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Dragon 1/3 Firearm Series.........questions

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  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Bridgeview, Illinois
Dragon 1/3 Firearm Series.........questions
Posted by mg.mikael on Sunday, August 9, 2009 7:20 PM

I've been looking at this new product line from Dragon ever since they announced it, and I have yet to buy one of the kits. I know they have the pre-assembled kits(link:http://www.dragonmodelsusa.com/dmlusa/prodlist.asp?tlcode=DRG), but also make ones that the modeler can assemble themselves. So far they offer the Glock 17 + Gun Case and the M-14 rifle, and I was wondering does anyone have these in their stash or already built one?(note: image below is of the pre-assembled series)

I was reading the review on Armorama of the Glock(link: http://www.armorama.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Reviews&file=index&req=showcontent&id=4315 ) and it seems the kit has quality moldings and is overall worth the money. However I'm stuck wondering how sturdy it is?(since their's moving parts like the magazine/workable slide)

I'm really interested in buying the M-14, and would appreciate any comments or help my fellow modellers may throw my way. Thanks in advance.Smile [:)]

"A good plan executed now is better than a perfect plan next week." - George S. Patton

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  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: East TX
Posted by modelchasm on Sunday, August 9, 2009 7:49 PM

mg.mikael - I'm looking at the M-14 kit as well. However, its not in my stash just yet. I used the "14" in Iraq during past deployments and I think a nice 1/3 scale M-14 set on a nice "gun-rack" style stand would look nice in my display case.

 

"If you're not scratching, you're not trying!"  -Scott

  • Member since
    October 2005
  • From: Maryland
Posted by usmc1371 on Sunday, August 9, 2009 8:54 PM

You might find this helpful: http://www.ipmsusa2.org/reviews2/misc/kits/kits.htm

-Jesse

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Philadelphia PA
Posted by smeagol the vile on Sunday, August 9, 2009 9:08 PM
Thats interesting.  Do you know if they plan on releasing any WWII weapons?  I'd buy a BAR ASAP

 

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Bridgeview, Illinois
Posted by mg.mikael on Monday, August 10, 2009 11:03 AM

modelchasm- You're right an M-14 would look pretty sweet on a 'gun rack', plus it's something different from the ordinary model.

usmc1371- Thanks for the great link, it had reviews on both the Glock and M-14.Cool [8D]

smeagol the vile- If sales are good on these first two guns they released, then I suppose it's just a matter of time before they start releasing WWII guns. Here's hoping they release a Tommy gun or Luger.

"A good plan executed now is better than a perfect plan next week." - George S. Patton

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  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Philadelphia PA
Posted by smeagol the vile on Sunday, July 18, 2010 7:34 PM

Im looking at the kit version of the M14 right now.  Does anyone know if the kit is good, and worth it?  I feel like something different

 

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: East TX
Posted by modelchasm on Monday, July 19, 2010 11:10 AM

I haven't thought about this kit since re-reading this thread ... might just have to look into it again ....

Needless to say, no, I don't have a clue about it .... yet.

"If you're not scratching, you're not trying!"  -Scott

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: San Antonio
Posted by paintsniffer on Monday, July 19, 2010 11:45 AM

Geez.. If I am going to have to put a Glock together I might as well get a real one.

Excuse me.. Is that an Uzi?

  • Member since
    September 2005
  • From: Illinois: Hive of Scum and Villany
Posted by Sprue-ce Goose on Monday, July 19, 2010 11:02 PM

paintsniffer

Geez.. If I am going to have to put a Glock together I might as well get a real one.

Well, last I heard, Texas doesn't require a permit to own a firearm......

I've never seen a Glock frame and parts kit in any caliber and a real gun will cost a heck-of-a-lot more than a plastc model.

Besides, a Glock is 83 pct steel and 17 pct plastic even though the news networks spent quite a lot of time inferring it was all plastic back when the pistol  first appeared.

A shame LS brand  1:1 scale plastic model pistol kit sales ended in the 1980s.

 

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Philadelphia PA
Posted by smeagol the vile on Monday, July 19, 2010 11:17 PM

Im more intersted in the M14 kit tho

 

  • Member since
    October 2009
  • From: South Carolina
Posted by jetmodeler on Wednesday, July 21, 2010 12:03 PM

I would like to see them do some revolvers. The good old S&W's and Colts.

