FOV 1/72 at Target

[hawkonevoodoo]

There's some instructions and pictures on how to convert various bits on the FOV Sherman at the following site:

http://www.20mm-review.com/fov-article.asp

What I don't understand is why would someone want to remove the mine rollers and convert the tank to a plain Sherman. If you want a plain Sherman just wait and I'm quite sure one will be coming out soon. Also, we spend so much time saying that we never get any unique tanks, just the same old things time after time. Then, when we do get one, someone wants to make it "a same old thing." I can't figure it out.

[hworth18]

There's some instructions and pictures on how to convert various bits on the FOV Sherman at the following site:

http://www.20mm-review.com/fov-article.asp

What I don't understand is why would someone want to remove the mine rollers and convert the tank to a plain Sherman. If you want a plain Sherman just wait and I'm quite sure one will be coming out soon. Also, we spend so much time saying that we never get any unique tanks, just the same old things time after time. Then, when we do get one, someone wants to make it "a same old thing." I can't figure it out.

I can't understand it either. That is a very unique piece, but I think maybe
it's the "We're NEVER Happy" mindset.. Of course, these are probably the same guys that already have the Matchbox/ CDC Armour Shermans..
I remember when the Mineroller Sherman first came out and people were griping about taking the roller off.. and like you I was asking "WHY"????

[hawkonevoodoo]

Upon examing the FOV Action Series Sherman in the box at my local Target I noticed the gun barrell is not hollowed out. Is that the case for the enthusiast version too? Kind of annoying, but can be fixed.


easy8

FOV have been watching and brought it to my attention that the reason their barrels aren't hollow is because they are actually made of die-cast metal. The competition's is made of plastic which allows this. I took the turret off the T-72, and don't tell me I'm the only one that did this, just to take a look at why it wouldn't just twist and come off the chassis. The only way to get it off is to take out the 2 screws in the bottom and then you see why it doesn't just come apart. Because it is die-cast, FOV have determined that is better to use a disc, on the inside of the turret that is slightly larger than the opening the turret sits in. The disc is screwed to the turret and this larger disc prevents the turret from falling off when it reachs a certain point when turning. It also allows you to completely turn the turret 360 degrees without it coming apart in your hand. This is just another little extra they have taken the time to provide along with actual metal. By the way, have I mentioned the word "metal" yet?
If we look the FOV tanks over, we'll find that we actually are getting what we are paying for, die-cast. A very large portion of FOV tanks are actually metal, I think about 99%, in my estimation. I got in this hobby to collect die-cast vehicles and planes and FOV are providing it, unlike Dragon who are using more and more plastic. Plastic may give a little finer detail but when I want die-cast, I want die-cast, not plastic. The last couple of Dragon releases, the E-100 for example. I don't know if it has an ounce of die-cast metal in it. They heft it up by sticking a small slab of steel inside the hull and pass it off as die-cast. FOV gives me heft by using die-cast metal, which is what I want. I'll gladly trade off a little extra detail for real metal, any day.
If FOV announces some vehicles or planes that are the same type as Dragon, I'll buy the FOV every time. Along with with metal I get a really great price, what else could I ask for?

[hawkonevoodoo]

I think FOV has done a great job with the action series, I picked up the night Hurricane at my local Target here in Des Moines, IA. After opening the box and setting it up, it looks really nice. My Target didn't have the Stukas, would have liked to grab one of those!

easy8

I don't know if it is taboo to provide a link to another forum but they have some pictures of the FOV Stukas. There also are some pictures with the competitions Stukas. The pictures are not quite halfway down the page. If I offend, I apologize and feel free to remove this post. If I owned them I would post them here, but I don't.
http://www.modelhangar.com/forum/showth ... 917&page=1

[easy8]

I saw those on the other forum! They look really good! I really like the "snake" scheme. I'm looking forward to the Corsairs...I've been holding off buying Dragon's new bent wing birds in anticipation that FOV will come out with some solid looking stuff!

easy8

[hawkonevoodoo]

I saw those on the other forum! They look really good! I really like the "snake" scheme. I'm looking forward to the Corsairs...I've been holding off buying Dragon's new bent wing birds in anticipation that FOV will come out with some solid looking stuff!

easy8

Now here's a smart man!!! This is exactly what I'm doing. I wish FOV would reveal some future planes, if they are going to do some of the unique models IXO is going to come out with, I'd prefer to buy the FOV version.
We know about 45 of the planes IXO is going to do but none from FOV. Right now I have about 35 - 40 of the IXO planes marked as a "MUST BUY" only because nobody else makes them. Once I have a model of a certain plane I don't buy duplicates because there just are too many that I want and display space takes over. Once I buy a plane and FOV, Dragon or Corgi come out with the same plane at a later date, it's too late, I already have one. This is why announcing future releases is so important to me and I'm sure to most collectors.

