I bought the Border 1/32 Lancaster cockpit kit as I have fond memories of the Lanc cockpit in the Imperial War Museum when I was a kid. I am so disappointed with the standard of the clear part mouldings in the kit as received. With all the flaws in many of the clear parts where the polystyrene meets within the mould and the distortions that I am going to move the kit on. What a waste of Wingnut Wings endeavours and Border jumping on the moulds, allegedly in compensation for work carried out, and releasing the kit without completing the work probably still to have been completed by WW before they were happy to release the kit in their own name. A crying shame and a waste of money.
It is a shame Roger, almost fixable but definitely a Debbie Downer - I have a cunning plan on how to meld the HK and Border ones together with a few 3D printed parts, but that's on the back burner for now...Cheers Chris
I am actually not surprised, their Crusader tank is pretty fraudulent to be honest (Italeri kit ripp off) and the Bf 109 did not cheer me up either. Since then i stay away from them, their PII L "Luchs" also seems to be only a downscaled stolen Classy Hobby 1/16 scale kit with the same mistakes of course, since it is just a plain copy. Luckily i did not buy that one, i learned from this haha! Its right to call Border Models out on this and more people should do so.
You're exactly right Michael - their business practices are slimy to say the least. I've heard similar from others about the Luchs, and I'm selling my Stuka of theirs and not buying any of their stuff ever again. There's better companies out there to get my business....cheers Chris
Nice review Chris. I think the figures are dressed incorrectly. They should have boots and heavy jackets etc like on the kit box art. Even in summer the crew would have dressed for winter due to the altitude they flew at.
Thanks Ivan - I shouldve addressed that more clearly in the review, I was more worried about the fit. Indeed, they don't look to have the right fit out, I wonder if I can modify the figures or maybe repurpose for my B-25? Cheers Chris
Son of a.... Im was kicking myself for not being able to afford to preorder (and subsequently EVER order) this kit...and now...bro...I do t evennwant it anymore. Wow. Just wow. Such a massive disappointment...and this is JUST about the clear parts.
Not had any problems with Airfix in fact their new Spitfire comes with 2 canopies on is correct but needs work the other has no moulding line but not 100% accurate but ok! The quality is amazing
This kit had WAY too much buildup. People were slobbering over the last WNW kit and this just wasn't it. I guess "wait and see" is less fun than fantasy. There was no way you were not all going to end up broken hearted. Now you are all doing the same thing Border did, trying to make a mess meet expectations.
Yeah I know, but I lived in hope. I was crushed when Wingnut Wings folded - I bought some of their more esoteric kits but knew when COVID hit they couldnt sustain their business model with the weird stuff and the Lanc was a massive investment as well. (shouldve made some Bf109s!) I've preordered the Kotare Spitfires but I have more faith they will get it right....but thats the last time I do a preorder!
Greetings my friend, I really think that these days of modern molding systems, kits from all manufacturers should be almost PERFECT and as for the packaging that should be totally PERFECT, not half harted, which breaks down to 'that will do' or 'who cares' take care my friend and happy modelling, best regards from a Kiwi living in Melbourne 👍👍👍
I've had visceral disappointments before, due to my own inflated expectations. Still it can be crushing. Personally it should be shipped back for a refund. That's just my opinion. I do like the crew figures. Still, this is the kind of nonsense we have just accepted. My advice is don't. You can be politic about it but don't accept shoddy products or terrible treatment.
I say that with all medium to large scale kits (since its mainly an option on smaller scale stuff, but sadly a lot of the new stuff coming out now in 1/72 is wheels down only - look at Arma Hobby) - and its why Im happy to pay for the Tamiya 1/32 stuff which has the options properly engineered in....
@@beckersmodels I did the 1/32 scale F14 from Tamiya years ago and loved it, sadly I don't have the room for big kits, but that's not to say I don't buy them, they just plump up the stash, been into 1/16th scale tanks a bit lately love the full interior kits, just got back into aircraft mainly 1/48 and 1/35 but I'm enjoying them. Hope it all goes to plan for you Chris and can't wait for the builds to watch.
I bet there was a moment when you thought F***! I threw the other ones around 😆 That stopmotion video is stunning I went to check my latest purchase as it has a lot of clear parts and they look spot on to me (New mould Heller Estafette). Almost all Heller kits are cheap and there seems to be more good ones than janky, their clear is always clear - fitting hmmm. I'm really looking forward to the armour kits I have from border in the stash now 🤣🤣
Heh heh - oh yes I'm treating those old sprues with kid gloves now. In fact I might be able to engineer my own masking sets with them (the RRP on some of the canopy mask sets are eye watering). I love the old Heller small sailing vessels, the French fishing boats in particular, I think the new German owners are going to really revitalise that company with new tools.
I'm glad I , didn't buy this kit. my best friend has it and is building it and I ,must say the details are fantastic but it looks extremely flimsy as hell . The amount of parts is a bit to much ........I'll stick with my HK model kit I have the 1/32 dame buster .and it was only $299.00 American dollars ...... The boarders is $600.00 plus .
Looks like the glasswork will be a combination of all sprues to get the best pick. BM probably had difficulties molding transparents at the correct temperature vs pressure.. regarding the crew I wonder if they will be comfortable at 6km -20 degrees.. no gloves, no boots?? Looks all too summer clothes for my taste 😮
Exactly right about the clothes, I shouldve paid more attention to the accuracy in my reveiw, I might be able to add boots gloves etc to them.. hmm. might actually spin out a separate video to address these concerns since a lot of you have rightly mentioned them, with references within to show how they got it wrong... I wonder if I can use the figures in my 1/32 B-25?
