This is a most interesting and insightful read. Although it is definitely bound to spark the usual Allied vs. Axis debate, perhaps this time the debate will be started by Axis modellers...

Do yourselves a favour and read this with an open mind...

Why Model "The Good Guys"?



p.s. My intention is not to start a A vs A debate, as I find these rather dull and pointless, but to share a great and well-written editorial will the community

Rudi, yes it is an interesting and well-thouht out article - thanks for linking it..Jim

Yep, very nice article.

Now I mainly model German because... well just because I've grown into them...

Waaayyy back then when I started modelling, I started out with planes, no matter what kind of nationality.

Then I shifted to armor which eventually led to (nearly) exclusive German. Why? Well, I guess because there was so much available... And perhaps of the "mysterious" .

The what??? Well I help in restoring the real stuff. What do you get? And endless stream of jeeps, GMC's, Dodge's and allied equipment (If you regularly see a parade or a show you know what I mean).
But real life (authentic!) German equipment, fat chance .
I mean how many running Panthers and Tigers are there compared to Shermans?

So perhaps not getting satisfied with the real stuff, I model German in the small world .

On the whole, I just like to build models and by some strange twist they are German :-) :-) .

Kris

Very nice article. Personally, I like to model early war armor, regardless of the nationality, with a natural perference towards US armor. Unfortunately, there's not a whole lot out there in plastic (the Stuart series is covered well). This leads to "mission creep" where I end up buying early axis armor. This side track is what got me to discover Fine Molds IJA tanks. I enjoy those early armor kits.

a very interesting read and some fine points elaberated upon...

Indeed, a very nice article, and I think one that should make you think...Besides one or two (possible) factual inaccuracies I think the main argument of this article stands firm.

The funny thing is that I have decided to also build some non-Axis stuff. And my studies-related dream/ambition is definatelyrelated to Allied subjects (though triggered by the Axis).

Hi all
A very interesting and well put together article,clear and to the point,it was i feel neither provocative,or one sided and made a very good point ..thanks for sharing,great site to.
Cheers Chris

I don't know who wrote that, but HEAR! HEAR! - buy the guy a drink.
I've got so frustrated trying to find new subjects that I've considered quitting the hobby rather than put up with a continuous flow of German kits and no new British / Commonwealth subjects - I actually feel that strongly about this topic.

Interesting, but I always ask this question. Why limit your self to just Axis, or Allies? I build what strikes my fancy at the moment. Somtimes German, Somtimes Russian, somtimes American. Really doesnt matter to me. So I see this article as just as biased as any German kits are better article etc.

my 2cents

I've always found it strange this Axis vs Allies stuff, it is, to me , like arguing over which grade of petrol you use in your bike or car. as long as it works for you who cares what anyone else thinks.

I started modelling in my teens, and started off with planes, ww2 mostly, with the odd modern jet thrown in. Then i included ships and finally AFV's. Can't remember what my first one was, may have been an M3 Halftrack. My first German tank was a Brumbar......after that i discovered surfing and motor bikes and did not do any modelling until a couple of years ago.

By then i had been researching German ww2 history for some time and it seemed natural to start modelling again and focus on German AFV's. But that does not mean i think a guy who build Allied stuff is wasting his time, on the contrary, with the work ppl put into their models it is obvious that the Allied AFV's have just as big a hold on ppl as German ones do on me.......i admire that sort of dedication and would never want someone to join in modelling Axis tanks if it was not their passion.......i think in any discussion about the merits of Axis vs Allied tanks peoiple should remember one thing...RESPECT for their fellow modellers.....nothing more nothing less. If they did that our hobby would be a much better place.

Regards from the Swamp

Hawkeye

Quite true. We all have our own opinions, and a right to maintain them. I am more angry with the manufacturers who think that as most armour models sold are German, then it will always be that.way. If a greater variety of subjects was available, would more people make Italian, Japanese, French or Commonwealth models instead of German? - This is not just an Allied/Axis argument, just a plea for more variety.

Tim Streeter.

Indeed, motor oil is motor oil.