[easy8]

Okay, all this talk about the FOV Stukas made me have to run out and get one. Stopped at another Super Target here in Des Moines, IA and found the "Snake" Stuka. Another solid effort from FOV...paint is great, engine cover could fit a bit better, but again for the price, it is really well done!

easy8

[Tshintl]

What I don't understand is why would someone want to remove the mine rollers and convert the tank to a plain Sherman. If you want a plain Sherman just wait and I'm quite sure one will be coming out soon. Also, we spend so much time saying that we never get any unique tanks, just the same old things time after time. Then, when we do get one, someone wants to make it "a same old thing." I can't figure it out.

You're not seeing the big picture I guess. Collectors make up just one aspect of those that buy these, wargamers make up another. To a wargamer (like myself-wargamer first, collector a distant second), a mineroller Sherman might be great, but lets face it they won't be using many of them but would be using lots of regular Shermans.

I've located 1:72 FOV tanks at both Target and Hobby Land shops in my area (surely more stores, but these are where I've been lately). At Target, they are in the toy section, and at Hobby Land they are in the row with Dragon Armor and other stuff like this.

The Hobby Land manager told me it's wargamers buying most of them, not collectors. The same goes with Target where a friend of mine stocks the toy aisle and lets me in on what comes in. Collectors buy 1 (usually), wargamers buy many mulptiples of them and though you might overlook them, they are a BIG part of sales for companies like these. I alone have 12 FOV 1/72 Shermans, of which 1-2 will keep the mine roller and the others will be converted into a regular Sherman. Once someone comes out with a regular 1:72 Sherman with comparable or better detail, I will buy multiples of those as well.

There are loads of wargaming and modeling Shermans available (in metal and plastic form). But for those that prefer tanks that are pre-built and painted, Dragon Armor and now FOV 1:72 are the best tanks on the market. Corgi, CDC, and Matchbox leave alot to be desired for those that want decent detail, so the best 1:72 Sherman available now that's painted and built is the one by FOV.

Not sure why you think collectors are the only ones only buying them. A collector buys 1, gamers buy multiples. Lets face it, gaming may or may not be a smaller market than collecting, but when you compare 1 or 2 sold to a collector and 6-12 sold to a wargamer (which I can state I know 5 people that when all their FOV Shermans are combined, would total over 100), it's hard for a collector to ask a question such as this.

Gamers are a completely different type of customer to these companies. We could really give a crap less about keeping them in the packaging (like some collectors do). I have multiples of all the original first releases by CDC, Dragon Armor, and Cyber Hobby and intentionally threw out the boxes and converted them to suit my purpose for wargaming. I could care less if they are worth something to a collector on Ebay or elsewhere as that is not what they are used for in my eyes. I bought (2) of the Dragon Expo Huber Jagdpanzers and guess what, both boxes are in the trash and they are going to be used for gaming.

I don't understand why one would not look at the overall big picture and realize that collectors make up just one part of those that buy these. Gamers make up the other and spend more money overall by buying multiples. Without the gamers, I seriously doubt there would be the growth of diecast 1:72 tanks lately because sales would be limited to collectors who buy one of this, one of that, etc.

[cruizin2000]

Tshintll,

Amen!! Well said!!

I have no less that 9 21st Pnzr IIIs for wargaming purposes not to mention Shermans, Chaffees, etc.

Buy on!!

C2000

[Tshintl]

I think maybe
it's the "We're NEVER Happy" mindset.. Of course, these are probably the same guys that already have the Matchbox/ CDC Armour Shermans.

Well that’s rather rude to say. I’ve done this to my FOV Sherman and put my money where my mouth is. How many of these have you bought from FOV or what have you yourself done to help promote them??? I’ve written articles on this Sherman specifically and know of at least a dozen wargamers that have bought them because of the time I put into it. I have 12 Shermans alone, not to mention multiples of the other 3 FOV 1:72 tanks. Because of an in depth review I did on the FOV 1:72 Iraqi T72, one guy alone bought 24 of them to use for wargaming. That’s just one guy, it would take close to 24 collectors to buy the amount of this one wargamer that I helped turn onto these in the first place.

Who are you to tell me what it should be used for??? Your’re obviously a collector, but you make up only a percentage of those that buy these. Kids buy them so they are toys, wargamers buy them so they are wargaming tanks, and collectors buy them so they are collectable. Who is right….everyone is.

