Knights of the Sky (2 Viewers)

[wayne556517]

Brilliant mate.............{bravo}}

 

[ivanmoe]

Brilliant mate.............{bravo}}

Thanks Wayne, and you too, Al, although y'all may be to liberal in your praise of my, as yet, nascent photography-thingy.

BTW, my latest stab at criticism, in this case of ACE-06(S), is posted here:

http://tmwcf.forumcircle.com/viewtopic.php?t=840

I'd paste it all into the Treefrog forum, but I'd never want to be accused of corrupting the youth of Athens.

 

[ivanmoe]

Thanks Wayne, and you too, Al, although y'all may be too liberal in your praise of my, as yet, nascent photography-thingy.

BTW, my latest stab at criticism, in this case of ACE-06(S), is posted here:

http://tmwcf.forumcircle.com/viewtopic.php?t=840

I'd paste it all into the Treefrog forum, but I'd never want to be accused of corrupting the youth of Athens.

 

[lancer]

Thanks Wayne, and you too, Al, although y'all may be too liberal in your praise of my, as yet, nascent photography-thingy.

BTW, my latest stab at criticism, in this case of ACE-06(S), is posted here:

http://tmwcf.forumcircle.com/viewtopic.php?t=840

I'd paste it all into the Treefrog forum, but I'd never want to be accused of corrupting the youth of Athens.

Hi Moe. Great review on the Ball Nieuport. I really appreciate the photography as it has made me aware of several details that my 'older' eyesight has missed, especially in terms of the real small print on the tails. Also went back and examined the Lewis guns and I quite agree. The SE-5 has the superior gun, but not enough to make any real difference to me (again, it's me eyes). I have enjoyed all the review and pics you have posted. -- Al

 

[ivanmoe]

Hi Moe. Great review on the Ball Nieuport. I really appreciate the photography as it has made me aware of several details that my 'older' eyesight has missed, especially in terms of the real small print on the tails. Also went back and examined the Lewis guns and I quite agree. The SE-5 has the superior gun, but not enough to make any real difference to me (again, it's me eyes). I have enjoyed all the review and pics you have posted. -- Al

Hi Al,

In a way, I was a guinea-pig for JJD models in that group. A diecast dealer started carrying them last year, and a lot of us were kinda standing around, commenting things like, "wow, those look great." However, they were also a LOT more expensive than anything that we'd typically buy that wasn't really old and/or really rare. Eventually, curiosity got the better of me, and I purchased the Kempf Fokker and wrote it up. The guys really seemed to like the model, BTW. Several of them have followed-up with purchases of their own, at least a few of the mysteries of JJD models having been resolved.

As to the review(s), I hope that y'all will be patient with what some might consider nitpicking. I'm a modeler, and like my friends, I tend to focus very much on detail. Having said that, let me acknowledge that a fella can get carried away. These are still models, not the real thing. I can tell you, however, that among "my type," expectations will invariably go up with scale. The bigger that it is, the more detail we'll tend to demand. This can play itself in different ways, good and bad. While I may "mean mouth" a Lewis Gun on the N.17, I'm more than willing to praise the Air Pump on the inboard strut of the Sopwith Camel.

While my analysis may seem ruthless at times, my synthesis, "the big-picture" is much kinder to John Jenkins' model airplanes. Because at least some of y'all seem more devoted to the latter, I think that it's best if I post my reviews to a modeler's forum. I only reveal my thinking in this regard so that no one will think that I'm trying to lure any of your members off to some other venue. Nothing could be further from the truth. This is simply my way of providing anyone who might be interested with a detailed view of items that they might have an interest in. It's my way of sharing information without shaking up what appears to be a happy-kingdom of sorts, one that I'm delighted with.

Thanks for being such a great ambassador for Toy Soldiers, the folks who make them, and, of course, collectors!

Moe

 

[lancer]

Hi Al,

In a way, I was a guinea-pig for JJD models in that group. A diecast dealer started carrying them last year, and a lot of us were kinda standing around, commenting things like, "wow, those look great." However, they were also a LOT more expensive than anything that we'd typically buy that wasn't really old and/or really rare. Eventually, curiosity got the better of me, and I purchased the Kempf Fokker and wrote it up. The guys really seemed to like the model, BTW. Several of them have followed-up with purchases of their own, at least a few of the mysteries of JJD models having been resolved.