 

  • Member since
    September 2005
  • From: Illinois: Hive of Scum and Villany
Posted by Sprue-ce Goose on Wednesday, July 21, 2010 12:14 PM

jetmodeler

I would like to see them do some revolvers. The good old S&W's and Colts.

Revell used to produce a plastic model kit of the 1860 Colt black powder revolver.

That, like the LS kits,  was before the laws on toy guns were changed in the 1980s.

  • Member since
    June 2010
  • From: Spokane, WA
Posted by Hun Hunter on Thursday, July 22, 2010 3:44 AM

A gun costs more because it's an engineered piece of steel that can kill people. I honestly had no idea they made model guns (just getting back into the hobby), but part of the appeal of modeling for me is that while I love airplanes I can't see myself ever owning an F-15 whereas I own a Glock (among othersWink) already. I can understand it if you live in a nation such Britain or Australia, but not in the States (at least mine for now).

Might I suggest Airsoft? Not everyone is going to be able to obtain a 416 or a G36, but you can get a 1:1 replica for a few hundred bucks. Hell, I guess that defeats the purpose though since you obviously want to assemble.

Just can't wrap my head around that, but I'm a gun guy and I like the bang and satisfaction of actually sending a round down range. Don't hunt though, I'd feel bad.

There are some that call me... Nash

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Philadelphia PA
Posted by smeagol the vile on Thursday, July 22, 2010 6:14 AM

I ordered the kit, so ill tell you guys how it is

 

if you dont have the money for a real gun, and want something thats more of a talking point, may I suggest

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zk5nwJYSxVI&feature=related

or

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgiUSEpg8Xc

 

I wana get my stuff out, build one of those, (the first type) then sand it down and fill all those seams and paint it up.

 

  • Member since
    September 2005
  • From: Illinois: Hive of Scum and Villany
Posted by Sprue-ce Goose on Thursday, July 22, 2010 11:10 AM

Hun Hunter

 

Might I suggest Airsoft? Not everyone is going to be able to obtain a 416 or a G36, but you can get a 1:1 replica for a few hundred bucks. Hell, I guess that defeats the purpose though since you obviously want to assemble.

Unfortunately, private ownership of  Airsoft  is illegal in many places and may not be an option.

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: San Antonio
Posted by paintsniffer on Thursday, July 22, 2010 11:30 AM

Sprue-ce Goose

 

 

 

Well, last I heard, Texas doesn't require a permit to own a firearm......

You are correct, and I own several.

Airsoft is just an all around bad idea except for mature adults. I can't tell you how many kids in their late teens have almost been killed by me or my co-workers because they were running around at night with a real looking M-16 or handgun.

1/3 scale is considerably less likely to be confused with the real thing.

Excuse me.. Is that an Uzi?

  • Member since
    September 2005
  • From: Illinois: Hive of Scum and Villany
Posted by Sprue-ce Goose on Thursday, July 22, 2010 12:54 PM

paintsniffer

 

Airsoft is just an all around bad idea except for mature adults. I can't tell you how many kids in their late teens have almost been killed by me or my co-workers because they were running around at night with a real looking M-16 or handgun.

1/3 scale is considerably less likely to be confused with the real thing.

Legislation enacted during the 1980s mandating red tips on Toy guns ( and Airsoft )  was supposed to "solve" the danger of police mistakenly shooting children playing with toy guns.

Of course, human eyes can't  easily distinguish color in darkness.

As far as I know, children cannot legally own Airsoft in most if not all locations anyway.

On size, ever see a .25 caliber pocket pistol ?

I've only handled a full size Glock -never seen a 1/3 scale Glock- but would be willing to guess the model kit under the right conditions can still be mistaken for a real pocket pistol. In addition, the Glock G26 9mm subcompact  is very small.

If I were to base my decision on what should or should not be produced exclusively upon a danger of police accidentally shooting children playing with a plastic model of a pistol, I would state  I am more receptive towards 1/3 scale rifles over pistols because rifles should be easier to recognize.  Again, it depends upon lighting conditions.

