WWI Digest 2754 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) Re: MvR- Baron or Not? by Todd Hayes 2) Re: Merlin 1:48 Nieuport 12 for sale by Todd Hayes 3) Re: MvR- Baron or Not? by Todd Hayes 4) Re: Merlin 1:48 Nieuport 12 for sale by Todd Hayes 5) RE: MvR- Baron or Not? by Todd Hayes 6) Revell? 1:72 DH2 by Todd Hayes 7) Re: Large Vacs by fedders 8) Re: Unknown model by Todd Hayes 9) Nautilus Decals 1:144 5-Color Loz. by Todd Hayes 10) Re: Camels&Rolands by "DAVID BURKE" 11) OOB Hi_Tech Roland Review by "DAVID BURKE" 12) Re: Unknown model by "DAVID BURKE" 13) Re: Nautilus Decals 1:144 5-Color Loz. by "DAVID BURKE" 14) Re: Camels&Rolands by Ernest Thomas 15) Re: OOB Hi_Tech Roland Review by "John & Allison Cyganowski" 16) Re: Camels&Rolands by "DAVID BURKE" 17) Re: Camels&Rolands by "Tom Solinski" 18) Re: OOB Hi_Tech Roland Review by TomTheAeronut@aol.com 19) Re: OOB Hi_Tech Roland Review by "John & Allison Cyganowski" 20) Re: OOB Hi_Tech Roland Review by Todd Hayes ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2000 15:40:59 -0700 (PDT) From: Todd Hayes To: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu Subject: Re: MvR- Baron or Not? Message-ID: <20001027224059.29782.qmail@web9010.mail.yahoo.com> James McCudden suffered social ostracism too at first because of his backgroung as a mechanic in the RFC. TH --- Sharon Henderson wrote: > ><< even in the US, allowing someone to use your > first > > > name was an indicator > > > of incredible social intimacy, all the way up > til > > > about the 1930's. > > > >Actually, Sharon, I'd guess that - depending on how > multi-generational > >your family was - this might be true up through the > 50s. I think it > >only started to break down because of the > widespread nature of military > >service in WW2, and then continued with Korea and > Vietnam. (I know > >for a fact that in the pre-Vietnam USN of the early > 60s you could call > >someone - of enlisted rank - by their last name, > "Mister" being for > >the junior oficers, but you only called your actual > friends by their > >first names.) > > > >Tom Cleaver > > Hi Tom, > > You know, I hadn't thought of that -- but you're > entirely right. > The military generally remains a little less > socially level a bit > longer than society in general, I think --but I can > clearly remember > during the fifties, when I was a little girl, the > whole ritual of > having to wear gloves and a matching hat and purse, > NEVER slacks, > and you NEVER interrupted grown-ups, and God HELP > you if you ever > had a tantrum in public.... :-) In fact, none of > the things kids > pull nowadays would have been allowed back then. > Hmmm... I think > I'm growing nostalgic.... > > But, to bring it even slightly on-topic, that's one > of the reasons > I collect old grammar books in German and French -- > it gives me something > of a better feel for the world in which the men of > WW1 lived, the > world they say hasten its decline owing to the war. > The same attitudes > that kept someone of talent like Mannock from being > treated as a > complete equal in the Mess, can be traced in the > language -- stilted > and odd to our modern ears. For example (one of my > favorites I must > admit) I have a lovely little book from 1912, for > travellers from > England going to Germany -- it purports to be > conversational situations > one might expect to encounter abroad. On board a > steamship, one > of those tidbits is: "I fear I am about to be ill." > ;-) I dunno > about the rest of you, but if MY guts were in a knot > at sea, I wouldn't > stop to take that much time to comment on it.... > > But the upper classes, which gave most of the > officers to the European > armies, would have taken that time -- and would have > had all sorts > of proper phrases in case someone inadvertently lost > it before getting > to the rail. ;-) > > Of course, there are plenty of instances of war > breaking down barriers > between classes; MvR's three closest friends in his > command, Wolff, > Voss and Schaefer, all came from backgrounds where, > without the > war, they would have likely never even MET someone > of Richthofen's > rank and social circle. And I'm sure there are > similar stories from > both sides of both Fronts. > > What a difference 80-odd years makes.... > > Sharon > > > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Messenger - Talk while you surf! It's FREE. http://im.