Top Gun model review

[lordnth]

So a quick google search shows this company called TopGun Marketing produces some cool Traveller-ish tanks. A little more research finds it was closed and due to reopen late 2011.
In a gaming forum I find the guy in charge of the one man operation.
While he's still not 100% he has exchanged emails with me and I bought a few models. This is there review and proof he's coming back to making models.

I received them last Saturday. A little more than a week between sending the MO and getting the models. No he doesn't take Paypal. He's not 100% up and running yet.





An issue I already told him about is that all my parts were in one baggie. 6 models 3 different types and all the bits mixed in. Normally not an issue for me, but little metal and plastic parts that even online photos didn't show were they went.

They are smooth hulled tanks so you'll need to clean up the flash and sand them a little. Not an issue as these cleaned up very fast for me.
Note this was my first time at assembling models with magnets. Not that different from assembling models with dowels or pins so they can move, but magnets are less for giving. One I assembled isn't flush and you can see it right away. Not a model issue but I'd figure I'd share so it can be avoided from now on.

Type 7 Recon





For some reason I love recon or scout tanks. I can't wait for Top Gun to have this model with Advance Armor (little hexagon details added to the hulls in groups)
As you see this is the magnet issue guy.
Model comes with the un-turret looking thing with a post sticking out of it. Glue rocket tube, sights (I have an extra flat piece I left off) and gun.
Note: This is a replace gun from (I believe) Antenociti's Workshop. The gun barrel that came with it wasn't very detailed and the thin barrel was bent. Broke when I straighten it. making it a smaller piece in my parts pile. Bottom of the turret is marked where the magnet will fit but you'll need a metal cutting attachment on your dremel. Too small to try and hold and drill and my drill press isn't set up. Two hatches complete the model so it can be a Scout Tank or IFV.

Type 9 Medium Tank




This is the Type 9. Features a short length barrel, a spindle turret add on and a ball with a barrel on it (left off the model). A simple design that really works. Sanding and go. I want to add some antenna to the tanks. But that maybe after the PineSol bath, but before priming.

Here is the image that made me buy 4 of them.
i43.photobucket.com/albums/e368/Top_Gun_Ace/15mm%20Grav%20Tanks%20and%20Armor/Grav%20Tank%20Camo%20Schemes/LightTankPlatoon1.jpg

Type 21 APC/IFV




Again same issue here with the Type 7. Barrel was bent and really thin. had to assemble the rocket assembly.
I replaced the barrel with one from Combat Wombat's metal turned replacement barrels. Because of the new barrel I didn't need the top mounted sight that would sit on top of the barrel. I figured there was enough targeting systems on the optional rocket stem. yes you can leave off the bracket that looks like a piece of flash that I'm sure many have just throw away.
The biggest of the models that I got in. Room for 4 hatches to transport your forces. Just mine features an upgrade with the longer and thicker barrel.

I can't wait to paint them and want to try something different (paint with coffee anyone?) with some of these. They are very useful and I could see them with smaller hatches for 6mm large tanks or no hatches as 28mm drones. These will serve my 15mm forces just fine.

[merc]

Interesting models. Very alien. Please post update pics, would love to see the final product.

[peabody]

Always have had a soft spot for these. Nice curvy bits. Hope the chap can bring them back to the market ok.

[mako]

Hi everyone,

I just found out about this site, and joined the group.

I'm the sculptor/owner of the vehicles, and thought I'd chime in here with some more up to date info.

I can take Paypal payments now, for anyone that would like to place an order, and can provide copies of our Grav Armor range catalog, in MS Word, which has a full listing of the 12 different vehicle types we currently have for sale (24, if you count the Smooth-hulled, and AADS variants separately).

Just send me an e-mail, to:

calidreamer3 AT hotmail ]dot{ com

and I will be happy to answer any questions you may have, or to assist you.

Sorry to hear about the gun barrels for the light cannons. I'd be happy to replace those, if you decide you prefer those instead.

Also, for the Scout turret, I suggest just gluing the magnet to the underside, and then drilling the resin a little deeper to place the hull magnet inside. That way, both will be inside the hull, and since each magnet is only 1.5mms thick, you only need to drill down about 4mms to do so, to account for space for the glue at the bottom of the hole.

I too was drilling the metal out, until I thought up that little trick.

Looking forward to seeing the camo scheme you come up with LordNth, and hope others will consider our Grav Armor range for their Gruntz forces as well.

They match up very nicely in size with many of the other Grav Armored vehicles from other manufacturers.


Best regards,

Rob

[lordnth]

Now that you told me about where you got the barrels from, I'll look into that idea next time i need a really thin barrel, Rob. I do not need a replacement as so many models come with optional parts I had plenty on hand for replacements.

Rob has also emailed me telling me I had the turrets switched between the Type 7 & 22. Switching them makes them both look better and fits with Gruntz rules for APC/IFV.

Thanks for the hints on the metal drilling and magnets. I'll use that next time on the next batch. I'm sure I'll be getting a few more.

[mako]

Sounds good!

Any progress on the camo. scheme decision?

I'm considering various ones for mine, including several inspired by various fish, frogs, snakes, etc.

Lots of good, colorful and interesting schemes to be found in nature, to match your game table's playing surface colors.

[lordnth]

I want to try a take on the the snake like pattern. Thinking greens so it will fit with my Aquatic armies, but generic enough to mix it in and out with other armies.

Trying to make up my mind before I start laying the paint.

[mako]

That sounds like an interesting one.

Selecting camo patterns is far more difficult for me, than selecting the vehicles to purchase, and apply them too.

I usually just paint one vehicle, to see what I think of the pattern, before doing a whole unit, just in case I change my mind.

[inrepose]

Those smooth hulls are perfect for some interesting camo jobs. I have seen them done in solid color but would prefer a nice jagged camo on them which would break up the profile nicely.

[mako]

Not sure how many people are familiar with our Grav Armor range, so thought I'd post a few other pics of some of them here, including our new, Type 13 MkII Heavy Grav Tank model, with the AADS detailing on the hull (AADS stands for Active Armor Defense System - Copyright 2009 - 2012):



Standard Type 13 Heavy Grav Tank, with plasma gun:



Type 7 Scout (on left) and Type 21 APC with AADS surface detailing:



All of our vehicles are available in both the Smooth-hulled, and AADS options. The smooth hulls just don't have the circular surface detailing on them, but are otherwise identical to our AADS models.

Also, as an FYI, I've updated our e-mail address, so it's a bit easier to remember, e.g.:

topgungrav AT yahoo }DOT\\ com

Use the @ symbol, and . and delete the special characters around the period, and any spaces between the letters, @ symbol and period, when e-mailing us.

[mako]

Here's another view of our new Type 13 MkII Heavy Grav Tank, showing the business end of its weapon: