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Topic: REVELL'S REISSUED HIGGIN'S PT 212 |
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Frank J Andruss Sr
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Feb 16, 2009 - 2:23pm
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I have many of the older Kits in my Exhibit, and I must say that pretty much all of them are not very good in the way of detail or accuracy. However, they do represent that time frame in what was available for those building models. Taking a kit and changing it to represent a better looking model is ok, but my way of thinking is: Build it like it was intended to be. Straight from the box. I had my good friend Stan Pienkowski build me my Varney PT Boat (1944) sraight from the box, and I am glad that he did. It represents what was out there for the times. I now have a Historically correct model.
My two cents here Frank- Build two fo them. One striaght from the box, the other with updated fittings for a more realistic boat. Of course, my Exhibit continues to have Museum quality boats represented, but showing folks a Historically correct model for a certain time frame is just as important............
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FRANK |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Feb 16, 2009 - 5:12pm
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Hi Pete, Frank A. and Mr. Ross-
There is nothing in the world better for getting a "slouch of the couch" than some good encouragement!
Pete, I agree that the Lindberg 1/32 scale PT needed help when it first came out as well. But when it came out everybody jumped on that model because there was nothing like it around anywhere and Lindberg knew that very well and rolled with it. Heck, it's no wonder that the kit was re-issued three times over the past 20 + years. Italerie must have finally picked up the scent and said ,"Hey, let's do what Lindberg did, only better!" The Italerie kit runs rings around the Lindberg kit for sure and some day soon I'm going to re-do my 169 using the Italerie kit. Maybe, just maybe they will go with the flow and produce a Higgin's in 1/35 th scale!! Man, I'd love to see that happen!!
No matter what kit is is out there, some body will find a flaw with it! I just wish that ALL model manufactures would get together and made some sense of the scale of the model kits being produced. I don't know what these guys are thinking sometimes! I think they do it just ti tee off us modeler's! Like Al Ross stated the scale on the Revell is 1/104 th scale!!! What the heck is up with that!!
Frank, I think you NAILED the situation right on the ol' button, my friend! You said to build the Revell Higgin's PT212 straight out of the box to represent it as a '60's model and give it the respect of that era and leave well enough alone but then get a second kit and kick it up, as per Emeril, "NOTCHES UNKNOWN!" Now that sounds like a plan!
Mr. Ross- Al , do you by chance have a top deck plan for the Higgins in that time frame that you can post here? I'd be forever grateful!
Thanks guys, for the help and once again the encouragement!
Frank Ryczek, Jr.
Modeler/Friend RON-10 PT-169 " Zebra SNAFU "
HIGH TIDES ALWAYS!
YOUR FRIEND THROUGH SCALE SHIP MODELING AND PT BOAT HISTORY! |
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PeterTareBuilder
New Member
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Posted on: Feb 16, 2009 - 5:50pm
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Shalom again Frank.
Those weird scales like 1/104 were what were called box scales. The kits were designed to fit in the same size box as other kits. I was disappointed when I saw the contents of the Revell Higgins kit but at least it wasn't $100.00 or more.
One thing you have to admit about that kit that Revell did get right -- the crew are larger than life figures. ;<) VBG
I may build mine as something other than a PT boat. Perhaps I'll use the hull to build a small outboard motor boat in 1/35 scale?
Cheers from Peter
"Give me a faster PT boat for I'd like to get out of harm's way!" |
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TGConnelly
MASTER
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Posted on: Feb 17, 2009 - 1:49pm
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Frank,
No problem, .............
The only reason I suggested doing that is because I have a pet peave ...
I see on different sites and at different hobby shops modelers complaining about this kit and that kit and how inaccurate they are and all that ...
I have had a Varney kit built up and it looks pretty darn good, I've had a Lindberg kit rebuilt and I can't believe it's a Lindberg. Alex Johnson built (and is currently redoing) the Revell Higgins kit ... and in its first incarnation from Alex - it looked better than an OOB build of that kit and I'm sure it'll look even better this timed 'round ...
