WWI Digest 2766 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) Re: No voodoo dolls please. by TomTheAeronut@aol.com 2) Re: Varriale / Gentili Italian book by "Alberto Casirati" 3) Re: Varriale / Gentili Italian book by "Alberto Casirati" 4) Courtney's e-mail by "Alberto Casirati" 5) Food for thought by TomTheAeronut@aol.com 6) Food for thought (part 2) by TomTheAeronut@aol.com 7) xxthou -> mm by Witold Kozakiewicz 8) Re: Food for thought by "Matt Bittner" 9) Re: xxthou -> mm by "John & Allison Cyganowski" 10) Re: Food for thought by David Fleming 11) Re: Food for thought by "Matt Bittner" 12) I'm back by "dfernet0" 13) Re: xxthou -> mm by Witold Kozakiewicz 14) RE: Food for thought by "Gaston Graf" 15) RE: Food for thought by "Gaston Graf" 16) Re: Food for thought by Witold Kozakiewicz 17) Re: Food for thought by Lee Mensinger 18) Kit reviews was Food for thought by smperry@mindspring.com 19) RE: Food for thought by "Gaston Graf" 20) Instructions for Flashback Sopwith 1.B1 single seater by "Michael Kendix" 21) Re: Machine Guns by Mark Vaughan-Jackson 22) Re: Instructions for Flashback Sopwith 1.B1 single seater by "Matt Bittner" 23) Re: No voodoo dolls please. by Stephendigiacomo@aol.com 24) Flying scale models was: Re: No voodoo dolls please. by smperry@mindspring.com 25) Kit reviews by smperry@mindspring.com 26) Re: Kit reviews by "Alberto Casirati" 27) Ansaldo Balilla by Stephendigiacomo@aol.com 28) RE: Kit reviews by "Graham Hunter" 29) RE: Making fuel lines (and so on) by "Graham Hunter" ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 02:16:32 EST From: TomTheAeronut@aol.com To: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu Subject: Re: No voodoo dolls please. Message-ID: In a message dated 10/31/00 0:14:16 AM EST, Stephendigiacomo@aol.com writes: << << The answer to your question lies in a philosophy amongst flying scale model builders. A scale model is never finished, you just tire of adding more details. Tom S >> >> this doesn't just apply to those who are looney enough to build a scale model and then throw it into the air. :-) TC ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 08:42:08 +0100 From: "Alberto Casirati" To: Subject: Re: Varriale / Gentili Italian book Message-ID: <001901c0430e$12b615a0$320106c0@acasirat> Great ! Let's hope this will be a bright start for a better worldwide knowledge of WW1 Italian aviation history !!!! Alberto Casirati ----- Original Message ----- From: "Matt Bittner" To: "Multiple recipients of list" Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2000 2:49 AM Subject: Re: Varriale / Gentili Italian book > On Mon, 30 Oct 2000 17:57:44 -0500 (EST), Bob Pearson wrote: > > > My birthday present today was an email from Hikoki saying they agreed to my > > basic terms for providing profiles for the English translation of the > > Gentilli/Varriale book on the Italian AF in WW1. Now the fun begins ..... .. > > That is indeed awesome news. Again, congratulations! > > > Matt Bittner > ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 08:53:17 +0100 From: "Alberto Casirati" To: Subject: Re: Varriale / Gentili Italian book Message-ID: <002701c0430f$a15d7180$320106c0@acasirat> I can suggest to order the book directly from the Ufficio Storico of the Aeronautica Militare Italiana (http://www.aeronautica.difesa.it/sma/rag/5ustorico/default.asp#elenco - http://www.aeronautica.difesa.it/sma/rag/5ustorico/default.asp). It may takes a little longer to get it, but it will reach you without fault. Alberto Casirati ----- Original Message ----- From: To: "Multiple recipients of list" Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2000 1:40 AM Subject: Re: Varriale / Gentili Italian book > WARNING - WARNING > I ordered this book from Mr. Varriale in May - sent cash as he specifically > requested. No book. Wrote him again in August. No book - no reply - no > return of my $35. > Forewarned is forearmed!!! > > Tom Morgan ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 09:03:34 +0100 From: "Alberto Casirati" To: Subject: Courtney's e-mail Message-ID: <00bd01c04311$11571a80$320106c0@acasirat> Sorry List, but I have to do this: Courtney: are you still there ? I am trying to reply to your latest message but the Mail administrator constantly refuses my replies. PLMK your new e-mail address. Thanks ! Alberto Casirati ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 03:06:59 EST From: TomTheAeronut@aol.com To: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu Subject: Food for thought Message-ID: Paul Cotcher, a very good modeler and someone involved enough in the industry to have