Reply With QuoteJust a question but how would you guys compare Trumpeter to Tamiya or Academy? Tamiya being good and Academy sucking.
There, thereOriginally Posted by TacoDelRio
It's actually a concept art for the model I'm planning to build one day... drawn with cigarette ashes on a bar napkin.
Just a question but how would you guys compare Trumpeter to Tamiya or Academy? Tamiya being good and Academy sucking.
I guess it depends on what model and what you're looking to achieve. Do you have a specific vehicle in mind?
I've had some bad Trumpeter kits, so I would avoid it.
There KV1/KV2 kits.
In 1/35 scale I would get a trumpeter one. 1/48 I think HobbyBoss make one, not sure of the quality. I have a Trumpeter KV 1 (rounded turret I believe) it's only drawback is the 3 piece hull. Other than that it is light years ahead of the tamiya offering.
Thanks .
Tamiya just rocks!!!
May be Dragon/DML can reach the quality of Tamiya.
I have the same question about Revell tanks models, any one have the expirience with them???
Revell uses a lot of Italeri, Zwezda (spelling right?), Hasegawa kits...
But there are some usable kits they made on there own.
Dragon>Tamiya>Academy
But all of these companies have very good and poor kits...
Stay away from Tamiya's KV lineup - they are re-boxed 70's tooling with all the problems of outdated technology and lesser demand of the day... Most of the kits can be updated with add-on kits, but KV's suffer from such fundamental flaws as its road wheels being completely wrong. Replacement wheels alone are the cost of Trumpeter's entire kit!
Trumpeter kits are not without their own problems, but casting is noticeably sharper and you get a lot more variations to choose from - I really like their version with bolted on standoff armor and German service KV-2. You can take those kits pretty far out of the box with little tweaks and the cost is low enough to shell out for updates.
Ive only had 1 Academy kit and that was a Panzer IV and the drive wheel's teeth didn't match up so the track wouldn't fit on the thing. I finished the tank but will toss it when I get a Tamiya Panzer IV. I haven't had any probs with Tamiya yet and I've completed 4 models from them so far. Currently working on my King Tiger from Dragon and other then pulling out my hair on the individual links its not a bad kit either.
Individual links have a knack to them and that comes with experience - having done enough individual link, I actually find rubber tracks more of a nuisance when painting or affixing them to look correctly. Length and link or the new Dragon's DS track is preferred.
Some of the Tamiya kits are well into third decade of being re-boxed and sold for the prices higher than more modern competition - I really hope they stop shipping tank models that still have opening between the fenders and the body. I've put together some of the newer Tamiya kits and they are excellent, both in final look and ease of assembly.
My Panzer II, Stug IV and Panther were from the 70's and weren't too bad, except the Panther having the huge gape between the upper/lower hull. Not sure what my T-34/76 was but that was a nice little kit with lots and lots of extras. My Churchill Mk. VII is from the late 90's so I'm looking forward to working on that once the King Tiger from Dragon is done.
A lot of the old Tamiya's were intended to carry motors, so were often slightly out of scale to handle the motorisation (their old KV1 for example).
The Trumpeter KV's are all excellent, nice tracks, links or the rubber, but for track sag you'll need the link and length. Only let down by no engine intake mesh, molded solid, but thats my gripe.
Hobby Boss 1/48 T-34 are excellent with full interior, their KV's are also good come with a little bit of photo etch but are basically a shrunken down Trumpeter version and all for £9.
Tamiya, can never go wrong with, Trump' their newer stuff is excellent. My fav' is AFV club (and Hasegawa for aircraft). Saying that I've bought Italeri because they're cheap and they've always come out well as have Zvezda's with a bit of work and some aftermarket tracks. Revell, don't like at all, horrendous instructions.
Academy, mixed bag, if you like Merkava's you don't have much choice. Although their tracks are the worst solid rubber I've ever tried to use.
Dragon, ironically never made one, although got a few sat on the shelf, must say the Sherman Firefly T61 track links (3 parts per link) look pretty tortuous to do
I did that academy PzIV, but I got the Hobby Boss links for £4, and didn't have any prob's.
The Tamiya Churchill goes togther beautifully mine's on p.73
Last edited by Eoin666; 08-06-2009 at 04:40 AM.
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