Here's the Big One we've been looking forward to! Jean-Luc takes a detailed look at Tamiya's gorgeous new 1/48 scale Storch. My own kit was waiting for me when I got back to work today and Jean-Luc has really whetted my appetite for what to expect when I get it home to open it...

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Thanks!

very interesting review! can't wait to see in-progress when Jean-Luc will lay his magic hands on this one

Hi Rowan and Jean-Luc

great review ... still waiting for mine

Steffen

So am I, It´s on the way from Japan and will be here any day now!

You can never go wrong with the big "T"!

For me this is a most welcome release as I love the ungainly Storch!
Besides, we had It in Northern Sweden (Lappland) as the S14 and it was called "Fjäll-Storken" (the Mountain-Stork).

I will buy at least two of these kits!

Thanks for the review!

Cheers!

Stefan E

Hi again

Well, getting my chance to see the new Storch "in the flesh", so to speak, last night, it really is as good as Jean-Luc says - beautifully presented and produced. I see what he means about the ejector pin marks, though - they look like they could be a pain to tackle.

While having the side windows moulded integrally with the fuselage will certainly simplify assembly to some extent, to be honest, I'm not totally convinced as to the benefit of moulding the parts in both grey and clear, compared with the more normal method (for an aircraft like this) of simply moulding them entirely in clear styrene. True, that wouldn't have the same visual impact - and Tamiya are making a lot (arguably too much, in view of the extra packaging) out of this being a milestone kit - but, it would be simpler and cheaper to produce and make no difference in terms of actually building the kit. And I expect we'll never know the answer, but I also wonder if moulding in two types of styrene increased the need for ejector pins...

Still, it is a fantastic kit!

All the best

Rowan

Hi Rowan!

I asked myself the same question! If this is the case, then I hope Tamiya will return to more traditional methods for their next kits.

Jean-Luc

I also wonder about their new idea of joining the clear parts as part of the molding process...but i wouldn't expect them to change it now that they're doing it! I mean look at their 1/48 armour with their diecast metal chassis- why? No one knows why or what the point is, yet they keep doing it! Meanwhile Hobby Boss are making kits of the same subjects at half the price with better detail.

My thinking is that the two big Japanese companies realise they cannot compete on price with the Chinese and so they try to come up with fresh ideas instead.

Back to the Storch, i think it's a great subject and Tamiya engineering and fit is still number one. So i can't wait to get hold of it.

Andrew

Still did not get my kit, but a thought re canopy.

Maybe (as I wrote just my thought) so maybe the made the parts integral to avoid having ejector marks on the clear parts .. those are really large and would need help to get out of the tool ...

furthermore ejector pins are also included after the tool is ready when there are problems releasing the sprue from the tool (test shots), look closely and you will find a lot around the deep assembly holes. I could also imagine those added later have a worse fit than initially planned ejectors

re Chinese competitors .... I agree they are dirt cheap (buying from China directly) but most stuff has at least one major fault ... I won't bore you with my Fw 200 experience but have a look at Terry Ashleys (PMMS) review on the Shermans just to give some examples .. OTOH Big T also gets some stuff wrong and I also hate the metal chassis ... while it is bearable in the Greif kit

Now I hope I get the model released from German customs and redirected to my home ... rats

happy new modelling year

Steffen

Hi all

Wings & Wheels Publications have a very useful walkaround for anyone wanting to add more detail to Tamiya's kit:



I bought my copy from Modelimex.

All the best

Rowan

I hope to be buying mine from my LHS and this looks like a wonderful kit and the subject is one that has been on my wish list for years. I have the Revell boxing of the Hasegawa(?) 1/32 scale kit and I just needed a book for reference, thanks Rowan

I feel a set of masks coming on

Mal

Im very glad to see this topic taken up by a manufacturer with a reputation for high levels of crisp detail like Tamiya. If I must complain,it will be over the price of the kit,not the quality. I must say Im looking foreward to buying it and "ageing" it in my closet for awhile until Im ready to build it

Hi again

Along with the new WWP book, don't forget Squadron's Fieseler Storch In Action as a useful source of inspiration.

All the best

Rowan