As to the review(s), I hope that y'all will be patient with what some might consider nitpicking. I'm a modeler, and like my friends, I tend to focus very much on detail. Having said that, let me acknowledge that a fella can get carried away. These are still models, not the real thing. I can tell you, however, that among "my type," expectations will invariably go up with scale. The bigger that it is, the more detail we'll tend to demand. This can play itself in different ways, good and bad. While I may "mean mouth" a Lewis Gun on the N.17, I'm more than willing to praise the Air Pump on the inboard strut of the Sopwith Camel.

While my analysis may seem ruthless at times, my synthesis, "the big-picture" is much kinder to John Jenkins' model airplanes. Because at least some of y'all seem more devoted to the latter, I think that it's best if I post my reviews to a modeler's forum. I only reveal my thinking in this regard so that no one will think that I'm trying to lure any of your members off to some other venue. Nothing could be further from the truth. This is simply my way of providing anyone who might be interested with a detailed view of items that they might have an interest in. It's my way of sharing information without shaking up what appears to be a happy-kingdom of sorts, one that I'm delighted with.

Thanks for being such a great ambassador for Toy Soldiers, the folks who make them, and, of course, collectors!

Moe

Moe, what you call nitpicking, we call 'rivet counting'. I am one of them in regards to WW1 aircraft, in terms of overall accuracy, color schemes and markings (if I can see them:tongue. I like your reviews and find them interesting to compare to my thoughts about the models. I am not a modeler, so my rivet counting might be different than yours, but I appreciate every comment about detail and it's accuracy or inaccuracy. Always glad to have another WW1 aircraft freak on board.:wink2:^&grin^&cool -- Al

 

[Barksdale]

One heck of a picture. Nice job!

 

[MapleLeaf]

AWSOME pictures Moe

 

[Old Bill]

The latest addtions to my collection. My favourite is Captain William Stanley Jenkins. A wonderfully animated pose as he walks towards his plane placing a round into the open cylinder of his revolver.

I must say though, it only just topped the Lola figure. This ones a real joy - very delicately sculpted, really feminine, and a looker! Well done John. How about some of Nungessers Lady friends - could be getting
out of the Taxi at his Airfield?

I have seen mention of a female Ambulance Driver - more Ladies please!

 

[ivanmoe]

Thought that I'd mention a development that I haven't seen discussed in any of the other threads. Yesterday, I received another of JJ's KotS models, the Red Baron's triplane. It's one of the two JJ tripes that support a stand, so I attempted to mount it for display. Interestingly, what I found was that it's somewhat different from the other stand-capable models. Unlike the others, the threaded hole is located so for forward on the fuselage that the landing gear will interfere with the stand through about 120 degrees of it's orbit around the mounting hardware. That left me with about two thirds of a full circle to play with. At any rate, Manfred's bird ended up displayed on-deck:

View attachment 120614

 

[lancer]

Thought that I'd mention a development that I haven't seen discussed in any of the other threads. Yesterday, I received another of JJ's KotS models, the Red Baron's triplane. It's one of the two JJ tripes that support a stand, so I attempted to mount it for display. Interestingly, what I found was that it's somewhat different from the other stand-capable models. Unlike the others, the threaded hole is located so for forward on the fuselage that the landing gear will interfere with the stand through about 120 degrees of it's orbit around the mounting hardware. That left me with about two thirds of a full circle to play with. At any rate, Manfred's bird ended up displayed on-deck:

View attachment 120614

That is an interesting development. I wonder, since the Red tripe was one of the first JJD aircraft, if this might be a retro-fit for the stand? I mean, maybe it is early production refitted, as opposed to new production aircraft. At any rate I can't understand why the stand fitting would be different from one tripe to another. Interior structure should be the same, unless the stand fitting neccesiated a new interior structure/fitting for new production aircraft and maybe old production aircraft had to be retro-fitted in a different location. -- Al

 

[ivanmoe]

That is an interesting development. I wonder, since the Red tripe was one of the first JJD aircraft, if this might be a retro-fit for the stand? I mean, maybe it is early production refitted, as opposed to new production aircraft. At any rate I can't understand why the stand fitting would be different from one tripe to another. Interior structure should be the same, unless the stand fitting neccesiated a new interior structure/fitting for new production aircraft and maybe old production aircraft had to be retro-fitted in a different location. -- Al

Hi Al,

You do understand that ACE-01S can be mounted on the stand, correct? However, it can only be mounted on, and rotate through, part of the stand's three-hundred-sixty-degree arc. Just want to be as clear as possible. BTW, I don't have the Udet version, which also has the threaded hole for the mounting hardware. Can that one be mounted on the stand without restriction?

