Trumpeter K1A1?

Started the K1A1. It is not too bad. Some cautions: The plastic is kinda soft, it tended to dissolve if I used too much liquid cement and some detail was lost. The turret storage boxes look pretty good, however, they are molded without bottoms. Yup, they have a top, and sides, but no bottom, I had to add it from sheet plastic. It was obvious that the bottoms were hollow. Also, Trumpeter would have you cut out the locating holes for all the storage boxes. It is better if you cut the tabs off the boxes and leave the cut-outs there. The boxes don't line up with the holes. The gunner's sight is simplified too and needs to be corrected. The front piece where the glass would be is too short and you end upo with what looks like three windows. There should only be two windows. Other than the above, it looks pretty good and I have had no problems with the build. The figures look pretty good too, with the exception of the shoulder holster for the standing commader, it looks like a blob of plastic. I will put up some photos when complete.

This kit is fairly crude, like most of Trumpeter's early kits, but you can't argue with the price. I got mine for less than 25CAN, which is easily one of the cheapest kits I've ever bought.
I found a LOT of fit problems when mating the skirts to the body. Turret fit wasn't so much of a problem, but a lot of care is needed, especially when mounting the storage boxes to the turret body.

If you take care in the build, it'll come out as a nice kit. I personally love it, as the stance of the tank is just so aggressive, it's hard not to like it.

Trumpeter uses a hard plastic that is harder to clean up. Maybe I'm just spoiled by Tamiya and DML's.

QUOTE: Originally posted by HeavyArty Got the K1A1 in today. Looks great in the box. Has separate handles on the storage boxes, also comes with 4 figures; 3 1/2 figures and a full commander. Looks like it will build up nicely. I'll let you know when I get to it.

Hey, thanks!

Got the K1A1 in today. Looks great in the box. Has separate handles on the storage boxes, also comes with 4 figures; 3 1/2 figures and a full commander. Looks like it will build up nicely. I'll let you know when I get to it.

I did the Trumpeteer British Challenger 2 lately. No major problems there. Perhaps Trumpeteer is improving.

I have one of the Trumpeter K1A1 tanks on the way, supposed to arrive tomorrow. I will let you know how it looks. I have thought it was a cool tank since I saw them while stationed in Korea a few years back. Saw the Coree kit there as well, couldn't justify spending that much ($100+) for it. I hope the Trumpeter kit is good. I have built their M1A1 kit and had no real problems with it.

QUOTE: Originally posted by tigerman Larry, I'm kind of going on hearsay. I had an unfortunate build and many I have read have had a tough build of a Trumpeter kit. My guess, is the K1A1 will need a little TLC. Hopefully I'm wrong.

Well, they do have a rep as being hard build-ups. That's a shame. The K1A1 is a pretty interesting tank. I think it would be like a lion amongst the lambs if there are ever tank battles with the North Korean soviet-designed tanks. (God forbid.)

Larry, I'm kind of going on hearsay. I had an unfortunate build and many I have read have had a tough build of a Trumpeter kit. My guess, is the K1A1 will need a little TLC. Hopefully I'm wrong.

QUOTE: Originally posted by tigerman I built the Trumpeter M1 and found the detail decent, but the fit poor. Lots of sanding and puttying. Good luck on yours.

This is the K1A1, the Korean MBT. Trumpeter kits vary so much from project to project that the M1 might not reflect the quality of the Korean tank.

Apparently the Trumpeter kit is a shameless rip-off of the beautiful Coree resin kit of the tank. LEgend also makes a fancy one. I hate to say this, but I'd be reluctant to spend $100 bucks for a kit when there's a styrene copy for $18.

I built the Trumpeter M1 and found the detail decent, but the fit poor. Lots of sanding and puttying. Good luck on yours.