FMG, HBG, OOB Pieces Comparison

[Yavid]

@LHoffman:

This is a Sherman from Anniversary Ed. and the HBG Sherman Firefly from the US Marines set. While you can see it is a bit shorter than the OOB piece, it is much more detailed and Sherman “looking”. Can’t say that this is much of a contest. If HBG starts selling these individually (at the time of purchase they do not) I will have to buy a couple more.

Um not sure how to bring this up but the HBG Sherman is a flame throwing tank, It was called Sherman Zippo. The Sherman Firefly was a British Sherman with a 17-pounder anti-tank main gun instead of the stock American gun

[LHoffman]

@Yavid:

@LHoffman:

This is a Sherman from Anniversary Ed. and the HBG Sherman Firefly from the US Marines set. While you can see it is a bit shorter than the OOB piece, it is much more detailed and Sherman “looking”. Can’t say that this is much of a contest. If HBG starts selling these individually (at the time of purchase they do not) I will have to buy a couple more.

Um not sure how to bring this up but the HBG Sherman is a flame throwing tank, It was called Sherman Zippo. The Sherman Firefly was a British Sherman with a 17-pounder anti-tank main gun instead of the stock American gun

Correct. I was under an improper assumption at the time. A misnomer that the “Firefly” is not the flame-throwing version…

[CWO Marc]

It’s ironic that the flamethrower version of the Sherman was called the Zippo (the name of a popular lighter) because the standard Sherman – whose poorly designed ammunition storage often led it to catch fire when hit – was nicknamed the Ronson (after another popular lighter whose manufacturers claimed that it would “always light the first time”).

[Tall Paul]

Guys,

––Not to ‘nit-pic’, and I hate to disagree, but IMHO the OOB tac-bomber in the above posts and drawings is
definately an SBD Dauntless. Just look at the;
1.) curved wintips (on the Dauntless)
2.) lack of ball turret machinegun (on the Dauntless)
3.) the somewhat narrow fuselage (on the Dauntless).
––The TBD Avenger had a TALL, FAT fuselage that had the radio operater/belly gunner INSIDE the fuselage. The main reason it was nick-named the “Turkey”.

“Tall Paul”

[toblerone77]

The rule book lists it as such. And I think that’s what its supposed to be. The detail on OOB units isn’t that great so I suppose with some paint and creativity it could be whatever you need it to be LOL.

I’m calling it a Dauntless as I might be using my HBG Avengers differently. To me it looked like a Dauntless and WoTC calls it a Dauntless but they do get stuff wrong sometimes. I suppose when we get some more goodies from HBG for the USN it won’t matter as much. LOL.

[toblerone77]

@Tall:

Guys,

––Not to ‘nit-pic’, and I hate to disagree, but IMHO the OOB tac-bomber in the above posts and drawings is
definately an SBD Dauntless. Just look at the;
1.) curved wintips (on the Dauntless)
2.) lack of ball turret machinegun (on the Dauntless)
3.) the somewhat narrow fuselage (on the Dauntless).
––The TBD Avenger had a TALL, FAT fuselage that had the radio operater/belly gunner INSIDE the fuselage. The main reason it was nick-named the “Turkey”.

“Tall Paul”

Yeah I saw what you saw before. WOTC has it listed as an SBD in the rulebook. However just like all OOB units it can be an approximation. I know the Hellcat from AA50 AAP41 AAGC has been called a Wildcat many times due to the minimum detail in OOB parts. So I could see how one might mistake the Dauntless for an Avenger.

I think for those us with both OOB and HBG US Tacs, WE know the difference LOL. That’s all that matters.

[LHoffman]

You guys are certainly right. Not sure what I was thinking way back then. I swear I saw that it was labeled an Avenger in some rulebook, but it is definitely a Dauntless, as you originally pointed out Toblerone. When I painted Tall Paul’s units I know we used them as Dauntlesses, which they are perfect for.

[toblerone77]

Well LH you do really nice paint work. Anybody who can paint the frames of canopies and nose glasses without going insane must do something right!

[LHoffman]

@toblerone77:

Well LH you do really nice paint work. Anybody who can paint the frames of canopies and nose glasses without going insane must do something right!

