Heya, Folks,

Just wanted to let you know that the Masterpiece Models 1/35th scale resin Swift Boat kit is now out on ebay. Been keeping an eye on Jack Carrico's Facebook page and his Brownwater.net site as well.

Here's the ebay link:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-35th-scale-PCF-Patrol-Craft-Fast-SWIFT-BOAT-/131409548079?pt=Model_Kit_US&hash=item1e989e932f

I have no connection with Masterpiece models other than being a satisfied customer...have just started their ASPB kit and so far so good.

Now we just have to get Vladi at Bravo 6 to sculpt us some generic Navy crew figures for the Riverine kits out there!!!

This is a kit that I've been waiting on for some time --- gotta start saving up that paper route money...

Anyway, saw it on ebay so I am just passing the good news along.

With Regards and Aloha,

Johnny B.

PS Would love to see kits of an Army ACV hovercraft along with a floating artillery platform! And of course, who wouldn't want to see some new Riverine craft and figures in plastic as well.

Wow Johnny, that's some hunk o resin. I'd really like to see how it progresses after it lands on your desk.

Heya, Jim,

No lie, my friend!! That Swift looks like beaucoup resin!!

Today is my second day of work on the Masterpiece Models ASPB "Alpha boat" and the hull is also a very big, solid chunk 'o resin! Definitely won't float in the bath tub... Trying to get a move on and get it finished for Valley Con at the Reagan library March 1, but I've got a long ways to go and not much time... Considering that I'm trying to get that and a few things finished for the show, it is going to be a race. Oofah!

The MM Swift, along with their ATC(H) are both on my future acquisitions list --- just a matter of savin' up...as they are an investment.

Frustrating not to have much to choose from for a Navy crew (the web gear on typical Vietnam War figures always makes it tough)...and even though Bravo 6 has started releasing some great new figures sans web gear, most are in casual "at ease" poses. I'd like to see Navy crews in combat poses, on patrol, crewing, firing .50 cals, M16s, M60s or any other boat-mounted or hand-held weapons, ya know?

Hope ta see ya soon, Jim at Valley Con, LAMs (next Saturday), or the shop --- you take it easy (what are you working on BTW?), amigo!!!

With Regards and Aloha,

Johnny B.

I envy you guys in the US who can buy these without the enormous custom duties we have to pay in Sweden (and I guess in the rest of the world).

I have been wanting the PACV for ages, but just can't handle the additional 90+ USD (for shipping + duties).

The trouble with the "hunks of resin" is that shipping costs are phenomenal.

All their kits look superb, this Swift Boat included.

Heya, Sven,

That's truly annoying to be hit with that much additional cost on top of the kit price, arg! I feel your pain --- I've been drooling over the Kit Form Services 1/24th scale Humber Pig and Saracen for some time now, but the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar to the British Pound is so poor that the price of the kits would be way too much to justify...

Hang in there --- maybe something will change... Perhaps Masterpiece might start roto-casting the hulls hollow to reduce weight and shipping fees?

Take care, Sven.

With Regards and Aloha,

Johnny B.

I'm trying so hard to justify the cost of one of these, what a beautiful kit. Considering I spent roughly that amount on a resicast Morris A/C I may just have to give in to the voices in my head saying 'buy me'

Thanks Johnny,

Yes perhaps something will change in the future, or I will just have to make holiday plans to the US again one day soon :-)

Hope you manage to get your hands on the KFS kits you want, they look fantastic.

Cheers,
Sven

Another kit I would like to get.


Mike

Shipping costs to Europe are just crazy...

That's just the way it is in the US...

Costs me $18 to send a thin softcover book from USA to France, cheapest way.

Costs my friend 4.5 Euros to send me a hardcover book that's five or six times heavier France to USA.

And now Euro and US $ are almost at parity.

Cheers,

Christophe