some accurate view of things (even if he is southern and Republican :-) - he and I call each other all kinds of names) posted a very interesting com mentary on the kit business over at HyperScale, his thoughts after attending RHCTA. I thought I would post here that part of what he said that relates directly to us: "I'll give one specific example of modelers that have almost cut their noses off despite their face: World War I..... In talking with the Eduard reps at RCHTA they told me that they were SICK of hearing how inaccurate their W.W.I kits were and that they were almost to the point of saying "no more" as they were selling 20 W.W.II kits for every one W.W.I kit they sold. The combination of griping about every release and disproportionately low sales is about to kill that part of their product line. "They showed me a small control horn on the aileron of their 1/72 Dr.I.... Apparently they put that there after gripes about the test shot indicated that it was missing. After adding this teeny bit to the model, the accuracy nuts still bitched as it wasn't quite fine enough and wasn't quite the right shape." I won't comment further here. I have flamed enough rivet-counters as regards those products of the second confusion. Food for thought, ladies and gentlemen, food for thought. Tom Cleaver ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 03:12:03 EST From: TomTheAeronut@aol.com To: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu Subject: Food for thought (part 2) Message-ID: For those who want to read the original post, something I highly recommend, here is the URL: http://disc.server.com/discussion.cgi?id=21773&article=129190 Tom Cleaver ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 09:29:50 +0100 From: Witold Kozakiewicz To: WWI Subject: xxthou -> mm Message-ID: <39FE82FE.75A608F@bg.am.lodz.pl> Hi, I'm thinking about buying some plastic cards but I do not know how thick they are. Only description I have found is 10thou, 30thou etc. I can't see it in any local shop in Poland so I would have to buy it in some i-net shop. Can you tell me how to calculate it's thickness in mm. I was using waste parts from vacuform models but now I need much bigger pieces. TIA -- Witold Kozakiewicz ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 05:05:37 -0600 From: "Matt Bittner" To: "wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu" Subject: Re: Food for thought Message-ID: <200010311105.DAA05389@gull.prod.itd.earthlink.net> On Tue, 31 Oct 2000 03:12:14 -0500 (EST), TomTheAeronut@aol.com wrote: > "They showed me a small control horn on the aileron of their 1/72 > Dr.I.... Apparently they put that there after gripes about the test shot > indicated that it was missing. After adding this teeny bit to the model, > the accuracy nuts still bitched as it wasn't quite fine enough and > wasn't quite the right shape." I think that was Rimell who said that, wasn't it? Personally - and I hope Eduard reads this - I would rather add my own control horns. Yes, it is nice to have them molded for me, but it's really not necessary. With the method I use I actually think they're stronger than molded control horns. I have never complained about Eduard's 1/72nd WW1 kits - nor will I! They are exquisite and truly what others can strive for. If Eduard releases a kit Toko/Roden has, or has announced, I will buy the Eduard kit regardless of cost. I would rather save my time - which, to me, is worth far more than a couple of dollars on a kit - then a few bucks. So, either Eduard is talking to the wrong people, or if it is Rimell doing this, he shouldn't. In all other respects the Eduard 1/72nd kits have been accurate - something more important to me than if the control horns are molded in situ. For whatever that's worth... Matt Bittner ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 06:23:40 -0500 From: "John & Allison Cyganowski" To: Subject: Re: xxthou -> mm Message-ID: <000e01c0432d$060fec30$9339183f@cyrixp166> Hi Witold, Here is an example on how to make the conversion: 30 thou = 0.030 inches (30 - thousanths of an inch) 0.030 in x 25.4 mm/in = 0.762 mm I apologise for my Countrymen's stubborn stupidity in clinging to our archaic measurement system. Regards, John Cyg. ----- Original Message ----- From: Witold Kozakiewicz To: Multiple recipients of list Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2000 4:33 AM Subject: xxthou -> mm > Hi, > I'm thinking about buying some plastic cards but I do not know how thick > they are. Only description I have found is 10thou, 30thou etc. I can't > see it in any local shop in Poland so I would have