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2000 15:43:16 -0700 (PDT) From: Todd Hayes To: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu Subject: Re: Merlin 1:48 Nieuport 12 for sale Message-ID: <20001027224316.80599.qmail@web9007.mail.yahoo.com> Definitely AGREED!! TH --- Candice Uhlir wrote: > I bought one of those...completely by accident,,,, > it needs a lot of work > to be a doorstop. > > Candice > > > >From: Todd Hayes > >Reply-To: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu > >To: Multiple recipients of list > > >Subject: Merlin 1:48 Nieuport 12 for sale > >Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2000 20:23:41 -0400 (EDT) > > > >Anyone/Everyone, > > > >I'm willing to part with this kit for $10+ $2 > >shipping. If you need a good doorstop, joke, or > >reason to cry, let me know. > > > >TH > > > >__________________________________________________ > >Do You Yahoo!? > >Yahoo! Messenger - Talk while you surf! It's FREE. > >http://im.yahoo.com/ > > _________________________________________________________________________ > Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at > http://www.hotmail.com. > > Share information about yourself, create your own > public profile at > http://profiles.msn.com. > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Messenger - Talk while you surf! It's FREE. http://im.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2000 15:58:54 -0700 (PDT) From: Todd Hayes To: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu Subject: Re: MvR- Baron or Not? Message-ID: <20001027225854.39134.qmail@web9010.mail.yahoo.com> Most people don't know that Krakow was the original capital of Poland until Mazovia was integrated into the Polish-Lithuanian State. Todd --- Witold Kozakiewicz wrote: > Neil Crawford napisał(a): > > > > Interesting that MvR was from Wroclaw, I've been > there > > twice, and never gave it a thought. Wroclaw used > to be > > called Breslau. After WW2 they more or less moved > > Poland west, they lost some eastern provinces to > the > > Soviet-Union and gained some from Germany. As I > understood > > from the people I talked to, there are now only > Poles in > > Wroclaw as people from eastern Poland were moved > there. > > Volvo now have a bus factory there, that was why I > was > > there. I thought it a very nice town, especially > the > > second time I was there in '98, more and more > > west-like (in a positive way). The land around > there was > > extremely flat, and looked like good farming > country, > > so I can understand that MvR was well off. I > managed to > > buy a fantastic OT book in the bookshop, Polish > aircraft > > from 1918-1924, cost less than 10 dollars and > worth every > > zloty. The food/beer was great, nice people to > work with, > > lots of of old buildings, don't miss it if you > have a chance. > > Only problem is the distance to Kracow. > > Neil > Glad to read that you like Wroclaw, It is one of the > nicest Polish town > I visited. And yes the beer there is fantastic they > have little brewery > which sells beer only in their own pub, you can't > take it home, buy in > the bottle or can. I also invite everybody to visit > other Polish cities, > Krakow (very interesting OT collection in Polish > Aviation Museum), > Gdansk (my favorite "old town"), and of course Lodz > with the beautiest > XIXth century secession architecture and old style > factories. > I do not understand why the distance to Krakow is > the problem, I is > about 2 hour of car driving to go there - you can > visit both towns in > one weekend. And only 3hrs from Lodz. If you would > be some day in Poland > we could meet, Tomasz lives even closer to Wroclaw > than me (about 1/2 > way from Wroclaw to Krakow) > -- > Witold Kozakiewicz __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Messenger - Talk while you surf! It's FREE. http://im.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2000 16:01:23 -0700 (PDT) From: Todd Hayes To: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu Subject: Re: Merlin 1:48 Nieuport 12 for sale Message-ID: <20001027230123.61551.qmail@web9008.mail.yahoo.com> Oh yeah, how's the Vimy coming along? I have the Felixstowe and the Short 184. Todd --- Candice Uhlir wrote: > I bought one of those...completely by accident,,,, > it needs a lot of work > to be a doorstop. > > Candice > > > >From: Todd Hayes > >Reply-To: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu > >To: Multiple recipients of list > > >Subject: Merlin 1:48 Nieuport 12 for sale > >Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2000 20:23:41 -0400 (EDT) > > > >Anyone/Everyone, > > > >I'm willing to part with this kit for $10+ $2 > >shipping. If you need a good doorstop, joke, or > >reason to cry, let me know. > > > >TH > > > >__________________________________________________ > >Do You Yahoo!? > >Yahoo! Messenger - Talk while you surf! It's FREE. > >http://im.yahoo.com/ > > _________________________________________________________________________ > Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at > http://www.hotmail.com. > > Share information about yourself, create your own > public profile at > http://profiles.msn.com. > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Messenger - Talk while you surf! It's FREE. http://im.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2000 16:07:00 -0700 (PDT) From: Todd Hayes To: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu Subject: RE: MvR- Baron or Not? Message-ID: <20001027230700.44073.qmail@web9010.mail.yahoo.com> Tomasz, I've read that there's an industrial wasteland triangle amongst Poland, Czech Republic, and East Germany. Apparently the communists were even less considerate of environmental protection that the US is. Todd --- Tomasz Gronczewski wrote: > > Tomasz lives even closer to Wroclaw than me (about > 1/2 > > way from Wroclaw to Krakow) > > Yup! I live in old industrial area of Upper Silesia. > It is ugly enough to ap > preciate Wroclaw's and Kraków's beauty even deeper > (beacuse of the contrast) > ;o))) > > > Tomasz Gronczewski > Bedzin > South Poland > 10min by car to Katowice city > 20min by car to Katowice airport > 45min by car to Kraków > 90min by car to Lodz (Witek's city) > 180min by car to Wroclaw > 180min by car to Warszawa > 360min by car to Gdansk > 870min by car to Verdun > 6 years by car to Pearl Harbor (swimming across > oceans and towing the car ti > ed to the leg) > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Messenger - Talk while you surf! It's FREE. http://im.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2000 16:16:16 -0700 (PDT) From: Todd Hayes To: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu Subject: Revell? 1:72 DH2 Message-ID: <20001027231616.62969.qmail@web9008.mail.yahoo.com> I have an old DH2 kit I'd part with. I paid $2 for it. I'll take the same plus $1.5 for post if anyone wants it. No box, decals, instructions. And I tking the tailplane is missing. Needs cleaning up. Todd Hayes __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Messenger - Talk while you surf! It's FREE. http://im.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2000 18:20:22 -0500 (CDT) From: fedders To: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu Subject: Re: Large Vacs Message-ID: On Fri, 27 Oct 2000, Lance Krieg wrote: > I am wrestling with the problems of attaching very large wings, with heavy metal engines, to the fragile shell of a vac. Lance, I have built a number of 1/48 large vacs including and Felistowe andan AEG GIV. As you suggest, I put brass or stainless steel rods in the wings that stick out on the side that will be attached to the fuselage. I then put stainless steel hollow rod through the walls of t he fuselage where the wings will stick in. Sometimes I have to put an extra layer of .040 inch plasic there and, if I can, I stick the rod all the way through the fuselage. As you thing, there could be a problem with the interior. However, I have not found this to be the case - possibly becasue the real aircraft also had to have the wings attached by a spar peter > > To make matters more complicated, the subject is a flying boat, and so is very reluctant to sit level. > > My plan is to use brass spars through the fuselage/hull, these resting on posts buried into a large blob of epoxy putty hidden in the bilge. > > I'd like to test this theory, but I can't without closing the hull. I can't close the hull with tape or other temporary means; it's too heavy and awkward. > > This means I need to detail the interior BEFORE I know for sure how I'm going to ever mount the wings. I don't care for this at all. > > Any advice? > > I'll go home for the weekend and drink on the problem... > > TIA > > Lance > > ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2000 16:21:32 -0700 (PDT) From: Todd Hayes To: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu Subject: Re: Unknown model Message-ID: <20001027232132.14313.qmail@web9009.mail.yahoo.com> I was hoping Eric would do the Staaken. He gave me a target date for when it would be available. "...when hell freezes over." I can't wait!! Actually, this would be best done, perhaps, with the fiberglass technology used by MPM on their HTML Me 323 and ME262. TH --- ERIC HIGHT wrote: > brent and mvj, > > well, i'll keep it in mind!! > eric > > > > At 10:14 AM 10/27/00 -0400, you wrote: > > > >Wow! > > > >I like this! > > > >Hey Eric, please do this plane after the Gotha, > LVG, Caproni and > >Fredrichshaven. > > > >Later! > > > >Brent > > > > > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Messenger - Talk while you surf! It's FREE. http://im.