Academy or Dragon? Your preference for AFV's

[Sandstig]

In your experience, which among the two companies generally provides the better product? Hypothetically, would you rather go for an M1A1 from Academy or one from Dragon if price was not an issue (no I don't want to start a flamewar over this, I'm merely curious as to which company provides a more accurate miniature)

[tankkid85]

For M1A1's, stay the hell away from Academy, they use a standard M1 hull with a really bd turret etc.. there are NO good points to this kit, if you want a good Abrams, go with DML which is a a hard build (terrible fit especially int the turret but is much better detail wise. Tamiya makes one of the best M1A1's around, but its an earlier version of the M1A1 than the DML one which is a late production model. If you ar etalking about the two companies in general, then the M1 is a terrible example, thats like comparing the Academy M113 to the old Tmaiya M113, the Academy 113 builds up excellently and looks great, excellent detiale tc.. Tamiyas 113 is an early 80's kit and as such has the quality of an early 80's kit. all in all Academy make excellent kits not, but id stay away fromt heir earlier releases as most are Tamiya rip offs or just cerap as per the Abrams, DML same deal, earlier kits are good detail wise, but they are a bitch to uild fit wise, most of their modern stuff is early release unfortuntely. theur newer stuff is supposed to be very good but i cant commetn ont hat as their new stuff is pretty much all WW2 German stuff, i build modern. Either are good companies, if you could tell us specifically which kit then we could be of mroe help.

 

 

Steve

[Manic Moran]

Dragon. I don't think I'd give it much thought.

 

My preferences are Tamiya and Dragon for armor, Hasegawa for air.

I've a Tamiya Iowa that's driving me spare though. Must find a Perry FFG. I wonder if I can find decals for USS Nicholas.

 

That said I'm going Accurate Armor for weird models... :-)

 

NTM

[DougRichards]

Don't forget Italeri in this discussion, they vary in quality from kit to kit, but are less pricey than some of the others.

 

I agree about the M1 kits - terrible fit on the Dragon version etc, which is why I cross kitted the Dragon and the Academy - which may have produced the worst of both worlds, but it looks good to me.

 

I prefer Academy Shermans to Dragon equivelants, but I have done some cross kitting here too.

 

I would have to say that I prefer Italeri and Tamiya truck kits to Dragon..............

[Manic Moran]

I haven't forgotten Italeri. They used to produce some good kits, but unless they've undergone a rejuvenation of late, I tend to avoid them. I don't much like their manuals either.

 

On the other hand, Italeri will produce some more unusual vehicles, which is something in its favour.

 

Just ordered an AML-60. Found a French company that makes one. (Azimut/ADV)... Woohoo!!!! I can start my collection of vehicles I've been trained in.

 

Anyone make a Nissan Patrol 4x4?

 

NTM

[Simon Tan]

Manic...they'll see 'armoured car' and send you to IBCT to drive LAV-105s.....:-)

[Sandstig]

so based on your replies, would it be safe to say that it really wouldn't matter from which company the kit comes from (Tamiya, Academy, Dragon etc) so long as it's a more recent release, say post-1996? You see, I'm really considering this Leopard 2A5 I saw just recently at one of our local hobby shops... unfortunately the price tag is a bit steep as it's from Tamiya and I was wondering whether I could expect similar quality from Dragon or Academy when they release their own renditions of the said tank.

[Jason]

Even if Academy or DML/Dragon/Shanghai release a Leo2A5, I'd still stick with the Tamiya kit. I've come to find that Tamiya's more recent releases are better then most others. Not by leaps and bounds mind you, but enough to justify the cost (on some of them anyhow).

 

Italeri also makes a Leo2A5 and a Strv 122 (Swedish Leo2A5), but I wouldn't rate them with the Tamiya. they're good kits, but as the old saying goes "You get what you pay for" so if price is your main focus, they'd work out for you.

 

It basically revolves around what you're willing to spend.

[Manic Moran]

Originally posted by Simon Tan:

Manic...they'll see 'armoured car' and send you to IBCT to drive LAV-105s.....:-)

 

NOOOOO!!!!!!

 

No, wait.. They think the LAV-105's a tank. I'm OK. They won't pick up on it.

 

My cut-off for Tamiya kits is about the time many moons ago that they started having kits in two price ranges. When their Challenger 1 and M2 (With interior) came out, the price tags were one and a half to twice as much as any other tank in their range. Oh how I drooled over them, then saved up! Near as I can tell, many of these older kits are still out there. (Fortunately, primarily WWII kits, and I build modern). Frankly, most anything modern by Tamiya has been updated. The old Challenger kit has been replaced, for example, and I believe the Merkava II onwards for Israeli. Ditto Abrams A1 and Leo 2A4/A5. Not sure about Bradleys.

 

This isn't to say that the older kits aren't any good either. I seem to recall I never had a problem getting them to fit right, and the Chieftan Mk V turned out to be my second-favourite model built. (After Challenger). Admittedly, I had draped plenty of camo netting on it, but anyway.

 

I'm on a shopping spree. Off to buy an air compressor/water trap now, I think. (My modelling has been on hold because of a lack of these)

 

NTM

[Justinian II]

Overall DML/Dragon makes some very nice kits escpecally their newer ones. I started out modelling with DML and I have yet to be disapponited by them. Tamiya is another one I highly praise, of course a very pricy brand it is still top notch, also their new or recent realeses are AMAZING! I've built the old Tamiya M113 and as Steve said it is 'not to good' but considering it's age is pretty good...

