by Hugh L » Mon Jul 30, 2012 10:37 pm
Borrowed from Steelnavy.net
Posted by Mike Dobrzelecki on July 30, 2012, 7:43:44, in reply to "USS PATOKA from Loose Cannon East now ready!"
167.155.144.6
I pre-ordered mine at last year's IPMS Nats in Omaha and have been corresponding with Dave for a year now following its progress.
My Patoka kit arrived more than a week ago and it was worth the wait.
Excellent, crisp, casting on the resin parts. As one who does his own rtv molds and resin castings, I do not understand how some cottage industry companies offering resin parts and kits have the nerve to sell rough beat-up castings, using the most horrible cheap resin possible, or others that seem to not let the cast parts set-up a sufficient time in the mold, resulting in warped pieces.
Dave, on the other hand, seems to know how to handle resin.
The PE fret is very comprehensive and includes the dirigible mooring mast (as I recall, in its 2 different configurations, as well, but I'll have to check on this).
The packaging of the kit is excellent, too, with the hull attached to a piece of cardboard and the other parts protected sufficiently to prevent damage in transit from hand-handed postal workers.
Regarding the airship(s) to follow, I made a recommendation to Dave that he consider producing them as a vacuform kit, as a solid resin airship would collapse the PE tower. The only other solution is to thin mold or "splash mold" the zepellins in resin to keep the wall thickness down. Even with a vac zeppelin, the builder may have to support the aft end of the zeppelin (attach it the the side of a display case, perhaps).
In any event, the Loose Cannon East USS Patoka is highly recommended and I look forward to a more in-depth review.
Mike Dobrzelecki
Borrowed from Steelnavy.net
Posted by Mike Dobrzelecki on July 30, 2012, 7:43:44, in reply to "USS PATOKA from Loose Cannon East now ready!"
167.155.144.6
I pre-ordered mine at last year's IPMS Nats in Omaha and have been corresponding with Dave for a year now following its progress.
My Patoka kit arrived more than a week ago and it was worth the wait.
Excellent, crisp, casting on the resin parts. As one who does his own rtv molds and resin castings, I do not understand how some cottage industry companies offering resin parts and kits have the nerve to sell rough beat-up castings, using the most horrible cheap resin possible, or others that seem to not let the cast parts set-up a sufficient time in the mold, resulting in warped pieces.
Dave, on the other hand, seems to know how to handle resin.
The PE fret is very comprehensive and includes the dirigible mooring mast (as I recall, in its 2 different configurations, as well, but I'll have to check on this).
The packaging of the kit is excellent, too, with the hull attached to a piece of cardboard and the other parts protected sufficiently to prevent damage in transit from hand-handed postal workers.
Regarding the airship(s) to follow, I made a recommendation to Dave that he consider producing them as a vacuform kit, as a solid resin airship would collapse the PE tower. The only other solution is to thin mold or "splash mold" the zepellins in resin to keep the wall thickness down. Even with a vac zeppelin, the builder may have to support the aft end of the zeppelin (attach it the the side of a display case, perhaps).
In any event, the Loose Cannon East USS Patoka is highly recommended and I look forward to a more in-depth review.
Mike Dobrzelecki