SPA Modeler

LyleW wrote: ↑Sun Dec 03, 2023 3:02 pm Just a lovely piece of work!

Many thanks Lyle!

- Kari

An excellent build Kari and an interesting bit of history. It's hard to believe these were in service for that long.

Stuart wrote: ↑Wed Dec 06, 2023 2:09 am An excellent build Kari and an interesting bit of history. It's hard to believe these were in service for that long.

Many thanks Stuart!

Yeah, Finland was rather poor country after the war + a few decades onwards. For example the air force used still the Blenheims and Bf-109:s until the 50's !

- Kari

Hardly surprising really, considering the political tightrope you had to walk between the East and West during the period.

Stuart wrote: ↑Wed Dec 06, 2023 8:26 am Hardly surprising really, considering the political tightrope you had to walk between the East and West during the period.

Absolutely true! And now we are part of NATO!

- Kari

KSaarni wrote: ↑Wed Dec 06, 2023 10:26 am

Stuart wrote: ↑Wed Dec 06, 2023 8:26 am Hardly surprising really, considering the political tightrope you had to walk between the East and West during the period.

Absolutely true! And now we are part of NATO!

- Kari

You should build one of these Kari!

KSaarni wrote: ↑Wed Dec 06, 2023 10:26 amAnd now we are part of NATO!

Maybe the best political decision for Europe in the past decade. Finland has a very professional, well equipped and well trained army.
Someting that Germany is trying to achieve since ending the general conscription.

Indeed, and "funnily", at least 100 of the Leopard 2A4 battle tanks are 2nd hand tanks from the German army and 100 2A6:s are second hand ones bought from The Netherlands. Apparantely both deals were very good, as those countries wanted to get rid of the costs... I don't think that would be the case today

Hmm, I need to build a Leopard A26;
dear collegues, which kit is the nicest to build ?

- Kari

Yeah, the old NATO countries getting rid of too many of their MBTs is really starting to bite them in the butt as of February 2022… although the writing was on the wall since at least 2014 for anyone who cared to pay attention.
As far as the best Leopard 2 kits currently available, I’d look at Meng, Rye Field, Hobbyboss, and Tamiya as best choices. The Italeri/Revell Germany kits are not bad, but are older in origin.

Stuart wrote: ↑Wed Dec 06, 2023 11:14 am

Did someone say Hornets?