Don’t be so arrogant thinking the way you view these is the correct way, since that’s no more than your opinion which doesn’t mean anything to the rest of us using them for something else.

I'm not trying to be rude, but it rather irks me to read a comment like this.

[hworth18]

I think maybe
it's the "We're NEVER Happy" mindset.. Of course, these are probably the same guys that already have the Matchbox/ CDC Armour Shermans.

Again to a collector that apparently thinks these are made just for them, sadly you are quite wrong with your thought. Gamers put their money where their mouth is buying in quantity. It's not the gamers moaning about wanting this or that, it's those collectors that think it's all about them (as proven above by a few above).

It's rather funny that some think it's all about them.....

I don't think that it is "All about me" and
I could care less what you do with your stuff...

But tell me this Tshintl, why go thru all the trouble of modifying, filling and repainting a tank when you can buy the Matchbox equivelent for $5.00 at the store?????
You don't think it's going a little far when people post a whole webpage on the net about "fixing" this tank??? Obviously the gamers ARE moaning about this.. Why else would they go thru all the trouble????

And BTW, where in the Heck did you ever get the idea we were talking about "Wargamers" in the first place?????

[Tshintl]

But tell me this Tshintl, why go thru all the trouble of modifying, filling and repainting a tank when you can buy the Matchbox equivelent for $5.00 at the store?????

The Matchbox Sherman lacks any real detail. I have a comparison photo should this need to be debated. The FOV tank is also a M4A1, which the Matchbox tank is not.

You don't think it's going a little far when people post a whole webpage on the net about "fixing" this tank??? Obviously the gamers ARE moaning about this.. Why else would they go thru all the trouble????

Moaning...LOL. Work...LOL. 1 hour at the most can have this tank looking as good as some of the plastic model Shermans out there (hardly any work). It's called contributing or promoting their hobby, something you may not do but alot of others do. This article has promoted the FOV Sherman which as a direct result has sold many of them to people who might not have otherwise bought it. You are so negative about it, but what have you done???

And BTW, where in the Heck did you ever get the idea we were talking about "Wargamers" in the first place?????

You're the one that commented on this conversion article and why people are taking off the mine roller. Wargamers are doing it so you surely can put two and two together to see the point. You seem fast to judge that people are "never happy" but ironically enough those you are referring to are the very ones buying lots of them and supporting a hobby they enjoy.

[hworth18]

You're the one that commented on this conversion article and why people are taking off the mine roller. Wargamers are doing it so you surely can put two and two together to see the point. You seem fast to judge that people are "never happy" but ironically enough those you are referring to are the very ones buying lots of them and supporting a hobby they enjoy.

I think you are reading into something that isn't there.. I was simply commenting about WHY people felt the need to modify this tank, as if they were not happy with it.. I could care less about Wargamers and what they do.. Some people do gripe on just about everything that comes out, as if a $10 tank should be fully detailed and exact in every respect..
I have news for these people.. IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN WITH MASS PRODUCTION DIECAST..
And as far as "What have I done??" Absolutely nothing because this tank really doesn't need anything done to it.. But as a side note, I build 1/72 tank models and I use those if I want something custom..

[digger]

Guys - Ummm..we're all collectors here....what we do with the stuff is nearly as important.

"The Matchbox Sherman lacks any real detail. I have a comparison photo should this need to be debated. The FOV tank is also a M4A1"

That's a collector talking

"It's called contributing or promoting their hobby" - also familiar.

Plenty of people buy multiples for many reasons (stop by sometime...and I don't play games....), but I think we all like the same stuff in the end:
variety, detail, affordability...etc... Hell, I know if bbi released their M4 in OD with a mine roller I'd buy a bunch and pluck it off some

[Tshintl]

"The Matchbox Sherman lacks any real detail. I have a comparison photo should this need to be debated. The FOV tank is also a M4A1"

That's a collector talking

LOL, I don't really collect them though I do have about 20 that I've purchased over time (some for as little as $2 on Ebay ). I collect, model, and wargame all in the same scale (1/72 or 1/76).

but I think we all like the same stuff in the end:

Exactly. It's up to each person that spends their own hard earned money as to what they will be used for. I know a guy that buys one more extra Dragon Armor tank than he needs just to mess it up and use it as a destroyed tank. Many others repaint them or at the very least add stowage and gear that was so common on WWII tanks.

[hawkonevoodoo]

You're the one that commented on this conversion article and why people are taking off the mine roller. Wargamers are doing it so you surely can put two and two together to see the point. You seem fast to judge that people are "never happy" but ironically enough those you are referring to are the very ones buying lots of them and supporting a hobby they enjoy.

