ,the heads are larger as is  the PTRD anti-tank rifle than the one in the original set , but the DP-28 ammo box is smaller . As well the gasmask bag , bread bags & DP-28 drum bag are noticeably smaller than  on the weapons  sprue. I also found some of the arm variations to be silly , who needs 5 arms holding a chicken or a mega phone ?   I did use some of the new  arm pair with weapon parts on the older bodies but I had to use putty as the new figure’s shoulders are wider than the old box resulting in a gap . I’m sure if these were the 1st box of Russians I bought , they would be fine , but I’ve built more than 6 of the older boxes and really like the kit bashing potential of having separate arms and weapons . I also got the new Katyusha , and the 2 ground troops with rockets are smaller than than either box’s figures .  This makes me wonder how the new Japanese box will compare with the older set ……..I’m not going to pre order these , I’ll wait to see an on-line review from my fav hobby dude on youtube.

[Jim Ripley]

The new box is wearing  Infanty uniforms , the Navel Brigade has a Navy type tunic with the big collar  and those flat topped Naval hats . Just look up a NB set and compare with Infantry .

[Jim Ripley]

I’ve noticed the MP 38 in the Afrika Korp plastics is smaller than the one on the new Veterans sprue. And yet the Veterans MG 34 drum magazine carrier is smaller than the one in the Winter German sprue.  No more just grabbing bits from the parts box without checking . Reminds me of 1/35 scale modelling back in the late 70s , lots of variation in size between Tamiya , Italeri , Heller & Dragon .  People vary in size , personal equipment shouldn’t .  I’m lucky enough to have a fairly deep spares box of weapons , equipment, heads and arms ,  oh so many arms .  It’s not too hard to shorten a plastic arm or lengthen one by adding a sliver of plastic so the figure looks right . Remembering to use arms with the same cuff on the sleave is another story .

[Jim Ripley]

I always figured that  you’ll never get anything if you don’t ask . And the more people that ask would be more incentive for companies to make something . I once asked a company if I could just buy a certain piece out of one of their aftermarket stowage sets , mind you I wanted a dozen of them . They gave me a price ,it was a little steep , but I wanted the pieces , so I paid and they shipped product .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jim Ripley]

I was hoping a number of people would chime in saying they were looking for some too , and maybe get Warlord to release a blister pack of various track pieces and spare wheels for specific tanks . I think that new plastic/resin stuff the rereleased tank crews come in  would be perfect to mold track in . Would be nice to have a Panzer III & IV set as well as a Sherman set as those types of wheels and track  cover so many vehicles

[Jim Ripley]

I’ve always found the resin kits to be lacking in the  instruction department , ie , the instructions for a field gun is one line drawing which  hides most of the detail behind the gun shield . Not to mention the various unknown pewter bits and pieces . Is that flash or part of the kit , the instructions aren’t clear . I’ve built several guns but have always had research material and the spare parts box  on hand to help with the build .  You used to be able find some diagrams if you typed Kit Instructions into the Search bar , but all I can seem to find there now is kits for sale .     FYI , Rubicon has all their instructions , ( plastic , pewter and resin kits ) minus the very newest , on their web site .

[Jim Ripley]

But it should be easier to fix / change with green stuff than having to resort to surgery , at least that’s what I keep telling myself

[Jim Ripley]

Wargames Atlantic Panzer Lehr troops ? Short tunics , long sleeves , short boots / gaiters . The bodies have flat necks  so swapping heads with BA parts is a little tricky sometimes , I picked up a few of WA various WW1 /2 sprues  for kit bashing purposes

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