rsteinbrunn

Anyone have a copy they'd be willing to sell of this? Windsock Datafile 146 - Pfalz D.XII at War. I already have Datafile 41 on the D.XII but would like to acquire this one too. Cheers! --Bob Steinbrunn IPMS/USA 3345

Does anyone know whether Jennings Heilig still produces his nailhead decals designed for the WnW 1/32 Albatros kit? Cheers! --Bob Steinbrunn IPMS/USA 3345

No, no, Rick: not a hobby room item: you simply park it in your garage. :lol: Cheers! --Bob

For those of you who build M5A1 Stuarts, especially those who fool around with 1/6 scale armor, there's a new armor modeling book available from Schiffer Publications: Large Scale Armor Modeling from Schiffer Cheers! :) --Bob

It's gorgeous, Rudolfo. Dragon is doing some fantastic kits lately. --Bob Steinbrunn

Gracias, Rudolfo; aprecio eso! Here are three more photos of the turret interior for you. :) Best regards. --Bob Steinbrunn

Thanks for all the kind words, Gentlemen; they're very much appreciated. :) Mark, you'll be able to see this model in Omaha since that's within drivable distance from Minneapolis. Hope it looks as good to you in person. :lol: I'll be giving a seminar on my book for Squadron/Signal at the Nats and if you're there please stop by and say hello. Bob, I've done several articles on the 1/192 scale Fletcher-class destroyer I built, the USS Kidd. Rusty was the Head Ship Judge when I took it to the IPMS/USA Nats in Kansas City in 2006 and was kind enough to say nice things about it. It appeared in FineScale Modeler magazine in September 2001 and this may still be available as a back issue. This article was more of a "show and tell" piece rather than a full-scale build article. For the actual "how I did it" (kinda boring, actually) article, see Seaways' Ships in Scale magazine Jan/Feb 2001 and the next four issues for the 5-part build article. Hope you can stay awake while reading it. :lol: Thanks again for the nice remarks on the tank, guys, and perhaps we can all share a brew or two in Omaha. --Bob Steinbrunn

Here are some photos of a 1/6 scale M5A1 Stuart light tank I've recently finished. This project spanned 4 1/2 years, took 2573 hours, and the model has 10,960 pieces in it. Yep, had to count: can't help it when you're obsessive/compulsive. I've written a book on the build which Schiffer Publications will have out within the year if anyone is interested enough to look into the process. :D --Bob Steinbrunn

My dear Mr. Hodge Podge, You are as erudite as you ever were, and I very much appreciate your kind remarks. While I'm cognizant of the "P" in IPMS, and while the hypothetical tank in the example above is (hypothetically) about 80% plastic, there is still a fair amount of resin, white metal, britannia pewter, and brass in its composition. Now, having said that, hasn't IPMS moved away from that "P" stance long ago? That is, if my on-again/off-again memory serves. Take fer instance the metal figures you see at IPMS contests, the paper "flats" figures, the occasional wooden ship models, and, well, just neat stuff you see there made of a bewildering variety of materials besides plastic. I have to admit to gazing longingly at the many non-plastic models in the Internet Craftsmanship Museum ( http://www.craftsmanshipmuseum.com/ ) and feeling like a common blacksmith by comparison to the work I see there. No matter (at least to me) than almost none of it is in plastic. I wish I had a tenth of their skill. Next, many wooden ship model kits are fairly laughable: they're not so much a "kit" as a scale lumberyard. This type of kit is almost as difficult as scratch-building. How do I know this? Trust me on this. <grin> Last, I don't think our tank builder, above, felt he had any advantage or edge over someone who started with a kit. Our builder only wished he had such an edge as having started with a decent kit......sigh. It was far more difficult to correct many inaccuracies than it was to scratch-build the faulty components in the first place. Still, no one ever accused said builder of being very bright. But now, more importantly, how many beers shall we drink together in Omaha? (The brewery needs the empties..... :D )

Interesting topic, Kevin. I've seen a few models built from toys and they looked just like that: toys with some added detail, so I can't say your friend is too far wrong. Perhaps these belong in a separate category one day if they can't compete with scale models as I understand the term. For example, take our tank model, above. What if, say, the builder scratch-built most of the items, such as a SCR-508 FM radio, and brought the rest of the "toy" up to the same level? Is the tank still a toy or is it now an acceptable scale model? I think you'll find many opinions. I think I still agree with Jack in that - in the final anaylsis - the end product should be judged by its scale accuracy and detail, and not on its origin. Just a theory, mind. --Bob Steinbrunn Stillwater, Minnesnowta IPMS #3345

Yes, Minnesnowta. And it ain't so funny. :lol:

Great question, Kevin, and one which I have been pondering for some time. For example, let's (hypothetically) say there is a 1/6 toy of an M5A1 Stuart light tank out there somewhere. A nice toy, but a toy nonetheless. (Notice the red "missile" poised in the gun barrel, dangerously threatening the family cat.) Then let's say the builder completely strips the toy down and creates a 462-piece "kit" from the constituent parts. Now, let's fast-forward 4 1/2 years later to where the builder has put 2573 hours into the model, incorporating 10,960 parts, and has ended up with something which is about 85% scratch-built. What category should this hypothetical model be placed in? Scratch-built? Large scale armor? Disallow this entry since it originated as a toy? Enquiring minds would like to know. (Me? I tend to agree with Dick Montgomery: a model is a model is a model...... ) --Bob Steinbrunn Stillwater, Minnesnowta IPMS #3345