I am two seconds from throwing these Dragon kits in the trash

More than likely the oversized decal arcs are to allow a "fudge factor" for adjustment. Better too much than not enough. I have had the opposite problem on some other ship decals. The Dragon Ticonderoga kits are some of their oldest ship kits, dating from when the company first started out. I have seen enough of them built up into very handsome models.

Do you have the kit with the early Mk.26 twin arm missile launchers or the later VLS equipped version?

I had one of each. I was building them in parallel so when they were done I could display the different flights of those CG's.

I just took them out to the garage and went "Office Space" on them. They are no more. 

Haven't done that in years, and I usually don't lose my cool over a kit like that, but I feel much better now.    

Oh, can I take them?

Well that sucks. I gladly would have taken the Mk.26 version off of your hands. I already have the VLS kit.

Sometimes kits need to be chucked. I have recently gotten into it and it does feel good. Cleared the shelf of doom of anything I didn't think I would ever get back to. Too many good kits and too little time to deal with crap.

Jay

Good for you, Dirk Pitt!  It gives me great pleasure to throw out  a piece of crap, and start something decent.  I have done this many times!

Al Giordino

hey STIK

fancy seeing you here. i have an Dragon early CG-47 i won't build. finishing up the Dragon Gearing DDFH. way over engineered 12 parts for a twin 20mm? does look better in the case and ilearned a lot which will help with Sino-japanese war ships.

I've built two of the 688s/Hamptons. They have some inaccuracies, especially around the VLS hatches. But they build up easy enough. The new Hobbyboss and Bronco (I think) kits are nicer.

i am not going to but flashbacks of this post hit me when i took a heller 400th scale torpedo boat out of the stash to look at the directions to start it

it has railings but no inst. on where or how to mount and a couple other odd direction prob. ha

joe

Yes beating my way through the brush to the finish line with the DML 1/700 Tarawa. It's funny if I built a second one I'd know all the tiger pits. Not going to.

It also turned me off once and for all to the always shady idea of "in the box" reviews, which I now call total *** on.

To hear what these guys said, and have a kit where the three main pieces don't fit together without going back and removing all of the non visible interior ejector pins, makes me reach for a bourbon and ginger ale.

I am currently building a kit made by "Kitty Hawk" and recommend you steer clear of them.  Nothing fits right, lots of flash, mistakes in instructions, etc.

An experienced modeler can make a nice model out of these, but beginners should beware.

Hello, DirkPitt77!

While sorry to learn of your frustrations, I have to admit that sometimes that's the best thing to do!

I am reminded of my own frustration with an MPC '71 Mustang Mach 1 model kit years ago that i was trying to build.. frame was perfect, engine detail was great, interior went together without a hitch, painting was a dream, and then I went to put the body on... first the body was warped, a 5 degree clockwise twist from right front to the left rear, that even dipping in hot water wouldn't correct. Then the rocker panels wouldn't clear the lower body, rear wheel wells and chassis. Then the windsheld cracked, taking an A pillar with it.

The model made an extremely satisfying crash and explosion of parts and wheels when I hurled it against the blank wall of my workspace.

Nowadays, i just would do a rapid speed-build of the offending model, then relegate it to target practice, and achieve the same satisfyingly destructive result.

Any more stories of crappy kits and mayhem out there? Do tell...

Randy