to buy it in some > i-net shop. Can you tell me how to calculate it's thickness in mm. > I was using waste parts from vacuform models but now I need much bigger > pieces. > TIA > -- > Witold Kozakiewicz > ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 11:38:49 +0000 From: David Fleming To: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu Subject: Re: Food for thought Message-ID: <39FEAF48.AB0A3509@dial.pipex.com> So maybe we should all e-mail Eduard and let them know how much we appreciate what they are doing ? Anyone got their address ? Dave ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 05:45:28 -0600 From: "Matt Bittner" To: "wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu" Subject: Re: Food for thought Message-ID: <200010311145.DAA05951@snipe.prod.itd.earthlink.net> On Tue, 31 Oct 2000 06:45:10 -0500 (EST), David Fleming wrote: > So maybe we should all e-mail Eduard and let them know how much we appreciate > what they are doing ? Good idea. If someone can find their email addy, please pass it on so we can let them know. Matt Bittner ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 08:48:01 -0300 From: "dfernet0" To: "WW1 modeling Mail List" Subject: I'm back Message-ID: <031b01c04330$6c492cc0$4640a8c0@ssp.salud.rosario.gov.ar> Hey list! I'm back, after some problems with my account. I someone sent me an Eamil lately and was unable to get an answer from me please repeat it. Thanks a lot D. from the deeeeeeeeeeep south! ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 12:49:16 +0100 From: Witold Kozakiewicz To: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu Subject: Re: xxthou -> mm Message-ID: <39FEB1BC.3D942F02@bg.am.lodz.pl> John & Allison Cyganowski napisał(a): > > Hi Witold, > > Here is an example on how to make the conversion: > > 30 thou = 0.030 inches (30 - thousanths of an inch) > > 0.030 in x 25.4 mm/in = 0.762 mm > > I apologise for my Countrymen's stubborn stupidity in clinging to our > archaic measurement system. > > Regards, > John Cyg. Thanks. I thought it has something with inch measurement system. Now it looks very obvious - THOUsannths of an inch. -- Witold Kozakiewicz ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 12:50:46 +0100 From: "Gaston Graf" To: Subject: RE: Food for thought Message-ID: Dave, you can find their contact address at http://www.eduard.com/. The address is : info@eduard.cz I personally experienced a very good customer service at Eduard. I ordered their Albatros D.III but the paket got lost. As it didn't arrive after two months I contacted them and received a new paket which arrived this time. They told me they had lost a lot of pakets during the Chrismas season and asked me to sign a declaration that the first paket in fact never arrived to have the loss covered by the insurance. Through all of the time it needed to declare the loss, resend the order and arrival of the order they kept in touch with me. A service that I appreciated very much. sincerely Gaston Graf (ggraf@vo.lu) Meet the Royal Prussian Fighter Squadron 2 "Boelcke" at: http://www.jastaboelcke.de > -----Original Message----- > From: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu [mailto:wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu]On Behalf Of > David Fleming > Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2000 12:45 PM > To: Multiple recipients of list > Subject: Re: Food for thought > > > > > So maybe we should all e-mail Eduard and let them know how much > we appreciate > what they are doing ? > > Anyone got their address ? > > Dave > > > ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 12:55:15 +0100 From: "Gaston Graf" To: Subject: RE: Food for thought Message-ID: Another tip: If you want to contact a company you don't have the correct URL of, just try the companies name with "www" in front and "com" at the end. In most cases this works. If "com" doesn't work then try the country code like "de" for Germany. And if all else fails you always can try to loacte the company using one of the search engines on the web. Gaston Graf (ggraf@vo.lu) Meet the Royal Prussian Fighter Squadron 2 "Boelcke" at: http://www.jastaboelcke.de > -----Original Message----- > From: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu [mailto:wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu]On Behalf Of > Matt Bittner > Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2000 12:50 PM > To: Multiple recipients of list > Subject: Re: Food for thought > > > On Tue, 31 Oct 2000 06:45:10 -0500 (EST), David Fleming wrote: > > > So maybe we should all e-mail Eduard and let them