Clean or Lived In Look? (1 Viewer)

[maddadicus]

I grew up with the cluttered ,lived in look of early K/C vehicles, which included lots of stowage, grit, and open hatches. The extra touch is what got me collecting K/C and made them unique from out of the box plastic models. Now with each new offering, we get almost no sculpted boxes, bags, camo rolls, etc. never mind the multiple open hatches. The clean look ,imo, seems too generic anymore. I do not mind getting only 1 crew member, but not having the other open hatches limits the full crew look of a past era. I cannot believe that any mfg. saves that much cost by eliminating cutting a few extra holes in a tank of sculpting bits and bobs onto a turret or hull. Michael

 

[Mitch]

If by going back to more cluttered means an excuse for prices to rise more than they are doing now then, I would vote no. I know what you mean but, for me in general allied AFV's had more baggage than their axis counterparts (obvious as one is pushing forward and one is retreating so, supply lines are extended for one and more important than the other) so, a german AFV without kit bags and all the extra's that we see on Sherman's and the like is fine and, more likely accurate.

Open hatches I can take or leave also one tank commander or crewman is fine not sure the cost of adding in extra holes and hatches but, again it comes down to asking to be hit in the wallet again when there needs little excuse at the moment. The new Jagdpanther is a prime example I would have much preferred the one crewman and dropped the pistol waving ''cowboy''

Another option which is best for me is to buy, make etc all the kit bags boxes etc that you need from wood milliput etc and add them to the tabula rasa AFV's and detail them as required
Mitch

 

[PanzerAce1944]

Realistically a combat vehicle is only clean and uncluttered when made new. Once a crew puts a tank or other armored vehicle into field use it gets worn, dirty, stowage piled on and it gets used.....

 

[Panzer ace]

Some stowed items and extras are nice, (i.e. shovels, extra treads, jerry cans etc.) K&C does a nice job of detailing their vehicles in this manner. I just do not like it when it goes overboard like a Figarti tank from few years ago that seemed to have had a bicycle, a typewriter, a kitchen sink, an old TV and a set of pots and pans on it.

 

[uksubs]

Some stowed items and extras are nice, (i.e. shovels, extra treads, jerry cans etc.) K&C does a nice job of detailing their vehicles in this manner. I just do not like it when it goes overboard like a Figarti tank from few years ago that seemed to have had a bicycle, a typewriter, a kitchen sink, an old TV and a set of pots and pans on it.

Do you have a photo of the Figarti tank your on about maybe the desert panzer?

 

[Panzer ace]

Do you have a photo of the Figarti tank your on about maybe the desert panzer?

I do not remember exactly which Figarti tank it was, I saw it at Sierra a few years ago. It may very well be the Desert Panzer, I will look around and see if I can find a picture of it.

 

[Mitch]

It was the desert panzer VI the extra storage was needed to take your eye of the sets figures!!!!
Mitch

I do not remember exactly which Figarti tank it was, I saw it at Sierra a few years ago. It may very well be the Desert Panzer, I will look around and see if I can find a picture of it.

 

[Panzer ace]

It was the desert panzer VI the extra storage was needed to take your eye of the sets figures!!!!
Mitch

Mitch:

Thanks! That is the one.

Please let me point out that I have nothing against Figarti. I really brought it up in comparison to K&C as an exemplar only. To me the piece in question was a little over-done. I am sure there are collectors out there who loved it. Just a matter of taste not a matter of fact.

 

[Blowtorch]

Well I don't know how to vote. I like the stowage without question. But for extra hatches open, there lies the problem. Extra hatches open are good for a rear area setting or a bailed out tank, but doesn't make well for a tank in block busting mode. And most of the US figs lately have been action figs who might appreciate a buttoned up tank to fight with them through town

 

[wayne556517]

I would like to see more Cam on the vehicles especially the German vehicles,as the allied had air superiority
cam was a must have.

Im all for the dirtier the better battle hardened vehicles not something that looks like it just rolled off the production line.

 

[RPZ]

Well I don't know how to vote. I like the stowage without question. But for extra hatches open, there lies the problem. Extra hatches open are good for a rear area setting or a bailed out tank, but doesn't make well for a tank in block busting mode. And most of the US figs lately have been action figs who might appreciate a buttoned up tank to fight with them through town

Easy answer is hatches that open and close.

 

[bradleyl30]

An interesting point about the open versus closed hatches is addressed in Reynold's 'Steel Inferno.' He talks about both Allied and Axis crews getting a 'culture' shock in Normandy.

That Eastern Front German crews and the desert veterans, especially British/Commonwealth troops, used to fighting very fast campaigns in wide open spaces operated more often with hatches open most of the time. This even occurred in battle due to the distances the opponents were usually engaging each other. Hatches only closed during the final push of an assault and when things got really intense such as artillery barrages.

When the crews got to Normandy and fighting in close quarters with plenty of cover for infantry, they were forced to adapt. This meant that they had to operate with hatches closed almost exclusively except in the rear.

This caused a claustrophobia to set in and previously aggressive veterans became very cautious and tentative, and broke down the previous coordination that the crews and their supporting infantry had developed.

He claims the Germans overcame this much easier than the Brits (the book mostly focuses on the British and Commonwealth who faced the I SS Panzer Corps so he didn't delve into how well the Americans dealt with this.)

Just thought I would share an interesting fact.

My opinion is to follow the TGM model where you have an open hatch and closed hatch option. I think the hatches that open and close are difficult to make stable and keep from breaking in polystone.

 

[bradleyl30]

Oh, to actually vote I think we need to break this up into two different polls:

1. Clean or not
2. Hatches open, closed or open/close option

 

[uksubs]

Oh, to actually vote I think we need to break this up into two different polls:

1. Clean or not
2. Hatches open, closed or open/close option

Agree

 

[Cyber Field Marshall]

Personally I prefer AFV's with just a little wear and tear and weathering like most current releases. If collectors want more camo or weathering there are many products available to add this yourself to your collectibles. I think this allows for more flexibility because you can have the best of both worlds.