E is for Empirical Evidence!

Many thanks to Gisby for these, he probably sent them over a year ago, I really can't remember, what with the passing of Mum, Covid-19 and everything associated with both horrors it's all got a bit hectic in Hugh World and time is running to its own tune here at the moment.

But I've a few hours to spare over the next few days, and while I should be in the garden or taking stuff to storage/charity/clothes banks, it's too bloody hot, so I'll try and get some stuff up on the blog, and try to make it all contributions as it's unfair to the contributors to have ALL their stuff pile up with mine . . . SOME will, inevitably, but not all!

I posted these as part of a Toy Fair revue thing a while ago here, on Padgett A-Z, and said at the time "... if you do manage to track them down, do try to send the Blog a picky or two of the runner/contents..." to which call, Gisby answered in full!

Further comments I made about possible motors and potentially simplistic design were both out, as you can see from this StuG IV (with StuG III undercarriage - on the artwork!), the kits are well executed, dense PVC clip-together 'puzzle-toys' seemingly from the same stable as those I purchased in  . . . . The Works (?), ages ago . . . "Yes, The Works!" he says after finding the requisite link, but branded 'Build & Play' not 4D and a better scale.

The Sturmtiger, I said last time that it could be a useful conversion platform, but in this material that's not so likely, PVC chunks can turn a blade quite easily, while sawing will render it a rather furry material! However, plumber's pipe-weld will glue it solid for all time, so construct; then cut-up?

Not seen but mentioned last time -
Pz.Kfw IV -Tiger 1E

Not sure about the green of these, yes, it's a shade of 'feldtgrau', but their vehicles tended to grey or yellow as a base coat, however, looking at the stuff on Blogs and in the modelling press these days, there seems to have been an 'acceptability slip' on late-war colours and I don't know if that's just fashion (like heavy towers on Elephants, parade finery at Waterloo or using shoulders as firing-rests for machine-guns!), or more empirically-based; on the stuff being pulled - almost daily - from Eastern/Central European bogs, lakes and rivers these days?

This does look like it might be better than the Airfix Panther (less 'hybridisation'!), but hard to tell with the pieces face down, however we will have a follow-up as I've just helped myself to 12 of them, not twelve Panther's, 12 AFV's!

OK, here's a fun thing that just happened while writing this up . . . I went and looked for them on feebleBay, and found that prices vary from a little (£3/4 each) to a lot (12-quid+, each) for these four, but that there are another eight! They also vary equally with some price-scalping the arse off them and others being quite reasonable!

Best for the eight (very cheap) is

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/324451888581?hash=item4b8ad6edc5:g:~X4AAOSwPZhfocYK

While this guy has the four @4.49 each, some of the eight (similarly priced), and other nice things!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/aha21/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=

As I say; we'll return to these one day to look at the whole fleet, iron-out any construction issues and compare with the slightly sub-scale 4D's!

Bought this the other day going cheap, intending to put it on the Airfix Astronauts page, but realised it could go here first! I 'de-bagged' it 'cos it's a modern thing, and found it hard to put together once I'd chucked all the pieces in a pile, even though about ten of them were already assembled/part assembled!

But, it IS a puzzle, and with the photo of the finished thing (the exploded drawing is less than useful) found that constructing the three main sections (landing-plate and legs, engine-box and recovery module) and then lining them up together and adding the four fiddly bits made sense.

Things I learnt about the Apollo landing module: 1. More than half of it gets left on the moon. 2. The whole thing is bigger than I thought and 3. The recovery section is tiny!

Also I would note - if you're minded to seek it out - the four little frame pieces (retro-rocket deflectors) are very fragile, but if you line them up with their little holes they do go home firm.

Branded to Fame Master Entertainment Ltd., imported by Quay Imports and carrying the 4D trope - 3D + details! A second iteration in which the main sections are completed in the packaging is also available under the 4D Master labeling.

And thanks again to Gisby for the tanks!