know how much > we appreciate > > what they are doing ? > > Good idea. If someone can find their email addy, please pass it on so > we can let them know. > > > Matt Bittner > > > ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 12:56:24 +0100 From: Witold Kozakiewicz To: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu Subject: Re: Food for thought Message-ID: <39FEB368.2A42C71E@bg.am.lodz.pl> Matt Bittner napisał(a): > > On Tue, 31 Oct 2000 06:45:10 -0500 (EST), David Fleming wrote: > > > So maybe we should all e-mail Eduard and let them know how much we appreciate > > what they are doing ? > > Good idea. If someone can find their email addy, please pass it on so > we can let them know. > > Matt Bittner info@eduard.cz I love their WWI models, I do not understand how anyone could say that they are wrong. If you want you can find inaccuracies in all models but better sparrow in hand than the pigeon on the roof like we say in Poland. But Eduard is pigeon in hand IMO. -- Witold Kozakiewicz ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 08:16:01 -0600 From: Lee Mensinger To: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu, lemen@x25.net Subject: Re: Food for thought Message-ID: <39FED421.B0635529@x25.net> Tom, I more than agree with what you were told by those at Eduard's. The degree of detail on the models is vastly superior to what we started out with so many years ago. I do believe that an accurate model is a point that should be on your horizon. The exact degree is your problem.. I also believe that the mass producer is not the one that makes the model perfectly! That is up to the builder! The producer strives for the best, but, limitations do exist. Those that do a bad job manufacturing will be found out quickly enough. Thank the good guys once in a while. I now refer you to my very good friends and outstanding modelers, James Landon of the T. M. Scout or Salmson 2A2 builder, and Bob Davies, 5 times winner of the IPMS Nationals Best of the Show modeler.. They are real modelers and they rarely complain except about their own limitations. If you are not happy with the very good models manufactured by others. Start from scratch as they do and then the only one to blame will be yourself. Perfection is guaranteed. Or is it? I have complained about a 1/72nd scale left fuselage half being 1/8th inch less tall than the right half. That is a justifiable complaint. Someone on the list said to section it and glue it back in the correct height. Such sympathy shall not go unrewarded. They will receive a Glencoe Albatross as a gift one day. About the rest... Get real. Oh, yes, I also complain about the prices.... Lee M. New Braunfels, TX TomTheAeronut@aol.com wrote: > Paul Cotcher, a very good modeler and someone involved enough in the industry > to have some accurate view of things (even if he is southern and Republican > :-) - he and I call each other all kinds of names) posted a very interesting > com mentary on the kit business over at HyperScale, his thoughts after > attending RHCTA. I thought I would post here that part of what he said that > relates directly to us: > > "I'll give one specific example of modelers that have almost cut their > noses off despite their face: World War I..... In talking with the > Eduard reps at RCHTA they told me that they were SICK of hearing how > inaccurate their W.W.I kits were and that they were almost to the point > of saying "no more" as they were selling 20 W.W.II kits for every one > W.W.I kit they sold. The combination of griping about every release and > disproportionately low sales is about to kill that part of their product > line. > "They showed me a small control horn on the aileron of their 1/72 > Dr.I.... Apparently they put that there after gripes about the test shot > indicated that it was missing. After adding this teeny bit to the model, > the accuracy nuts still bitched as it wasn't quite fine enough and > wasn't quite the right shape." > > I won't comment further here. I have flamed enough rivet-counters as regards > those products of the second confusion. > > Food for thought, ladies and gentlemen, food for thought. > > Tom Cleaver ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 09:30:31 -0500 From: smperry@mindspring.com To: "Multiple recipients of list" Subject: Kit reviews was Food for thought Message-ID: <000a01c04347$20c515e0$2ff9aec7@default> We are a relatively small niche in the plastic modeling world and within our small corner there are a wide range of tastes. Some like to assemble kits as they come and others like to accurize and detail them to the full