Pang's Models and Hobbies

Pang's Models and Hobbies A place to review hobby models and discuss ideas. A hobby like scale modeling can get pretty intimidating for beginners. That is their purpose.

Pang’s Models and Hobbies (PMH) is a company that was started by the desire to spread and share the interest and appreciation of scale modeling. We started the company because it was not enough to keep a large personal collection; we also wanted to participate in the industry. We felt that very often the stores and online dealers of the models/toys, simply took a snap shot of the boxes and did not

provide enough information and photos about the them. Moreover, it seemed that there was a lack of space/forums for new hobbyist to find models of different levels of difficulty and pricing. It can give the impression of being expensive in terms of tools and supplies; it can also give the impression of being too “nerdy” where one would needs to know also specs and data; say engine type, weight, historical background, movies and series where models were featured, etc and these could easily distract from the plain pleasure of putting pieces together to build an model, to paint and detail it, and if desired, (gasp) to play with it. Call them toys or call them models; display them or play with them; but please enjoy them.

As of lately, I got back into model building (from plastic kits).On the one hand some people will say that it is a "wast...
07/23/2024

As of lately, I got back into model building (from plastic kits).

On the one hand some people will say that it is a "waste of time".

On the other hand, I always keep in mind:

"Time wasted having fun, is not wasted time."

So, whether it is listening or play music, reading or writing, drawing, paining, sewing or even running and keeping fit.

The photos show when assembled-only, before any paint or paneling. Then it moves to only paneling and some coloring, then finally "done" with coloring and the application of decals (but not all decals as they were too many and too small).

Let's all do what like and enjoy.

I'll be the first one to admit that I am no expert on WWII planes, especially those from Italy or France.However, if we ...
03/18/2024

I'll be the first one to admit that I am no expert on WWII planes, especially those from Italy or France.

However, if we consider that Italy and France (along with Japan) are countries and cultures that have a special affinity to beauty and aesthetics (we see these reflected on their art and architecture...even in their food), we got to think that their airplanes would not be too bad looking.

I don't know much about this plane, the French Dewoitine D.520 but just the colors....WOW. It is highly photogenic.

I am not too sure of a yellow tail, but I guess they had to find a way to identify their side.

Doesn't matter what plane it is, VF-84 "Jolly Rogers" is always good looking.
03/13/2024

Doesn't matter what plane it is, VF-84 "Jolly Rogers" is always good looking.

Tastes change...In 1989 I was a high school kid just starting my new hobby of liking and reading everything I could get ...
03/12/2024

Tastes change...

In 1989 I was a high school kid just starting my new hobby of liking and reading everything I could get my hands on about modern military jets.

Imagine if we have had the Internet back them? Back in those days, one really had to look for books and magazines. Just reading about military stuff was an expensive hobby.

Out of nowhere it was reported that the US had invaded Panama in an effort to get Panama's ruler Manuel Noriega.

A few years later, in 1991, we all watch Operation Desert Storm start as if it were a TV show. Everybody and his brother saw the monitor footage of the smart bombs scoring direct hits in CNN and other news channels.

It was then when people realized there was a new airplane in the US stables and that it was rumored to be invisible.

Even I had Monogram model (called the Aurora, which was more similar to a small and rounded SR-71) of the supposed Invisible Jet that I had put together a few years earlier.

As the world got their first sights of the F-117 everybody started scratching their heads wondering how that thig could fly. It was like a pyramid made of little triangles and more pyramids. It was all flat surfaces and straight lines. It looked as if it were made of paper.

As we got to know more about the F-117 we were told that they were already deep into their "career" and had actually been deployed in 1989 in Panama.

Imagine how it was possible for the US to practically keep the existence of the F-117 a secret for a few years?

Now compare that to the very public way the YF-22 v F-23 was conducted.

All this time I was never a big fan of the F-117 Nighthawk. Although the USAF designated it as a Fighter (F) and was called "Stealth Fighter" later it was said that it was never a fighter, it was more of an A (Attack) airplane. I never like nor appreciated its looks. It look fragile and slow.

But now after 30+ years or so....
..It is not that bad looking.

I think I am starting to like it.

The "Gray Dragon" looks cool. Maybe it was all just a matter of coloring.

It's not bad looking....
01/31/2024

It's not bad looking....

The Japanese sure know how to paint their F-15s.
01/30/2024

The Japanese sure know how to paint their F-15s.

Ok, now I remember why I stopped building plastic models.I just can't spend the time on it. I obess about it and keep pa...
09/25/2023

Ok, now I remember why I stopped building plastic models.

I just can't spend the time on it. I obess about it and keep painting and repainting until I no longer remember what I wanted.

Putting on the decals was crazy as this thing got decals that are virtually invisible, easily the size of a spec of pepper. Definitely smaller than half a grain of rice...

I still got a bunch of decals left over...but even if I put them on, I would probably not be able to see them.

I was a bit disappointed that the decals over the wing covered a good deal of panels and panel lines...I think next time I will just paint the surfaces instead of applying colored decals over large areas, say the tail fins. There were big black decals for them. Instead of that, just painting them black will be easier and the rivets and panel lines won't be covered).

