Academy vs. Taniya

GMorrison

I've built quite a few of both. It's an interesting question because I can think of several companies who I think generally make better armor kits than either of those.

I've got to echo GM's sentiments; both companies probably both have a kit of a certain subject that is the "best" model of that subject, but neither company is the best armor manufacturer.

You want a Gamma Goat, you'll find no better or other kit than Tamiya's. You want an Abrams tank, don't get either Tamiya's or Academy's.

Tasca, now Asuka, has the market cornered on Sherman tanks. I believe Tamiya's Elefant and Hetzer are two of the best kits of that subject.

Bottom line, you have to shift through different companies if you have to have the best model of a certain subject.

About other companies doing better versions, I think Academy and Tamiya are just easier to come by, especially if you shop local. Now, in my mostly-internet-lectured opinion ( meaning take it with a grain of salt : it's just an opinion based on research) :

- Dragon's big kitties are looking good, finely crafted, often with engraved zimmerit, photoetch and sometimes aluminium barrels ; but the price tag goes up and here in Belgium they seem harder to come by... but I think you often get a great kit for the same price as a Tamiya kit with basic aftermarkets, or even cheaper.

- while looking for a Panther type A late, I considered the overdetailed newcomers : Meng, RFM, Takom, Hobby Boss, but shyed away : I had no interest for the full interiors and the multipart single link tracks were a dealbreaker for me (lazy me, I know, but it quickly kills my interest ; I sourly remember Dragon's dreaded 3-parts Sherman tracks when I got the Firefly in my teens) ; for what I'm looking for, they look overly complicated, butcgreat nonethless.

- I saw AFV Club got Tigers but have no good info about it. I'm curious, though!

I beg to differ about the Tigers : Academy recently put out early Tigers (I got the Operation Citadel box) ; tracks are single link, photoetch included, no more interior detail, and they cleverly engineered the gun barrel to avoid seams and spare the cost of an aluminium barrel.

Their Late version (steel wheels) comes with a zimmerit tool (no zimmerit decal sheet as for their Panzer IV, too bad)

Tamiya is reknown for it's ease of assembly but their Tigers are getting a little old and come with old school two pieces barrel, no zimmerit and no photo-etch. 

Check scalemates to be sure about which kit is the most recent and get some opinions on what you like ;-) I love Tamiya-san but Academy seems to be giving them a good run for their money there...

I got back to building tanks with Academy's T-34 Beutepanzer and it was a great build, cleverly engineered (one piece barrel, tracks partly single links and long pre sagged sections), no real issues... gave me the bug again, I let my beloved planes on the shelf for a while ^^'

I've built quite a few of both. It's an interesting question because I can think of several companies who I think generally make better armor kits than either of those.

Also remember that older Academy kits are blatant copies of Tamiya kits. Tamiya's newest Shermans are superior to Academy ones.

Latigo

Thanks guys. I was just looking at the Tiger I. They are similarly priced. For general overall quality, are there better than these two?I am a stickler for detail and aftermarket upgrades.

 

Steve

 

Some of the Academy kits include an interior. None of the Tamiya kits do. Academy does not make the initial production Tigers. Tamiya includes indy link tracks on their mid and late production versions. If an interior appeals to you, I’d opt for Academy. For most other reasons, I’d opt for Tamiya. But if the kit comes with their new glueable single length tracks, get some replacements.  Those things tend to not last in my experience.

Thanks guys. I was just looking at the Tiger I. They are similarly priced. For general overall quality, are there better than these two?I am a stickler for detail and aftermarket upgrades.

Steve

If you compare their latest kits, it’s a toss-up. Tamiya’s kits are always easy to build.  But Academy and others often include necessary PE screens and clear parts whereas Tamiya usually does not.  The Big T has been playing catch-up lately by including clear headlights and crew optics, and their upcoming M551 Sheridan has multi-part crew helmets.  But they still choose ease of build over fiddly ultra accuracy.

For older kits from both sides, well Academy got their start copying Tamiya kits so they are very “similar”.  Did you have a particular kit in mind?

Both companies have their older rougher kits, and better newer kits. Tamiya usually has an edge for ease of assembly and engineering, but that is on a case by case basis. The new Academy T-34s are superior to Tamiya’s, as are most of their Shermans, and their M113s. And each company offers kits of subjects that the other does not make.