Just arrived from Andy’s Hobby Headquarters. Should be interesting to see how this stacks up to the Dragon kits in my stash.
14 Likes
It avoids some of the mistakes Dragon made, that’s for sure. I haven’t built mine yet, but I already noticed that the AHHQ kit has things like a gearshift lever with the correct number of bends in it, separate jerrycan mounts and front wheels with no sag, all of which Dragon got wrong.
3 Likes
Looks great! I’d love to see a build of that here. Just sayin’…
2 Likes
Nice birthday present
Anybody fancy a redundant Badger 105?
14 Likes
Got my 1st haul in today from UPS. Been a real long time since I’ve been able to buy this much at once.
14 Likes
Patriot? Yes please!
1 Like
This arrived yesterday. When I read the review on here I thought they were two separate kits. Did wonder about the quoted price of about C$145 plus shipping, but now it’s arrived Hey Ho!
Will make a nice addition to my little M113 - based fleet and the Cold War-era collection. Just have to find a towing vehicle for the trailer
An M35 sounds favourite.
The carrier/loader is on the way from Pratchett’s Counterweight Continent.
16 Likes
Today I had the new Tamiya RSO/01 model arrive. My good friend Fred (JPTRR) Boucher picked it for me when he was at the IPMS National Convention in Fort Wayne.
Thank you very much koda, I appreciate it very much. 
Randy.
15 Likes
I thought I’d better bone up on the Leo 2 series, not least as my appetite has been whetted with the possibility of the so-called Leopard 2K becoming available (3D print):
And a Reforger book I’d been after some time, but finally decided to do something about it; packed to the gunwhales as usual with Tankograd, but this one especially inspirational for me. Nearly every last US vehicle shown in MASSTER, and plenty of coverage of Canadian, somewhat ancient Centurions, and coverage of their Lynx too. And what was I doing back in 1974? Well, I was on exercise too as it happens, Bold Guard in Schleswig Holstein, and that gets a mention too. The exercise that is, not me!
Recommended this one, to those Cold War modellers who might just need an excuse to make one more model in MASSTER, or even that Canadian Cent in that interesting vehicle camouflage. Tankograd booklets are always full of modelling inspiration, but I found this one especially so.
Lastly, I’m more than aware that I keep banging on about NATO’s Central Region, so it’s about time I prepared the way for some of the opposition:
Needless to say, they cost more than the kits they’re to augment, but ain’t that always the way?
16 Likes
Is there a reason Tamiya felt we needed another RSO? According to scalemates we have 36 offerings available currently. Not sure why Tamiya felt the need to throw their hat in the ring
1 Like
My guess is exactly because there are 36 kits already: that must mean people are buying them. And I suspect Tamiya knows very well that a lot of people find MiniArt kits to be difficult to build, and old Peerless ones as well, leaving a good niche for Tamiya to step into.
5 Likes
Because Tamiya doesn’t make any money from other’s manufacturer’s kits. And 36 kits is a misnomer, which includes all the various re-boxings and variants for this. There is a market for this from Tamiya and the fact that it says Tamiya means it will sell. Considering the 3 kits that are currently on the market:
- Peerless Max/Italeri - over 40 years old now, so out of date with typical 70s details.
- Dragon - has some scale issues
- Miniart - typical Miniart with numerous parts, which is not everyone’s cup of tea, and apparently some fit issues.
Tamiya will undoubtedly have a kit that fits well, has decent details, and is probably close to accurate, and its retail price is pretty reasonable.
8 Likes
I just got that Reforger ‘74 book myself this past Monday, excellent book!
2 Likes
Haul arrived from Andy’s recent sale
Unfortunately the MkIV was quite incomplete missing the poly caps, chain, decals, photo etch, metal barrels, and instructions. Not sure what happened here but I am sure Andy’s will make it right
15 Likes
This is my first DRAMi in stock. No metal cannon, but the price was attractive. There are 3 more arriving to replenish stock for losses in 2025/26.
As far as I remember, it’s practically the same as the old one from Dragon. There is an addendum correcting the parts C1 and C2, which were replaced by D1 and D2.
15 Likes