Pendraken Miniatures Forum

Wider Wargaming => Genre/Period Discussion => 20th Century => Topic started by: GrumpyOldMan on 30 July 2014, 02:04:41 AM

Title: Fairy Kikaku Independent tank
Post by: GrumpyOldMan on 30 July 2014, 02:04:41 AM
Hi All

I only mention this because I'm fairly sure that the Vickers Independent tank
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9a/IWM-KID-109-Vickers-Independent.jpg)
is not on any release schedule or even thinking about schedule for Pendraken  :).

Fairy Kikaku have released a set that includes the Vickers Independent for all those VBCW gamers that need the most impressive hardware  :)

(http://www.kampfgruppe144.com/phpBB3/download/file.php?id=6033&mode=view)

Available here:-

http://www.hobbyland.co.jp/catalog/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=5240&products_id=107765&osCsid=555766901bfc67fdfc6db11ef890de9c (http://www.hobbyland.co.jp/catalog/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=5240&products_id=107765&osCsid=555766901bfc67fdfc6db11ef890de9c)

More info on other Fairy Kiakau stuff:-

http://www.kampfgruppe144.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3264 (http://www.kampfgruppe144.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3264)

Cheers

GrumpyOldMan
Title: Re: Fairy Kikaku Independent tank
Post by: Orcs on 30 July 2014, 06:41:33 AM
Just recieved three sets of 1:144 japanese vehicles from Fairy Kikaku.  Impressive service about 2 weeks from order to delivery, and they keep you updated by email.

Couple of things to note.  If you order more than 1 kit you are over the £15 import limit and may well get chargeed VAT and the dreaded £8 post office charge.  If you order them seperately but within  a day or two of each other the system will send them as a single order.

So if you order more than one you need to order them a good few days apart to ensure they come seperately as this is cheaper than paying the post office charges. However I got away with it last time as the customs did not pick it up

Kits are really nice, a bit fiddly as in seperate peices - more like the Minifigs 10mm. Some flash that is easily scrapped away/

Title: Re: Fairy Kikaku Independent tank
Post by: Steve J on 30 July 2014, 08:11:25 AM
Looks very interesting, including the other kits in the set. I just wish someone would stock these in the UK. BTW, is there an English version of their pages?
Title: Re: Fairy Kikaku Independent tank
Post by: Orcs on 30 July 2014, 10:02:02 AM
Quote from: Steve J on 30 July 2014, 08:11:25 AM
Looks very interesting, including the other kits in the set. I just wish someone would stock these in the UK. BTW, is there an English version of their pages?

http://www.hlj.com/scripts/hljlist?Maker1=fir&cl=1

This is the site I ordered from. Its in english and they will reply to e-mails in english

The kits are all around the 2000 yen mark which works out about £11.50.  Postage works out about   £3.50.

NOTE:-  THE NUMBER OF MODELS IN THE KIT SEEMS TO  VARY  FROM BOX TO BOX
Title: Re: Re: Fairy Kikaku Independent tank
Post by: GrumpyOldMan on 30 July 2014, 10:03:41 AM
Hello Steve J

Best bet is the Hobby Link Japan site which has a good English page  http://www.hlj.com/scripts/hljlist?Maker1=fir&cl=1  (http://www.hlj.com/scripts/hljlist?Maker1=fir&cl=1).

Great to do business with, can answer queries on unavailable kits. I presume that kits are made on a demand basis so don't be put off by the out of stock on some. May mean a wait of a week or two but will turn up. Just be aware that rivets are fist sized in the Fairy Kikaku world :)

Cheers

GrumpyOldMan
Title: Re: Fairy Kikaku Independent tank
Post by: Steve J on 30 July 2014, 11:57:23 AM
Thanks Grumpy :).
Title: Re: Fairy Kikaku Independent tank
Post by: marshall1945 on 04 August 2014, 08:12:38 PM
What are these Fairy Kikaku kits really like? I looked on the link provided in one of the posts - although I have looked at these before. I think I have seen on ebay and they didn't look that great - quite messy with flash and tracks in two bits. The models look cleaner on the Japanese site but woudl welcome some feedback on how clean the detail realyl is. I see there are more sets available now and I like the look of the Italian one with P-40 coming out this month and may invest in a few.

