modeling companies

It depends on what you like to build. Italeri makes very nice kits, but you have to check reviews before purchasing. Revell of Germany makes some nice kits, but they also box other company's kits like Italeri, AFV Club, Dragon, Eastern Express, etc. Zvezda, Mirage, CMK, Maquette, Alan are names from Eastern Europe that produce tank kits.

If you like WW1 tanks, Emhar is a company to check out. RPM also makes a nice series of WW1 Ft-17 based kits.

If you like WW2 Japanese armor, Fine Molds makes excellent kits that are high in price. Tasca and Tristar are a couple of Japanese companies that make really nice light panzers that are expensive as well.

In today's modeling market, it is hard to stick to one manufacturer.

I think you need to face the fact that this is not a poor man's hobby. Dragon is actually on the lower end of kit prices. Tamiya costs more, but you usually get a top quality product with ease of assembly. Wait till you invest in an airbrush, compressor, etc, etc. If you want to do PE and AM resin conversions, then you can really drop some money. All model companies have good and bad models. All have expensive and cheap models as well. Usually, you get what you pay for. Once you come to the realization that the hobby costs money, you will get along better. Enough whining. Spend some money and jump into modeling full force.

All model manufacturers produce hit`s and misses. In my opinion there is no such thing as a "bad model", its just that some of them require a lot more work than others as well as some extra detailing or scratching if you like doing "exact replicas" like me. Some of you might question then whats the point of building such models, the choice is yours of course, it just my opinion that there is no "bad models", with a little work they can all look like the real thing. I personally like the European model manufacturers such as Maquette, ICM, Eastern Express, Zvezda and Italeri.

QUOTE: Originally posted by MartinJK All model manufacturers produce hit`s and misses. In my opinion there is no such thing as a "bad model", its just that some of them require a lot more work than others as well as some extra detailing or scratching if you like doing "excact replicas" like me. Some of you might question then whats the point of building such models, the choice is your of course, it just my opinion that there is no "bad models", with a little work they can all look like the real thing. I personally like the European model manufacturers such as Maquette, ICM, Eastern Express, Zvezda and Italeri.

Totally agree. All models can be made to look great, just depends on how much work you want to put into them.

And when you're really tired of paying for models, there's always the cheap, old-fashioned way: whittling!

Don't laugh, I've seen some GREAT whittled models!

HOBBY: The universe's way of guaranteeing you won't amass a fortune in this lifetime.

QUOTE: Originally posted by J-Hulk And when you're really tired of paying for models, there's always the cheap, old-fashioned way: whittling!

Or paper kits. I'm serious too! I've seen some amazing paper kits. They are often made by Eastern European modelers, guys with very high technical skills and a fair amount of time to invest in the kits, but not a lot of disposable income. The paper kits are cheap, and they can look just amazing. I don't think I have the patience to do them, though.

Short of that, there's always flea markets at hobby shows, where you can often get good prices.

I dont think that there are any "name brand" companies. Tamiya and Dragon make the nicest kits around, thats why they are higher priced. Sure you can opt for a lower priced kit, but your not going to get the stuff that tamiya and dragon offer. Personally, I think that modelling is one of thee cheapest hobbies I can think of. That kinda gets me through it when I drop $50 at the store. and also, I take that you are still in school because of tiger II and it's haiku, you should get a job this summer if you don't have one. Since you most likely aren't paying for food and board, you should try it out. Minimum wage nowadays ruffly translates into $270 a week, so that should help you out.

If you think Dragon is expensive, then you're out of your mind. (No offense or anything.) I am don't have a steady flow of income, and even so I can easily afford most dragon kits, and even many tamiya.

try Italeri

QUOTE: Originally posted by HeavyArty I think you need to face the fact that this is not a poor man's hobby.

On the basis of being an adult hobby, I think the cost factor is often overrated. Compared to other a lot of other hobbies such as golf, sailing, photography, woodworking, or hotrods. The entry cost is not ridiculous; even if you factor in a first rate airbrush, compressor, and a variety of interesting knives and sanding devices, your initial outlay would fall into to the $350 to $400 range (although with more selective shopping, you could be building nice models for significantly less), which is very cheap compared to golf clubs, sailboats, cameras, woodworking or mechanics tools. The incremental cost rate really depends on how fast you build, so maybe the fact that I'm a slow builder distorts my impression here. Still, it seems to me that even if you go all out and plunk down about $100US for a tank, photoetch and assorted AM parts and paint, unless you build it really quickly, the cost per build hour, is actually fairly low. Again, I think that the cost is cheap compared to green fees, slip fees, car parts, etc.

