do you thing parts count on some models is too high

I do think armor gets overcomplicated. The companies must think that part-count leads to bigger sales. I don't always have a ton of time and don't feel like putting together 500+ parts all the time, especially considering that each part needs to be cleaned up! I do understand that indy-tracks can add to the parts count, thus inflating it.

Yeah, some kits are definately over-engineered...

Oh yeah I think most Trumpeter kits are ridiculous. Hundreds of parts for stuff that could easily be combined.

Also most PE sets, I use about half of it. Which is why I don't buy the things much except for ships.

I like resin kits a lot where one part can replace dozens of plastic bits.

I like sticking stuff together of course, but gluing 16 flap actuator fairings to a wing doesn't do it for me.

I agree with you guys, I try and avoid tanks when im frustrated beacuse of the small pieces. 

I like what bandai has started doing with some of their gundam kits, if there are inner workings that physically move and support weight with hinges and joints they come pre assembled and molded into one working piece, because there are ALOT of small pieces on those and loose one and it doesnt stand up

I know you guys dont do those kits but when the TREE count is in the 10s to 20s thats alot of parts

I will agree...some vendors have gone nuts wilh a pile of little parts to fill a box and raise a price. I love the detail but some parts are soo small and delicate, they are impossible to remove, and clean up....GRRRRR

Rounds Complete!!

bondoman

Oh yeah I think most Trumpeter kits are ridiculous. Hundreds of parts for stuff that could easily be combined.

Personally I like kits with more parts, adds to realism. On the other hand smaller parts mean more PE too as simpler parts of a complicated structure can be put together in PE parts.

Although sometimes I get frustrated, I generally like kits with more detail parts.

Cem.

I agree. There is way to many parts in some kits.

Makes you wonder why they don't just put the actual thing out there.

Yes some kits are definitly over engineered,I think some companies divide stuff into assemblies just to increase their parts count !!

DML (Dragon Models limited) immediately pops into mind on this topic. Expect 1/3 of the parts to be allocated to the spare parts bin, the PE replaces plastic detail thus increasing the spares. The 3-in-1 series are great for extra parts IF you model armor of the same type. It boils down to initial cost.

Trumpeter usually (my limited experience with this brand) has the exact parts count for the basic model with few if any extras. One recent kit included 'clear' fuselage parts for a see-through effect....all of which were sent to the spares bin.

Tamiya pleases most modelers by simplifying detail into single plastic parts, many of which serious modelers scratch build anyways or resort to the AM for PE replacements. They have strayed from this formula a few times only to return to their roots.

Hobby Boss packs interior detail into their kits with few or no variant options. Detail is excellent at a reasonable price.

Before purchasing look over the options available and decide how much detail you need. Online is a excellent way to 'peek inside' without asking to do so at the store or be surprised at home. Cost & parts count should be considerations to get the most out of your time & enjoyment.

I'd say yes, there are some kits that have way too many parts.  I think it is the DML Pz IV (3-in1) kit that has something like 1400 parts.  Ridiculous.

I do think there has been a bit of a trend away from that (minus indy link tracks).  Most of the newer kits I have seen have parts counts in the 300 - 500 range.  Still high, but not extreme.  As a matter of fact, it does seem like most of the companies heard builders complaints with parts counts.  Again, looking at that DML kit, for a while, that seemed to be the goal DML was shooting for - kits with nearly or over 1000 parts.  Now, it seems like they and other companies have realized that, while we like detail, we also like the ability to actually finish a kit...

Yes...and no...

I guess it depends on one's manual dexterity and eyesight situation.

We ask for more detail and bemoan the high count of small parts.

DISCLAIMER: I am in the "older guy, dwindling eyesight" category so I don't mind lots of detail parts in a 1/35 armor kit but I would totally avoid a 1/700 model.

I completely agree that the high part count was a sales technique to appeal to those who complain about (Tamiya for example) older kits lacking or being 'soft' on detail.  That being said, the technology for plastic molding has come so far, that many of these very fine and minute details could easily be done as part of the whole instead of 50 separate parts.

But hopefully without opening a can-o-worms here, some of it depends on whether you gravitate more towards the builder end of the hobby or the painter end.  I personally like to assemble kits, but find it gets tedious.  I LOVE to paint however, and have had a ton of fun with a buddy who is a speed freak assembler putting together multiple plastic sci-fi kits for Warhammer 40k, and I was airbrushing as fast as he was assembling. 

