IRONY

[ALPHA]

As I viewed my latest build...I realized the Irony....that being ...all the work put into it basically accomplished a model which is already produced
Several of the minor details that needed to be done... where unnecessary if I just modded a Mato

So there is the question of reason...or why such a thing was attempted...for me it was because I felt the Heng Long was a much better "running" model than the Mato...even with it's flaws.... the Mato seemed to have more
With that said...the Irony is still there...the finished product ...though being a hybrid of the two...still resembles a stock Mato

I just found that interesting... especially since I find it more fun as it stands presently...than when it was a functioning Mato

It's just a thought ... and perhaps an inquiry if any of you have found the same Irony in any of your builds

ALPHA

[tomhugill]

But you get the best of both worlds? Mato detail and Henglong running gear! I've happily never been in the position described, but if some one comes out with a decent Tunisian tiger I'll be miffed!

[Woz]

A long time ago I decided to scratch build a tank. This was when there wasn't many 1/16 tanks on the market (I think HL had just released their Pz III). I spent a lot of time scaling it up from a 1/35 model and working out how to make it RC. I made a mock up out of card and started making it out of metal. Now I'm not the fastest of builders so this build took a long time

I got this far when Tamiya and HL decided to copy me.



Since then it's been sitting on my shelf waiting to be finished. Part of me wants to carry on with it but I know that the time it'll take for me to get all the mechanics sorted out I could've re-built a whole fleet of HL's.

Kind of put me off scratch building completely new tanks.

[ALPHA]

But you get the best of both worlds? Mato detail and Henglong running gear! I've happily never been in the position described, but if some one comes out with a decent Tunisian tiger I'll be miffed!

Very true Tom.... especially since it fits into the genre of my collection..more prototypical than the Heng Long 105...But in a way... there's this feeling of being totally demented for jumping into a project like that ...the Irony?... I feel satisfied

The irony to my build as well as your Tunisian tiger is... to an untrained eye... mine is just a Sherman..and yours just a Tiger lol

Oh the humanity of it all

Carpe Diem Tom

ALPHA

[ALPHA]

A long time ago I decided to scratch build a tank. This was when there wasn't many 1/16 tanks on the market (I think HL had just released their Pz III). I spent a lot of time scaling it up from a 1/35 model and working out how to make it RC. I made a mock up out of card and started making it out of metal. Now I'm not the fastest of builders so this build took a long time

I got this far when Tamiya and HL decided to copy me.



Since then it's been sitting on my shelf waiting to be finished. Part of me wants to carry on with it but I know that the time it'll take for me to get all the mechanics sorted out I could've re-built a whole fleet of HL's.

Kind of put me off scratch building completely new tanks.

Don't you just hate that .... you story reminds me of my Chaffee...did one from scratch when no one made it in 35th scale..almost two months to the day after I finished it... Italerei came out with theirs

There isn't much Irony per say though...because what you did was build something that wasn't available yet...if the model existed when you started ..maybe
Perhaps I am the only one that reflects on a build like I did ..I do like my end result and feel it's a by far better representation than the Stock mato... but to the untrained eye...perhaps even the trained eye... if you put one beside the other ...there may not be any visual difference

Your Jagd on the other hand would clearly stand out against a production model...and on a personal note... I think you should finish your build...it isn't a kit bash like mine was.... and I think the pride and satisfaction will be greater once it's done...not to mention you can look back at all the Tammies and Heng Longs.... and laugh at their meager attempt to copy you ................

ALPHA

[ALPHA]

I LIKE MY HYBRID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



THERE...I said it... it's done ...over ...Kaput
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8gBQSQe0W4

ALPHA

[ALPHA]

HYBRIDS RULE .............................




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RYKvimmA6I



ALPHA

[ALPHA]

The Irony to the Irony ... is what you make of it I guess...after having to do a few more tweaks on both of my last two Sherman builds... there is a point of realization...that being..

ONCE YOU HAVE STARTED THE PROCESS.. THE PROCESS NEVER ENDS...basically meaning ... even if it looks stock... it will never be stock
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVgmB3WNQrM

ALPHA

[Jnewboy]

Yes as a builder we are sometimes haunted by the fear that as soon as we make something it will be released. Or worse yet, you find out it already exists. If you want make sure that never happens make your tanks in 1/18 scale, armor has been dead in that scale for years now

[HERMAN BIX]

on a far lesser scale...............when I wargamed 1/72 & 1/76 in New Zealand, there was no Esci or Fujimi............we got Matchbox and Hasegawa. Both great products, but the range was limited. My first Matchbox kit was a Firefly for $1.69. Had to go several days at school without money for food at the tuck shop to save for it, then wait for a Thursday night to go to the shopping centre to get it, for ages so it seemed. Next one was a Jagdpanther, then a Humber amoured car...................(sigh)
I subsequently buit several Willys Jeeps set up for both LRDG and European theatres, SdKFz's with PaK '40s mounted, a semi scratch built Sturmtiger in 1/72nd, and 2/3rds of a Maus out of flat card plastic with a 1/35th PzIV barrel as the main gun and a 1/76 Pz IV barrel without muzzle brake as secondary with PVA coated balsa for the mantlet...........just because I had to.
I had a scale Panzer division by the time i discovered R/C off road racing............sold the lot to fund it.
Most of the methodology came out of Military Miniatures magazines or pictures from books I hoarded.
Now, Im pretty sure you can buy anything .
Does not detract from the fact that though the one on the shelf can be bought - this one is mine, & I built it the way I like it, the hell with what comes later...................