extent of their abilities. Due to the relative small size of our WWI interest, negative reviews of kits have no place. What is one modeler's trash may be another's treasure. WWI kit reviews should point out extra work or inaccurate parts as the neutral facts that they are and leave the judgement as to whether it is a negative or a positive to the reader. The reader will vote with his or her wallet or purse on the basis of his or her own preferences. We are too small a market to trash a manufacturer or kit in a world-wide public forum. If you feel that a kit you bought was overpriced, check first to see if you were a good shopper before accusing a manufacturer of overpricing. If you feel the kit is in fact overpriced, bear in mind what other kits of the subject are available. Again let the reader make the decision based on what suits their needs. In other words, a kit review should be accurate as to what the kit provides and what the modeler must provide, but be very careful in making a negative judgement about it based on your own preferences. By all means state your preferences and how well the kit fulfills these, but please refrain from making categorical judgements about the kit or manufacturer. These serve neither the reader or the manufacturer, only the reviewer's ego. Some of the recent and very unbecoming rancor on this List has sprung from negative reviews of kits and manufacturers. This, along with the reasons stated above is ample proof that negative reviews of kits do not promote the hobby and have no place on the List. My overpriced 2 cents worth sp E-mail smperry@mindspring.com Web Site http://www.freeyellow.com/members8/wwimodeler/ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 15:27:57 +0100 From: "Gaston Graf" To: Subject: RE: Food for thought Message-ID: Withold, looks like the bonmot about pigeons and sparrows is very international. It is also used in the German speaking countries as well as in Luxemburg. I don't know if the French speaking people are using it too but this may be possible. I agree with your opinion about Eduard. I wish I had the time to build the model of Oswald Boelckes D.II, using the Eduard Kit together Cygs wonderful conversation kit. But one day I will retire.... one day I will have plenty of time for modeling.... atleast I keep on hoping I will. But maybe I will keep the kits unbuild forever because they will be both out of production when I will retire in 2020... happy modeling Gaston Graf (ggraf@vo.lu) Meet the Royal Prussian Fighter Squadron 2 "Boelcke" at: http://www.jastaboelcke.de > -----Original Message----- > From: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu [mailto:wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu]On Behalf Of > Witold Kozakiewicz > Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2000 1:02 PM > To: Multiple recipients of list > Subject: Re: Food for thought > > > Matt Bittner napisał(a): > > > > On Tue, 31 Oct 2000 06:45:10 -0500 (EST), David Fleming wrote: > > > > > So maybe we should all e-mail Eduard and let them know how > much we appreciate > > > what they are doing ? > > > > Good idea. If someone can find their email addy, please pass it on so > > we can let them know. > > > > Matt Bittner > > info@eduard.cz > I love their WWI models, I do not understand how anyone could say that > they are wrong. If you want you can find inaccuracies in all models but > better sparrow in hand than the pigeon on the roof like we say in > Poland. > But Eduard is pigeon in hand IMO. > -- > Witold Kozakiewicz ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 14:45:22 GMT From: "Michael Kendix" To: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu Subject: Instructions for Flashback Sopwith 1.B1 single seater Message-ID: I have built the Eduard/Flashback Sopwith 1.B1 single seater's RFC version and I kept the photoetch and decals for the French version (with the red and blue Swan fuselage markings). I want to use them to build the Toko Sopwith 1.B1 Unfortunately, I threw away the box and the instruction from that kit. Please could someone possibly either let me have a scan of the instructions, or a photocopy, and I will reimburse them for S&H expenses. BTW, I have emailed Eduard telling them how much I like their 1/72nd scale kits and hope that they continue their excellent work. Anyone who's negative on those kits, especially the Strutters, D.V/D.Va's and Dr.1/F.1's is bonkers, IMO. Furthermore, they're inexpensive. Even their older ones are pretty good. Where else are you going to find a decent injection molded Sopwith Schneider or Sopwith Baby in 1/72nd scale? Thanks, Michael _________________________________________________________________________ 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. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 12:34:07 -0400 From: Mark Vaughan-Jackson To: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu Subject: Re: Machine Guns Message-ID: All this talk of plexi reminded me of a demo a friend gave at our recent club day. I've been eyeing plexi to make up some display cases for kits, since the old commercial glass display shelves I bought are just about full to capacity. But the cost of the thicked plexi-sheets always put me off. Instead of going in and buying the thicker stuff, check out your local hardwar giant (Canadian Tire kents Home Hardware, Can't recall what the brand name is but there's this thinner plexi stuff marketed as replacement window panels for storm doors. It's much thinner, a few mm IIRC. measure it, score to the edges, snap it off the side of a table, position it and then glue it with Tenax (of all things). No muss, no fuss and insta-display box with no unsightly glue globs. My friend made three in under 10 minutes. Given the thinner thickness these are perfect for smaller scale planes. I doubt it would stand up to larger sizes without sagging. . .unless you reinforc it with an exterior frame of wood moulding. Anyway that's all FWIW. MVJ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 08:58:53 -0600 From: "Matt Bittner" To: "wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu" Subject: Re: Instructions for Flashback Sopwith 1.B1 single seater Message-ID: <200010311458.GAA15351@scaup.prod.itd.earthlink.net> On Tue, 31 Oct 2000 09:49:33 -0500 (EST), Michael Kendix wrote: > BTW, I have emailed Eduard telling them how much I like their 1/72nd scale > kits and hope that they continue their excellent work. Anyone who's > negative on those kits, especially the Strutters, D.V/D.Va's and Dr.1/F.1's > is bonkers, IMO. Furthermore, they're inexpensive. Even their older ones > are pretty good. Where else are you going to find a decent injection molded > Sopwith Schneider or Sopwith Baby in 1/72nd scale? Not only those, but more importantly the Voisin! Where else are you going to find an injected Voisin!! Gee, maybe I need to build more... ;-) Matt Bittner "This isn't Nebraska, it's a half-way home for Hee-Haw rejects." ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 10:33:11 EST From: Stephendigiacomo@aol.com To: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu Subject: Re: No voodoo dolls please. Message-ID: <43.c1e9486.27304037@aol.com> Well, I can't think of any other way to compare the climb rate of my Pfalz D XII against the Spad XIII. In a message dated 10/31/2000 7:17:52 AM, TomTheAeronut@aol.com writes: << this doesn't just apply to those who are looney enough to build a scale model and then throw it into the air. :-) TC >> ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 10:48:19 -0500 From: smperry@mindspring.com To: Subject: Flying scale models was: Re: No voodoo dolls please. Message-ID: <002d01c04351$fe7709c0$2ff9aec7@default> > << this doesn't just apply to those who are looney enough to build a scale > model > and then throw it into the air. :-) > > TC >> I never considered that flying a scale R/C model was looney. Bumping them into the nearby planet is merely inept, not to mention expensive. sp ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 10:59:34 -0500 From: smperry@mindspring.com To: "Multiple recipients of list" Subject: Kit reviews Message-ID: <002e01c04353$911394a0$2ff9aec7@default> As an example to my previous post on the subject, I'll give two short reviews of two different kits. The Smer DH.2 and the DML Fok D.VIII The Smer DH.2 is a basic kit which will build into a decent if somewhat inaccurate model straight out of the box. Accurization will require the following: Reshaping the horiz tailplane, replacing the booms, replacing the center section of the upper wing and reducing the exagerated rib detail. The L/G spreader bar needs to be replaced with one of the correct length. The engine and nacelle are quite good and will take all the detailing you care to add. The decals are good but experience leads me to coat all Propagateam decals with clear decal film. The model is readily available and extremely inexpensive. I highly recommend this kit to those who enjoy modifying their models with their own "special touch" The DML Fokker D.VIII is as close to a "shake the box" WWI kit as I have ever encountered. The two piece wing (upper & lower halves) requires some filling and the PE