I have a couple of KV 5s from Atelier infinite, another Japanese resin kit maker (you can buy on Japanese Amazon). Lovely kits and really nice material to work with - no casting deformaties and resin not brittle at all but seriously expensive when postage and import tax and the rediculous £8 processing fee is taken into account. I may get one more KV 5 and a Super Pershing but only because I can't get elsewhere. For info here are what the KV 5s look like:

http://smww2andnapoleonic.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/ww2-experimental-vehicles-part-3.html (http://smww2andnapoleonic.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/ww2-experimental-vehicles-part-3.html)

Steve
Title: Re: Fairy Kikaku Independent tank
Post by: Wulf on 05 August 2014, 07:27:24 PM
Oh, dear, I just took a look around the HLJ site - they don't list the Independant, sadly, but they do list a Ratte by Matuo Kasten - so Pendraken is too late!
Title: Re: Fairy Kikaku Independent tank
Post by: GrumpyOldMan on 06 August 2014, 12:34:37 AM
Hello

Quote from: marshall1945 on 04 August 2014, 08:12:38 PM
What are these Fairy Kikaku kits really like? I looked on the link provided in one of the posts - although I have looked at these before. I think I have seen on ebay and they didn't look that great - quite messy with flash and tracks in two bits. The models look cleaner on the Japanese site but woudl welcome some feedback on how clean the detail realyl is. I see there are more sets available now and I like the look of the Italian one with P-40 coming out this month and may invest in a few.

Steve

Just going on the kits I've got they are generally the correct profile but the rivets are fist sized. The tracks are in 2 parts because I'm guessing they are being cast in some process that restricts the size of parts (maybe centrifugal), generally the parts are clean without bubbles or imperfections. Some light flash but the resin is ok to work with. It would probably be better to think of the Fairy Kikaku kits as lower priced versions suitable for gaming rather than the collector types such as Atelier Infinite (probably the best quality around) or Kami de Korokoro (not as good as Atelier Infinite but better than Fairy Kikaku). Take the Japanese Type 89 tank for example, the Atelier Infinite and the Kami de Korokoro versions are both around the ¥2000 mark for one tank but Fairy Kikaku has the this tank in kits with 3 others for around ¥1400. So they are adequate for gaming especially if they cover subjects unlikely to be covered by Pendraken, Pithead et al. So while the kits wouldn't excite collectors without a lot of work, I was really happy to get the following for my 1930s gaming in Asia:-

(http://d2ev13g7cze5ka.cloudfront.net/fir/firm016_0.jpg)

and looking at this one:-

(http://d2ev13g7cze5ka.cloudfront.net/fir/firm010_0.jpg)

Quote from: Wulf on 05 August 2014, 07:27:24 PM
Oh, dear, I just took a look around the HLJ site - they don't list the Independant, sadly, but they do list a Ratte by Matuo Kasten - so Pendraken is too late!

No there is no such thing as too many large tanks  :D, Besides you could also get the Neubaufahrzeug or the Type 91 Heavy tank to go with them  :D.

Cheers

GrumpyOldMan

Title: Re: Fairy Kikaku Independent tank
Post by: Orcs on 16 August 2014, 01:23:42 AM
The problem I am having now is that I have found everything you need for a armoured train.  I have early war Poles and Russians so it would be very useful. Trouble is to get the basic bits to make a generic Armoured train I can use for either side  plus a car with a Flakvierling should I want to make it a later German train its gpoing to costy £125.

Whats really concerning me is that I am starting to think that this is reasonable as its the only way I am going to get an armoued train in 10mm. :-S
Title: Re: Fairy Kikaku Independent tank
Post by: Wulf on 16 August 2014, 09:29:49 AM
There are loads of armoured train bits in N gauge on Shapeways.

This is not a cheaper option...
Title: Re: Fairy Kikaku Independent tank
Post by: Wulf on 16 August 2014, 09:31:01 AM
Hobby Link Japan do not list the Vickers Tanks set, and were not aware of it when I contacted them, but they say they'll ask about it.
Title: Re: Fairy Kikaku Independent tank
Post by: Orcs on 16 August 2014, 06:37:01 PM
Quote from: Wulf on 16 August 2014, 09:29:49 AM
There are loads of armoured train bits in N gauge on Shapeways.