It was well written and came up with some interesting ideas on how this all emerged. It would be even more interesting to discuss other aspects that were brought up but it seems that it would be one of those things that would get out of control. Pity too, I think that there are other reasons other than just marketing that perpetuates the fascination with the axis. (none of them to do with neo-nazis either)

Me, I like them both Axis and Allied. Both have interesting subjects and both have interesting histories.

However, being a child of the Cold War and a participant, I'd like to see more subjects along those lines. But, you can't always get what you want....

Good article and fun thread
Steve

How many were there at the end of the war??? :-)

I just build everything I like. For the same reason as Crossbow I like the 'surviving' real Axis vehicles, because of there rarity.

I think it's a great article and it make some sence.

On the other hand...
Sometimes people over react at Axis models. In Germany TODAY the symbols on the models are forbidden to display on fairs or shows. They have to be taped off. Just censored!
All clubs and modellers on these shows had to place a statement on their table saying that their German models have in no case any reference to their political opinions...
The shop I worked in had the front window scattered to pieces a few years ago because of a model with German crosses was displayed in it...
You are almost be expected to be a neo-nazi if you like german models, and that's a direction of thinking I strongly dislike!! (in fact, isn't that almost a nazi logica kind of way of thinking)

20 years back it was also not done to build Soviet models as they looked like you where a spy if yo modeled them. Are you a commi????
Nowdays you get strange looks when asking for Cromwells T55 Iraqi update set....
Does someone ever dare to make a dio of US GI's are ambushed by VC?
All very sensetive...

But why do we point fingers or want to presuade eachother if our only goal is to model great models???? Where's the open mind than??


OK, just to make clear and avoid hate-PM's:
I'm not a national socialist, not a Nazi, not a Commie, not El-Quaida, not anti America or whatever someone thinks I am after writing this post.

Actually, I'm just a modeller...

Hope you still like me...

i do............ this is really something i dont understand,more of this less of that,so what......you need to ask yourself if it is that important.i dont think it is.i model because it is my rest point my releave from my hasty life ,i model for fun.and if people start asking for more then there is ,they took it a step to far.enjoy what you have ,i know i do..this is just my general thinking about it.and not to offend somebody.peace to all

[have seen some great models here both allied and axis and loved them all],........greetz jeroen.

I love the author of that article and I want to have his babies! :-) No but seriously folks, those of you that saw my (apparently) rather cheeky comments after Jimbrae's review of the new Dragon 3 in 1 will know that I feel very strongly about this. It is of great comfort to me that I'm not alone.

If you haven't seen the remarks then do have a look and join me, if you will, for a drool at the possibility of a Dragon 3 in 1 (insert favourite Allied vehicle)

Thanks you've been a wonderful audience

Phil

No comment is possible after that statement....

However, that said, the area which (sadly) is not being sufficiently explored by those who wish to build allied armor, is WW2 Soviet. This is an immense area for the modeller and hopefully, with the (soon to be released) KVs from Trumpeter, will get a boost.

Apart from the (always irritating problem of softskins), Commonwealth AFVs are present and available. We need a NEW Churchill range in plastic, as do we need Priests, Grants and Archers. The Shermans are pretty well covered. Between available kits and conversion sets the Sherman is a very well-represented vehicle. DML's forthcoming Firefly 1c will fill an important 'hole' in the market.

I'm surprised no-one brought up the M3 halftrack. In my opinion, there is a lot of nonsense being talked about the M3. Firstly, the argument is always:




Not quite in the 'reality' column. There were many variants of the M3 but nothing like as many as the 251. Conversions are marginally simpler and one or two GOOD M3 models with the AM people stepping in with updates/conversion sets would cover virtually everything.

In my opinion, (apart from the lack of soft-skins, artillery, and some SPGs/TDs) Commonwealth/Allied is not as badly covered as some people would have us believe...Jim

Very true.. unfortunately alot of it is in resin, which makes it economically out of reach to many many modellers...

How about more artillery? I read somewhere that Allied AT guns were responsible for more casualties than Allied tanks...