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REVIEW
Tristar Brit. Paratroops & Welbikes
bill_c
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MODEL SHIPWRIGHTS
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Posted: Thursday, November 05, 2009 - 10:09 AM UTC
Alan McNeilly reviews Tristar's WW II Paratroopers with Welbikes.



Link to Item

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!
exer
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Posted: Thursday, November 05, 2009 - 10:29 AM UTC
Good review Alan. I picked these up last week at my LHS and I admit I spent a while looking for the parts to complete the third figure before I saw on the front of the box "contains model of two figures and two welbikes" it could be a bit more prominent. The bolts are a strange mistake to make as is the "strap to nowhere" For some reason manufacturers seem to find British Figures and webbing equipment difficult

On the whole though a very welcome addition to the allied kit side. Thanks Tristar and looking forward to the next set.
brockolee
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Posted: Thursday, November 05, 2009 - 01:01 PM UTC
Hello fellow artist,wow good review Allan as you know what was missing or could nicely say what was needed to make it right !that the MFG 's should have to fix this problem like so many most don't to get it right just charge more monies for a pitcher art box that reads"not all there" come on people lets get real real fast tell(MFRS) "get it right " iam sure i can't do this at my type of work ;gas and oil heating systems repair. If i did the job incomplete people would die and or myself or in a jail cage sitting. People pay for a complete job and expect it why do we put up with it or do nothing, like my government does for it's people usa mfg has to recalled my trucks 96 van and 02 van now i get them fix spend more they sold incomplete items and only to fix the problems years later FIT IT tristar,dragon for profit we need some one else produceing complete kits with the right parts i will pay some to do the job right they should not be allowed to produce or make items ever some very few do make products or items that are complete if the Weibikes had no gas valves installed on bikes after on drop to find no one check everybody suffers.Also the other fellow modeller artist said MFG'S have no quitly control(proofer) the helmet netting strap problems which tell's me that we fellow modellers spend our hard worked monies and the big manufactures selling kits INCOMPLETE AND FUTHERMORE DO NOT CARE TO fix the problem the manufacturer's R&D department all lazy why not go to a museum take pic's and write items out and draw pic's of the original artifact well Terry over at his own PMMA WAS SHUT DOWN BY mfg dragon for speaking the truth well that's the power of big companies selling us half of a model kit while our words governments are running amok Brock Beckstedt of Norfolk,Virginia 1/35 scale diorama builder and a student of the arts
AlanL
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Posted: Friday, November 06, 2009 - 03:37 AM UTC
Hi pat,

Yes, for there first set of British Troops they are pretty good, so I'd agree I'll look forward to the next set too.

Hi Brock,


Yes, seems to be something about 37 pattern webbing, but I think these are a very creditable effort for their first Allied troops. Nothing that can't be fixed fairly easily.

Al

HARV
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Posted: Friday, November 06, 2009 - 04:57 AM UTC
Nice review Alan, thank you.

I was hoping that you were going to write up a review for this kit.

Thanks again,

HARV
AlanL
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Posted: Friday, November 06, 2009 - 05:54 AM UTC
Hi Randy,

Thanks. I do hope this one sells well, it would be grand if they followed it up with a BSA or Triumph M/C set

Maybe something like this to fit into the MB Horsa when it comes!!



Always living in hope.

