Informal poll...yes or no to interiors?

Definitely into interiors. Even partial ones that can be seen through the hatches. Here are a couple of pics of a very creative way to display a full interior. The model is by Manny Rodriguez from the DC club and was photographed at the Long Island figure show a few years ago. It was beautifully done.


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This took Best Armor of Show in Houston back ‘96 - same year it helped me win at Tamiya -Con.

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It’s a good thing no one was using mirrors!

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I personally think interiors in most armor kits are a lot of work for little gain. I like to stick figures in open hatches, so as soon as I do that, most of the interior disappears. Exceptions to this are open topped vehicles, or vehicles with especially large hatches (think M113s here), where there is a value to doing an interior.

Damon.

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I’ve got a T-72B1 on deck after i finish my current build, but after that I’m thinking of trying one of Amusing Hobby’s full interior kits…either the T-72AV or T-90A…or both.

I guess it comes down to how the modeller feels. I am currently building the Tiger Model Nagmachon. I am doing the interior, but only because there is a lot to see with open hatches and I feel the end is justified. Same with the Renault FT also on the bench - with the front open, everything can be seen.

I once scratch built an interior for a Panzer IV E. After it was done all you could see was shape and form - a lot of work for no gain. I am not a fan of handling completed models - all mine are on bases.

So now, whilst I have kits with interiors, I never build anything more than what you can see through open hatches - the rest goes in the spare box. e.g, the Bronco Humber Scout Car - almost nothing could be seen, so I closed the top hatch over the driver position. The Miniart AEC Mark 3, comes with full interior but I only used the parts that could be seen through the open turret hatches. Whilst it came with an engine, it did not fit correctly to start with, and the kit hull was so warped I had to glue the engine hatches closed and fit a brace inside the compartment to square it out.

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I saw this one last week and wasn’t able to respond. I thought I’d throw in my vote.

I say NO to anything that isn’t going to be seen. Like many of the posters here, I have too little time and too many projects. I never understood spending that much quality time building wiring harnesses and inserting hoses into engine compartments that will get sealed with a hatch. If it’s your goal to show off all that hard work with open hatches and/or cutaway parts, then by all means.

I’ve always been more of a figure modeler anyways. So I tend to see vehicles as an accessory to the men, not the other way around. If it doesn’t have a role in accurately representing what I’m trying to display with the figures, then I’m happy to close it, save the time and move on.

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The enjoyment you get during the process is a major reason for me. Others might not appreciate or even see what I did… but I know it’s there… and that is enough for me.

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For me, no interiors with the exception of a few specific kits.
The T 55, T 62 and the T 72 I will probably build an interior because I was in and out of many of them. The large hatch T 34-76 I will because it is so easy to see inside.

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I wish the T34-76 I have, has an interior…

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Turner, obviously. :joy: Thanks for asking.

…and I’m pretty sure he painted complete interiors for both ships in “The Fighting Temeraire”.

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That’s the best comment I’ve read on this forum in awhile…love it!

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Tank closed.
for interior I prefer anti tank open top vehicles

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Generally no to the mega detailed tank interiors though I am building the new Bergepanther with full interior (The Berge does give you a lot more chance to see/experience the vehicle interior.)

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I had already tried to super detail the interior of the old Italeri Bergepanther kit many, MANY years ago.

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Actually I guess I am somewhere in the middle between YES and NO on interiors.
I do like to give some hints of interior detail just in case someone happens to look past the figure and down into the hatch.

I will almost always add a firewall and close up the sponsons. Then add hints that there MIGHT just be a full interior hiding down in there.


A reasonable firewall and a very simplified drive shaft housing for the Stuarts.


Driver figures seen thru the front vision hatches, not too difficult a task.


I wanted the front driver’s hatch open on the Russian so I had to at least build
a driver’s seat and one for the co-driver.


Added torsion bar suspension, some small turret details and even built a turret basket for the Tiger 1.

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One problem with interiors is that they are not as well known or documented as exteriors; at least, with German subjects.
So it’s much more difficult for a model company to produce an accurate interior.
That RFM kit is a good example. They claim that it builds Wittman’s Tiger “S04” but that was a Command Tiger, and the kit includes only a standard Tiger’s interior.

David

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No argument there DB but I would still say a “hint” of an interior (starting with the proper shade of interior paint" * is far better than no interior at all. (IMHO)

*Plus maybe at least a blank firewall and enclosed sponsons.

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And hence most people won’t even know if what they’re looking at is correct or not. I’d rather see a (slightly) inaccurate interior that was well done, than one that was perfect in every detail but sloppily executed.

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Sometimes building a AFV with full interior then gives me at least SOME experience as to what is really in there and I like that.

Also shows me how it was engineered and exactly how the parts work together.

This one below is not exactly an interior but I think I must be a “drive train type a guy.” I love all the massive detail that has recently been built into all these big honk’n MAZ 8x8 models. And even here I add additional detail. (So far I have built five of these chassis!)

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Shepard Paine called it “creative gizmology”
What you don’t know … you fake.
This should be acceptable to the casual viewer but may cause flak from those using your model for research or if entered into a competition.

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