Previous Updates

Dec. 2nd, 2006
I'll add a section on 1/72 diecasts this week. Hongwell/Cararama/Schuco is the main player here with YatMing a new player (or are they rebranded Hongwell?). I picked up 5 YatMing at Wal-Mart yesterday for $1.44 a piece (Cadillac Escalade, Dodge Viper, Ford GT, Chevy SSR, . These are typically American subjects where Hongwell models are more European. Unfortunately they are very hard to find in the US.

Nov. 29, 2006
Totally off topic but 007 amateurs will enjoy: James Bond car collection. Click on "decouvrez la collection" for more details and do watch the video. They are to 1/43. I picked up the DB5 from Thunderball and Zao's Jaguar XKR at a newsagent in France last week. Already out are the DB5 (Goldfinger), Vanquish (Die another Day), Lotus Esprit(Spy who loved me), Citroen 2CV (For your Eyes only), BMW Z8 (the World is not enough). Next will be Aki's Toyota 2000 from You only live twice. Subscription gifts are Little Nellie, the cut up Renault from A View to a Kill, and the T-55 tank from Goldeneye.

Nov. 15, 2006
Another DAK softskin, the Phaenomen Granit heavy car from MMS.

Nov. 14, 2006
Added the CMP 3ton cabin 12 truck from Milicast in the preview section.

Nov. 13, 2006
I finally finished the SdKfz 6/1 from Cromwell.
The Kuebelwagen has been upgraded with windshield wipers and new license plates from Aleran. The rear passenger is getting an open collar, a longer cap peak and a new paint job.

Nov. 12, 2006
Added the M4A1 Sherman II from Milicast in the preview section. It's a dog, steer clear.

Nov. 5, 2006
The SdKfz11 is in a displayable state so here it is. Stowage and 3 more crew are in still in process.
I received my parcel from SyrHobbs with all the goodies from Milicast. Congratulations to Duane on his great service. A mixed review for Milicast however. I will post preview photos and detailed comments very shortly. In a nutshell:
- the M4A1 early (Sherman II) with skirts is almost a write-off. The hull is too low by 3mm. It looks flattened and is dwarfed by the Airfix and Fujimi M4's. The hull rear is also too short by 2 mm. The sandshields and sprockets are crooked.
- the Crusader is much shorter than the Airfix model. We are talking 1cm+!
- The CMP12 3ton truck has a wheelbase too short by 3mm (front axle should be moved forward). Worse is that the rear wheel has an elongated shape, like it has been stretched before drying. Next time I will buy the kit instead of the ready made model.
- The SAS jeep is good, with all the stowed fuel cans properly strapped. It is slightly smaller than the Matchbox model with softer details. I still think Matchbox makes the best Jeep in 1/76.
- The 6-pounder gun looks really good. Too bad it's missing a sprue.
- The figures(desert UK gun crew, UK drivers and SAS jeep crew) are beautiful.

Oct. 31, 2006
Added 3 T-34 previews, Matchbox T-34/76 mod.42, Fujimi T-34 mod.41, MMS T-34/85 mod. 43.

Oct. 26, 2006
Added preview of the 1/76 SHQ Bedford QLT.

Oct. 23, 2006
The never ending Panther. I added an AA gun.

Oct. 22, 2006
Added reviews of Academy Tempest and Typhoon.

Oct. 21, 2006
Added preview of MMS Steyr 1500A light truck.
Added pics of a possible fix of the track length problem in the MMS M4A3 preview.

Oct. 19, 2006
Our first French WW2 entry is the very fierce looking Simca 5. Check it out in the WW2 gallery.

Oct. 18, 2006
Finally completed the refurbished Panther G. I need to find a nice tank commander to go with it.

Oct. 17, 2006
Added preview of Milicast SdKfz 231 8Rad.

Oct. 13, 2006
Added preview of MMS Granit1500A.

Oct. 5, 2006
Added a preview of the Convoy ex-ModelTransport Bedford QL Portee.
I have received the goodies from Widgetsupply. Check out the $3.97 drill bit set. I especially like the pouch. Now I know the bit I broke was a .5mm.

Oct. 2, 2006
I broke my last 15thou drill bit yesterday. Looking for a replacement, I came across this great online tool shop: www.widgetsupply.com. They have lots of stuff for micro-hobbyists of all stripes (dental and jewelers tools, Dremel accessories, files, magnifiers) at unbeatable prices (probably 1/3 to 1/2 of normal retail). The smallest bit they have is .3mm (12thou) in a 15pc set (HSS Twist Drill Bits - 0.3-1mm) for $3.97. I also bought 10 #80 (13.5thou or .3429mm) bits for $2.29 and 50 #11 Xacto blades for $5.97.
I'm reorganizing the aircraft model reviews section into multiple pages. I have 150+ 1/72 plane kits I can comment on so it's definitely going to take more than one page.

Sep 29, 2006
Added reference sites to the links section. Great sources for scale drawings, profiles, and walkaround photos.

