Beginner View

Well, there are enough Tamiya kits to keep you busy for a while.

(Meant to be an ironic comment).

 True that=== please tell me if i’m Wrong. DdI not include Dragon because have not started building those lists yet

While I do enjoy Tamiya aircraft, I'm not a fan of their armor.

Halftracks: Dragon while they are a pain to align they are far better and more detailed then what Tamiya offer.

King Tigers: Meng and Takom best out there right now and at a better price compared to Dragon and Tamiya Panther: Same Meng and Takom

Tiger I: Rye Field Models new Tigers better kit and better price.

If you just want something that will build fast and easy go with Tamiya but if in the end you want a very detailed and accurate model go with the above.

Rambo

While I do enjoy Tamiya aircraft, I'm not a fan of their armor.

Halftracks: Dragon while they are a pain to align they are far better and more detailed then what Tamiya offer.

King Tigers: Meng and Takom best out there right now and at a better price compared to Dragon and Tamiya Panther: Same Meng and Takom

Tiger I: Rye Field Models new Tigers better kit and better price.

If you just want something that will build fast and easy go with Tamiya but if in the end you want a very detailed and accurate model go with the above.

 

Have done Takon's Mk.IV male/female and no flash on it, or on the big wheeled German mine clearer.

Only Meng's are their War Toons, and they are pretty clean as well.

Well, it's a personal balance that we all look for I think.

I agree that Tamiya armor kits hands down are the easiest and most stress-free to build.  But they do simplify the fine details and that's where the other manufacturers step in to greater or lesser degree.  Does a builder want a 3 piece jack for their Panther, or a 9 piece?  How about 14 piece?  How much photo-etch can you stand?  I have to also agree that Trumpeter sometimes goes nuts with the PE for things that seem completely unnecessary.

Personally, I like Tamiya, but with a little extra detail thrown in.  I'm not a fan of their solid molded grab handles, but those are easy to replace.  I also hate that stupid polyester string they use for tow cables, as they don't take paint well and are hard to cut.  To be fair, other manufacturers also do this.  I also dislike "rubber band" tracks, mainly because the end connectors cannot be properly molded.

But on the plus side, they have finally stepped up to providing molded clear optics for vision blocks and headlights, something the other manufacturers have done for some time.  In the past, it felt insulting and just plain lazy that Tamiya used to provide separate headlight lenses molded in a solid color.  Their latest kits also feature some fabulous figures, something the other manufacturers completely ignore.  And I like their plastic link and length tracks that are slowly becomming more common.

I buy armor kits from pretty much every major manufacturer, primarily because of the subject matter.  They all have good and bad points, but I don't think they are junk.  If Tamiya made kits of every one of them, I would seriously consider going Tamiya all the way.  So I suppose that would be an endorsement.

Models32466

OK been at this for a few months have completed Tamiya, Bronco, Meng Takom and trumpeter 

BY FAR the Tamiya is superior to anything ou there. Who the hell wants to deal with flash, wrong directions,piece that are no necessary and the rest!

 

Takom while not may pieces does not fit clean and too much flash!

 

MENG directions are over the top

 

Bronco is nice bit limited

 

Trumpeter want you to believe that more parts equal better product

 

Tamiya is clean , no non sense build which lets you paint and be artistic in your weathering and detail.

 

the rest is crap

 

prove e wrong

 

 

 

 

Can't prove you wrong because its a mater of opinion. Tamiya generally is not my go to brand, i like the extra detail that come with some of the other brands.

Be interesting to see what you make of Dragon. Thats if the instructions don't fry your brain. But at least you will have plenty for the spares box.

You don't need to be proved wrong,build what you want.I enjoy Tamiya also,but Dragon has some of the finest German Armor out there,and Mengs T-90 was one of my most enjoyable kits ever.

Hasegawa makes some very good planes,the GWH Mig-29 was one of my favorites,and I am looking forward to my AMK Mig-31 in my stash.I am also looking forward to finishing my Tamiya Tomcat.

Many of the boys here love their Monogram/Revell kits.No one is wrong,its all about what you want out of your hobby time.

I do agree with you in that I hate slogging thru bad fitting,clunky,poorly  engineered kits.There is too much good stuff out there.

