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

Matthew Usher

I think it's worth mentioning that the Dragon models are nicely done, but they're truly small.

A CETME in the Dragon series would be nice, too

http://www.waynedriskillminiatures.com/

Small?

Does the kit builder need a microscope to see the parts - like some 1/700 scale ship parts?

OTOH, building a Dragon 1/3 scale kit is a lot easier than doing this:

http://kucers.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5&Itemid=15&lang=en

I probably will get the kit the end of this coming week because amazon doesn't know how to ship things correctly.   Ordered 3 things, two shipped together, the other didnt, one is getting here on Tuesday (though it says it was in philly on Saturday, im in philly, im expecting it Monday, the other says itl be here the 31st

I hope these kits are good and if they are, sell good, because I would like to see miniatures of other weapons apart from handguns and more modern rifles.  Like the DP28, or a BAR.  Maybe something older French wheel lock musket, or something modern like a Barrett XM500

smeagol the vile

I hope these kits are good and if they are, sell good, because I would like to see miniatures of other weapons apart from handguns and more modern rifles.  Like the DP28, or a BAR.  ... or something modern like a Barrett XM500 

Both would be nice to have.

A BAR would remind me of pvt Kirby on Combat!

A shame I didn't know of the Dragon kits when FSM had it's Most Wanted Kits survey.

Perhaps after Smeagol does his kit review we can contact Dragon with kit requests.

mg.mikael

 

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.

We only received samples of the preassembled models, and we only review kits. I can't imagine these models have very many pieces, actually. I suspect they were designed to be preassembled collectibles first and kits second, so I don't think there are a lot of internal parts. The do look like accurate scale models, though, and would display nicely along with other scale models, etc.

I'm looking forward to one of you reviewing one of them here on the forum. I look at the Glocks and the other guns in the display case every time I visit the sporting-goods store near FSM HQ, but I don't have any real first-hand experience with them. In my newspaper days (as a news/fire reporter) my friends at the PD would occasionally (and briefly) let me check out their gear, but that was a while ago.

And understandably, none of them carried what would be my first firearm choice, a Colt Navy...

Matt

Panther: I airsoft, when I can, so I know all about it. I'm not talking about the kids that are actually participating in the hobby, I'm talking about parents that buy their kids airsoft guns without knowing what they are or teaching their kids the importance of gun safety. They should be handled like anything that fires a projectile, carefully. Also the kids that have never been around guns and have a caviler attitude towards them. That can get them killed, namely if they're carrying an airsoft gun around a neighborhood. They are not toys. My Classic Army M4 looks just like my Bushmaster at a glance.

Fun hobby none the less, and I have no problem with people under 18 partaking in it just so long as they act responsibly. I sound like an old man... at 25.

On a side note I went shooting up above Pend Oreille over the weekend. As satisfying as ever even if I'm out $70 in .223. Also shot my friend's .17, I really wish the ammo for that was cheap they're a ton of fun. I just don't want to get mine out at $20ish a box of ammo.

Lake, shooting, capped off with watching the Thunderbirds Sunday... it was a fine weekend indeed.

Spue: That Cetme you linked is amazing. I literally pulled mine out of safe and compared the two. Remarkable detail!

Hun Hunter

Spue: That Cetme you linked is amazing. I literally pulled mine out of safe and compared the two. Remarkable detail!

Indeed, Hun Hunter!

Some people can do wonders with few, small power tools and lot of skill and hard work.

Then again,  we see that it our hobby as well.

at first glance I can already tell you that the instructions suck horribly.  They give no real idea of where exactly the pieces go into eachother.  One piece near the trigger has a coil type spring that goes with it, it shows you sort of how it fits on but when the piece goes on it tesll you nothing about where the spring should be

Ok, well there wont be a real review.  I will say this though.

After spending a HOUR trying to figure out just the trigger of this kit because of the HORRIBLE directions im going to say that unless you absolutly love firearms but cant afford a real one, and like being frustrated, dont buy this kit.  I already put it away

smeagol the vile

Ok, well there wont be a real review.  I will say this though.

After spending a HOUR trying to figure out just the trigger of this kit because of the HORRIBLE directions im going to say that unless you absolutly love firearms but cant afford a real one, and like being frustrated, dont buy this kit.  I already put it away

Smeagol

While the parts won't be exactly the same, this may help.

http://www.chestnutridge.com/14pic.asp

Try comparing the real rifle's exploded view  ( I presume your kit is the M14 ) with the model parts & let us know.

doesnt help at all because the parts you see there have subassemblies that you need to do and they just dont tell you how they go together.  Especially the springs they give you no info on how these work. 

smeagol the vile

doesnt help at all because the parts you see there have subassemblies that you need to do and they just dont tell you how they go together.  Especially the springs they give you no info on how these work. 

and the Dragon website doesn't offer down-loadable instructions I can look at

Sprue-ce Goose

OTOH, building a Dragon 1/3 scale kit is a lot easier than doing this:

 

http://kucers.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5&Itemid=15&lang=en

Amazing work on that website.

I'm crazy enough to scratch-build locomotives from the ground up without aftermarket parts, but even I wouldn't try anything like that (Of corse, I have no real experiance with milling or anything with metal)

Railfan 233

 

Sprue-ce Goose:

 

OTOH, building a Dragon 1/3 scale kit is a lot easier than doing this:

 

http://kucers.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5&Itemid=15&lang=en

 

 

Amazing work on that website.

I'm crazy enough to scratch-build locomotives from the ground up without aftermarket parts, but even I wouldn't try anything like that (Of corse, I have no real experiance with milling or anything with metal)

The guys doing that highly skilled work are most likely Tool and Die makers ( who, among other things, make the steel molds for injection molding )  with decades of experience behind them.