In summary, If I see a parts count that high, I steer clear and head for a simpler kit while others I know go "ooh!  1000 parts!"  In the end, whatever makes you happy!

Chris

It also depends on what the parts are for, if the whole thing is going to be painted in the same camo who cares if the little hook or whatnot is molded in, but if it is something like the tools on the side of a tank they shouldnt be molded on for ease of painting.  but on that note they shouldnt all be seperate items either.

atleast for me, the carpet monster a lovecraftian terror more then a nuisance I dont have a kit to date that has all it's parts because of droping pieces

I stoped work on that 1/25th jagtpanther because I misplaces some of the tools

Dragon actually learned from the feedback they received concerning too many parts/complexity from their 3 in 1 kits.  The now famous Mk IV C and 88 flak took such a beating from the high part count that they actually started a whole new line of kits to address the issue: the SMART kit line, which is now their main line for new releases...

Maybe I am very careful or really lucky (probably a bit of both), but I rarely ever drop a piece when modeling, and can't remember EVER losing one. 

For those of you with clubs for hands, or the shakes, may I highly recommend something like this?

http://www.micromark.com/PARTS-CATCHING-APRON,8108.html

Chris

It's the oposite for me. I don't have a lot of money to spend on my hobbies, so I normally build Revell/ Monogram cars and airplanes, with not a lot else. Parts count rarely excedes 150, so I never get as much build time as I want.

I would like to give it a shot with a 1/32 scale B-52, though That out to satisfy my build cravings for a while

I have and will avoid any of the Dragon super-kits due to high parts total. I completely basic construction for the Tamiya Panzer IV J and was satisfied with the part count. Not over engineered at  all and looks like the deal when built.

I think the paint job and weathering are more important in most cases to the finished project then parts count, unless maybe you're building a diorama.

Agree big time! Some models have way too many parts. I have been scared off by many Dragon kits when I see over 600 parts.

Meh... high parts count helps keep me out of bars and out of jail.  

Try HobbyBoss's 1/48 T-34s - there's about 400 parts in something just slightly bigger than two packs of cards.

In all honesty, I don't think I've ever taken notice of actual parts count.  The only time I notice is when I go from building a 1/48 plane to a 1/72 plane.  It goes from taking two months to build, to two days.  I don't mind that, so much .  Otherwise, I'm just assuming they're giving you the number of parts to build the kit you purchased.  I enjoy scratchbuilding, but if I don't have to scratch every piece of missing detail, I'm not going to be upset.

Another time I noticed is when I built an Eduard FW-190.  There were so many parts left over, I thought I did something wrong.  Turns out, they include parts that will work on future releases, but not necessarily on the kit you're building.

-Fred

Phil_H

Try HobbyBoss's 1/48 T-34s - there's about 400 parts in something just slightly bigger than two packs of cards.

You know Phil,it might have had a lot of parts,but I didn't find that kit to be over engineered or cumbersome,I guess a lot of the parts were the tracks.That was a pretty good kit to build.

AKA Raiderfan2779  TnT

Someone in the armor forum is putting together a Pz. IV B and it has individual nuts too attach.

Overkill.

Only individual nuts will attempt that kit!

Ya know, whats even the point?  You could spend all day putting them on, but someone who spent that much time painting and weathering it to perfection is gona have a nicer kit.  In a competition Id put money on them not giving you an award just because the kit was complicated, if anything more parts makes the assembly more difficult and gives chance for more mistakes

I wouldn't mind giving the kit a shot (I can't afford any of the high-tech kits, so even if it's more complicated, I dream of being able to get a kit or two like that)

Are kits over-engineered, now that may be an understatement. Thankfully most kit brands realize that the majority of modelers don't want something that has a part count hitting the 4-digits. And for those who love the high part counts, their are the AM parts and some kit brands that still love to really cram those sprues in the box. Case in point, Cyber-Hobby.

Awhile back I purchased a 1/35 Cyber-Hobby Raketenwefer auf Fahrgestelle Pz. IV thinking it would be a neat one of a king build considering I hadn't seen anyone build it. (That probably has something to do with the fact the kit has an extremely high part count I only learned about after I bought it.)

Long story short, here are the numbers.... total 1,339 parts (728 parts in grey styrene, 293 photo-etched metal, 288 "Magic Track" tracks, 25 clear styrene, 4 pre-bent brass, and 1 twisted steel wire). Yes, it's still sitting in the stash.

Yea, thats nuts, I couldnt imagine trying to put together all o those track links