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2000 16:33:00 -0700 (PDT) From: Todd Hayes To: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu Subject: Nautilus Decals 1:144 5-Color Loz. Message-ID: <20001027233300.86262.qmail@web9007.mail.yahoo.com> I mentioned this company a couple of days ago. Meteor Productions carried them but I was informed today that they no longer do because they didn't sell. Maybe someone can run down a new supplier (if they want too much for them). Beacon Publications in Washington State has German crosses that would probably fit the Sram kits. Blue Rider does 1:144 British roundels. Todd Hayes __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Messenger - Talk while you surf! It's FREE. http://im.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2000 17:39:10 -0500 From: "DAVID BURKE" To: Subject: Re: Camels&Rolands Message-ID: <000201c04071$9d9bf620$3094aec7@com> Good Christ, People!! I didn't realize that I was gonna turn this into a 'Why I Hate The Who' List!! Me and my Big Mouth!!!! DB ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2000 18:42:49 -0500 From: "DAVID BURKE" To: Subject: OOB Hi_Tech Roland Review Message-ID: <000301c04071$9e9f5c60$3094aec7@com> OK Chums, I just bought the Roland D.II for about $40 at my local hobby shop. Let me tell you what's in the box: 1 Sprue of injection-molded plastic with VERY FINE surface detail. 1 Fret of PE metal parts Some resin - including a promising-looking engine Some white metal, including apparently under-sized guns (I suggest using Copper State or Eduard replacements- Copper State being better - no I am not kissing Eric's ass!) A sheet of decals A questionnaire from MMD about how well do I like this kit Instructions. Instructions with NO RIGGING DIAGRAM!! The box photo (which is interestingly captioned: 'This illustration is not contractual' - ??????) shows rigging. Construction shows as being straightforward - anyone who has built an Eduard Albatros should be able to do this one - and after I can gather references, I shall start on mine. Simple. But then I looked over the injection-molded stuff. A minimum of flash, and one of my tailplanes has a divot in it - probably the part was bumped while still warm after it had been injected. Also, there are no strut-locating holes on the underside of the upper wings. I was honestly starting into writing this piece with the idea of doing a hatchet job on the kit - and I cannot, except to comment on the price of the kit. $42??? This is a $20 kit if there ever was one! O.K., maybe 25. But the price is outrageous for what you get. I grant that the injection-molded stuff is close to Blue Max quality in the depiction of ribs and tapes (you might lose some of that as the trailing edges are not very thin), but COME ON! Include in my estimate of its value in that you will want to replace the guns with aftermarket parts. And the struts. But Hi-Tech is High Price for what is given in the kit. I own 3 Hi-Tech kits: the Breguet, the Mystere IV and this one. I was let down by the first, severely dissapointed by the second, and bemused by the third. Bear in mind that I consider the product next to its dollar amount. If one figured that Hi-Tech's price was reasonable, then that poor schmo would probably pay $70 for a Profi-Pack Albatros (and anyone who pays that much is probably bringing his own Vaseline to the party!). And I have NEVER EVER seen an Eduard Albatros Profi go for more than $35. In short, does the kit look good? Yes, it does. I still have to look at the engine versus plans, and I don't have any info on the Roland D.II, so I can't comment on shape. It looks like a competent kit. I see that there is rigging in the photos, but no diagram is provided. That is simply sloppy work on Hi-Tech's part. It is a workable kit, and if you can find it for the equivalent of 20-25 US Dollars, then