best amor kits in 1/35

GA.modelmaker

Member since
November 2003
From: savannah ga.

best amor kits in 1/35

Posted by GA.modelmaker on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 10:38 AM

who makes the best amor kits in 1/35 scale?

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lizardqing

Member since
July 2003
From: Dahlonega, Georgia

Posted by lizardqing on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 10:42 AM

With my experience thus far in the world of armor I would have to say Tamiya, but of coarse only one has not been Tamiya. Got the Acadamy M3 Stuart Honey on the shelf now though.

Chris The Scale Firehouse The Lizard's Workshop

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J-Hulk

Member since
February 2003
From: Tochigi, Japan

Posted by J-Hulk on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 10:44 AM

In my opinion:

Tamiya
AFV Club
Dragon
Trumpeter
Academy
Italeri

Heller makes some interesting subjects (AMX-30, Le Clerc), but I can't put their 1/35 armor kits in the same category as those from the companies listed above.

~Brian

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styrene

Member since
May 2003
From: The flat lands of the Southeast

Posted by styrene on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 10:52 AM

Here we go again.....

Throw me in with J-Hulk's list of manufacturers.

Gip Winecoff

1882: "God is dead"--F. Nietzsche

1900: "Nietzsche is dead"--God

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J-Hulk

Member since
February 2003
From: Tochigi, Japan

Posted by J-Hulk on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 11:01 AM

Glad to have you on board, Gip!

I was trying to decide if I should include any of the up-and-coming Eastern European manufacturers like Zvezda or Eastern Express, but as I haven't built any of their kits, I can't honestly give an opinion about them. A lot of my modeling buddies here love 'em, but say they're not the easiest kits to build. The same could be said for Dragon, Trumpeter, and Italeri, though.

OK, I'll stick with original list! Big Smile [:D]

~Brian

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styrene

Member since
May 2003
From: The flat lands of the Southeast

Posted by styrene on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 11:22 AM

Brian,
You should try ICM. I just got finished building their BS-3 100mm howitzer. No detail set is needed. The detail is delicate and exquisite. The gun site alone is 8 individual pieces. Fit is superb for the most part. The instructions seem to be the only drawback, and that's only minor. I wonder if the rest of their stuff is this good?

Gip Winecoff

1882: "God is dead"--F. Nietzsche

1900: "Nietzsche is dead"--God

Reply

J-Hulk

Member since
February 2003
From: Tochigi, Japan

Posted by J-Hulk on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 11:32 AM

Just saw your post over in Aircraft, Supmax.
Welcome to Armor!
Quite a selection there. Any comments on the quality?

~Brian

Reply

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 1:04 PM

I'll agree with J-Hulk regarding manufacturers. Tamiya is up there, because of selection. However, the AFV Club M3A3 is superior to any Stuart on the market by quite a margin... if you want to make a Stuart. AND the Academy Tiger I with interior is a great kit.

Ron.

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link955

Member since
October 2003
From: New Hampshire, USA

Posted by link955 on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 2:54 PM

I have to say I agree with all the threads above; the selection and overall quality of kits in the past ten years has been nothing short of phenomenal. I can remember when our choices were limited to Monogram's 1/35 and 1/32 kits, and a few Tamiya motorized kits. And aftermarket accessories? Forget it. We track-heads should be bowing to the modeling gods Bow [bow]

They have been very good to us.

Ne cede malis (Latin: Yield not to misfortune)

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mark956

Member since
February 2003
From: USA

Posted by mark956 on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 4:10 PM

How about Gunze Sangyo high tech models. I have never built one before, but have some good comments on the quality.
mark956

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Dwight Ta-ala

Member since
July 2003
From: Philippines

Posted by Dwight Ta-ala on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 7:36 PM

I have not built many kits (only about 30) but so far, I can say that based on the kits that I have actually built the ranking would be:

1.) Tamiya
2.) Dragon
3.) Academy
4.) Italeri

I have never built an AFV and Skybow kits but they look good to me.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 8:07 PM

1. Tamiya

2. Academy Tongue [:P]

3. AFV Club Big Smile [:D]

4. DML Dragon Smile [:)]

I have a few by Italeri, Trumpeter and Revell but haven't built any of them yet.

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Edit

tigerman

Member since
March 2003
From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA

Posted by tigerman on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 8:08 PM

I'm only going from my building experience.

Tamiya (Best fit)
Dragon (Most bang for the buck)
Italeri (Most eclectic choices)

Of course, just MHO Big Smile [:D]

This list could change, I have one Academy kit to build .

