I have been toying with the idea of approaching an etching company to make parts for the British tanks available in Braille scale. (Even the rather good Master Box offerings are not perfect). I was thinking of: pistol port covers, grousers, replacement rear stowage box (Mk IV), flaps for secondary machine gun ports, exhaust defectors, replacement rectangular reinforcement plate(s) for steering tail and so on. So, I would be interested to know if any of you might be interested in buying such a set (economy of scale etc) and any suggestion of other parts that might be appropriate to add to this etch.
Once I have collated the ideas I shall put together a plan for the etch and put it on here for your comments and then send it out for costing.
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Regards TeeELL
Growing old is compulsory, growing up is optional.
I would certainly be interested in such a selection of enhancements... but then the Mk 1 and its derivatives seem to offer ideal subjects for such treatment, (including interior sponson details).
I'd be interested too, especially if the set is in 1/76 for the Airfix kits, since they're still on production and would need an assortment of details to upgrade the exterior and convert them to Mk.II or special versions (supply tanks, recovery tanks, etc.)
My thoughts are really that the focus is on 1:72 for Master Box and EMHAR. The differences between 1:76 and 1:72 for these accessories is slight although size comparison between the Airfix 'female' sponsons and their MB counterparts is very significant far more than the scale difference should reflect. (This is only an opinion, I've not done anything so scientific as to do any measuring). The pistol ports for instance are half the size of the MB.
On my way back from the gym today I thought adding etch supports for the grenade canopy might be an idea. Mind you the lack of response other than 2 posts thus far, rather indicates a lack of interest. I have 'home brew' etching kit so I might end up making my own.
-- Edited by TeeELL on Wednesday 22nd of January 2014 01:24:09 PM
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Regards TeeELL
Growing old is compulsory, growing up is optional.
Give it time to settle into the minds of the forumites!
If my rudimentary arithmetics are properly whipped, a 1/76 model is a 6% smaller than a 1/72 model. This might not appear as much, but makes for a rather striking difference when two similar subjects are placed near or if combining parts of one sace within a model of the other (unless they are figures, which might account for natural height differences).
There are many different drawings for the tanks, and not all of them are consistent with each other. Thus we have different sizes for most anything in them, as comparing the shapes of two basically good models, the Emhar and the Airfix (I can't opine on the Master Box yet), so its almost inevitable that especially in surface details there will be a wide variation of shapes, sizes and relative positions.
If it were for me, I wouldn't bother too much about the grenade roof supports. They are easily made from strip stock. What I would like to see is accurate driver slats that could be actually displayed open, the odd looking things at the foot of the sponson doors (were those for discarding the ammo shells?) and as you jave mentioned, elements to improve the whole steering mechanism: drilled plates, steering arms, etc. etc.
Already done, for a Mark IV. This has the best unditching rails, by far, in this scale. Lots of pistol ports. Doesn't correct the missing rear armour or the sponsons. (Mister X has a kit to correct the sponsons and rear armour)
-- Edited by PDA on Wednesday 22nd of January 2014 07:29:00 PM
Yep, got one of those. My thoughts were to identify more general items focussing on the things that might otherwise be scratch built etc. Perhaps include the L bar that is missing from the roof of the Airfix 'male' sponson. Still formulating ideas.
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Regards TeeELL
Growing old is compulsory, growing up is optional.
I don't think I'd be going that route again. I'm getting rid of all my unbuilt Airfix and I just don't think the 'problems' with the Master Box Mk I are very big; the only 'big' problem I can see with the Master Box Mark I is the missing gun sight slit in the gun shield, and it's unfortunate but easily fixed.
When Master Box make their Mark II it will have grousers (hopefully not curved like the 3D CAD drawing shows) so I don't need those, and I don't need any Airfix kits.
And I would lay money that Master Box will make a Mark IV so I don't feel the need to worry about rear armour, sponsons, Lewis guns, and unditching rails any more.
I would make another bet that Master Box will make a Mark V and the quality will be just as high as on their Mark I.
So, in short, I just think that the Airfix and Emhar rhomboids are completely obsolete now and I don't feel the urge to buy correction kits for them. And I don't think the Master Box Mark I needs a correction kit.
PDA, food for thought thanks. I must admit I am looking at my collection of part built Airfix models and thinking, like you - perhaps I'll not bother. Shame really as I have aftermarket additions from ModelBau and some bits from that oh so slow supplier Matador. Your comments on the probable future models from MB do rather rate my project 'still born'. I shall see what further comments are made and certainly cannot do anything until Spring.
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Regards TeeELL
Growing old is compulsory, growing up is optional.
I have all those aftermarket bits and bobs too. And a few half built projects; a hybrid Emhar Airfix Mark II for example. I'm definitely not going to bother. Well, maybe I will finish the ones I've started if I'm ever laid up and confined to quarters!
Matador haven't done any WW1 stuff in ages, so I don't think they'll notice a drop in business. Airfix have moved into 1/48 Moderns, so they won't notice. But MB have definitely made all that mucking around obsolete.
Spot all the aftermarket fixes on this (and she's still not finished):
After waiting a considerable length of time for my order from Matador to be fulfilled, you can imagine my disappointment and frustration to find that the 'improved sponson' for the MkIV 'male' doesn't actually fit!! Clearly designed for the Airfix kit the advertising that suggests it works for the Emhar is totally misleading.
__________________
Regards TeeELL
Growing old is compulsory, growing up is optional.