I find Bronco to be similar to Dragon.  Over-engineered. High parts count for the heck of it (why do something in 5 parts when 20 will do).   Poor instruction sheets which are more vague suggestions

Hi;

    Most of my Dragon builds have been ships .Unlike trumpeter who have you put the ship's bottom after you've built most of the top ( Which isn't good at all D I have a Meng Armor piece that has been Started and then put up , Started but , put up .Fruil-Model tracks fit it perfect .

    I am not going to weather it because it is a model of one of two that saw service .Tuther one got blown up !  T.B.

My humble opinion it is a matter of the builders comfort zone.  For some the thought of a kit with flash or ill fitting parts just means a bit of a challenge.  For myself I really don't have a favorite mfg.  I look for the subjects that interest me.  I normally understand and accept the issues that come along with them.  

Joe

In my humble opinion, to each his own “But”, I do agree as I have built every Tamiya 1/32 aircraft kit.  They are by far extremely coveted in the modeling world and superior in build at a price!  With that said, I’ll always continue to expan my horizons and dedicate myself to kits of other companies.  

Your friend, Toshi

I’m with Bish, Tojo, and Toshi 1000%.

Since your opinion is based as a beginner’s viewpoint, what‘s to prove you wrong when it’s really a matter of preference and/or opinion. A select few isn’t always the best in the business. 

I always refer to scalemates before making any decisions on the subject kit to purchase. Keep in mind some kits are reboxed from another brand. There’s no such thing as a perfect kit straight out of the box.

It all depends upon the subject material. I choose my kits by the subject and scale first and foremost. The manufacturer is a secondary consideration. Sometimes there is only one game in town of a subject in a scale, sometimes there are many. Want a B-29 in any scale? Tamiya will never make one. Like Cold War Soviet AFVs? Tamiya barely does any. I like Tamiya as much as the next guy, but they have their good and bad kits, just like most every other model company. Check their 1/35 Panther A to anybody else’s.

BlackSheepTwoOneFour

I’m with Bish, Tojo, and Toshi 1000%.

Since your opinion is based as a beginner’s viewpoint, what‘s to prove you wrong when it’s really a matter of preference and/or opinion. A select few isn’t always the best in the business. 

I always refer to scalemates before making any decisions on the subject kit to purchase. Keep in mind some kits are reboxed from another brand. There’s no such thing as a perfect kit straight out of the box.

 

Best advice yet IMHO.

I build aircraft and so far I enjoy building Tamiya kits the most. They have the best directions and painting instructions I've run across so far. The fit has been great.

I'm Currently on my first Hasegawa and I am glad to almost be done with it. The detail is great but before I build another I have to mentally prepare myself for the lacking directions and onslaught of teeny tiny parts which sometimes unfortunatly more times than not, end up as floor fodder.

I have my first Academy kit waiting in the wings and I can see by the instructions, which are worse than the Hasegawa, it's going to be even more interesting and frustrating, but it actually came with canopy masks and photo etched seat belts. I haven't worked with PE yet so I'll see how that goes.

The words of Gunny Hiway certainly ring true in the model building world. "Improvise, adapt, and overcome."

Tickmagnet

I build aircraft and so far I enjoy building Tamiya kits the most. They have the best directions and painting instructions I've run across so far. The fit has been great.

I'm Currently on my first Hasegawa and I am glad to almost be done with it. The detail is great but before I build another I have to mentally prepare myself for the lacking directions and onslaught of teeny tiny parts which sometimes unfortunatly more times than not, end up as floor fodder.

I have my first Academy kit waiting in the wings and I can see by the instructions, which are worse than the Hasegawa, it's going to be even more interesting and frustrating, but it actually came with canopy masks and photo etched seat belts. I haven't worked with PE yet so I'll see how that goes.

The words of Gunny Hiway certainly ring true in the model building world. "Improvise, adapt, and overcome."

 

This is a good example of each to their own. I have never had a problem with hasegawa instructions. For many years they were my go to brand. For me they were to aircraft what Dragon were to armour kits. But like Dragon, they seem to have stayed still while other companies are matching them for detail but often at a better price.

Thanks for the great input.  The reason I placed Begginer in the subject is I think I will always be a begginer.  I have already sent a few takom, Trumpeter and a Meng to the grave yard..  But IMHO -  I love the small detail, quick clean build and then messing around with filters, pin washes, modulations— the things that really take a gray or yellow chunk of plastic and bring it too life.

I recently did a Stug IV and it was bland, then a few blue filters some pin wash over coloring the tools and accessories and viola  pretty cool model IMO.