Parents are ultimately responsible for restricting their child's access to anything which could cause injury or be mistaken as a real firearm.

 

 

 

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Philadelphia PA
Posted by smeagol the vile on Thursday, July 22, 2010 4:06 PM

Id put money on the inability to get your finger into the trigger guard to pull the trigger therefor making the 1/3rd handgun impossible to hold right and mistake for real

 

  • Member since
    September 2007
  • From: Truro Nova Scotia, Canada
Posted by SuppressionFire on Thursday, July 22, 2010 4:17 PM

Been rolling around the idea of scratch building a 1/3 scale BMG. Of course it will be broken down and able to assemble like the real deal.

As for the rest I like to send lead down range as well, actually hit a hand gun range out west & buddy I went with is now convinced in purchasing a .45 ACP in a 1911 style. (he recently acquired the legal government paperwork to do so) A Czechoslovakian copy can be purchased for under 400$ CDN new.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y211/razordws/GB%20Badges/WMIIIGBsmall.jpg

 

 

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Bridgeview, Illinois
Posted by mg.mikael on Thursday, July 22, 2010 4:25 PM

What a suprise to see this thread resurrected from the twilight zone aka anything past page one.Wink

Hey smeagol, let me know how that M-14 kit comes together. I never purchased one of the 1/3 kits, my money is saving up to buy some 'real' guns when the local gun show comes around in the fall.

"A good plan executed now is better than a perfect plan next week." - George S. Patton

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  • Member since
    September 2005
  • From: Illinois: Hive of Scum and Villany
Posted by Sprue-ce Goose on Thursday, July 22, 2010 5:53 PM

mg.mikael

Hey smeagol, let me know how that M-14 kit comes together. I never purchased one of the 1/3 kits, my money is saving up to buy some 'real' guns when the local gun show comes around in the fall.

I'd like to see Dragon release an MP-44 in the series.

Smeagol- I'm also interested in your review.

mg.mikael;  you can go to the show, but will you be able to find ammunition to feed whatever you buy.....or has the post 2008 election buying frenzy slowed along with the economy?

  • Member since
    June 2010
  • From: Spokane, WA
Posted by Hun Hunter on Thursday, July 22, 2010 6:17 PM

All good points about Airsoft, I just assumed we were all adults here. I just don't quite get the appeal, but if you don't have the option of a real gun (or don't want the responsibility) I can see why you'd go for a model.

I don't believe you can buy an Airsoft gun unless you're 18 (at least here) but that certainly doesn't stop parents from being idiots and buying them for their kids. I've always thought the orange tips weren't quite enough, namely since they can easily be covered by mock silencers. That said, I really, really don't like the idea of the government controlling hobbies either and I instantly become skeptical when the public good is invoked. At a certain point I just have to trust in the common sense of people in general. I wouldn't want to be a police officer having to decide whether or not a gun is real or not though.

Please post pics of the M-14 though, I'm quite curious as to how it'd look. I've talked myself out of a couple of real M-14's over the last few years. Have to take ammo cost into account and that round is just too expensive right now Sad. Been shooting my Beretta almost exclusively for 3 years now simply because 9mm isn't that bad compared to say the $40 I'd be spending on my M1 carbine for 50 rounds... tooooo expensive!

There are some that call me... Nash

  • Member since
    June 2010
  • From: Spokane, WA
Posted by Hun Hunter on Thursday, July 22, 2010 6:29 PM

you can go to the show, but will you be able to find ammunition to feed whatever you buy.....or has the post 2008 election buying frenzy slowed along with the economy?

Ammo prices have stabilized, the problem is they've stabilized at a pretty high level. A box of Winchester .45 is about $25 on average around here, .40 S&W is around $20-22 and 9mm is usually $15-17. That's a far cry from the $6-7 I was paying for 9mm five or six years ago. Prices really spiked in 2005-2006 and .223 shot up a lot, I heard Iraq was to blame and I find that entirely believable.

 

I'm hoping the prices begin to come down again, but we shall see.

There are some that call me... Nash

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Bridgeview, Illinois
Posted by mg.mikael on Friday, July 23, 2010 11:55 AM

Sprue-ce Goose

 

 mg.mikael:

 

Hey smeagol, let me know how that M-14 kit comes together. I never purchased one of the 1/3 kits, my money is saving up to buy some 'real' guns when the local gun show comes around in the fall.