This is not a cheaper option...

Thanks Wulf, They do some nice bits - Now I am more tempted.
Title: Re: Fairy Kikaku Independent tank
Post by: GrumpyOldMan on 18 August 2014, 11:59:48 PM
Hello JAFO

Quote from: Just a few Orcs on 16 August 2014, 01:23:42 AM
The problem I am having now is that I have found everything you need for a armoured train.  I have early war Poles and Russians so it would be very useful. Trouble is to get the basic bits to make a generic Armoured train I can use for either side  plus a car with a Flakvierling should I want to make it a later German train its gpoing to costy £125.

Whats really concerning me is that I am starting to think that this is reasonable as its the only way I am going to get an armoued train in 10mm. :-S

I know that card models are not everybody's cup of tea but as I'm married to a Scot I've learned to be careful with my money  :).

(http://www.bestpapermodels.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/k/o/kozma-pic4.jpg)

It's available from here http://www.bestpapermodels.com/en/paper-model-armored-train-kozma-minin.html (http://www.bestpapermodels.com/en/paper-model-armored-train-kozma-minin.html) for £4.30, it can be scaled down by about 58% for 1/150 and it's a reasonably easy build (the actual pages are shown on the page).

There's another Polish train here but it looks like a more complex build http://sklep.gpm.pl/en/modele-kartonowe/kolejki/1/87/pilsudczyk1/87-pp-52-pociag-pancerny-1/87 (http://sklep.gpm.pl/en/modele-kartonowe/kolejki/1/87/pilsudczyk1/87-pp-52-pociag-pancerny-1/87)

(http://sklep.gpm.pl/pub/thumbs/ae6/produkty-261107-1-jpg-1900-1200.jpg)

Cheers

GrumpyOldMan
Title: Re: Fairy Kikaku Independent tank
Post by: Fenton on 19 August 2014, 12:10:57 AM
I  like the train, hadnt heard of that website before

Thanks
Title: Re: Fairy Kikaku Independent tank
Post by: Duke Speedy of Leighton on 19 August 2014, 12:18:25 AM
Good one.
Title: Re: Fairy Kikaku Independent tank
Post by: Orcs on 19 August 2014, 06:36:47 AM
Hi Grumpy

I have no problem with card models, especially scince I found 5 minute PVA

Thats brilliant, certainly worth spending an evening or two making it.

Title: Re: Fairy Kikaku Independent tank
Post by: Orcs on 19 August 2014, 07:20:50 AM
Just ordered the Polish Train. the website has lots of interesting stuff and some buildings in 1:150 . 

The Train was a £3.50, postage was £10, so to make it worthwhile I ordeed some of the buildings as well. A couple in 1:150 and one in 1:87 that I will have to shrink.

Cheers

Orcs
Title: Re: Fairy Kikaku Independent tank
Post by: Wulf on 03 September 2014, 06:35:07 PM
QuoteKuni (HobbyLink Japan)
Sep 03 16:59
Dear Wulf,
Just to let you know that we should be receiving Fairy Kikaku's Vickers Tanks. We unfortunately do not know exactly when we can receive it, but they said it is still available. We will add the vickers tanks to our catalog when it arrives.
Best Regards,
Kunihiko Matsugu
HobbyLink Japan
http://www.hlj.com
Title: Re: Fairy Kikaku Independent tank
Post by: Wulf on 11 February 2015, 05:25:06 PM
One Fairy Kikaku Vickers Independant tank on the way to me from Australia via eBay. I hope it wasn't someone here bidding against me!  >:(

I already got a couple of Interwar tanlkettes from the same seller, tiny little things. I was a bit worried, seeing the casting quality, not up to the standard I'm used to fromn Japanese resin garage kits, but the scults were good & the lines crisp & sharp, there was just a bit of flash & a couple of tiny pinholes...
Title: Re: Fairy Kikaku Independent tank
Post by: fsn on 11 February 2015, 06:52:17 PM
Doh! When I saw the name of this thread i thought "I don't remember Fairey Engineering, of Swordfish fame, getting into the tank market. Kikaku sound antipodean. Perhaps Fairey was doing some work for the New Zealand government."

Is my face red!