Moe

 

[Old Bill]

Hi Al,

You do understand that ACE-01S can be mounted on the stand, correct? However, it can only be mounted on, and rotate through, part of the stand's three-hundred-sixty-degree arc. Just want to be as clear as possible. BTW, I don't have the Udet version, which also has the threaded hole for the mounting hardware. Can that one be mounted on the stand without restriction?

Moe

Hi Moe, - I have the Udet version of the Tripe. There are 3 pics of mine in the "London Show - I have Pics" thread. You can see quite clearly where the threaded hole is located on this version. You can't rotate it fully on the stand. ( Unless there is some way to do it that I haven't figured out ).
Cheers, Roy.

 

[lancer]

Hi Al,

You do understand that ACE-01S can be mounted on the stand, correct? However, it can only be mounted on, and rotate through, part of the stand's three-hundred-sixty-degree arc. Just want to be as clear as possible. BTW, I don't have the Udet version, which also has the threaded hole for the mounting hardware. Can that one be mounted on the stand without restriction?

Moe

Moe, at this moment I have not purchased a stand yet, so I don't know how any of the tripes fit. My Red Baron tripe doesn't have a stand fitting anyway. Hope to get a stand with the Udet tripe in a week or so. -- Al

 

[ivanmoe]

Hi Moe, - I have the Udet version of the Tripe. There are 3 pics of mine in the "London Show - I have Pics" thread. You can see quite clearly where the threaded hole is located on this version. You can't rotate it fully on the stand. ( Unless there is some way to do it that I haven't figured out ).
Cheers, Roy.

Hi Bill,

Well, your pics certainly resolve any uncertainty regarding the stands and the JJ tripes:



For our readers, it should be obvious that the bowed-out section of the stand is going to stop the model from rotating when it comes into contact with the landing gear. As I mentioned, up the thread a few posts, my other stand-capable KotS models have the threaded-hole further aft. That attribute of the other models allows the landing gear to clear that same part of the stand. And it's the placement of the hole which limits the ability of the tripes to rotate 360-degrees. This isn't the end of the world, BTW. I only mentioned it because I rely, somewhat, on the extra space, below, that's created by the stand being the reverse of the way that Bill has displayed his. There's no telling why JJ moved the hole so far forward on the tripes, but it may be A Question of Balance, Moody Blues, God bless.:wink2:

 

[ivanmoe]

Moe, at this moment I have not purchased a stand yet, so I don't know how any of the tripes fit. My Red Baron tripe doesn't have a stand fitting anyway. Hope to get a stand with the Udet tripe in a week or so. -- Al

The more that I think about this, the lesser of an issue it seems. For instance, if I want more space BENEATH the model/stand, I can turn the stand ninety-degrees, left or right, rather than fore or aft. That won't yield the exact same result, but it will allow other "airplanes" and/or figures to fit into the gaps between models. My, but aren't I resourceful! ^&cool This makes me love the stands that much more, BTW.
{bravo}}

 

[ivanmoe]

Posted a new review, this one of ACE-04, to the TMW forum:

http://tmwcf.forumcircle.com/viewtopic.php?p=5518#5518

Lot's of pictures there, in case you've never seen the model in person.

 

[lancer]

Moe, at this moment I have not purchased a stand yet, so I don't know how any of the tripes fit. My Red Baron tripe doesn't have a stand fitting anyway. Hope to get a stand with the Udet tripe in a week or so. -- Al

Have finally been able to get the Udet tripe. Should land in a couple of days. From the posted pictures, I can tell it is a real beauty and I am sure it will take it's place as my favorite JJD German aircraft. Gonna be tough to top that brilliant SE-5 but the Udet tripe does have a fantastically creative and complex paint job to recommend it.:wink2:^&grin -- Al

 

[Combat]

Have finally been able to get the Udet tripe. Should land in a couple of days. From the posted pictures, I can tell it is a real beauty and I am sure it will take it's place as my favorite JJD German aircraft. Gonna be tough to top that brilliant SE-5 but the Udet tripe does have a fantastically creative and complex paint job to recommend it.:wink2:^&grin -- Al

The Udet plane is fantastic. I like the figures as well, but one thing bugs me. Why is Udet seated while his fiancée is standing? It seems like an odd pose although John mentioned it was based on an actual photograph - albeit one that I have never seen.

 

[lancer]

The Udet plane is fantastic. I like the figures as well, but one thing bugs me. Why is Udet seated while his fiancée is standing? It seems like an odd pose although John mentioned it was based on an actual photograph - albeit one that I have never seen.

John could be setting up an airfield photo op. All he needs to do is produce a period photographer or film crew. One could then have a lot of famous pilots posing for the shot, perhaps in front of an aircraft or hanger. Lots of possibilities. -- Al