Heya, Folks,

For those of you out there having as little free time as I do (I have an eight month old son who gets the majority of my free time when I am not working), I just wanted to say that the new Tamiya Char B1 bis tank builds VERY fast straight out of the box!! Without any additional detail, it went together in two sittings totalling about five hours, including the awesome snap-together tracks (nice going, Tamiya!)!!!

Not having the time, energy or inclination to go the AMS route, I just wanted to recommend this kit to any armor builder looking for the satisfaction of having actually finished kit!

Now I just have ta paint the sucker!!

Much Aloha,

Johnny B.

My son is 5 months old so I know what you mean there!

I am really looking forward to building this kit. As much as its fashionable to write off Tamiya these days, they do build some great kits. I have just finished their Cromwell and it was of the best kits I have built. Went together beautifully and I found it too be a quick build also.

Maybe these new Smart Kits from Dragon are just what us new dads need to actually get anything done! :-)

Jeff

You said it, Jeff!!

Being a Dad --- especially a new one --- definitely changes your approach to modelling... In a weird way, having no time at all to model actually forces me to get projects done, albeit in a much quicker (and less detail/AMS oriented approach)... Alas, there have been instances where I have chosen to model rather than grab some much needed sleep --- I know that there are times when the creative release (and satisfaction) of model building is something I need more than sleep.

HA! Maybe the Smart Kits were designed for free-time challanged Dads... I'm hoping that we'll see some Allied and Modern releases included in this new line. I am still curious as to how this kits will differ from Dragon's other releases...

Enjoy that Char B, Jeff --- it's a real dream ta build!! Looking forward to more such "surprises" from Tamiya!!

Keep on Modelling, Daddies!!

Much Aloha,

Johnny B.

Here here...22 month old and a 8 week old...nuts...don't get shinola done! Had my first toddler related Godzilla attack on a model the other day...though luck would have it that the cat knocked the model off the shelf and did 80% of the damage, wife says first thing she noticed was Maggie brining her a wheel..."where did she get that"....and then another...and then a rear wing...

My daughter is 17 yrs old and I too need to get away at times ! :-) I just got my Char B and I too think it'll be a super fun kit that won't take forever to build ...Congrats to Tamiya for another great kit ...and congrats to the new Dads here as well. Just thought I'd let you know it doesn't get any easier with time ...

Rick

Not a Dad,but I do have a 15 week old Lab/Husky cross which really takes up some model bench time.I did get my Char B1 finished in a week out of the box.Nice kit which fits together so well with no probs at all and those tracks are fantastic!


Have Fun

Mark

I have noticed that as well. I take more advantage of the time I have to model so I seem to be getting more done. And like you I am not as worried about having everything perfect.

We are really lucky as the little guy is a great sleeper so I get some time to build in the evenings.

Jeff




Heh. Had any shoes chewed up yet?

Kids and pets!!!!! Ya gotta love 'em both AND keep your models away from 'em!

My eight month old son is now into grabbing anything at arm's length... Imagine my reaction when Daddy was holding him and he decided that that nicely primed Tamiya Char B would be a great prize --- luckily, the nipper was just out of range and the near-disaster was averted...

But I gotta wonder...how long will my modeler's luck hold out...? No doubt it will be sad day when my son takes it upon himself to wipe out one of my creations, but I reckon it comes with the badge as a parent, so ya gotta lock up what you can and deal with the rest (maybe I can train him to only go for the crummy 70s kits and leave the resin build-ups alone)...

Being a Dad sure puts a crimp on my modeler's time, but I take one look at my kid and go: now HE is my best work (I was never very good at figures until this little came along)..

Okay, sigining off before this gets all blubbery and I start demanding a group hug...
==)

Much Aloha,

Johnny B.