At the end, I decided to call it quits.

Just like paintings (and art), you never finish a model, you just walk away from it.

(the thing is that I got carried away and got 3 more to take care of)
Now I got to figure out how to make a stand for this thing.

We had a bunch of different WWII tanks to photograph for posting.Having them out all together at the same time really ga...
08/04/2023

We had a bunch of different WWII tanks to photograph for posting.

Having them out all together at the same time really gave you a sense of proportion.

All this tanks are from the collection/maker and at the same scale of 1/72.

Imagine being a tank crew of an American M4 Sherman and having to go against a Tiger I or a Tiger II (King Tiger)?

The Russian T-34 was also dwarfed by the Tiger I.

Corgi vs Postage (Daron)Corgi's F-35A and Postage Stamp's F-35A are very similar, both are at the 1/144 scale but being ...
07/21/2023

Corgi vs Postage (Daron)

Corgi's F-35A and Postage Stamp's F-35A are very similar, both are at the 1/144 scale but being on the same scale, is not the same as to label them "the same".

Corgi's model is well done, good metal content and weight but what makes it "underwhelming" is the color scheme and markings (or lack of them, to be exact).

Postage Stamp's model on the other hand is fully and realistically painted with accurate markings and even with external weapons.

Too bad, because I really wanted to like Corgi's model, as I made it part of my own "small scale" model collection and I got a bunch of other Corgi models.

But then again, let's be honest. Although both models are well build and equally sized, they are not at the same level.

Corgi's F-35 come in a cardboard back blister pack, the type of package that would be hanging from a hook, similar to Hot Wheels.

Postage's F-35 comes in a clam shell (transparent plastic shells that come together) and then inside a window box with all kinds of info about the model.

Pricewise, Postage is about 1.8x the price of Corgi.

If you look at the photos, you probably figure out which one is the more expensive one.

As I kid I remember being very excited about the Space Shuttle. Along with the 747, this craft has a special place in my...
07/20/2023

As I kid I remember being very excited about the Space Shuttle. Along with the 747, this craft has a special place in my heart (and memory).

This is 4.5 inches tall (from the base of the MLP, Mobile Launch Pad, to the tip of the fuel tank). The calculated scale is about 1/488.

It is more "toy" than "model" but it does display very nicely.

This got to be the most heartfelt feedback:"The model was a gift for my father on Father’s Day. He is a Vietnam War vete...
07/11/2023

This got to be the most heartfelt feedback:

"The model was a gift for my father on Father’s Day. He is a Vietnam War veteran who served in the Air Force and was an aircraft mechanic on the particular C-130 that was represented by this model. He loved it and spent hours staring at it and reminiscing about his time as a young man. Thank you for making him a happy man on his day."

I just thought the British bomber (Avro Lancaster) looked good to post, while we are in the subject of small scale model...
07/11/2023

I just thought the British bomber (Avro Lancaster) looked good to post, while we are in the subject of small scale models.

In this case the model is 3.25 inches long, which makes it about 1/256 Scale.

I guess the more colors a model has, the more interesting it looks.This model is about 3.5 inches long and the calculate...
07/03/2023

I guess the more colors a model has, the more interesting it looks.

This model is about 3.5 inches long and the calculated Scale would be about 1/332.

This model having more colors is more photogenic than the F-18 from the previous post (which was really one single color...
07/01/2023

This model having more colors is more photogenic than the F-18 from the previous post (which was really one single color).

Small-tiny models are so good looking just because it is so unusual to see the level of accuracy at this small size.

This F-16 measures about 4.25 inches.

Corgi has some very good looking little-tiny-small models.Officially, Corgi does not specify the scale, but this Super H...
06/30/2023

Corgi has some very good looking little-tiny-small models.

Officially, Corgi does not specify the scale, but this Super Hornet model measures about 4.5 inches long (about 11.5cm).

I calculated the scale:

Real Super Hornet length = 60 feet 3 inches = 723 inches

Model length = 4.5 inches

Scale = 723 inches / 4.5 inches = 160 ==> 1/160 Scale

I got a few of these small models, so I'll post some of this collection.

Now I got to think how I am going to squeeze in yet another series into my house....even if they are small.

Happy D-Day, everybody.This day should remind us to be brave.The average age of the American soldier in WWII was 26.They...
06/06/2023

Happy D-Day, everybody.

This day should remind us to be brave.

The average age of the American soldier in WWII was 26.

They were men, not boys.

I was taking photos of the An-225 at 1/400 scale.The thing is huge and then it occurred to me to make a size comparison ...
05/25/2023

I was taking photos of the An-225 at 1/400 scale.

The thing is huge and then it occurred to me to make a size comparison with other items from my own collection.

The An-225 is quite impressive.

To be fair, I should have compared with a 747-8 and/or a 777-300 but I don't have those in my collection.

The new "trend" of 1/100 models is getting more diversified.In this case, the Spanish F/A-18c reminds us of how the "Cla...
05/18/2023

The new "trend" of 1/100 models is getting more diversified.

In this case, the Spanish F/A-18c reminds us of how the "Classic Hornet" was a good looking machine.

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