 

 

I'd like to see Dragon release an MP-44 in the series.

Smeagol- I'm also interested in your review.

mg.mikael;  you can go to the show, but will you be able to find ammunition to feed whatever you buy.....or has the post 2008 election buying frenzy slowed along with the economy?

Ammunition prices have started to come down since the Obama frenzy. Their not as cheap as they once were, where their were amazing clearance like sales. Nevertheless their's at least stocks of ammo in the stores again....if you load your own then their's still shortages of primers and etc. I don't load my own so no problem their.

As for ammo...luckily I stick to .22 rimfire guns mostly(currently looking for a cheap handgun and lever-action rifle) Ammo is cheap, plentiful(for the most part), thus I'm not hemmoraging money on ammo. As for bigger calibers I shoot from my relatives' gun collections, when I can.

"A good plan executed now is better than a perfect plan next week." - George S. Patton

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  • Member since
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  • From: Massachusetts
Posted by jadgpanther302 on Friday, July 23, 2010 7:33 PM

I don't believe you can buy an Airsoft gun unless you're 18 (at least here) but that certainly doesn't stop parents from being idiots and buying them for their kids. I've always thought the orange tips weren't quite enough, namely since they can easily be covered by mock silencers.-hun Hunter

 

I play airsoft. I'm under 18. I'm not an idiot about it. I don't go waving my gun in public and being all "gangsta".

Their is a difference between airsoft and clearsoft. Clearsoft is what you see on the news. The cheap crappy guns that you buy at wal-mart/sporting goods stores that are clear.

THen theirs airsoft which i play. It is also known as mil-sim. These are tactical games and actual gear or repro/knock off gear and BDU's are used. the guns run from 150-500 depending on what you want. You have the low end starter guns(in relation to modelling think Revell) and the better guns(think Tamiya, Dragon etc.)

 

Sorry for the rant...

  • Member since
    November 2006
  • From: Massachusetts
Posted by jadgpanther302 on Friday, July 23, 2010 7:35 PM

Ah forgot to mention. The inner barrels can be changed and longer ones installed. That is why their are so many mock silencers available.

Also orange tips are required for transportation but not play.

  • Member since
    September 2005
  • From: Illinois: Hive of Scum and Villany
Posted by Sprue-ce Goose on Friday, July 23, 2010 10:46 PM

jadgpanther302

Ah forgot to mention. The inner barrels can be changed and longer ones installed. That is why their are so many mock silencers available.

and if someone is handy with hand tools, upgrades in the form of better electric motors and gearing to improve performance are available.....at additional cost.

If the Dragon kits faithfully copy the internal mechanisms, perhaps I'll build one as a "factory"  cutaway and mount it in a frame for display.

  • Member since
    November 2006
  • From: Massachusetts
Posted by jadgpanther302 on Saturday, July 24, 2010 2:14 PM

I hate doing upgrades to my gun.......the cost...

Also age doesn't mean maturity!

Moderator
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  • From: USA
Posted by Matthew Usher on Saturday, July 24, 2010 2:21 PM

I think it's worth mentioning that the Dragon models are nicely done, but they're truly small. We had some come into the FSM offices, and the Glock will easily fit in the palm of your hand. No one's going to mistake it for the real thing.

And while we don't mind firearm discussion in general, let's make sure we keep politics out of it, OK?

Matt @ FSM

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Bridgeview, Illinois
Posted by mg.mikael on Sunday, July 25, 2010 9:49 AM

 

Matthew Usher

I think it's worth mentioning that the Dragon models are nicely done, but they're truly small. We had some come into the FSM offices, and the Glock will easily fit in the palm of your hand. No one's going to mistake it for the real thing.

And while we don't mind firearm discussion in general, let's make sure we keep politics out of it, OK?

Matt @ FSM

Hey Matt, any chance we might get to see a review of one of the Dragon 1/3 Firearm series kits in FSM? Definately would love to see a review of one of those kits.Yes

"A good plan executed now is better than a perfect plan next week." - George S. Patton

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