I'd recommend it. I would advise that if the engine scales out well, then Y'all cast it from the casting using RTV. I know that it sounds illegal, but if it scales right, then it would be useful for casting engine replacements! It is quite nice. The Roland D.II is an interesting subject, being that it was overshadowed by the Albatros. Anybody with Moderate to Advanced skills can likely make this into an attractive model. I will report further as I attempt to build it. I look forward to it. If Hi-Tech continues to provide interesting subjects, my hope is that they will lower their overly-high prices. People are receptive to their subjects - but in many ways, I have found Hi-Tech to be unacceptably sloppy in their quality control as well as their basic research. If Hi-Tech paid a little more ATTENTION to what they were trying to do, their kits might possibly be worth the amounts that they go for. Me, I think it's ridiculous. In very short: the kits are too friggin' expensive! And as for Hi-Tech, They might consider that a TRUE 'High-Tech' kit concerns one that has multi-media parts that FIT - not a thick fuselage with a bunch of resin doo-dads to throw in it! Their 'Mystere' kit (a jet that I happen to be interested in, thank you very much) was dogged by very poor quality control, a nice cockpit tub, and very thich fuselage sidewalls that required a belt-sander to thin so that the resin would fit inside it. Other companies who I have encountered the same damning difficulty were Classic Airframes and CzechModel. And Hi-Tech. So beware, there looks to be a bit of work ahead on this one. I'm blathering. Wait until the price comes down on them and then buy them. Looks like a straightforward kit. Neat little goodies included, and good plastic. I can't wait to scale the engine, because if it's good, it's a real dandy that I will cast to make replacement engines with. Happy Plastic! DB ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2000 19:01:02 -0500 From: "DAVID BURKE" To: Subject: Re: Unknown model Message-ID: <001b01c04072$2abdb8e0$3094aec7@com> > I was hoping Eric would do the Staaken. Let me say that a Copper State 148 Zeppelin-Staaken would be a nice addition to any ranch-style house, or would be able to provide good shade over your porch! Actually, that might be a neat project to do after my Farman! DB ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2000 19:02:23 -0500 From: "DAVID BURKE" To: Subject: Re: Nautilus Decals 1:144 5-Color Loz. Message-ID: <002501c04072$5ad60a00$3094aec7@com> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Todd Hayes" To: "Multiple recipients of list" Sent: Friday, October 27, 2000 6:36 PM Subject: Nautilus Decals 1:144 5-Color Loz. > I mentioned this company a couple of days ago. Meteor > Productions carried them but I was informed today that > they no longer do because they didn't sell Meteor Productions kinda sucks anyways.... DB ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2000 19:18:06 -0500 From: Ernest Thomas To: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu Subject: Re: Camels&Rolands Message-ID: <39FA1B3D.3F7F485B@bellsouth.net> DAVID BURKE wrote: > Good Christ, People!! What's so good about him? ;-) > I didn't realize that I was gonna turn this into a 'Why I Hate The Who' > List!! Me and my Big Mouth!!!! Hey! I love The Who! They're one of my all time favs. Let's start a whole nother list for Who fans. Tom, before you burn Pete at the stake, have you considered the possibility that he might not have any say in the matter? He may not even own the rights to the song. It happens. Michael Jackson owns the entire Beatles catalog, I think. How's that for a rude awakening? So in closing, I'd just like to say; YYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! E. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2000 20:29:56 -0400 From: "John & Allison Cyganowski" To: Subject: Re: OOB Hi_Tech Roland Review Message-ID: <009401c04076$33984670$223c183f@cyrixp166> An interesting line - HiTech. Reasonably good quality & pricey. The latest Windsock contains a review of the Nieuport conversion. Regards, Cyg. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2000 19:39:05 -0500 From: "DAVID BURKE" To: Subject: Re: Camels&Rolands Message-ID: <000701c04077$7c843960$a8ec79a5@com> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ernest Thomas" To: "Multiple recipients of list" Sent: Friday, October 27, 2000 7:20 PM Subject: Re: Camels&Rolands > > > DAVID BURKE wrote: > > > Good Christ, People!! > > What's so good about him? > ;-) > > > I didn't realize that I was gonna turn this into a 'Why I Hate The Who' > > List!! Me and my Big Mouth!!!! > > Hey! I love The Who! They're one of my all time favs. Let's start a whole > nother list for Who fans. > Tom, before you burn Pete at the stake, have you considered the possibility > that he might not have any say in the matter? He may not even own the rights to > the song. > It happens. Michael Jackson owns the entire Beatles catalog, I think. > How's that for a rude awakening? > > So in closing, I'd just like to say; > YYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! > E. > > Y'see folks, Ernie always phrases it all so eloquently.... DB ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2000 19:53:26 -0500 From: "Tom Solinski" To: Subject: Re: Camels&Rolands Message-ID: <000801c04079$7b8f8e40$12330e18@Solinski.okc1.ok.home.com> > > > Good Christ, People!! > > Did you ever notice that no one ever shouts Good Buddha, People!!! or Good Mohamed, People!!! or Good Satan, People!!! So could we leave the profanity and get back to OT Thanks T S ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2000 21:27:59 EDT From: TomTheAeronut@aol.com To: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu Subject: Re: OOB Hi_Tech Roland Review Message-ID: <29.bbfdcec.272b859f@aol.com> In a message dated 10/27/00 7:36:41 PM EST, janah@worldnet.att.net writes: << An interesting line - HiTech >> As in the Chinese curse "may you live in interesting times." They would be more honest if they titled themselves "Lo Tech." There hasn't been one of their kits that has not required *major* effort to get a halfway good-looking model. Their P-63 had a canopy that was *too small* to fit!! They're also masquerading under the name "Fonmderie Miniatires" so forewarned is forearmed. As far as I am concerned, these guys are the 1/48 equivalent of Beechnut models. Tom Cleaver ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2000 21:35:58 -0400 From: "John & Allison Cyganowski" To: Subject: Re: OOB Hi_Tech Roland Review Message-ID: <000701c0407f$6d68e8b0$ce39183f@cyrixp166> To be honest I have not seen any of their kits. I have seen the Nieuport conversion which looks reasonable. You get a fuselage (partially solid) and tail feathers. I bought the Camel to Comic conversion. The resin is not too bad. They, like their kits aren't inexpensive. But they are in the correct scale 1/48! ;-) Regards, Cyg. ----- Original Message ----- From: To: Multiple recipients of list Sent: Friday, October 27, 2000 9:34 PM Subject: Re: OOB Hi_Tech Roland Review > In a message dated 10/27/00 7:36:41 PM EST, janah@worldnet.att.net writes: > > << An interesting line - HiTech >> > > As in the Chinese curse "may you live in interesting times." They would be > more honest if they titled themselves "Lo Tech." There hasn't been one of > their kits that has not required *major* effort to get a halfway good-looking > model. Their P-63 had a canopy that was *too small* to fit!! > > They're also masquerading under the name "Fonmderie Miniatires" so forewarned > is forearmed. As far as I am concerned, these guys are the 1/48 equivalent > of Beechnut models. > > Tom Cleaver > ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2000 18:40:41 -0700 (PDT) From: Todd Hayes To: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu Subject: Re: OOB Hi_Tech Roland Review Message-ID: <20001028014041.23805.qmail@web9010.mail.yahoo.com> David, The Hi-Tech engine that comes with the kit is probably the best 1:48 mercedes that you can get (no offense Eric). It's the same as the aftermarket one. I've never seen a mercedes nearly as detailed as the Hi-Tech one. Check the detail. It goes around to the bottom of the crankcase and would be perfect for superdetailing any appropriate German a/c. TH --- DAVID BURKE wrote: > OK Chums, > > I just bought the Roland D.II for about $40 at > my local hobby shop. Let > me tell you what's in the box: > > 1 Sprue of injection-molded plastic with VERY > FINE surface detail. > > 1 Fret of PE metal parts > > Some resin - including a promising-looking > engine > > Some white metal, including apparently > under-sized guns (I suggest using > Copper State or Eduard replacements- Copper State > being better - no I am not > kissing Eric's ass!) > > A sheet of decals > > A questionnaire from MMD about how well do I > like this kit > > Instructions. > > > Instructions