Hobby Master

[DeltaHotel]

My particular area of interest has always been post WWII military aircraft thru to the modern age. Ever since I was a kid of 12, over four decades ago, I've collected model aircraft. I started out building 1/72nd scale kits; usually old Airfix kits that I picked up at Grants or Woolworths. But as the years passed I'd buy just about any scale based on my interest in the subject aircraft. I ended up becoming a kit collector, rather than a modeler. I would guess that I have somewhere in the neighborhood of 2000 kits. It dawned on me a couple of years back that I would never see any of these kits built and that's when I became interested in the diecast kits. Hobby Master has released the aircraft models that I always wanted built, like Vietnam Era: A-4s, F-100s, F-104s, F-105s, just to mention a few. My desk at work is decorated with "Thunderbirds" aircraft models. My favorite HM aircraft it there F-100, which is the major type in my collection so far. If you like HM's products let me know what your favorites are.

[grwebster]

Delta Hotel, welcome to this site, I noted your military service as a former gunner on a B-52!
We have several former military air crewmen here, and fans of the BUFF.
Be sure to post photos of you collection.

[Epap]

I would say that HM's best efforts, so far, have been its 1:48th scale renditions of the Buffalo, P-26, P-12 and F4B. HM has also made very good 1:72nd models of the F-100, F-102, F-104, F-105, F-111, F-4, A-1, Mig-15, Mig-21, and WWII contenders such as the SBD, SB2C, TBM and Japan's Kate. On the other hand, HM has not bothered to master the art of mottling, so its German models often look like they are wearing polka dots. HM has also stubbed its toe with sloppy research on a number of models---the 1:48th scale Spitfire and 1:72nd scale Beaufighter come to mind. Overall, however, I'd give HM a thumbs up, despite some mistakes and deliberate cost saving practices---- such as releasing a "Battle Of Midway" TBF ( and I was one of those asking for this ) which was actually a TBM complete with radar. HM has often responded to suggestions by collectors and made changes in its products that many of us appreciate.

[DeltaHotel]

Thanks for the replies guys. I'll post pictures of my planes as soon as I figure out how to do it.

[DeltaHotel]

Well, I see that HM is releasing a F-5E and RF-5E in 1/72nd scale. They're both going to be in RoCAF markings. They've now moved to the top of my wish list; these two will complement my RoCAF HM F-100A and Skymax F-84G.