struts took some thickening with white glue to simulate the steel tube used on the original. I found the lozenge decals to be a bit garish in tone for my tastes and replaced them with A/G products. I really appreciated the actual size rigging wire templates printed on the instructions although I had trouble working with the steel rigging wire provided and will use HSP on the unbuilt one I have. The parts fit was excellent as was the surface detail of the parts. You must exercise care in handling the beautifully molded cockpit detail parts. While not the cheapest kit to aquire, I felt that I got my money's worth on this one. I highly recommend this kit to those who like to build with a minimum of modification and aftermarket parts. Two very different kits suitable for different tastes, but both can be reviewed in a positive light. sp E-mail smperry@mindspring.com Web Site http://www.freeyellow.com/members8/wwimodeler/ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 17:28:05 +0100 From: "Alberto Casirati" To: Subject: Re: Kit reviews Message-ID: <007101c04357$8d21eb40$320106c0@acasirat> Steve: I really appreciated both your messages on this topic, as well as your way of approaching the subject. I fully agree with what you say. Thank you for your suggestions. I will surely keep them in mind. All the very best, Alberto Casirati ----- Original Message ----- From: To: "Multiple recipients of list" Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2000 5:00 PM Subject: Kit reviews > As an example to my previous post on the subject, I'll give two short > reviews of two different kits. The Smer DH.2 and the DML Fok D.VIII > > The Smer DH.2 is a basic kit which will build into a decent if somewhat > inaccurate model straight out of the box. Accurization will require the > following: Reshaping the horiz tailplane, replacing the booms, replacing the > center section of the upper wing and reducing the exagerated rib detail. The > L/G spreader bar needs to be replaced with one of the correct length. The > engine and nacelle are quite good and will take all the detailing you care > to add. The decals are good but experience leads me to coat all Propagateam > decals with clear decal film. The model is readily available and extremely > inexpensive. I highly recommend this kit to those who enjoy modifying their > models with their own "special touch" > > The DML Fokker D.VIII is as close to a "shake the box" WWI kit as I have > ever encountered. The two piece wing (upper & lower halves) requires some > filling and the PE struts took some thickening with white glue to simulate > the steel tube used on the original. I found the lozenge decals to be a bit > garish in tone for my tastes and replaced them with A/G products. I really > appreciated the actual size rigging wire templates printed on the > instructions although I had trouble working with the steel rigging wire > provided and will use HSP on the unbuilt one I have. The parts fit was > excellent as was the surface detail of the parts. You must exercise care in > handling the beautifully molded cockpit detail parts. While not the cheapest > kit to aquire, I felt that I got my money's worth on this one. I highly > recommend this kit to those who like to build with a minimum of modification > and aftermarket parts. > > Two very different kits suitable for different tastes, but both can be > reviewed in a positive light. > > sp > > > > > > > E-mail smperry@mindspring.com > Web Site http://www.freeyellow.com/members8/wwimodeler/ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 11:24:59 EST From: Stephendigiacomo@aol.com To: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu Subject: Ansaldo Balilla Message-ID: How did the Ansaldo Balilla compare with other fighters of the time? Any mnfr make a model of it? ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 10:28:23 -0600 From: "Graham Hunter" To: Subject: RE: Kit reviews Message-ID: <000001c04357$9814f560$fa0101c0@grahamh> Well said Steve. >From one who complained about exagerated rib detail. I now have my friend Tom Morgan's rib detail method. Graham H. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 10:35:14 -0600 From: "Graham Hunter" To: Subject: RE: Making fuel lines (and so on) Message-ID: <000101c04358$8c0b2ea0$fa0101c0@grahamh> Excellent "invention" Shane. I have stretched styrene tube into micro tubing, but getting there takes a few cracks at it. It breaks or melts through. Putting a wire inside should help? Does it keep the tube from curling? Graham H. ------------------------------ End of WWI Digest 2766 **********************