with NO RIGGING DIAGRAM!! The box > photo (which is > interestingly captioned: 'This illustration is not > contractual' - ??????) > shows rigging. Construction shows as being > straightforward - anyone who has > built an Eduard Albatros should be able to do this > one - and after I can > gather references, I shall start on mine. Simple. > But then I looked over > the injection-molded stuff. A minimum of flash, and > one of my tailplanes > has a divot in it - probably the part was bumped > while still warm after it > had been injected. Also, there are no > strut-locating holes on the underside > of the upper wings. > > I was honestly starting into writing this piece > with the idea of doing a > hatchet job on the kit - and I cannot, except to > comment on the price of the > kit. $42??? This is a $20 kit if there ever was > one! O.K., maybe 25. But > the price is outrageous for what you get. I grant > that the injection-molded > stuff is close to Blue Max quality in the depiction > of ribs and tapes (you > might lose some of that as the trailing edges are > not very thin), but COME > ON! Include in my estimate of its value in that you > will want to replace > the guns with aftermarket parts. And the struts. > But Hi-Tech is High > Price for what is given in the kit. I own 3 Hi-Tech > kits: the Breguet, the > Mystere IV and this one. I was let down by the > first, severely dissapointed > by the second, and bemused by the third. Bear in > mind that I consider the > product next to its dollar amount. If one figured > that Hi-Tech's price was > reasonable, then that poor schmo would probably pay > $70 for a Profi-Pack > Albatros (and anyone who pays that much is probably > bringing his own > Vaseline to the party!). And I have NEVER EVER seen > an Eduard Albatros > Profi go for more than $35. > > In short, does the kit look good? Yes, it does. > I still have to look > at the engine versus plans, and I don't have any > info on the Roland D.II, so > I can't comment on shape. It looks like a competent > kit. I see that there > is rigging in the photos, but no diagram is > provided. That is simply sloppy > work on Hi-Tech's part. It is a workable kit, and > if you can find it for > the equivalent of 20-25 US Dollars, then I'd > recommend it. I would advise > that if the engine scales out well, then Y'all cast > it from the casting > using RTV. I know that it sounds illegal, but if it > scales right, then it > would be useful for casting engine replacements! It > is quite nice. > > The Roland D.II is an interesting subject, being > that it was > overshadowed by the Albatros. Anybody with Moderate > to Advanced skills can > likely make this into an attractive model. I will > report further as I > attempt to build it. I look forward to it. If > Hi-Tech continues to > provide interesting subjects, my hope is that they > will lower their > overly-high prices. People are receptive to their > subjects - but in many > ways, I have found Hi-Tech to be unacceptably sloppy > in their quality > control as well as their basic research. If Hi-Tech > paid a little more > ATTENTION to what they were trying to do, their kits > might possibly be worth > the amounts that they go for. Me, I think it's > ridiculous. In very > short: the kits are too friggin' expensive! And as > for Hi-Tech, They might > consider that a TRUE 'High-Tech' kit concerns one > that has multi-media parts > that FIT - not a thick fuselage with a bunch of > resin doo-dads to throw in > it! Their 'Mystere' kit (a jet that I happen to be > interested in, thank you > very much) was dogged by very poor quality control, > a nice cockpit tub, and > very thich fuselage sidewalls that required a > belt-sander to thin so that > the resin would fit inside it. Other companies who > I have encountered the > same damning difficulty were Classic Airframes and > CzechModel. And Hi-Tech. > So beware, there looks to be a bit of work ahead on > this one. > > I'm blathering. Wait until the price comes down > on them and then buy > them. Looks like a straightforward kit. Neat > little goodies included, and > good plastic. I can't wait to scale the engine, > because if it's good, it's > a real dandy that I will cast to make replacement > engines with. > > > Happy > Plastic! > > > DB > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Messenger - Talk while you surf! It's FREE. http://im.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ End of WWI Digest 2754 **********************