Revell or Italieri???

You'll find Revell kits better. Italeris are in fact Esci's, designed in the 80s mostly, and were by far the best small scale AFV on the market there and then. I'm really glad that Italeri is re-releasing some of them. But Revell Germany's kits are more recent and they are crispier on the detail.

I've just started their Merkava III and I have to say it's child's play, and the detail is just amazing. Some of Revell's earlier kits, such as the Panther A/D are not as good as the Merkava (their latest). But all in all great value for the money, as are most of the ESCI/Italeri AFV kits.

Revell kits are far better in 1/72 scale than the recent Italeri reissues of the old Esci kits.

BUT, a couple of the Revell kits were former 1/76 scale Matchbox kit. These will not be as good. Also the Revell M4A1 Sherman is not as good as the Italeri M4A1, but the Revell kit represents an M4A1(76mm) and the Italeri is an M4A1(75mm). Same vehicle, different turret.

If you thought the Italeri PzKpfw IV was good, the Revell PzKpfw IV will knock your socks off. I built the Esci PzKpfw IV and used the Eduard PE, but then when I bought the Revell one, I stopped messing with the Esci one and used it for airbrush practice.

I've got several WW2 German kits, the Tiger I Ausf. H (Tunisia) with Eduard PE and the StuG III Ausf. G with Part PE. Superb kits, some of the best models I've ever seen. I've also got a PIOmodels Bergepanther that includes PE, resin and the hull of the Revell Panther Ausf. D/A. Very cool kit.

The majority of my Revell kits are modern armor. Their M2A2/A3 Bradley and Marder 1A3 can't be beat. I've got the Abrams, Challenger I KFOR, T-80, PzHbtz2000, Leopard 2A4, Leopard 2A5KWS and the recently released Biber bridgelayer (huge AVLB based on the Leo 1 chassis). I've got either Part, Eduard, ExtraTech or Armo PE for most of my modern armor.

The only ones I have heard bad things about are the Revell StuG IV, M4A1, and some of the kit/troop sets. I've got the Marder 1A3 and Panzergrenadiers and they are excellent.

I've heard exceptional comments regarding the German Luchs and Fuchs modern armored cars.

Well... I wont be to the model shop for a while, but If the revell kits are getting these reviews, I gotta try one, I am doing a 1/72 scale dio so I will get the next vehicle I need from revell. Also what are the chances of me finding the PE parts I need right off the shelf, I know my hobby shop has several PE parts on the shelf but I dont think they will be for 1/72 scale.

My local shop carries Eduard 1/72 scale armor PE and I have bought some through Squadron.com. The majority of my 1/72 scale PE by Part, ExtraTech and Armo is obtained either from Europe via www.tracks-n-troops.com or Jadar's website or George Parada in Canada.