Michael Leek

Need help! Tried copying and pasting image, but that didn’t work! Also tried inserting via URL to my Flickr gallery, but that didn’t work either! Obviously doing something wrong…!

Photograph I took on Monday 18 March of HMS Queen Elizabeth coming down Loch Long after spending a week offloading ammunition at Glen Mallan, prior to heading round to Rosyth for repairs to one of her starboard propeller shaft couplings.

Might be worth pointing out that some of these shots of HMS Queen Elizabeth, particularly those by Kyle Heller, have been HDR processed. (For HDR read: High Dynamic Range.) HDR requires a significant amount of work using relevant software, even if the photo itself is made up of a number of different exposures through the camera. Whilst the technique has its place, especially in landscape photography, it can make an image look awful if not carefully controlled!

Didn’t know there were any 3D printed models available of a Challenger! Do you know who the manufacturer is?

Had thought of the Tamiya kit, but unfortunately it’s not of an early Challenger, which is what I’d prefer (i.e. without the side armour skirts, etc). Thanks! Will check it out!

Looking for advice and guidance: what’s the most accurate and detailed 1:72 and 1:48 scale Challenger 2 kit? This is, of course, assuming one is available in the latter scale?

Thanks for the link! Having taught technical and information illustration for many years, I understand what’s involved in producing profile illustrations, etc. Indeed, I was trained as a technical illustrator myself! I even worked in the aircraft industry (Fokker, Airbus and BAC, etc), and later, when teaching, for aviation museums (Science Museum, FAA, IWM Duxford and RAF Museum, etc). Unfortunately, the illustrations in the above link lack depth, contrast and form. In other words, they’re too flat! They also lack detail. I was brought up on the aviation profile illustrations of illustrators such as Peter Endsleigh Castle, Tony Bryan, John Weal, Peter Sarson, G. W. Heumann, et al. These illustrators produced their illustrations without computers of course, but their works in terms of detail, etc, are exemplary. There are modern illustrators using Photoshop and/or Illustrator who are producing high quality, detailed and realistic profile illustrations that are comparable, but unfortunately the majority simply lack conviction. They certainly wouldn’t pass muster if produced by one of my students!

Thank you.

Checked the website; only five kits listed, with a header note stating no advance orders will be accepted for Cromwell models (suggesting an unreliability issue). Not exactly ‘up and running’, but thank you for the link. I think I’ll give up on Cromwell; life’s too short - and I have a life to live!

I don’t use FB, but thanks for the link.

Impressive models ‘f matthews’! The subtle weathering looks excellent, as does the scale-looking ground (too often, in my opinion, such ground bases look over-scale). Thanks for sharing! And thanks very much for the advice - not long-winded at all, but very useful! I’ve already started a search of relevant Dragon kits that are still available via online outlets such as eBay. One problem is trying to identify year of manufacture. Since I opened this post the latest RFM kit’s arrived. It certainly looks good, and it seems very accurate too. However, I would like to get hold of the Dragon kits you mentioned…

Interesting; thank you. Will check out both the RFM and the Academy kits (my particular interest is in the early versions). Any idea where I might get hold of the older Dragon kit? How long ago was it produced?

Thank you.

Looks very good! The initial photographs that opened this post, with the appropriate backdrop, are particularly convincing! Well done!

It’s probably been asked numerous times, but I’d be interested to know which 1:35 scale kit of a Panzer III is considered the most detailed and accurate?