Milsurp After Hours

Now that sounds like fun...........

When I flew RC planes, I always wanted a way to drop M80 bombs. Dropping them was the easy
part, just never figured out how to light the fuse...........

.

Ha!


-ArchFluffy

Another thing that could be done with rubber band powered models was to have a parachutist drop from the plane just as the prop stopped.

There was a trapdoor in the underside and the carefully packed jumper was on top of it.

The trap was held closed by a piece of hinged wire that was engaged by the wound up rubber, when the bands became slack the trap opened and, hopefully, the bloke bailed out.

That's pretty neat.

Adds some thrill beyond just the flight. "Will he make it?"

If only rubberband tech had kept up with the jet age!

-ArchFluffy

It almost did - but only in Russia and China

Ha!

-ArchFluffy

Okay, the subject of bad models or something brought the memory of a kit from AZ model company to mind. I decided to post a pic of the finished model and its description that I used on ebay. Somehow it did sell.



Here's a strange bird. It was based on the Kellett KD-1A that was brought to Japan for evaluation by the Imperial Japanese Army in 1939. The original craft crashed but the wreckage was the basis for the Japanese design.

The Japanese Army planned to use the aircraft for artillery spotting. It was even used in an anti-submarine role from land bases and from the Army's two small aircraft carriers. Yes, the Japanese Army had carriers. Informative postings, that's me!

This model was made from the AZ kit. And let me tell you, It's rough! I'm convinced that the company was started by people who hate modelers. They make a variety of obscure subjects and sprinkle them around the modeling environment like traps. Then the the always optimistic (A quality which AZ both hates and preys upon) modeler buys the kit and hurries home dreaming of an unusual or exciting build.

Modelers experience a joy universal to their kind when opening a kit, new to them, for the first time. It's peeking at the details of a great adventure that's ready to begin. This kit was shrewdly designed to draw the modeler still further into the trap by including parts made of injection plastic, resin, and even photo etched metal. All fine bait to encourage the unsuspecting target to commit to the build.

I'm still recovering from the ordeal but think it would help if I gave some details.

The parts were warped and many still are
No alinement pins
Nothing fits
Having to make own parts to replace useless “parts”
Nothing is square or straight

This kit isn't to the level of Tamiya or Hasegawa. Not even close. If you want anything approaching perfection then don't buy this. However, if you want a model representing an interesting part of history, then this could be for you.

It sold and the buyer loves it. So it's all good! The posting also had the most traffic I have ever had for an auction.

-ArchFluffy

For all its faults it looks to me that you made a really nice job of it Arch.
I like it too.

Joe

So who makes the best quality / most authentic model kits Arch?

I do.

-ArchFluffy