WoW WWI Minis Series 3: Defects or variations?

By Tinweasel2, in Wings of War

I have bought all the new series 3 minis, but I'm really not sure whether two of my models are damaged/defective or intentionally different.

First, there are the three Nieuports. Two of them have an MG on top, one (Kibanov's) doesn't. Is that intentional? In the pictures posted today by FFG, the Kibanov model also looks like it was missing an MG.

Second, the RE 8s. Two of them have a bit of plastic representing the engine glued onto the nose, one (the Belgian plane) hasn't. Is that intentional or a defect? What is the reason behind these variations?

If there is anybody who could clear this up, please help!

Tinweasel said:

First, there are the three Nieuports. Two of them have an MG on top, one (Kibanov's) doesn't. Is that intentional? In the pictures posted today by FFG, the Kibanov model also looks like it was missing an MG.

Not all Nieuport 17s had a Lewis gun on the upper wing -- later models had a synchronized Vickers on the cowling.

IIRC, Lewis guns were also hard to come by in Imperial Russia, so Klibanov's likely wouldn't have one.

Tinweasel said:

Second, the RE 8s. Two of them have a bit of plastic representing the engine glued onto the nose, one (the Belgian plane) hasn't. Is that intentional or a defect? What is the reason behind these variations?

Different models of "Harry Tate" had different exhaust-pipe configurations -- the Belgian unit likely had shorter ones than the "pipe organ" stacks on the British acft. (I can't be sure, but I think the Belgians used a different engine entirely -- the RE8's stock engine was Rubbish.)

Great, thanks a bunch! So it seems that my models are ok after all.

Tinweasel said:

Great, thanks a bunch! So it seems that my models are ok after all.

Ironically, FFG's attention-to-detail does tend to cause folks to wonder "is this mini FUBARed?" :)

csadn said:

Different models of "Harry Tate" had different exhaust-pipe configurations -- the Belgian unit likely had shorter ones than the "pipe organ" stacks on the British acft. (I can't be sure, but I think the Belgians used a different engine entirely -- the RE8's stock engine was Rubbish.)

Thanks! I was wondering about the Belgian R.E.8. I had noticed the difference in the pictures, but haven't gotten the one I ordered yet. Does it have any visible exhaust pipes?

Peppermeister said:

Thanks! I was wondering about the Belgian R.E.8. I had noticed the difference in the pictures, but haven't gotten the one I ordered yet. Does it have any visible exhaust pipes?

No idea -- I haven't received mine yet, either. However, I have studied the Actual Acft., which is how I know these things. :)

Wow! When these guys make the models, they really do do there research dont they!

"Does 'anal-retentive' require a hyphen?" :)

Of course, if they *hadn't* gone to that level of detail, they'd be catching ack-ack for Inaccuracy, so.... :)

Yeah, fair one. But even so, the level of attention to detail is great. It would of been so easier for them to produced three identical models and given them different paint schemes. As it is, Ricthoffens Roland is slightly different to the other 2, and there are different engine exausts and top machine guns on the series 3 models. Fantastic!

Took a look at the R.E.8s at a shop today. The British R.E. 8s have the organ pipe exhausts. The individual cylinders are evident on the engine. The Belgian aircraft has no pipes, and the engine does not have any cylinders visible - it is smooth. It does have the triangular scoop on top, though. Is this what the Hispano-SUiza engine looked like?

Peppermeister said:

Took a look at the R.E.8s at a shop today. The British R.E. 8s have the organ pipe exhausts. The individual cylinders are evident on the engine. The Belgian aircraft has no pipes, and the engine does not have any cylinders visible - it is smooth. It does have the triangular scoop on top, though. Is this what the Hispano-SUiza engine looked like?

I think it's more to do with the tendency for the "organ pipes" to collapse under hard maneuvering, and someone not wanting to futz with them any more.