Rate a Kit - Part Deux

Rate a Kit - Part Deux - Armor

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WmB - 01 Dec 2006 01:43 GMT

At the risk of appearing to be throwing red meat to the dogs - more armor
kit opinions for you.
[All the comments posted previously have been extremely helpful and greatly
appreciated]

Italieri

#269 M163A1 Vulcan Air Defense
#273 HMMVW
#249 M928 HMMVW
#271 Deuce and a Half
#264 M-901 Hammerhead
#284 M-925 5 Ton truck
#292 HEMTT

ESCI

T-55
T-72

Tamiya

T-62A
Su-122
Su 85
Dragon Wagon

I'm guessing the ESCI and Tamiya Russkie's are similar to the earlier ones
posted. ;-)

TIA,

WmB

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Dave Williams - 01 Dec 2006 03:45 GMT

> At the risk of appearing to be throwing red meat to the dogs - more armor
> kit opinions for you.
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> Su 85 - Get the DML kit instead
> Dragon Wagon - Excellent!

Dave

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WmB - 04 Dec 2006 04:09 GMT

>> At the risk of appearing to be throwing red meat to the dogs - more armor
>> kit opinions for you.
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>> T-72 - A real dog. Even the DML kit is better. Again, Tamiya is the
>> best, but has some turret shape issues.

I've got the Dragon one in the stash, but I'm thinking here lately I'm going
to pare down my post WWII armor subjects to US only.

>> Tamiya
>>
>> T-62A - Old kit. Many shape errors.
>> Su-122 - Also an old kit, based on their old T-34 kits. Unfortunately,
>> not redone by anyone AFAIK.
>> Su 85 - Get the DML kit instead

Yeah I'm kind of figuring out how that works with Tamiya - unfortunately
Google is not your friend here. Searching leads to nothing but commercial
links - who cleverly put product reviews (empty of course) into their
keyword search tags.

>> Dragon Wagon - Excellent!

I was hoping - I bought it a couple of years ago and never unsealed it. I
usually at least open them but for some reason I wanted that one to stay
sealed. Based on the responses I rec'd I will be buying and building the
Dragon M4A3 to load up on it - first.

Thanks for the remarks Dave.

Anybody have an opinion on those Italieri kits? I don't think I ever saw the
correct deisgnation for the HMMVW on any version they list. That usually
doesn't bode well. I have the ancient Tamiya M113 that is in serious need
of replacing by something from the 21st Century.

WmB

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Gerald Owens - 01 Dec 2006 22:39 GMT

> At the risk of appearing to be throwing red meat to the dogs - more armor
> kit opinions for you.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> #269 M163A1 Vulcan Air Defense

Not bad. Different wheel pattern than Academy's (smaller "donut"
stamping with larger rim bolts). Most seem to prefer Academy version.

> #273 HMMVW
> #249 M928 HMMVW

Italeri's first Humvees were preproduction versions without the
indented stampings in the body sides. Tooling has since been revised to
include this. Several variants, like the "Desert Patrol Hummer" were
proposals only, and never entered service. All Italeri Humvees have
terrible tires with fictional tread patterns. Resin replacement wheels
are so pricey you'd be better off just buying the better Academy or
excellent Tamiya versions, or crosskit them if Italeri's is the only
version available (like the antiaircraft vehicle).

> #271 Deuce and a Half

Good kit. They've previously offered it with open or closed cabs.
Depicts the steel Budd cargo body vs the wooden body in the Tamiya kit.
Original tooling, not a repop of the Peerless Max kit.

> #264 M-901 Hammerhead

Okay. Features the less common road wheels as with the M163.

> #284 M-925 5 Ton truck

Lots of corners cut, but it's the only game in town for a US 5 ton.
Eduard PE set will help. Big Foot version has incorrect tread on tires,
but the version with the dual tires on the rear axles has accurate,
non-directional tread. Shelter body for cargo bed is very simplified
with no interior at all.

> #292 HEMTT

Very simplified but again, the only game in town. Lots of aftermarket
parts out there. Italeri didn't want to pay a licensing fee, so the
prominent "Oshkosh" logo stamping is missing from the front sheet
metal.

> ESCI
>
> T-55

Mediocre kit re-released by Italeri recently. Can't decide if it wants
to be a T-55 or Chinese T-59. Go for the Tamiya kit.

> T-72

Dog, bears no resemblance to the real vehicle. Worse than Dragon
version.

> Tamiya
>
> T-62A

Dog. Overscale with poor wheels and totally misshapen turret. Wait for
the new Trumpeter kit instead.

> Su-122

Based on their T-34, with all of its weaknesses. Overscale chassis,
motorization holes, side armor on rear compartment has wrong side
angles, engine deck and cooling grill misproportioned. Only game in
town, though, and a dedicated comverter could saw off the fighting
compartment and mate it to a better chassis.

> Su 85

See above.

> Dragon Wagon

Amazing, excellent, wonder to behold, etc.
Gerald Owens

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Model Forum / General / Models / December 2006

Rate a Kit - Part Deux - Armor