CMOT
Editor-in-ChiefEngland - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: May 14, 2006
KitMaker: 10,954 posts
Armorama: 8,571 posts
Posted: Wednesday, July 22, 2015 - 02:50 PM UTC
Alan McNeilly takes a look at the new Tamiya Somua S35.
Link to Item
If you have comments or questions please post them here.
Thanks!
Removed by original poster on 05/13/19 - 23:10:09 (GMT).
Connecticut, United States
Joined: December 08, 2006
KitMaker: 403 posts
Armorama: 375 posts
Posted: Wednesday, July 22, 2015 - 08:29 PM UTC
Sometimes I can't make any sense of the reviews, so I need to ask a question of Alan. Your review seems entirely positive. In the summary,you say the kit has no lows. So why did you only give the kit an 87%? What was wrong with it that it lost 13%? Thank you.
This is a hobby. Its supposed to be fun. If you aren't having fun, you're doing something wrong.
European Union
Joined: January 28, 2015
KitMaker: 2,099 posts
Armorama: 1,920 posts
Posted: Wednesday, July 22, 2015 - 08:30 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Sometimes I can't make any sense of the reviews, so I need to ask a question of Alan. Your review seems entirely positive. In the summary,you say the kit has no lows. So why did you only give the kit an 87%? What was wrong with it that it lost 13%? Thank you.
That's a very good question.
Never gonna' give EU up, never gonna' let EU down.
Massachusetts, United States
Joined: December 02, 2014
KitMaker: 109 posts
Armorama: 97 posts
Posted: Wednesday, July 22, 2015 - 10:35 PM UTC
Thank you for the comprehensive review, Alan. I have my kit on order and am eager to get going on it--especially after this review and photos.
"I know now that there's no one thing that's true. It's all true."--Hemingway
On the bench:
Hobby Boss T-28
New Jersey, United States
Joined: April 20, 2009
KitMaker: 690 posts
Armorama: 672 posts
Posted: Thursday, July 23, 2015 - 03:07 AM UTC
Hi Guys,
I have the kit and there is only real error (I know there some folks really reworking the hull): one of the decals for the 4th Curassiers is backwards. According the 2nd Trackstory book on the S-35, the shields on both sides should face forward. The decal sheet only gives forward-facing shields for the driver's side of the tank
Regards,
Georg
If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.
England - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Joined: August 12, 2005
KitMaker: 14,499 posts
Armorama: 11,675 posts
Posted: Thursday, July 23, 2015 - 09:30 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted Text
Sometimes I can't make any sense of the reviews, so I need to ask a question of Alan. Your review seems entirely positive. In the summary,you say the kit has no lows. So why did you only give the kit an 87%? What was wrong with it that it lost 13%? Thank you.
That's a very good question.
Hi Timothy, because no kit is perfect and if you give 100% or 87% someone will always complain about something and then you are accused of rating it too highly. Also I am not a Somua expert, I am simply looking at the kit from an average modellers point of view. Remember the review is simply my opinion; others may disagree for example I really like the separate track links, others might say well these are to fiddily to work with. Horses for courses.
Al
'Action this Day'
Winston Spencer Churchill
bill_c
Campaigns AdministratorNew Jersey, United States
Joined: January 09, 2008
KitMaker: 10,553 posts
Armorama: 8,109 posts
Posted: Thursday, July 23, 2015 - 09:05 PM UTC
Nice review, Al. With Georg's AM decals, modelers can render quite a few interesting versions. Some Beutepanzer decals for captured vehicles would be a welcome addition I should think.
England - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Joined: August 12, 2005
KitMaker: 14,499 posts
Armorama: 11,675 posts
Posted: Thursday, July 23, 2015 - 09:43 PM UTC
Hi Bill,
The alternative decals will be useful and I believe there are already some AM sets around if people want to use them. Wouldn't surprise me if Tamyia did a Beutepanzer release at some point.
Al
'Action this Day'
Winston Spencer Churchill
European Union
Joined: January 28, 2015
KitMaker: 2,099 posts
Armorama: 1,920 posts
Posted: Friday, July 24, 2015 - 12:27 AM UTC
Yes, I expect they will have announced a Beutepanzer version before the year is out,
Never gonna' give EU up, never gonna' let EU down.
bill_c
Campaigns AdministratorNew Jersey, United States
Joined: January 09, 2008
KitMaker: 10,553 posts
Armorama: 8,109 posts
Posted: Friday, July 24, 2015 - 10:12 PM UTC
I assume the German version will have a modified cupola?
Connecticut, United States
Joined: December 08, 2006
KitMaker: 403 posts
Armorama: 375 posts
Posted: Tuesday, August 11, 2015 - 05:09 PM UTC
Alan: I've read your answer, still don't understand where that number came from. Methinks 87 is low enough you might scare some people away, and I hope that doesn't happen. I'm actually building mine now and its almost scary how well it falls together and how good it looks. I can't wait to start painting it.
This is a hobby. Its supposed to be fun. If you aren't having fun, you're doing something wrong.
England - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Joined: August 12, 2005
KitMaker: 14,499 posts
Armorama: 11,675 posts
Posted: Tuesday, August 11, 2015 - 07:35 PM UTC
Hi Bill,
If the kit is Highly Recommended then the percentage doesn't really matter. It's simply my opinion. What would have upped the score for me would have been a breech for the gun plus some basic interior turret detail and a basic drivers seat as many of the hatches can be modelled open, but there is just empty space.
Others probably don't care one way or another which is fine.
Al
'Action this Day'
Winston Spencer Churchill