Al
jimbrae
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Posted: Friday, November 06, 2009 - 06:10 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Hello fellow artist,wow good review Allan as you know what was missing or could nicely say what was needed to make it right !that the MFG 's should have to fix this problem like so many most don't to get it right just charge more monies for a pitcher art box that reads"not all there" come on people lets get real real fast tell(MFRS) "get it right " iam sure i can't do this at my type of work ;gas and oil heating systems repair. If i did the job incomplete people would die and or myself or in a jail cage sitting. People pay for a complete job and expect it why do we put up with it or do nothing, like my government does for it's people usa mfg has to recalled my trucks 96 van and 02 van now i get them fix spend more they sold incomplete items and only to fix the problems years later FIT IT tristar,dragon for profit we need some one else produceing complete kits with the right parts i will pay some to do the job right they should not be allowed to produce or make items ever some very few do make products or items that are complete if the Weibikes had no gas valves installed on bikes after on drop to find no one check everybody suffers.Also the other fellow modeller artist said MFG'S have no quitly control(proofer) the helmet netting strap problems which tell's me that we fellow modellers spend our hard worked monies and the big manufactures selling kits INCOMPLETE AND FUTHERMORE DO NOT CARE TO fix the problem the manufacturer's R&D department all lazy why not go to a museum take pic's and write items out and draw pic's of the original artifact well Terry over at his own PMMA WAS SHUT DOWN BY mfg dragon for speaking the truth well that's the power of big companies selling us half of a model kit while our words governments are running amok Brock Beckstedt of Norfolk,Virginia 1/35 scale diorama builder and a student of the arts



Sorry, this is a total rant which has little or nothing to do with Alan's excellent Review. Please, keep on topic in the future..
lespauljames
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Posted: Friday, November 06, 2009 - 06:21 AM UTC
Brock, as far as i know, Tristar are a relatively small company, and it is a relitively small mistake. let it fly, no soapboxes needed here.
Nice Review Alan thanks for taking the time to show us tristars new set
AlanL
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Posted: Friday, November 06, 2009 - 11:12 PM UTC
Thanks James,

Al
AlanL
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Posted: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 - 10:43 AM UTC
Hi Guys,

Just a bit of additional information from Rob van Meel regarding the Welbikes.

Quote
Just glanced through your Welbike review: the Excelsior Welbike has a throttle cable and a clutch cable.

The throttle cable is mounted between the right hand handle bar halve and goes to the carburetor on the left side front end of the engine.

The clutch cable runs from the left hand side of the handlebars and goes from the short brass lever to the clutch release lever which is mounted on the left side of the rear part of the engine.

This actual cable goes underneath the engine.

The rear brake is rod operated
Unquote

Thanks Rob.


This can be seen in the additional reference pictures I included in the review, but apologies if I didn't make this clear.

Al


jjumbo
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Posted: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 - 11:57 AM UTC
Hey Al,
Another good, thorough review !!
It's a shame that Tristar made errors with the rifle bolts and only included parts for 2 figures rather than 3.
All in all, a good first effort in a British subject by Tristar, can only hope that there's more to come.
Cheers

jjumbo
AlanL
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Posted: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 - 03:57 AM UTC
Hi John,

Thanks. Yes, odd error on their part and the 3 figs on the box throw you off a bit when you actually get 2.

Lets hope they continue the theme, Airbirne Bicycles, Triumph's, BSA's, hand carts lots of useful items there!!

A British Motorcycle would be good considering how many MPs/despatch riders there are around!!

Very nice set though.

Cheers

Al
jjumbo
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Posted: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 - 05:19 AM UTC
Hey Al,
Yup, it's an olde lament, we need to get some of those modelling gaps filled.
Plastic kits of British/Commonwealth trucks, lorries, motorcycles and true "staff cars" are sorely absent !
I have a resin and PE Triumph motorbike and MP kit in my stash that I'd love to put together but dread the process !
As you can see, my "resinphobia" is not going away !!!
Figures I can handle, vehicles are another story !!
Will look forward to your Welbike build !!
Cheers

jjumbo
AlanL
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Posted: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 - 05:44 AM UTC
Hi John,

Have to wait and see what comes along. Just working on the last two of my para jeeps, built up the the leftovers of the conversions and some scratch build. A bunch of figures to finsih up and then I should get to the bikes.

Cheers

Al
AlanL
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Posted: Thursday, November 12, 2009 - 04:37 AM UTC
Hi Guys,

Interesting Development on the Welbike front. SpearHead Minitures seem to have linked up with Tristar to produce and alternative set of resin figures to go with the WelBikes.

Link to Item


http://perthmilitarymodelling.com/newkitnews/spearhead-miniatures.htm

Two neat looking Paras.

Al
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