Looks like Dragon is gonna be geting some competion in the 1/3 firearm model area. Trumpeter is going to release the M16 A1 and M16 A2 not to mention the kits will include display shelfs/stands. Hmmm....looks like some competion for the 1/3 firearm section.

Check it out, just scroll down a bit....

http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/newkitnews/trumpeter.html

mg.mikael

Looks like Dragon is gonna be geting some competion in the 1/3 firearm model area. Trumpeter is going to release the M16 A1 and M16 A2 not to mention the kits will include display shelfs/stands. Hmmm....looks like some competion for the 1/3 firearm section.

Check it out, just scroll down a bit....

http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/newkitnews/trumpeter.html

The CAD drawings I saw on the website suggest there is no internal "mechanism" unlike the dragonkits.

Can only wait for kits to arrive , perhaps an FSM or IPMS  in depth construction review?

Mabe I'll look into getting some of the 1/3 scale firearms. I wouldn't mind having the M-16/203.

Railfan 233

Mabe I'll look into getting some of the 1/3 scale firearms. I wouldn't mind having the M-16/203.

and they make a rack to mount it in a pick-up truck, too !

Sprue-ce Goose

Railfan 233:

Mabe I'll look into getting some of the 1/3 scale firearms. I wouldn't mind having the M-16/203.

 

and they make a rack to mount it in a pick-up truck, too !

Is having an M-16/203 in a gunrack in the window of your truck a sign you are a redneck, or some fugitive wanted by the F.B.I.?

Railfan 233

Sprue-ce Goose:

Railfan 233:

Mabe I'll look into getting some of the 1/3 scale firearms. I wouldn't mind having the M-16/203.

and they make a rack to mount it in a pick-up truck, too !

Is having an M-16/203 in a gunrack in the window of your truck a sign you are a redneck, or some fugitive wanted by the F.B.I.?

add a 1/3 scaled religious symbol and folks can say that the truck harbors a bitter hamster clinging to religion and guns.

BTW....

there's even a new way to camoflage  the kit when you get it !

http://www.kittyhell.com/2008/01/18/hello-kitty-assault-rifle-update/

No It ain't happining. No way, I ain't doin it.

Railfan 233

No It ain't happining. No way, I ain't doin it.

What about a gift for the lady in your life?

The family that glues together stays together....

I'm a single sophmore. I don't have a better half (and with the way the girls I see in town act, it just may be that I'll stay single for a looooooong time.)

So it's still "No, It ain't happining. No way, I ain't doin it"

Hun Hunter

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.

I don't know bout that but I bought 200 rounds of 7.62x54 ammo for $66 bucks including shipping online yesterday and it sould be in Wednesday.

Railfan 233

I'm a single sophmore.

In that case....

Look at the very positive side: your plastic model money isn't being gobbled up by child support or alimony

Mikeym_us

 

 

 

I don't know bout that but I bought 200 rounds of 7.62x54 ammo for $66 bucks including shipping online yesterday and it sould be in Wednesday.

what were the ever popular 7.62 x 51, 7.62 x 39,  5.56 x 45  former "plinking" rounds doing in availability and price?

It would be nice if Dragon offered "belts" of dummy rounds to go with any machine guns they may offer in the future.

Sprue-ce Goose

It would be nice if Dragon offered "belts" of dummy rounds to go with any machine guns they may offer in the future.

One can dream (as well as ask Dragon directly)

If you want to go the route of Dragon's 1/6 scale wepons (like the MG-42) you shouldn't have to look hard. While smaller, there is a demand, 1/6 scale action figures (like the 12-inch G.I.Joe soldiers) are gaining in popularity in kits. Just buy the soldier, and then go to a website like Monkey Depot, and get whatever you want (be it an M-1 Grand with invasion bag, or an M-60 witha 203 grenade launcher) and you have yourself a good start.

Now Dragon is jumping in on the action, and producing 1/6 scale kits of wepons (including some Anti-tank guns) as well as some vehicles (like a Jeep and Kubbelwagen). So, you can mix-and-match the ammo belt from one machine gun to another (just make sure you don't get U.S. issue .50 cal rounds for a German MG-42)

Railfan 233

I'm a single sophmore. I don't have a better half (and with the way the girls I see in town act, it just may be that I'll stay single for a looooooong time.)

So it's still "No, It ain't happining. No way, I ain't doin it"

Sophomore, so have you declared your major and minor?

Not yet. I'm definately leaning towards the railroad.

Sprue-ce Goose

Mikeym_us:

 

 

 

I don't know bout that but I bought 200 rounds of 7.62x54 ammo for $66 bucks including shipping online yesterday and it sould be in Wednesday.

 

what were the ever popular 7.62 x 51, 7.62 x 39,  5.56 x 45  former "plinking" rounds doing in availability and price?

It would be nice if Dragon offered "belts" of dummy rounds to go with any machine guns they may offer in the future.

7.62x51 this is also called the standard Nato round .308

http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/catalog1/advanced_search_result.php?search_in_description=1&keywords=7.62x51&x=7&y=4

7.62x39

http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/catalog1/index.php/cName/rifle-ammo-762x39

You have alot of choices of types of rounds you want for the 7.62x39 and you can also find these in the Dunhams gun section of their retail stores.

5.56x45(.223)

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/browse/rifle-ammo-223.aspx?c=96&s=907

http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/catalog1/index.php/cName/223-556-fmj-ammo

lots of choices but also can be found at Dunhams retail stores  like the 7.62x39