Sep. 28, 2006
Added Hurricane comments in the Aircraft preview page.
added 1/76 previews of the MMS SdKfz 250/1, Wespe Models Ford01A LRDG pilot car and Marmon Herrington Mk III armored car.
More previews to come: MMS Steyr 1500 truck, Trux CMP 12 15 cwt and CMP 13 3ton (very basic kits), Modeltransport (now Convoy) Bedford QL portee, SHQ Bedford QLT, Milicast SdKfz 231 8Rad, Fujimi PzIb, Fujimi PzJaegerIb, Fujimi Schwimmwagen, Kuebelwagen, BMW R75.
After 18 months doing planes, I rotated back into armor. Leaving a Macchi 202, Hurricane, Tempest, Typhoon and 3 Me109E's on the backburner, I built the cute Simca 5. It is now awaiting Aleran decals for the license plates. I then decided to complete the SdKfz11 and Morris CDSW started 20 years ago and the Phanomen Granit (only 5 years on the bench). I also detailed the CCR Dorchester and BN9 5ton Half-track in preparation for a paint job and started the MMS PzIIIH. I hope to have them up on the site soon.
BTW, SMA is going out of business. Check their web site for the sad news.

May 26, 2006
Tamiya P-51D and Hasegawa Yak 3 and in all relevant galleries.
Apr.26, 2006
KP's LA-5FN posted here and in all relevant galleries.
4 additional planes in the the gallery:
- Gerhard Barkhorn's Me109 G6 in 1943,
- Erich Harmann's white Me109 G14 in 1945,
- a late war JG27 Me109 G10,
- an all blue Hellcat from VF17 on the USS Hornet in 1945.

The aircraft kit review page has been reorganized and updated.
Aircraft models have been broken out from the period pages and duplicated on their own aircraft model page

Jan. 3, 2006
FW-190 D9
Jan. 2, 2006
Spitfire FR18e, updated Aircraft model review page
Dec. 31, 2005
Spitfire XVIe, P47D and Bedford MWD in WW2 section
September 13,2005
Added Zvezda's fine trebuchet
July 13,2005
Been working on planes lately. Added a Aircraft review page to summarize my comments.
June 11,2005
Added Desert Sharkmouth P-40E
Added 1/76 SdKfz10 1ton half-track
May 24, 2005
Added LRDG Jeep
May 22, 2005
150 pics added to the Waterloo Allied infantry page
May 20, 2005
Some British Napoleonic added to the relevant pages
May 17, 2005
Added British Army page
May 12, 2005
Added Modern Brit in Postwar page.
May 7, 2005
Added ACW Union Infantry in Industrial page.
May 1st, 2005
Added WW1 Australian and Ottoman pics , Yorktown French. Age of Enlightment page finally up. Will do a couple AWI figures.

Mar 23, 2005
Added WW1 pics and 1854 French
Feb.19, 2005
revamped main page and Waterloo index.
started adding Waterloo infantry pics.
Feb.18, 2005
Completed Waterloo British Cavalry page!!!
Added Cataphract and Gaul to Ancient Gallery.
Feb. 4, 2005
Added Landsknecht to open the Pike and Shot gallery.
Added Persian heavy cavalry to Ancient gallery.
Dec 11, 2004
More WW2 pics.
Completed Waterloo French cavalry page.
Added more cavalry to Napoleonic section.
Dec 8, 2004
Copied Desert war British and Italian vehicles to WWII page.
Dec 4, 2004
Middle Age, Ancient and WW1 pages updated.
Added Spitifires to WW2 page.
Updated Waterloo French Cavalry page
Nov 10, 2004
French Army page loaded. Updates to Industrial page.
Oct 29, 2004
Mastered the style command. Full site redesign underway.
Added Late Corsair review in feature section.
Oct 20, 2004
Added Corsair on postwar page and in feature section.
Added Late Corsair review in feature section.
Oct 19, 2004
Added Armor links. Some updates to the Waterloo tables
Oct 15, 2004
Back on the site after three months. Modeler or Webmaster it is, with an exclusive OR.
Added aircraft modeling links.
Will post newly built aircraft models soon, Corsair and a couple Spits.
Waterloo figure pics project suspended pending coat of Polly S flat acrylic on 150 figures (Finally, a real flat finish!!!).
Dairiki .002in (.051mm) dacron fishing line is thinnest on record (much thinner than hair). It is actually too thin for biplane rigging (use .003)! Available at Rollmodels.
May 25, 2004
More previews. Chevy CC60L 3t, Austin K2/YF, Horch Kfz15, Gaz AA
May 19, 2004
More previews. Added Favorite Figure links
May 12, 2004
More previews. Am experimenting pics of individual figures for waterloo gallery (have 120+, all different)
May 6, 2004
Added 10 1/76 previews, more pictures in desert gallery
April 21, 2004
Added order of battle for British and French infantry at Waterloo
March 21, 2004
Added Scale Thickness paper in Rants and Raves section.
March 20, 2004
Reshot some pictures including the above with -1 exposure to compensate for flash. Colors are much closer to original. Still not able to obtain good panorama shots though.
March 19, 2004
Added order of battle for British cavalry at Waterloo