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best M18 ?
penpen
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Hauts-de-Seine, France
Joined: April 11, 2002
KitMaker: 1,757 posts
Armorama: 929 posts
Posted: Friday, January 24, 2003 - 04:55 AM UTC
hello guys !

I'm getting curious with all these TD models around here lately !
It looks like Academy and AFV are in direct opposition with all these...

So which model of the M18 is best ? The one from academy or the one from AFV ?
SEDimmick
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New Jersey, United States
Joined: March 15, 2002
KitMaker: 1,745 posts
Armorama: 1,483 posts
Posted: Friday, January 24, 2003 - 06:20 AM UTC
best one in 1/35 is Accurate Armor's kit. The Academy and AFV Club ones both have alot of problems with them, but the Academy one seems to have better aftermarket support.

generalzod
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United States
Joined: December 01, 2001
KitMaker: 3,172 posts
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Posted: Friday, January 24, 2003 - 06:51 AM UTC
Personnaly I would go with the Academy kit It has a better interior,link and length tracks and the rubber band style so you have a choice Also you have different gun barrel options Like to add a muzzle brake if you want to,or add on the canvas gun mantlet cover
BroAbrams
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Washington, United States
Joined: October 02, 2002
KitMaker: 1,546 posts
Armorama: 1,081 posts
Posted: Friday, January 24, 2003 - 07:05 AM UTC
To add to the confusion, I like AFV Club's but used Modelkasten tracks. The AFV offering has superb detail, although the interior needs a little work. It has an adjustable suspension, so that you cn tention the tracks a little, like the real one. The M2 .50 cal is the best I have ever seen in a kit. The instructions suck, but I was bale to turn out a pretty decent model. The AFV Hellcat is slightly undersize but the Academy is slightly oversize, so Verlinden's stuff won't translate over, but regular after market stuff works reasonably well.

Rob
screamingeagle
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Connecticut, United States
Joined: January 08, 2002
KitMaker: 1,027 posts
Armorama: 595 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 25, 2003 - 04:09 AM UTC
Hi penpen. I'll make this short and to the point.
" They all have pro's & con's " I am doing the Academy kit, and I had a problem with the hull being slightly warped and trouble fitting the hull sponsons to the chassis .... but I did manage it. Also, the rear end is shaped/molded like an M10 which is wrong. So I re-worked it using good photo's of the real M18.

- ralph
GunTruck
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California, United States
Joined: December 01, 2001
KitMaker: 5,885 posts
Armorama: 3,799 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 25, 2003 - 05:48 AM UTC
Ahhh the neverending M18 Debate...

Same as Ralph's post above - both have their pros and cons. I built the AFV Club model, had hull warping problems, but I blended in a partially scratchbuilt interior with components of the Academy kit to flesh it out. Though the AFV Club model kit is a bit undersized in certain dimensions, I found it easier to adjust and work with improving these than try and "cut down" the slightly oversized areas of the Academy kit.

I thought the AFV Club model captured the small size, look, and feel of the M18 HellCat better than the larger appearing Academy model.

To each his own in modeling!

Gunnie
mailman7
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Joined: January 25, 2003
KitMaker: 39 posts
Armorama: 34 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 25, 2003 - 11:15 AM UTC
I've only finished the Accurate Armor kit. I'm not sure if it's ant moree "accurate" then Academy or AFV club. Check it out........
http://www.track-link.net/gallery/152

Owen
penpen
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Hauts-de-Seine, France
Joined: April 11, 2002
KitMaker: 1,757 posts
Armorama: 929 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 25, 2003 - 01:17 PM UTC
Welcome to the site Owen !
It's a beautiful model you've built there !
BroAbrams
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Washington, United States
Joined: October 02, 2002
KitMaker: 1,546 posts
Armorama: 1,081 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 25, 2003 - 01:35 PM UTC
That is a well done model, Owen. Looks like it has a couple things the AFV one doesn't like the gun boot and the seats in the storage bins.
screamingeagle
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Connecticut, United States
Joined: January 08, 2002
KitMaker: 1,027 posts
Armorama: 595 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 25, 2003 - 06:52 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Ahhh the neverending M18 Debate...

Same as Ralph's post above - both have their pros and cons. I built the AFV Club model, had hull warping problems, but I blended in a partially scratchbuilt interior with components of the Academy kit to flesh it out. Though the AFV Club model kit is a bit undersized in certain dimensions, I found it easier to adjust and work with improving these than try and "cut down" the slightly oversized areas of the Academy kit.

I thought the AFV Club model captured the small size, look, and feel of the M18 HellCat better than the larger appearing Academy model.

To each his own in modeling!

Gunnie


Hi Gunnie - Wow, the AFV is really that much smaller then Academy's ?
.... Geeeeez .........IMHO I thought the Acdemy turret was pretty cramped ???????? I like to see them side by side. Hey Gunnie, I'm actually trying to fit a Gunner into his position in the Academy turret. It's really kinda awkward with the 76mm gun breech coming through, but I think I can pull it off to look decent enough .... MAYBE ?
What do you think about trying to fit the all 3 of the turret crew ? ................ a little too over-crowded, huh ?????

HI OWEN .....I AGREE WITH THE OTHER'S, NICE WORK ON YOUR TD !
EXCELLENT WEATHERING & DETAIL !

- ralph
GunTruck
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California, United States
Joined: December 01, 2001
KitMaker: 5,885 posts
Armorama: 3,799 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 26, 2003 - 06:10 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Hi Gunnie - Wow, the AFV is really that much smaller then Academy's ?
.... Geeeeez .........IMHO I thought the Acdemy turret was pretty cramped ???????? I like to see them side by side. Hey Gunnie, I'm actually trying to fit a Gunner into his position in the Academy turret. It's really kinda awkward with the 76mm gun breech coming through, but I think I can pull it off to look decent enough .... MAYBE ?
What do you think about trying to fit the all 3 of the turret crew ? ................ a little too over-crowded, huh ?????


Yep - when an Academy and AFV Club M18 HellCat are parked next to each other on the display table, the size differences are noticeable - but not as apparant as say, parking the AFV Club M10 Tank Destroyer next to the Academy M10 Tank Destroyer release.

When I put my HellCat together, the thought of putting three figures in the Turret was comical - "togetherness" is one thing, but I couldn't see mashing three figures into my AFV Club model

Gunnie
screamingeagle
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Connecticut, United States
Joined: January 08, 2002
KitMaker: 1,027 posts
Armorama: 595 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 26, 2003 - 07:15 AM UTC

Quoted Text


When I put my HellCat together, the thought of putting three figures in the Turret was comical - "togetherness" is one thing, but I couldn't see mashing three figures into my AFV Club model

Gunnie


Hi Gunnie ...... yes, I see your point. I guess I'll stick with the commander sitting at the .50 cal. ring mount and make a choice between the gunner or loader.
THANKS for the tip !

- ralph





Hi Gunnie .... yes
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