If being rated on the basis of being a kid's hobby, it strikes me that model building has become more upsacle than it was thirty years back, although maybe compared to the price of the latest hottest video games, model building might still be at least competively priced.

Andy

Italeri makes some very affordable kits. I would also recommend traveling to a local model show or even a club meeting, as most guys sell off the older kits in their collections quite often. You can find some really great deals on kits that are 10+ years old, even Tamiya. Granted, they're not the hi-quality super kits we're seeing today, and some (like the original Tamiya Panther) are visibly wrong (turret placement and shape, IIRC). But they still build up just fine.

I built a Zvezda JS-2 Stalin about 12 years ago, I think I paid about $12 for it, and it was a sweet little kit...


Although I hate to admit it, you can always find good deals on Ebay for kits. I recently picked up an Italeri Leopard (the newer one) for $15...no one else bid on it.

Jeff

Italeri for the fun of the build.
Dragon or Tamiya for the xtra quality detail.

O.K. I gotta jump in. SHOP!!!!! I've posted a couple of times that you gotta SHOP!!! There are so many retailers on the web that if you spend some time looking around you're bound to find a deal. I've found super deals on ebay. I'll spend an evening just looking at as many sites as possible to find a good deal that I like.Many times the smaller shops that are normally higher will have super deals on kits that they have gotten by buying someones collection. I got a Dragon Panther G for $14 shipped, an Italeri M4A1 for $13 shipped from a couple of smaller retailers this way.

I'm not saying I haven't paid top dollar for a kit I HAD to have right then, but I tell ya , since I've spent time searching around there are good deals to be had.

On the point of bad kits I disagree. I think there are bad kits. If I want to put that much work into one I'd rather scratch build it. For the $20 something I invested in the Maquette Pz 38t I could have easily got the supplies to scratch it. What correct parts were there were garbage plastic.Probably not indicative of there whole line but I do think there are bad kits.

look into 1/72 scale stuff. most expensive kits i've seen are $12 and that's top notch revell of germany kits(but those are more than worth it). unless you want rare stuff or resin kits in that scale (which can get around $30 on squadron) it's about $7 for a decent kit. it also uses a lot less paint and you can probably spend less time on each kit (althought that's up to you) and get more of them done.

I sometimes think that its an expensive hobby too. But then I remember what I would spend at the bar every weekend in my early 20's and it puts it all into perspective.

Building a kit can give me 20 to 30 hours of enjoyment so paying 45 bucks for a good kit is a pretty good deal when you figure it out per hour.

QUOTE: Originally posted by JFPuishys because I am tired of paying for expensive models from name brand Dragon and Tamiya models, I was woundering what are some oter good companies. i.e. trumpeter, AFV, and Acadamy......... anything else

AFV is one of the more expensive around, but they are often compared to Tamiya in quality.

I agree with Andy, shop around. I've turned to ebay and have scored nicely, but have lost many bids too. Be prepared to win and lose. I buy all my other kits online, though I did purchase a HTF at my LHS this past week. Best to ordeer in bulk online to save on shipping costs.

i do the ebay thing alot lots of good deals if your lucky also every sunday i check hobby lobbies new sale poster for that wonderful 40%/50%sale

i already have an airbrush and compressor, but thanks guys

I dont think that modeling is a expensive hobby per se. The truth is that we make it expensive by buying more kits than we need, buying expensive Aftermarket sets (interiors, tracks, PE) which retail for more than the kit your working on and all those great little tools which make some work a little easyer. Although I am a sucker for all mentioned above, all you really need to get into modeling is a kit, a sharp knife and glue, all the rest is really just extra.

QUOTE: Originally posted by MartinJK all you really need to get into modeling is a kit, a sharp knife and glue, all the rest is really just extra.

Actually, less than that!
As I mentioned before, whittling! The only thing you need to buy is a knife!
Then find yourself a nice piece of wood, and get to carving!

QUOTE: Originally posted by J-Hulk QUOTE: Originally posted by MartinJK all you really need to get into modeling is a kit, a sharp knife and glue, all the rest is really just extra. Actually, less than that! As I mentioned before, whittling! The only thing you need to buy is a knife! Then find yourself a nice piece of wood, and get to carving!

I agree. I seen some really beautiful pieces of work done with the technique of whittling .