"It is well that war is so terrible, lest we grow too fond of it."-R.E.Lee

Eric

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renarts

Member since
April 2003
From: Sunny Florida

Posted by renarts on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 8:34 PM

J-Hulk, Look at Tasca's Pzr II. I saw it at Jaxcon and was very impressed at the detail. I think its Eastern European. If that was a preview of things to come, there will be a new player in town.

Mike

Mike "Imagination is the dye that colors our lives" Marcus Aurellius A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!"

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Rob Gronovius

Member since
December 2002
From: Fort Knox

Posted by Rob Gronovius on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 8:51 PM

Fine Molds. Take a look at their various WW2 Japanese armor kits. Superb workmanship. I now own three of them, Type 3 "Chi-Nu", Type 94 "TK", and the Type 95 "Ha-Go". Real small 1/35 scale kits, but packed with sharp detail.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 10:00 PM

id say
1 Tamiya
<---soon to be No 2 is Bego Tasca (just on looks alone check the link out) http://www.hlj.com/cgi-perl/hljpage.cgi?beg35001
3 Dragon
4 Afv Club

i think Tascas from japan as alot of there workers have come from Tamiya?

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mark956

Member since
February 2003
From: USA

Posted by mark956 on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 10:49 PM

Thanks for the link Jon. That model looks really good.
mark956

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J-Hulk

Member since
February 2003
From: Tochigi, Japan

Posted by J-Hulk on Thursday, November 20, 2003 5:09 AM

Oh yeah, the Gunze and Tasca kits are great, too!
It might have been easier to make a list of worst manufacturers! There are so many good ones out there now.

~Brian

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 20, 2003 7:52 AM

oops ive forgotten to put Tristar on the list near the top
ok they have only brought out Two kits so far and there both a Panzer 1but they come with PE and modelkastin working tracks oh and the kit looks great

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J-Hulk

Member since
February 2003
From: Tochigi, Japan

Posted by J-Hulk on Thursday, November 20, 2003 7:58 AM

Yes! Tristar, too!
They were going to put out a Karl, too.

~Brian

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wipw

Member since
January 2003
From: Utah - USA

Posted by wipw on Thursday, November 20, 2003 11:36 AM

(This is given in addition to what's been said above.)

I've looked at a few kits by Alan (Russia) and the molding and finess of them is fantastic. They look really good in the box. I've heard the fit is pretty good, too.

One interesting (to me) side note...ask about 1/72 armor and Revell-Germany is at the top of most lists. Ask about 1/35 and they aren't on anybody's list!!

Bill

Bill ==========================================================

DML M4A2 Red Army ==========================================================

========================================================== -- There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness". (Author unknown)

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M1abramsRules

Member since
June 2003

Posted by M1abramsRules on Thursday, November 20, 2003 12:03 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by Dwight Ta-ala

I1.) Tamiya
2.) Dragon
3.) Academy
4.) Italeri

I'll go with that list.

Reply

Dwight Ta-ala

Member since
July 2003
From: Philippines

Posted by Dwight Ta-ala on Thursday, November 20, 2003 6:13 PM

QUOTE: Fine Molds. Take a look at their various WW2 Japanese armor kits. Superb workmanship. I now own three of them, Type 3 "Chi-Nu", Type 94 "TK", and the Type 95 "Ha-Go". Real small 1/35 scale kits, but packed with sharp detail.

Ahhh...yes. And there is FINEMOLDS.

I saw the Type 95 in the shop and it looks very detailed. But very..very expensive for me. Even more expensive than Tamiya or Hasegawa.

I wish I could lay my hands on one of these kits.

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beav

Member since
May 2003
From: Ft. Sill, OK

Posted by beav on Thursday, November 20, 2003 7:39 PM

EEEEEEK! A 1:35 T-35! I've always wanted one, since I saw a pic of one!!!!!!!!!!gotta go check it out again!

"First to Fire!"

Steven

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 20, 2003 9:13 PM

So far I built mostly Tamiya and a few Italeri, but Tamiya it is.

The Leopard is the most dangerous cat. Fast, agile, strong and deadly.

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renarts

Member since
April 2003
From: Sunny Florida

Posted by renarts on Thursday, November 20, 2003 10:14 PM

Thanks for the info on Tasca. My bad, I thought it was Eastern European. Either way....looked pretty.

I definately need to check out the Japanese Armor from Fine Molds.

Mike

Mike "Imagination is the dye that colors our lives" Marcus Aurellius A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!"

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J-Hulk

Member since
February 2003
From: Tochigi, Japan

Posted by J-Hulk on Friday, November 21, 2003 8:55 AM

How did I forget FineMolds??? Excellent 1/35 Japanese armor!!!!

~Brian

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