Need some help deciding

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Need some help deciding

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 1, 2003 3:29 AM

Ok, so I actually decided to do a US AFV from WWII. This will be my first US vehicle since 95 or so. Anyway, I wanted to try either an Academy, or AFV Club kit. Does anyone have any suggestions for good kits from either company?

Thanks in advance for any advice. Big Smile [:D]

edog

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djmodels1999

Member since
December 2002
From: United Kingdom / Belgium

Posted by djmodels1999 on Friday, August 1, 2003 4:54 AM

The M3 Honey from Academy. Lots of bits to play with, lots of details, lots of possibilities, even straight from the box, and really cheap.

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J-Hulk

Member since
February 2003
From: Tochigi, Japan

Posted by J-Hulk on Friday, August 1, 2003 5:21 AM

The M-10 from either company is nice. I have the AFV club M-10, and it's a great kit.
I have the Academy Achilles, which is also a very nice kit, which means their M-10 must be a good kit, too.

~Brian

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styrene

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

Posted by styrene on Friday, August 1, 2003 6:50 AM

The AFV Club Hellcat is a great build right out of the box. From all the reports, the M41 Walker Bulldog is also really nice (but that's Korea/Vietnam, isn't it?)
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 Friday, August 1, 2003 7:10 AM

Cripes, I forgot about both of those! And I even have the M-41 on the "things to do soon" list! It sits in the closet, right under the Tamiya T-55, and right on top of a bunch of other stuff.
The M-41 looks great in the box, and the builtups I've seen look magnificent as well.
You can't really go wrong with AFV Club, in my opinion.

~Brian

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 2, 2003 1:43 PM

I really loved that Academy Honey. I would bet their Stuart is the same calibre. Go with one of these you'll be glad you did.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, August 4, 2003 12:33 PM

Just did my first AFV as an adult modeler. Finished about 1 month ago. Was an Academy M3A1 Stuart. Kit went together well. Did run into trouble with individual link tracks. Found out the hard way how fragile they are, but it was a good lesson to learn for future projects. Ended up using the one-piece vinyl tracks. They look ok.

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kaleu

Member since
February 2003
From: Racing capital of the world- Indy

Posted by kaleu on Monday, August 4, 2003 4:07 PM

The AVF Club M88 is a very good build and so is the Academy M3 Stuart "Honey", which I have just barely started.

Erik "Don't fruit the beer." Newest model buys: More than I care to think about. It's time for a support group.

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tigerman

Member since
March 2003
From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA

Posted by tigerman on Tuesday, August 5, 2003 2:02 AM

I admit I haven't built any, but I've read good things about AFV's Hellcat and the latest review of their Stuart looks positive as well. It's all about you like. Good luck.

Eric

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, August 7, 2003 11:29 AM

Just wanted to say thanks for all the suggestions. Im thinking I will go with both the M10 from AFV, and the Stuart from Academy. Hey, if you cant decide, get both! Big Smile [:D]

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, August 7, 2003 2:34 PM

have to agree with above about the Honey, it was my first tank build and it turned out great!

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wipw

Member since
January 2003
From: Utah - USA

Posted by wipw on Thursday, August 7, 2003 3:22 PM

edog,

I'm curious about why you are leaving out Tamiya, DML, and Alan? Don't get me wrong, it's your choice, and AFV and Academy have some great kits! But I've heard some great things about the Alan Pz IId, and the 3 DML Panthers are some pretty cool kits. The big AFV half track (sorry, don't know the numbers) is supposed to be pretty great, too.

Best of luck with whatever you decide.

Bill

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

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

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

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tigerman

Member since
March 2003
From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA

Posted by tigerman on Thursday, August 7, 2003 6:49 PM

I have to agree with wipw, why did you limit yourself to only two manufacturers? Of course it is your choice. I would consider Tamiya's Pershing or Sherman or anything DML that matches. Nothing personal wipw, but he wanted to build a US AFV, not a Panther. Anyway Edog, sounds like your going to have some fun with your two choices, have fun.

Eric

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Dwight Ta-ala

Member since
July 2003
From: Philippines

Posted by Dwight Ta-ala on Thursday, August 7, 2003 7:26 PM

Bill and Tigerman are right, although you have probably decided to get a kit from Academy or AFV, why not just check Tamiya or DML out. You might find something you like. My last kit was Tamiya's Pershing and I found it to be a very good kit. My first US armor kit by the way was an M4 from DML.

Anyway, whatever you choose, good luck.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, August 7, 2003 8:19 PM

I just wanted to build a kit from a manufacturer that I had not tried yet. I have many, many Tamiya kits, and some DML ones too, mostly German armor. They are all top quality kits, or at least most are. I was merely asking for advice on subjects, and manufacturers that I am not really familiar with, and thought I would get some good responses from you guys. I did, and thanks again to everyone for the suggestions.

edog

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, August 7, 2003 8:39 PM

i was thinking about getting a M10 from those two companies
im going to go with the AFV club M10 on the way that you get a metal barrel with it on some you get PE sets and resin bits
its a shame they dont include there working tracks too

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wipw

Member since
January 2003
From: Utah - USA

Posted by wipw on Thursday, August 7, 2003 11:42 PM

Duhhhh, brain cramp. I guess Panthers, pzII's and even the half track I was talking about have a definate German "flair" to them. Sorry!! I had a headache!!

I went to my local club meeting tonight. Wound up trying to decide between the Academy Honey, Trumpter M1A2, and a Revell Germany Hadley Page Victor (wanted to build one ever since I was stationed at Offett AFB where they had an RAF sattelite and they had Victors and Vulcans). O wamt a Vulcan, too!

Anyway, they were all in the $15 to $19 range. After a long debate with myself, I went with the M1A2. First for me

Great modeling to ya all!

Bill

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

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

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

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J-Hulk

Member since
February 2003
From: Tochigi, Japan

Posted by J-Hulk on Friday, August 8, 2003 12:21 AM

wipw, I've been trying to decide between the Victor and Vulcan, too!
A big British aircraft to break up the armor.

There was an AMAZING Victor at the Shizuoka Hobby Show last May. I'll try to scan it and post it sometime soon.

Caveman, excellent choice. That's a great kit!

~Brian

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