I think you are reading into something that isn't there.. I was simply commenting about WHY people felt the need to modify this tank, as if they were not happy with it.. I could care less about Wargamers and what they do.. Some people do gripe on just about everything that comes out, as if a $10 tank should be fully detailed and exact in every respect..
I have news for these people.. IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN WITH MASS PRODUCTION DIECAST..
And as far as "What have I done??" Absolutely nothing because this tank really doesn't need anything done to it.. But as a side note, I build 1/72 tank models and I use those if I want something custom..

Don't bother wasting your breath Harry, you're not allowed to express your opinion when this guy is around. He goes off the handle a little too easy whenever someone says something that he doesn't agree with. He doesn't just respond, he attacks, it's not the first time and I doubt it will be the last. I think his undies are a little too tight or something.

[hworth18]

Don't bother wasting your breath Harry, you're not allowed to express your opinion when this guy is around. He goes off the handle a little too easy whenever someone says something that he doesn't agree with. He doesn't just respond, he attacks, it's not the first time and I doubt it will be the last. I think his undies are a little too tight or something.

[Tshintl]

Don't bother wasting your breath Harry, you're not allowed to express your opinion when this guy is around. He goes off the handle a little too easy whenever someone says something that he doesn't agree with. He doesn't just respond, he attacks, it's not the first time and I doubt it will be the last. I think his undies are a little too tight or something.

LOL, there's some of us that sit around worrying about what others are doing and just talking about the stuff, and there's some of us who go out and try and promote our hobby, nuff said.

[cruizin2000]

Hmmm, I must not have read the entire post before I put in my 2 cents worth. I was commenting on having more that one for gaming purposes.

Once you buy'em for whatever reason, you're free to do with them as you please.

C2000

[Tshintl]

Hmmm, I must not have read the entire post before I put in my 2 cents worth. I was commenting on having more that one for gaming purposes.

Once you buy'em for whatever reason, you're free to do with them as you please.

C2000

That was/is my whole point. There are plenty of people that do stuff to their tanks for their own reasons, and despite some that question it (different than their opinion so naturally it's wrong, LOL), no one is any more right than the other.

[Philip]

This is a very interesting series of give and take. Here is my two cents:

The best 1/72 diecast tanks on the market are(were) the CDC tanks, esp. the Panzer IVs. I love all my Dragon tanks, and the FOV tanks, esp. my 1/72 T-72. I am just pleased that someone is producing this stuff. I look forward to reading the forum, and always find something helpful.

I am reminded what my Mother used to say: "Everyone is wrong except me and thee, and sometimes I wonder about thee!"

Happy collecting, wargaming, diorama making, and anything else you want to do with these wonderful models.

[p51]

I just picked up both of the Stukas and both of the Hurricanes today at Target. One word... WOW! These are AMAZING. More than worth the $10 price tag! FIRST time I've seen something so cheap with a removeable engine cover! Yes, for those who didn't know... you can remove the engine cover on the Stuka! (not sure on the hurricane, haven't opened them yet). The only con is like BBi they give you a choice of what to arm the plane with, so you're left with little extra pieces I now have to keep track of. But everything is awesome. Even the little bombs on the stuka have little stubs to on onto the wings so they don't look fake! Wheels turn, prop spins great, detailed pilots inside... AMAZING for 1/72 scale! HIGHLY recommended!

EDIT - YUP! You can remove the Hurricane's cover! And you can choose between closed landing gear or extended gear! It comes with TWO sets!

[KAMIKAZE]

FOV items in San Antonio now. The Stukas are particularly nice.

Mark

[easy8]

Hworth, you mentioned in the other forum, you had fixed the pitot tube situation on the FOV Stuka. Can you share what you did to correct it with us here (might help those who don't hang at the other one)? I'm not a Stuka expert, which pitot tube should come off and what was the color, and or brand of paint (this was the winter Stuka right?) you used for touch up? Thanks!

easy8

[hworth18]

Hworth, you mentioned in the other forum, you had fixed the pitot tube situation on the FOV Stuka. Can you share what you did to correct it with us here (might help those who don't hang at the other one)? I'm not a Stuka expert, which pitot tube should come off and what was the color, and or brand of paint (this was the winter Stuka right?) you used for touch up? Thanks!

easy8

I trimmed off the left side pitot tube and used Aeromaster Warbird paint RLM-04 Gelb (Yellow).. If you are looking at the stuka from the front, the one on the right side should not be there.. Here is an example I found on the web..