Put all your points of view where well taking.  I just can‘t figure out scalmates.  Seems like too much info, but them again I’m a beginner

Next on the table  Dragon DickerMax

Good Luck All

Scalemates isn‘t all that confusing to navigate through. Do a search, choose kit brand or brands, pick the kit, read the reviews. Keep in mind, not all will have reviews though.

And don’t forget, Scalemates can be updated by any site member. You can contribute information there on any kit that you might have, such as scanned instruction sheets, marking options, kit pedigree/history, etc. it is not just the staff there who does such things. I suppose that is a reason that it is such an all encompassing site. This hobby is too big for one individual or small group of people to keep on top of. There is so much old, new, and obscure stuff out there.

If the OP was strictly talking about armor models, I can easily think of half a dozen makers that must fall into the "crap" category, each of who I have built wonderful models out of their kits.

Aircraft, I can think of a dozen.

Ships, well I didn't see any on that list I particularly would go after, as opposed to quite a few companies in the unnamed "crap" catgory.

I think this is a pointless conversation except for the takeaway regarding Scalemates, which I see as "engage brain before putting mouth in gear".

Yeah, I’ve done pretty well in contests with “crap” models from everybody. We have this same form of thread every so often. This kit is unbuildable, that company is terrible, etc. etc. etc. 

Sort of reminds me of an old writing teacher in high school who would say something along the line of, “its not that things are boring. Its YOU who is boring”. In other words, its up to you to make things happen, they won’t happen for you.

"Do these pants make my butt look big?".

"No, your butt makes your butt look big".

Where's HvH when you need him?

While not really applicable in a big way to the OP, noticeably absent i.e. on the "crap" list, is Revell. And I have read that the RoG M48 is a very nice kit.

These Ironside kits are crap!

Revell of Germany have been coming out with some nice kits lately.

With so many aftermarket stuff out there, I think anybody can make a crappy kit look good.

Thank you but my pants don’t make me look fat, I am fat!  i see that you’ve been a member since 2012.  I have read your post before and appreciate your expertise in modelng.. That’s why it is a Beginners point of view.  To sit their and get frustrated because i have to spend six hours putting together link tracks or in this case the Takom direction leave out a dozen parts or so make be believe that for the beginner, I lose interest fast.  

I’m sure this subject comes up.  But another quote struck me funny.  “The best part of the thread was “scalemate”. If thats true then why comment?

I am not in any competitions, or plan to be, but the best bang for your buck and I only do armour is Tamiya, only my opinion.  Maybe when i gat better I can broaden my horizon,lol.

But I asked I was looking for beginners point of view. Sorry to bother those experienced modelers.

Models, if you concentrate on 1/35 armor, and are disappointed with new tool high parts count kits (I don’t care for them much either), there are other older kits out there that might make you happy as well. Many of Italeris early 1/35 AFV kits are superior to their Tamiya kits of the same subject and vintage. Not to mention that several of the older Tamiya kits were a tad bit overscale for fitting the motorization motor and battery packs.  And today with the internet at our fingertips by a smartphone, there is no excuse not to,research a kit beforehand. Many of the new kits today by companies such as AFV Club, Meng, Dragon, Takom, Miniart, Bronco, etc. are not geared for the novice modeler. Even the new tool Tamiya kits of the past few years are more sophisticated and advanced, with link and length tracks, some PE and even metal gun barrels,  than compared the stuff of 20 years ago. And some Academy, ESCI, and Revell Germany kits are also worth looking at, especially for the simplicity of build. Yes, Scalemates is close to a one stop hub for researching a kit, as is Google. 

Ive been building for nearly 50 years now, and frankly I was a disappointed when I tried to introduce each of my four kids to model building when they were growing up. Sure there are some snap tite kits out there, but the entry level glue kits where real modeling skills are developed are getting fewer and fewer out there as time goes on. I don’t think I ever had an adult help me with a kit after age 7. The same could not be said of my kids and their kits fortunatly and unfortunately. We had some shared time, that in retrospect was too fleeting. But I digress.

Anyways, if you see a kit you are interested in, take the time to look it up. Reviews are very subjective. But getting a look at the sprues, seeing the parts count, and sophistication of engineering and assembly ahead of time will help you better spend your hobby dollars.

Models32466

...the rest is crap

prove e (sic) wrong