I do try. Glad you like it.

Been a while since I have been in the saddle though.

[Tall Paul]

Guys,

@toblerone77:

Well LH you do really nice paint work. Anybody who can paint the frames of canopies and nose glasses without going insane must do something right!

––I couldn’t agree more! Although it may already be too late as far as the “insane” thing. haha  :-D

––And since the OOB “Hellcats” don’t have the much larger frontal air intake w/scoop, I’ve been using them as Wildcats. I’m pretty certain that HBG is planning to release some real Hellcats in the future and that will give us some additional a/c units.
––IMHO, with distinct paint schemes, it should be easy to identify the “Early-War (Navy) Fighter” “Wildcats” from the "Late-War (Navy) Fighter “Hellcats”. Especialy since the Hellcats will have the overall Dark Blue scheme w/different national ensignia.
----Shown below are some of Lucas’s fine paint jobs on some “Early-War (Navy) Fighters”. Notice the Red/White rudder stripes and Red “dots” in the national insignia.
----P.S.-ALL of the pilots of these real a/c won the Medal of Honor. Can you identify them?

“Tall Paul”

[toblerone77]

Okay here’s one for “y’all”….

What do you use the old Stuka’s for? They’re smaller as well as the HBG FW190 is smaller than the OOB FW190. Personally I’m thinking “naval”. Not too historical perhaps but any German carrier is a “What If?”.

[Variable]

Going with your idea, you could use the smaller Stukas for Ju-87C variants which were being designed to carry torpedoes. Now you have a dive bomber and torpedo bomber for Germany!

[LHoffman]

The old ones from Revised? … To be honest, they are so terrible now (compared to everything else we have) I won’t use them for anything.

[CWO Marc]

@Variable:

Going with your idea, you could use the smaller Stukas for Ju-87C variants which were being designed to carry torpedoes. Now you have a dive bomber and torpedo bomber for Germany!

Alternately, the small older Stuka sculpts could represent the Ju 87G anti-tank version of the Stuka, which was armed with twin 37mm cannons.

[LHoffman]

I would not be able to stand the size difference between the old and new (tac bomber) pieces.

Plus, I am sure HBG will produce some of their own Stukas which will eliminate even the OOB tacs.

[Tall Paul]

Guys,

@toblerone77:

What do you use the old Stuka’s for? They’re smaller as well as the HBG FW190 is smaller than the OOB FW190. Personally I’m thinking “naval”. Not too historical perhaps but any German carrier is a “What If?”.

––Well, as far as “Stuka’s”, I remember reading a great book about dive-bombing that included an ‘elite’ wing of Italians that utilized the JU-87 Stuka for most of it’s Mediteranean service. So I already have two Stukas reserved for use in my Italian Med. paint scheme.  :-o

––Whether we use the OOB Stukas, or a newer version will be decided at the time of their painting. As I recall, I DIDN’T like FMG’s new sculp of the Stuka.

----As far as the size comparisons of a/c,…I’ve adopted HBG’s philosophy of having Fighters somewhat smaller than the Tactical Bombers. When you think about it,….it really makes sense. At least for me. Everyone has their own preferences, though.

“Tall Paul”

[Variable]

@LHoffman:

I would not be able to stand the size difference between the old and new (tac bomber) pieces.

Plus, I am sure HBG will produce some of their own Stukas which will eliminate even the OOB tacs.

8-) :-D :wink:

[Witt]

Did someone tell me you(HBG) now sell in Europe, out of Germany?
If so, could I have a link to this site if it has its own one? I am in England. Thank you.

Sorry for posting in the wrong thread!
Will delete if you wish.

[LHoffman]

@wittmann:

Did someone tell me you(HBG) now sell in Europe, out of Germany?
If so, could I have a link to this site if it has its own one? I am in England. Thank you.

Sorry for posting in the wrong thread!
Will delete if you wish.

Do not fear! We are all friends here!

[toblerone77]

@wittmann:

Did someone tell me you(HBG) now sell in Europe, out of Germany?
If so, could I have a link to this site if it has its own one? I am in England. Thank you.

Sorry for posting in the wrong thread!
Will delete if you wish.

www.historicalboardgaming.eu