Landships II

Hello!

RPM has released four Bulldogs: HC3, EHT, EHC and EHC1. In all these boxes are the same sprues with parts for the different variants. So you have got - for example - two sets of wheels. I think it's nice to have some spare wheels.

All four kits contain the same decal sheet with decals for - I think - US vehicles, for example "ENGINEER DEPARTMENT", "U.S. ENGINEER BLACKSMITH SHOP NO. 1" and other black and white numbers and U.S.A. signs. There are two red decals "U.S.A. 51890" numbers, too. I think there are no British or French decals included.

I've built two Bulldogs so far. The parts are nicely detailed and the kit instructions are well done. I had some difficulties installing the rear axle and the chain mechanism. I have not yet finished these models, I have to paint them.

I hope that RPM is able to sell many Bulldogs so there's a chance that other softskins will follow!

Kind regards

Thomas Bücheler

Here's a review:

http://www.cybermodeler.com/hobby/builds/rpm/build_rpm_mack_flat.shtml

There's another one knocking about somewhere on the net. I'll try and find it. RPM are promising it in 1/35, but apparently have been doing so for quite some time.

I just bought a Bulldog and confirm that it looks like a very nice kit. RPM release now 2 tank version, could be very nice close to a plane for refueling. I don't know if it looks realistic as I never saw a picture describing a scene like that.

Does anybody has more information ?

Eric from Tokyo

 They'll be on their way no doubt - Just like us small scalers had to wait for RPM to bring their FT17 out in 1/72 when it was already in 1/35, and the same with the Ford Model T's (still hoping they bring out an ambulance in 1/35)

there is a 1/35 ambulance in resin done by soem italian company

Hi
Im also comtemplating to build the "fuel tanker" version of the Mack Bulldog. The kit looks very nice indeed. but comparing some parts to plans and pictures there are certain little discrepancies, perhaps pertaining a this exact model. The bonnet top doesn't have the hinges, and the edges of the top piece have two small indentations that look too simmetric to be a short casting of the piece. In any case, I guess I'll retrofit it to make it look like the drawings. It also have a rather thick looking windscreen part, which seems to be a bit untypical for the WW1 era.
In fact I'm contemplatig to use the extra spoked wheels to mount the large fuel bowser in some sort of trailer and keep the truck itself as a lorry.
The fuel bowser has a sort of "cabin" at the rear with a separate door, but no detail inside. I guess that this was an area where the different partitions of the tank were closed or open with several pipes and valves, a detail that I can't find anywhere, just in later models like the Opel Bliz, so I'll leave the part closed and
undetailed inside. I added some bumps and wrinkles to the door and service areas of the bowser, just to take that "plastic" look from the parts.

I posted a link to the review of the Mack a while ago. This is the important bit:

Step 16 shows you to put the differential (not exactly what its called, but the part that translates the driveshaft revolutions to the chain-drive) on the leaf-springs. DONT. Place it ahead of that unit and look ahead to step 19 & 20 to see how it will mate up with the chain-drive parts. On step 19, DONT put the axle where they show in the directions either, but look ahead to step 20 to see where theyve positioned it. Once you get beyond these steps, all the rest falls into place.

That's exactly the problem I had. If you do what it says above, all is well.

Thanks James, I'll look for that article... is it posted here in this website?
Has anyone replaced the solid Mack logo on the bonnet for a more appropiate etched grille? If so...how to keep the logo on the grille?
Ideas?
D.
it would be a shame not to display that petite engine somehow

Ooops! Oh well, I had read the review a few days ago but I didn't noticed what you pointed out. Thanks again!
My kit is the one depicted on the second picture, as if refueling in an airfield. I have some doubts about this, mostly because all the pictures of airplanes being refueled on the field were assisted by a couple of crewmen using a simple cart with a barrel and a hand pump, the fuel being filtered by a gauze before being poured into the airplane reservoir. Perhaps the fuel was carried to the airfields in fuel tankers like these, but I'm suspecting that most of the times it was simply carried in flat lorries contained in barrels, unless supplying large air bases. And then, being the large airfields away from the front lines, the complex camo scheme would be unjustified.
Unless a picture of such vehicle and scheme is produced! (something that seems to happen as soon as the model is completed)
This truck also has a strange wooden "bumper" in front, that I haven't seen in the other kits nor in pictures. Was it a relatively common feature?

Hi i guess it takes a particular type of person to put the RPM kit together as there are to many fragile fiddly parts for the running gear personally i enjoyed it and bought another one, the old matchbox(revell) kit is good value since you also get some usefull figures and a Char b, the hät kit is by far the quickest build of any that Ive done....but then it is intended as a games model.....

                time spent to build approx                          complexity
matchbox            1 hour                                         easy
RPM                4hours at least                       over complex,  hard
HÄt                   20 minutes                 a chimp can make this one, 7 parts

all OOB heres a pic for comparison....

Rpm kits need not be expensive I got mine from an ebay shop for 8.95euro+2p+p hannants had a special for 5.95 sterling a considerable reduction on normal price.....

matchbox 6-7euro and hät 7-8euro for 2


so about the edits the ****  post wont except the euro symbol


Cheers

-- Edited by Ironsides at 13:13, 2007-07-11

-- Edited by Ironsides at 13:20, 2007-07-11

-- Edited by Ironsides at 13:23, 2007-07-11

Hi as far as i'm aware mack trucks were used by the british and the french in large numbers so it wouldnt suprise me if they turned up at aerodromes i would expect camo to be typical for the relevant nationality, british various shades of khaki, american olive drab or disruptive camo, french possibly grey........


Cheers

Hi theres also something called service colour used by the brits a sort of pale green there was thread on this forum not to long ago dealing with it....

Cheers