GHQ Models Forums

I posted an archive of 1/2400 post-WW2 naval miniature pictures at my blog. Covers all metal manufacturers at least. Doesn't include any manufacturer pictures, for obvious reasons.

Here is one for your viewing pleasure from ebayer gak8346

If anyone archived the miniatures images from Odin Arts and Collectables before it closed down, I would appreciate getting copies. archive.org only got a few images of the Titanic and some WW2 aircraft.

Alternatively, if you know how to contact the owner (I tried on Facebook but got no response), please put me in touch. Thanks!

Nice collection!

I've never seen completed pics of quite a few of those.

Glad you find them helpful.

Could you tell me who makes the Willamette model?
It doesn't look like the Viking Forge Willamette model

Very nice of you to consolidate this

Hi dragon6,

You mean this one?



Based on the image history (I think it was posted in the GHQ forum), it was made by SeaBattle. I believe Alnavco sells them, but I haven't found a website for SeaBattle even searching in the Austrian google. Viking Forge has a license to cast many of the SeaBattle miniatures, but I haven't seen any quality issues like the one this one seems to have.

My understanding, based on looking into this after a quality control issue years ago, is Alnavco imports from Austria and Viking Forge paid for production rights in the US. The master molds in Austria were showing some severe wear, as you see in the picture. The Viking Forge molds are much newer and much better. I suspect that the model pictured was purchased through Alnavco - but I can't prove it.

I have some duplicates in my collection where I originally purchased one through Alnavco but later bought one through VF and there is a world of difference. I can't say if the quality issue affects all of the SeaBattle line at Alnavco but I don't buy those models there anymore. The price is also significantly higher at Alnavco because they are imported.

Paul

You are likely right, av8rmongo, but I have seen pictures where the Sea Battle miniature is more detailed than Viking Forge's.

Sea Battle:


Viking Forge:


It is possible that the SeaBattle image isn't SeaBattle, but is another manufacturer in a larger scale.

whenimaginationfails wrote:Hi dragon6,

You mean this one?

Yes that one.

Viking Forge has an image of their Willamette up but propriety forbids I post a link. Just go to the VF moderns and page almost to the bottom.

Why I asked, the bridge structure is very noticeably different. The VF model's looks significantly more accurate.

whenimaginationfails wrote:You are likely right, av8rmongo, but I have seen pictures where the Sea Battle miniature is more detailed than Viking Forge's.

Sea Battles are more detailed in many cases because Viking Forge doesn't cast the masts or cranes. Cheaper, more cleanly cast than Sea Battles but you gets what you pay. On the other hand some of his newer models come with cranes... usually wrong cranes but still

I believe in the VF, of LCC-19 Blue Ridge, image the extra masts were added by the owner.

dragon6 wrote: I believe in the VF, of LCC-19 Blue Ridge, image the extra masts were added by the owner.

I think that is probably the case here. Just like the USS Theodore Roosevelt model (and others) in the GHQ catalog, Excellent work, beyond my capability, but not really representative of what comes in the package.

av8rmongo wrote:... Just like the USS Theodore Roosevelt model (and others) in the GHQ catalog, Excellent work, beyond my capability, but not really representative of what comes in the package.

I don't have the Roosevelt. What has been added? Except aircraft, I'm sure the kit doesn't have that many planes

whenimaginationfails wrote:Hi dragon6,

You mean this one?

It's not a Sea Battles Williamette, it's Sea Battles SB-304 Henry Kaiser (TAO-173)

The owner must have confused it or Alnavco sent the wrong model

It does look like the Henry Kaiser. I'll update my list. Thanks!

I take it you got the code from Alnavco, or is there some mimeographed price list that made its way from Austria?

dragon6 wrote:I don't have the Roosevelt. What has been added? Except aircraft, I'm sure the kit doesn't have that many planes

It is faint, but there are two or three white wires off the port side just below the deck. Looks like the same material that some enterprising modelers use for the aerial on their tanks.

There is a spherical/dome antenna near the LSO platform and a second one near cat 4 that don't exist on the model.