SPA Modeler

wjkunert wrote:

Thomas_M wrote:78!? Mate, you really make me high hopes to be up and modelling then, too! Congrats!

I just thank God every morning that I'm still looking down at the green side of the grass and not looking up at the roots. The biggest problem I have modeling is s slight shake in my hands so attaching small parts using tweezers. I've managed to accumulate 25 pieces of armour, 1:12 scale F 1 racers and mostly 1:32 aircraft the past 5 years. Drives my wife nuts because I'm running out of space for them.

I feel like the adults are talking in the room, so I should be quiet, but I am enjoying this peek into how many kits you are holding and how much passion there is in the hobby!

speedgraflex wrote:

wjkunert wrote:I've built the ZM 1/32 P 51K, Ho229 and the 1/48 F 4J. The fit on all 3 kits was excellent. I've read that the fit and finish on the earlier kits was not nearly so good as the newer kits. The Ho229 was the biggest challenge as there are lots of little small pieces to deal with and my 78 year old hands are not as steady as they once were nor are my eyes as good. I really do like all the detail ZM puts into their kits, even all the stuff that's hidden. The engine and cooling system details on the P 51 are a good example. I'm sure I'll build another one but I'm currently commencing work on a Tamiya 1/48 F 14A to go beside the F 4J.

Dear wjkunert, thank you for your review of all three ZM kits. Your information is incredibly helpful because I am pretty new to the world of plastic aircraft models, not aircraft models per se, but I certainly do not understand why there are so few mentions of ZM 1/48 TA 152H. I did find one on another forum actually that supported your review of the kit's qualities; I was surprised that I wasn't able to find more.

Your perspective is real. Very real. You are also an inspiration. I notice you are a newbie to this forum, but you are obviously not a newbie to the world of modeling. I am going to take look here on SPA Modeler for more posts from you. I hope I see some of your work because it would be a sincere pleasure to make the connection you make and see how you handled the fit and finish of these ZM kits.

Cheers,

Bruce / speedgraflex

Bruce;

The 1/48 ZM TA 152H is one of their newer kits so you may not find much online in the way of reviews. I've read some reviews on the 1/32 152 and some of them complained about the fit of the parts. The 1/48 152 should have benefited from the experience gained from previous kits so I'd imagine the fit would be OK. The fit on my ZM F 4J was excellent as were the P 51K and the Ho 229. I've build several 1/32 Tamiya kits and 3 of their 1/12 Formula 1 cars. Tamiya has a reputation for excellent fit(all of mine were excellent) and ZM's newer kits are every bit as good as the Tamiya's I've built, perhaps even better considering all the detail they hide under the body panels without causing fit problems. I think the only pictures I've ever posted were of my 1/32 Tamiya Mosquito but that was on the Scale Model Addict forum. Maybe after I finish the Tamiya 1/48 F 14A I'll post a couple of pictures.

wjkunert, you're right -- the 1/48 ZM is a rather new release, that was one of the reasons I was hoping to give it a try and experience what I hope are new ideas in construction. ZM kits appear to be well thought out designs. I read a comparison between ZM and Trimaster 1/48 versions (I hear Thomas groaning; I know how he feels about this Trimaster kit) but soft, textured plastic was one of the marks the review held against ZM's version. I pretty much decided to get both the ZM and the Trimaster versions so I can put to rest this issue of who makes crisper and smoother styrene.

And re the 1/32 "Mossie," is this your work?


photos: Scale Model Addict

Bravo, sir, if this is yours! Interesting match you found for AS-12 too. Looks the business.

Yep-that's my Mosquito. It's painted in silver because camo painted Mossies serving in the South Pacific got skin temps that were high enough to delaminate the plywood and glue used in assembly. Silver paint kept the skin temp low. The Mosquito is one of my favorite WWII planes. It was capable of over 400mph and there wasn't an Axis fighter that could keep up with it. There are some really good Mosquito videos on You Tube. Might make you want to build one. The Tamiya kit is excellent. As an aside Germany was so impressed by the wooden wonder that they tried to build their own, Focke Wulf tried to build one but the Allies destroyed the only epoxy plant in Germany and the glue they tried caused the plane to come apart in the air so the project was shelved. By the way you know you can download the assembly manuals for ZM and Tamiya aircraft on heir respective websites.

wjkunert wrote:Yep-that's my Mosquito. It's painted in silver because camo painted Mossies serving in the South Pacific got skin temps that were high enough to delaminate the plywood and glue used in assembly. Silver paint kept the skin temp low. The Mosquito is one of my favorite WWII planes. It was capable of over 400mph and there wasn't an Axis fighter that could keep up with it. There are some really good Mosquito videos on You Tube. Might make you want to build one. The Tamiya kit is excellent. As an aside Germany was so impressed by the wooden wonder that they tried to build their own, Focke Wulf tried to build one but the Allies destroyed the only epoxy plant in Germany and the glue they tried caused the plane to come apart in the air so the project was shelved. By the way you know you can download the assembly manuals for ZM and Tamiya aircraft on heir respective websites.

Your work looks amazing and the background on the Mosquito set off a chain of thoughts about building one, but I need more birds under my belt. Also, the 1/32 scale is daunting and liberating. I hope you photograph more of your 1/32 planes when you have a moment.

1/32 De Havilland Mosquito FB Mk.VI by Tamiya - detail.



Lookit all that detail!

Bruce, I think I still have all original TriMaster kits in my stash! Even the Ta 152C, rare as hen´s teeth! Feel free to make me an offer!

Now, any news on the 1/48 ZM Ta 152H?

Thomas_M wrote:Bruce, I think I still have all original TriMaster kits in my stash! Even the Ta 152C, rare as hen´s teeth! Feel free to make me an offer!

Now, any news on the 1/48 ZM Ta 152H?

Thomas, I was wondering if you are joking or not, my friend, but I ordered the Trimaster TA 152 H-1 first which is new old stock! Perhaps age will improve its charms? More than likely age will simply make the styrene brittle. Poor kit. Did you attempt one and find out something was terribly wrong? I feel badly! Seriously I want to compare these models with my own eyes. I also ordered the ZM too. I suddenly have more planes to build than spaceships, which is a fine state of affairs for me.

Oh! My first Tamiya tape arrived. I'm excited to use this to make seat belts as well. The Horten pilot needs seat belts!

Cheers!

Bruce

Thomas, I saw one of your replies to Lyle/re: his absence, and you mentioned you are not feeling well. Rest and heal, mate. I have been sick as the proverbial doggie for just over a week now. All I do is rest... heal... hydrate. I don't know if you have the superflu that's hitting all parts of the U.S. or not, but this one is a kicker; the gift that keeps on giving. The TA 152 H-1 ships from Torrance, California, so I expect to have her in my grubby little mitts by Tuesday. She's going to be my next build, my first personal airplane build since I was a wee lad by the side of a ditch, and frankly I'm over the moon with excitement. Thanks for the little push, sincerely. I'm a little nervous—which is a quality I inherited from my mother. Part of me thinks, "What m'I doing here? How m'I going to do this?" It's going to be interesting overcoming this feeling, so I'm looking forward to getting well myself in order to do just that.

Bruce

Bruce, thank you! Salty sticks and Coke worked fine!

Thomas_M wrote:Bruce, thank you! Salty sticks and Coke worked fine!

I have been drinking apple cider vinegar for eight days.

I am dreaming of pretzels... actually fries and a double double animal style burger from In and Out would be so nice!

Volks U.S.A. says the kit is shipped.

So. I read the instructions I downloaded thanks to some good advice on this thread...

And I drink more apple cider vinegar.

And make faces.