MarcusH

A Happy Christmas to everyone! It has been a while since I posted on the site. I now return, but first I have a favour to request. To whom would I submit books for review. I produced the Haynes book on the T-34 earlier in 2018 and I am just now finishing the follow-up on the Panther. I will be penning the title on the Assault Gun in the New Year. Is there a volunteer who would step up to review the new book when it comes out? Also , it will be a Panther Manual nor a Workshop Manual. Too many hostages to fortune by calling it a workshop manual. It was never intended to be such. That has never stopped ejits slaying it because it does not do what it says on the cover. That is why it has changed. Not my fault. I just write what the contract lays down for me and that was not to produce a T-34 ' Workshop Manual'

Happy Christmas to everyone, It has been a while since I have posted on BM but better late than never. I am very surprised that there has been no call ( as far as I can see) for some company to produce a 1:700 QE CV. Given how novel the design I would have thought it would make a great model. If Tamia can produce a 1/700 kit of the updated Izumo carrier with ski-jump ( real life now aping fiction!) surely there is some company out there who would do the QE. Or is it because it is Royal Navy? I still seem to detect a residual prejudice to producing kits that fly ( or have flown) the White Ensign.

I was on my way home to Bournemouth from Southampton and hit a slow moving line of traffic on the M27 today at about 12:20. We were being held up by a large load with flashing lights. You could have knocked me down with a feather when having drawn up close to the beastie causing all the trouble it turned out to be the said Elefant on the back of a low loader on its way to Bovington. Having written about the Ferdinand in my books on the battle of Kursk I never thought I would ever see one. I am in at Bovy on Friday to research a book for Haynes on the T-34 so I will do my best to get to see the beast. Assuming they can also get their hands on the SturmTiger as well then the Tiger family display in 2017 should prove to be quite a draw.

John is right about allowing some time before asking for the next iteration of Hermes. To use the expression, 'give the guy a break'. I help OH with materials/ plans/subject suggestions and it takes a long time for the idea to work through to prototype and then casting. However, Hermes 69 and Viraat when they come will all have the correct aircraft. Sea Vixens and Buccs for the former! There are other postwar RN subjects including other flat tops but to repeat, it does take time to assemble as much info as possible, do 3D cad designwork, cut the master, get the decals drawn up and printed, have some brave chap do the brass etch etc, etc. The owner of OH is a real RN fan and we are lucky that we have someone who does not pander just to the US market. There will be other 1:350th subjects but they will not intrude on the subject matter in the Atlantic Models range. All good things comes to him(or her) who waits!

I have received Hermes from OH. Please see my comments on the Orange Hobby section. It is a superb model. Quite one of the best cariers yet done by anybody.

I received my Hermes today from Deng. Hobby Easy have received there's and are despatching. Gentleman, it has been worth the wait. It is superb although one will have to be patieent and careful with etch - there is a lot of it. Deck markings and others are as decals ( which personally I prefer). What is useful is that the whole s/structure is not cast integral with the deck- make's for easier masking and painting. The Sea Harriers and Sea Kings are a delight. The former are being released seperately as three to a pack so you can increase the air wing at disgression. Although I help Deng with these products I still marvel at what he is able to achieve and at such a reasonable price. It is great to have such a fine model of a Brit carrier that rivals if not betters anything else on the market - possibly save for a certain company's forthcoming USS INtrepid!

OH seem to be back on line. Release date for Hermes at Hobby Easy was yesterday. I think the sentiments from Brit Forces about this model stimulating an interest in ship modelling could well be true. Other good subjects to come from OH.

It would seem that the Chinese authorities have closed down all OH email addresses. I cannot even acess the personal address that I use to communicate with the owner. I cannot for the life of me understand what the problem the govn has with OH. That being said, when dealing with a dictatorial regime (which is what it is no matter how much window dressing it undertakes to suggest otherwise) that can interdict and stop what it deems to be unwelcome emails, anything could be the problem. For those interested Hermes is now on Hobby Easy' site selling for the incredible price of approx £54.00. If you haven't looked at the two pics on Modelwarships please do. There are times however when we modellers can be unreasonable. Hermes 82 has literally just been released and one guy on that site is already asking when the next one - Hermes 68 - is due. Give OH a break!

OH has posted pics of Hermes on Modelwarships. Have a look. Pretty impressive.

I have received a pic from OH of the first hull casting of the Hermes. As one would expect it looks excellent. In this case, Deng has chosen not to cast the superstructure/bridge with the rest of the hull and it is a separate piece wich I think will make for easier painting etc. I hope to receive a full kit very shortly and will attempt to get pics on the site asap. I know that OH are exploring producing subjects in plastic injection. Deng, the owner, is good friends with the chap who runs S-model who produce early Chinese Navy inection warship kits. Deng has his own favourite subjects he wishes to produce in resin 700th and these are likely to come first. We have discussed doing Ark Royal BUT the problem is plans. However, there are a number of other RN subjects under consideration which if they appear, will please all.

Greetings, Orangehobby has just announced its first 1/350th warship in the form of the modern Russian Navy corvette Steregushchy. It is the usual very high standard OH product. Superb resin. The hull , as with WEMs ships, is in two parts, so you can make it either as w/l or f/h. Pictures can be found on the Hobby Easy website and the price in HK dollars converts to approx £35/36 sans the postage which is never excessive. HoobyEasy are taking pro-orders and as I have never had any problesm with their mail service I think if you are interested in getting one early, dive in. It will be stocked in due course by WEM and Antics are now also stocking OH. In the US it will be stocked by Freetime Hobbies. MarcusH

To add grist to the mill, the intention is do Hermes in most, if not all of her incarnations. She will also appear as the 60s CV with the 984 radar and the appropriate air group and also as INS Viraat in due course. Other RN vessels are slated in for the future after the Spanish navy F-100 Bazan with Mistral being done in due course. Aircraft created for the carrier will also be available seperately so early model Sea Vixen and Buccaneers will be more easily obtainable. A very nice 350th - OH's first venture into this scale - should also hopefully be available before Xmas and it will fly the Russian ( the vessel was built post Soviet) flag!! Best wishes MarcusH

This is my first entry on Britmodeller and I certainly hope will not be my last. I have recently acquired the Orange Hobby HMS Ocean and I have to say it is a very fine production. That being said, I am not wholly unbius inamsuch as I have had a hand in its coming to fruition. I helped Orange Hobby with plans and other resources but the production is completely down to quality that the company brings to its releases. The owner of Orange Hobby is committed to producing models of the very highest quality, accuracy and value and these virtues are all to be found on Ocean. Moulding is first rate. There are etched sheets for the ship and for the Merlins and Apaches - which are themselves miniature works of art as are on the onboard landing ships. Deck markings are dry rub and complex. In all, HMS Ocean will need care to complete. It is also a pointer to what is to come from Orange Hobby. They are also moving into 1/350th soon and the subject matter is also contemporary.