 

Justinian II

[Sandstig]

Originally posted by Jason:

Italeri also makes a Leo2A5 and a Strv 122 (Swedish Leo2A5)

 

What other companies makes Strv 122's in 1/35? Italeri's are a bit difficult to find here, and for the most part, we've only got Dragon, Shanghai Dragon, Academy and Tamiya available. On a sidenote... has anyone seen a kit of the CV9040?

[Jason]

I think Italeri is it for now. Jacques might know better then myself, but I'm almost positive nobody else makes an injection molded kit of the Strv 122. You could easily turn the Tamiya Leo2A5 into one though, I would imagine it wouldn't be that hard.

 

I've never seen a kit of the CV9040. There may be a resin kit of it though.

[Sandstig]

Thanks for all the help guys... looks like that Tamiya Leo2A5 is gonna be my next project

[Michael Eastes]

It depends what you are after,I guess. I've had good luck over the years with Tamiya and Italieri,as well as Zvezda,the Russian Italieri knock-offs. I also really liked the Academy M48A5 kit,possibly because it's the only kit I've seen of "my" tank.

 

I haven't tried Dragon yet,and "Trumpeter" kits have been bad news for me.

 

I still think,all-in-all,Tamiya has been the best,in my experience.

[Justinian II]

Originally posted by Sandstig:

What other companies makes Strv 122's in 1/35?

 

I know that Hong Kong Creation Works makes a conversion/upgrade for the Tamiya 2A5 to a Strv-122...check this out http://www.missing-lynx.com/gallery/modern/gp122.htm this was done with the conversion kit...

 

Justinian II

[The Swede]

There is NO company out there that makes a STRV 122.

The Italeri KWS is not by far an STRV 122.

It's more of a mix with a Leo2A4 hull and Leo2A5 turret but it's not accurate there either.

HKCW is releasing a resin conversion for the Tamiya Leo2A5 and it will hit the market soon.

Meanwhile check the link provided by Justinian or check my webpage for reference. http://go.to/the_swede/

 

Thord Wedman

TW Hobby www.tw-hobby.com

[nick]

I agree with tankkid85 on the Academy M113 APC the detail

is amazing especialy the interior there is no comparison

to the Tamiya M113, Academy really did there homework.

[tankkid85]

If you are looking to Leo's, dont bother with Italeri, go for Tamiya, its a damned good kit, ther is virtually nothing they left out, go to Track-Link for plenty of reference from Jan Willhelm Deboer and Christophe Jaquemont, they have tons of detail pics. Tamiya goes together very nicely, a joy to build and looks great OOB, but it can use some sprucing up, Eduard makes a PE set that includes some useful pieces but its a bit expensive for what you NEED, which aint much. Jason, you are a bit comfused here, I think you mean the Italeri kit of the 2A5 includes parts for a Dutch tank, not Sweedish, as has already been said, HKCW is coming out with an amazing conversion kit for the TAMIYA Leopard, it will notw ork with the Italeri so this iwll be an epensive model guys! but the Tamiya kits are way too expensive here, i saw their M<42 Duster kit for 27 dollars in my local shop!!!! its worth about half of that! btw, Skybow is releasing an M41 Walker Bulldog and M42 Duster NEW TOOL later this year or next year, this is not a rumopr, this is confirmed fact! all I can say is its about damned time we got a descent Duster. btw, the Tamiya M113 is by no means a bad kit, it just shows it age, thats all. Academy is a better kit though as its a newer tool. Enjoy the Leopard

 

 

Steve

[The Swede]

Originally posted by Sandstig:

On a sidenote... has anyone seen a kit of the CV9040?[/i]

 

Have patience, it's in the pipeline.

It will take a little while thou.

 

Thord Wedman

TW Hobby www.tw-hobby.com

[Jacques]

Only plastic kits fo anything like a Leopard 2A5 (or derivatives) is Italeri or Tamiya. Might be some resin kits out htere I have not seen...

 

Guys, hate to do this but I think tamiya is going for extra gold with their new kits. Look at the price of what they are releasing...$30+ for a MARDER III? Are you nuts? I don't care if it goes together without glue and can shoot real shells (ok, THAT would be cool...) but I mean, come on! I think Tamiya is like the gas companies, running for all they are worth. Tamiya may cause the vast golden age we are living in to collapse as they price things further and futher up the food cahin, so to speak. i know they are offering a well engineered product, but they are overdooing it a bit.

 

Rant finished.

 

Italeri's kits are good solid kits that need some skill to make a real show winner out of. You can make a perfectly good home-display model from the kits.

 

DML kit are moderate for the early stuff, but VERY good for the recent stuff. NONE of the modern vehicles is a recent release, so the kits will require some skill to build, not for you to throw in a tube of glue and shake...

 

Academy kits, 90's releases, are VERY nice and show a good quality for the price, but can get spending.

 

Don't even get me started on AFV CLub/Hobby fan. You would think they are selling gold plated models...sheesh!

 

Hope you find something usefull in allt he ranting...HA!

[Guest Red_Two_Golf]

Just want to make sure I'm not a damn "Crunchie" anymore

Preferences desending order:

Tamiya (can there really be any question?)

Italeri (if only for the variety)

DML (my first use of l-l track was a disaster)

 

Mind that I buy the vehcile not the label. If my prefences and their catalogue coincide I'm even happier.

Love scout tracks though.