http://www.starshipmodeler.com/real/mb_shuttle.htm
I assembled this model in an evening of not very intense effort, except the SSME plumbing, which took quite a bit of test fitting to find the right parts. Resist the urge to trust the friction-fit feature of this kit. At least use some super glue on the main gear tires, flight deck and sleeping berth figures, vertical tail parts, the beavertail flap, and the SSMEs and their plumbing. Otherwise, you'll be re-assembling several times initially and losing the parts later.
For this price, I would have liked to have had more and more accurate interior detail and engraved Thermal Protection System (TPS) lines. The clear flight deck canopy prevents you from having a complete exterior view from the starboard side, not to say you couldn't paint it yourself.
Yeah I know its some kind of kit you just have to glue together (or snap together) but It's still way cheaper to buy the tamiya kit and paint it yourself (its hardly a complicated paint scheme )VMF115 wrote:but this looks like its pretty much done right out of the box.
look at the picture of the box...you will see painted jet engines and pilots......
4D Vision Vehicles Cutaway 4D Puzzle Toy -
F-14A Jolly Rogers Cutaway Model Item No. :26121
● F-14A Cutaway Model 4D Puzzle Toy consists of 167 pcs parts
● F-14A Cutaway Model Toy with New Puzzle Concept
● Fine Detailed Sculpturing with hand painted parts
● Cutaway design shows the engines
● Product Size: 59.5 cm Long
● Packaging : 4 pcs, Ctn Cube : 4.5 cu.ft.
Most people who don't have some kind of disability can do it but I can understand that most people think its too much hassle (otherwise dragon wouldn't sell diecast modelsVMF115 wrote:buy most people can't do that..
) . I can also understand that many people rather buy diecast models since its actually more expressive (and time consuming) to build one in most cases , but when we see finished models or snap kits that cost over 100$ more than a kit (or don't exist at all in finished form) it might be a good idea to consider learning how to build and paint . And with the release of the 1:32 bf-110 and 1:32 Ju-88 its become something more and more worth learning VMF115 wrote: beside it looks like the landing gear is reactable as well.the last time I checked the tamiya kit did not offer those features.............
I'm not a 1:18 collector anymore but I'm sure a lot of those who still are would love one . But I personally don't understand why some hardcore collectors just keep writing about X aircraft they like too see in finished form (that probably never will be made since most of em have little mass market appeal ) when many of those aircraft exist in kit form . If anyone really want one of those aircrafts I think it's worth buying the necessary tools and start reading some of the tutorials on the net , even if you're not a very good painter you can still easily achive a 21st century quality paintjob (thats made by simple factory workers) all it takes is a lot of patience . I guess a good kit too start of with would be one of 21st Century's ones that seem very simple to assemble with little need of any toolsVMF115 wrote:More power to you but this is probably going to be the first semi assembled f-14 in 1/32 for some time. unless Bbi or FOV puts one out.........Now if this 1/18th I don't think you would mind
The only reason why I'm buying these finished mass produced planes is because I simply don't have the skills or the tools, else I would be in happy land with all the different aircrafts available in kits.demonclaw wrote:Looks like a fun kit to build but I would never spend over 100$ for a 1:32 model , especially when the Tamiya 1:32 F-14 and Hasegawa 1:32 f-16 only cost 45-50$
I'm probably gonna start building 1:32 planes when I get some new better tools and paint
Building a model sounds more troublesome than it really is , if you just follow the instructions (and look up some basic modeling tips) nothing can go wrong but it does take a lot of patience and time . Painting isn't really that hard either if you look up some tutorial and practice on cheaper kits , its also important that you have a good airbrush and other necessary tools .olifant wrote: Demonclaw, I don't have a disability but there is no way I could put together a 1/32 Tamiya kit, paint it and have it look good. I may as well hammer two 2'X4's together and spray paint them green...
Another thing to consider when comparing finished models vs. kits is the time involved. I was a decent model builder when I was a kid, but the days of summers off and long holiday breaks are long past. My time is far to valuable now to sink the required time into building a 1:32 kit that could rival the detail of that Tomcat. If a good kit goes for $50 and this finished model is $175 that only leaves $125 to pay for paint, supplies and my time.iflabs wrote:The only reason why I'm buying these finished mass produced planes is because I simply don't have the skills or the tools, else I would be in happy land with all the different aircrafts available in kits.demonclaw wrote:Looks like a fun kit to build but I would never spend over 100$ for a 1:32 model , especially when the Tamiya 1:32 F-14 and Hasegawa 1:32 f-16 only cost 45-50$
I'm probably gonna start building 1:32 planes when I get some new better tools and paint
How long have you been building models and how many have you built? How much do you have invested in tools and supplies?demonclaw wrote:Building a model sounds more troublesome than it really is , if you just follow the instructions (and look up some basic modeling tips) nothing can go wrong but it does take a lot of patience and time . Painting isn't really that hard either if you look up some tutorial and practice on cheaper kits , its also important that you have a good airbrush and other necessary tools .olifant wrote: Demonclaw, I don't have a disability but there is no way I could put together a 1/32 Tamiya kit, paint it and have it look good. I may as well hammer two 2'X4's together and spray paint them green...
And painting a Tamiya 1:32 f-14 won't take a lot of work , if you look at some tutorials you can see that it have a really simple paint scheme and most of the paint work consist of painting the upper side in medium gray , the lower in ghost grey and adding the decals (theres even decals for the cockpit ) . That makes the model look ok (like the 21stC planes) but if you wanna achieve the kind of detail you see on modeling sites its gonna take a lot more practice