That's awful quality clear parts for the price they charged for the kit. You think they would get it right before production and sending them out. Then again the way they went about acquiring the mould from WNW and producing the kit was a real S@#! show.
Yes it was a sh$t show - I think they saw dollar signs and not much else. I would love to see Kotare get successful (they have a much more sustainable business model pumping out Spitfires instead of esoteric stuff) and one day get those molds back....
I was thinking of getting this - not now. Thank you. I will wait for trumpeter to bring out the same 1/32nd scale Lancaster! It costs £600 (approx) in UK. I expect a perfect model for that I would build it with wheels down but I see where you are coming from. Good point made by others - the crew would have worn a Irvin sheepskin jacket and boots as a minimum At 30,000 feet it’s ‘chilly’ Also why would they be seated in the way they are when ‘static’ on the ground?
Wheels up wheels down arguments aside; I think your disappointment Chris is absolutely justified. It’s quite clear Border models have pretty much given up with trying to fix the clear parts, as they even include a letter in the box on the nose art version giving excuses. I could overlook this and do what I can to ‘model around’ it. But rather than sending excuses; Border should reduce the cost of these kits as advance compensation. Taking day 10 of 15% off is for me in this situation not unreasonable and would be more cost effective than the cost of negative publicity and poor quality replacements. Anyway, keep it up Chris. Great channel and I love your work. I smashed the bell a long time ago 😂
I got tori models crew for my 1/48th HK Lanc and was really disappointed. As others have mentioned a lot is not there for a bomber crew. No parachute harnesses really bothered me. I also found the they were undersized and looked way to small in cockpit. Thanks for the video.
Yes, its been disappointing all round hey? I've heard they are too small for the 1/48 Lanc - they seem a bit too long for the 1/32 Lanc - can't bloody win!
I agree about the wheels/flaps down...Most of my models have removable wheels and strengthened bellies for a single screw hole to mount on a clear plexi stand...so they can be seen in flight (altho if you look underneath you can see the absence of landing gear which is the compromise)...I made the Trump 1/24 Hurri that way and manufactured small wire invisible hinges for movable open or closed flaps...I haven't seen that done before and was relatively straight forward to do and suprisingly when they are closed the clearance is so good you would assume they were glued (I'm in the process of making the build vid at the mo)...I have the HK 1/48 Lanc (frightened to start it) and altho I'm happy to have the wheels permanently down I do want to try figure if I can make movable flaps and bomb doors...I won't have that one in flight but I'm with you on going to all the trouble and problem solving you have to do to get the kits on a stand for display...You may need to incorporate a metal spar to stop the wings flexing or snapping at the base and obviously some internal heavy duty fuselage anchor point/screw fixing...Look forward to the build vid
I think Border's better watch it. Their outlook on shipping makes it seem like they just fell off the turnip truck. As long as you got pieces between the two sets. Beyond the clear parts, where are going to put this wingspan when you get it done? I have Border's U-Boat conning tower with deck section. The figures cost me the same amount as the kit. Photo etch parts were chose for hatch parts where molded parts would have been better.
Thanks Daniel - I intend on having my Lanc in a steep bank inflight, cutting the wingspan down to about 40cm overall, and placed in a large display cabinet (like the ones used for tall sailing ships).
Too bad about the clear parts. Even the new set having cracks is crap! I don’t know what the companies can do to elevate that problem. Thanks for sharing Becker! 😎🇨🇦
Normally they wouldnt let a set like that past quality control (except maybe Airfix) and would have repolished the mold...but I heard a rumour they don't own the molds so couldnt tamper with them...who knows?
I get set up for this whenever I buy a new aircraft model anyway, since they almost never have what I really want in them, but this was a bit much yes!
Not sure, they have been releasing popular subjects that sell really well - aka Tiger/Bf 109...that was Kitty hawks problem, IMO, not just their somewhat dodgy quality.
I got lucky and my glass parts were all in one piece and not too badly moulded / marked! I looked at the Tori Crew and laughed.....went with AC Models (Andy Cairns NZ) Crew Set.....walking away with all their kit.....👍🏻👍🏻 Tori Crew.....no flying boots, gauntlets, sheepskin jackets, bunny suits, etc.....they look like USAAF Far East fliers? ATB mate!
Thanks mate and well done on yours - yes that AC crew set is lovely, but I can't use them since on the ground poses, would love Andy to make them inflight. I might be able to repurpose mine for my 1/32 B-25 (RAAF) or modify the figures myself, at least they fit the seats!
@@beckersmodels Hi! I’ll drop Andy Cairns a line and suggest a “seated crew set”! Even if it’s only you and asking, it might be sufficient squeeze? I’m going to see if my regular Chinese dealer will do the full Lanc for £450 delivered.....it’s got to be worth the try, hasn’t it? ATB, mate and keep posting the vids.....I’ll send you some under carriage sets.....you’ll warm to them eventually....😂🤪
@@beckersmodels I was going to get one. Was undecided whether I was going to build it or sell it in a few years and try and make a profit. Kind of glad I didn't now
I wish that were the case for all aircraft models - even Airfix recently admitted they'd rather not provide crew with all their models, especially the larger scale stuff...