I just think modelers should build the models to the best of their abilities and be happy with the models. If you are a really skilled modeler then, you'll end up with a good model. Not only that, you'd use your skills and imagination to improve a model. THAT is what modeling all about guys, I think a lot of modelers have been 'spoiled' by the 'shake and bake' type of models - and like Navy pilots before TOP GUN - lost some of their 'dogfighting' skills .........
Garth
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citylimits
New Member
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Posted on: Feb 17, 2009 - 2:45pm
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Frank -
I'm not at all surprised your Tulagi diagrama won, Peoples Choice. It's a real pleasure to view this - even if that viewing is just from photographs.
After what has been mentioned here regarding the Revell kit of PT 212 I will now resist buying this kit. I had a thought that perhaps the kit comprised mainly molded detail and that is, straight out of the box, a little too basic or toy like for me to use and display with any satisfaction.
Many modelers use something like this kit as a base from which to build a more realistic model. However, with all this kit's stated faults it may serve a more useful purpose as perhaps some kind of background model or even go ahead and model it as a boat that has arrived back to base from a very hard night patrol and sustained some serious damage - just a thought and it's a great exercise for the imagination
My understanding is that this kit is 1/96, but I am not surprised if it scales out to something else. The kit is not expensive, and could be used effectively in some other role than just for out of the box display.
Bruce
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TED WALTHER |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Feb 17, 2009 - 3:02pm
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To All;
I built my 1/72nd scale PT 308 model from scratch. and this is the way to go, if you are building a Higgins, in any scale, it is also the cheapest way to go. I am also intending on building three maybe four 1/32nd scale Higgins PT's. One in balsa(the master), two or three in fibreglass. You may spend more time creating your model, but you won't spend more $$$$, especially if your major building medium is Balsa/basswood. Casting parts and figures if you are experiance is also a good answer to saving money.
Take care,
TED
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TGConnelly
MASTER
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Posted on: Feb 17, 2009 - 3:25pm
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Ted,
Hi. I'd like to see photos of your Higgins models. You know my email address sir.
Garth
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FRANK |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Feb 17, 2009 - 4:45pm
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To all my friends who replied to the main posting about the Revell PT 212-
Boy, it's very surprising to see that this posting about this darn kit has turned into a "HOT TOPIC" !
As Al Ross has stated here about the Revell' Higgin's model of PT-212, the scale is that of 1/104. That's tooooo close to call to 1/96 scale or typically 1/8 " = 1 foot scale for you non modelers out there. I'm beginning to see a ray of sunshine here with the kit after all.
Ted, I whole hearted ly agree with my friend Garth, SHOW ME THE MODEL!!! And I also agree that scratch building a Higgins would be the best route to go. Al Ross has supplied the hull lines here with this posting and any modeler worth his or her salt can turn out a good representation of the Higgins!
The fact remains that I'm not here to blast Revell models! I have been building Revell models for at least 50 years of my life and dog done it, some of the best models I have built have been Revell's. It's just every once in a while they come out with a true stinker! The Higgin's kit as I stated is a re-issue from 1960. As Garth and Frank Andruss stated those models of the sixties were the product of that era and should be treated with the respect they deserve !Enough said!
Thanks for everyone's input! This is getting very interesting!
Frank Ryczek, Jr.
Modeler/Friend RON-10 PT-169 "Zebra SNAFU "
HIGH TIDES ALWAYS!
YOUR FRIEND THROUGH SCALE SHIP MODELING AND PT BOAT HISTORY! |
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FRANK |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Feb 17, 2009 - 7:29pm
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Attention Mr. Al Ross-
Al, could you PLEASE post the plans/profile for the Higgin's RON 13 boats on the Aleutians. You have posted the hull lines X 2.
Thank you kindly!
Frank Ryczek, Jr.
Modeler/ Friend RON-10 PT-169 "Zebra SNAFU "
HIGH TIDES ALWAYS!
YOUR FRIEND THROUGH SCALE SHIP MODELING AND PT BOAT HISTORY! |
Total Posts: 349 | Joined:
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