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Armor/AFV
For discussions on tanks, artillery, jeeps, etc.
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Your favorite Armor!!!
GunTruck
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Joined: December 01, 2001
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Posted: Thursday, April 18, 2002 - 06:11 AM UTC

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My Favourite Kits are
Italeri Leopard 1 A4 (only I haven't built a 1A4 just about every other version though)
Academy M113 (now that the Deihl track is out I want to build about 20 different versions)
Tamiya Leopard II (not Canadian but it came close)


Sounds good - and welcome to armorama.com Major Fredenburg- the friendliest bunch of modelers anywhere!

Gunnie
ARENGCA
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Joined: February 13, 2002
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Posted: Thursday, April 18, 2002 - 07:28 AM UTC
WHAT????

You want me to choose...? What about all those others in the stack that will be hurt? I can't risk offending any of them; my skills are not sufficient to overcome a sulky kit. Like children, they are ALL my favorites!
TreadHead
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Posted: Thursday, April 18, 2002 - 10:39 AM UTC

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The above is just my present state of mind, give me about a month and the whole list could change

Judging by your avatar you seem to be struggling to remember something. That, or you're fighting some nasty acid-indigestion! :-)

YodaMan


No.....constipation.

Tread.
relichunter00
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Posted: Friday, April 19, 2002 - 03:31 AM UTC
I haven't built any kits yet, but my 3 favorite AFV's are :

1) M1/A1 Abrams MBT
2) Germans TIGER I
3) M4 Sherman

Of course I like them all, but this would be the top contenders.
BillyBishop
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Ontario, Canada
Joined: March 20, 2002
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Posted: Friday, April 19, 2002 - 07:48 AM UTC
Wel cuz I like running around the house saying it (and driving the wife and dog crazy)

Tamiya - any "Sturmgeschuetz...Sturmgeschuetz" and no "Stug..Stug" doesn't sound the same!

Dragon - Sherman Firefly... cuz I'm Candian eh?

and the Maquette - Panzer 38t ... not that is is a great kit, it is what's on the workbench atm.

Man I can't believe they made tanks that small!!!

MSW
Hollowpoint
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Joined: January 24, 2002
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Posted: Friday, April 19, 2002 - 09:25 AM UTC

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Quote:
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BC---I nailed an M-36 (Tamiya) from HobbyLand Japan. Dirt cheap with the yen to dollar ratio now. You might want to check them out if you do not want to wait on the Academy release.
DJ

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Thanks DJ, might have to grab one of those.
And then get the Academy release later

______________________
BC


Guys, I hate to be the bringer of bad news, but that Tamiya M-36 is re-issued, motorized, 1970s' junk. Some of it is 1/32nd, some is 1/35th, most is pure fiction. I think they re-issued it as a pre-emptive strike on Academy's announced M-36 kit -- which I am sure will be wonderful. If you absolutely have to have an M-36 right NOW, I'd suggest finding a Italeri M-36B1, re-do the turret and scratch the hull. Save your money and get the Academy when it comes out.

As far as the favorite kits list goes:

1) Any DML/Dragon Sherman kit -- especially the Firefly IC kit
2) Italeri jeep -- Tamiya's new one has slightly better fine details, but for the price, Italeri's Jeep is sweet right out of the box.
3) Tamiya M-26 Dragon Wagon
Honorable Mentions: Tamiya M-8, DML M-26E3, Skybow Dodge series, Peerless/Italeri Dodge series, Academy Sherman variants
Posted: Monday, May 06, 2002 - 12:00 PM UTC
my 3 favorites are: 1. academy tiger 1e early 2. italeri pz 4 f-g 3. tamiya famo
Sundown
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Canada
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Posted: Monday, May 06, 2002 - 12:12 PM UTC
I better jump in here because it looks like the allies are outnumbering the axis! My top 3 would have to be:

1. Tamiya Famo
2. Tamiya Late Tiger
3. Tamiya Stug III
avukich
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Virginia, United States
Joined: April 11, 2002
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Posted: Tuesday, May 07, 2002 - 02:23 AM UTC
I would have to agree with Ranger74 that the ICM T-28 and T-35 are great kits and for a third choice I would say any of the Eastern Express BT-7 kits.

If you would like to broaden this list then basically any kit of an early war Russian vehicle.
Armor135
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Joined: March 02, 2002
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Posted: Tuesday, May 07, 2002 - 03:14 AM UTC
[quote]
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My favorite armor is mostly Vietnam to Modern, I guess my 3 choices would be:

1. AFV Club M35A1 Quad 50 guntruck "Nancy"
2. Academy M-60A1 w/rise dozer blade
3. Academy M113 Vietnam tank w/106 recoiless rifle
If I put conversions in there they would be

1. Kirin M35A2 guntuck
2. Model Valely/Legend M35A1 guntruck
3. Hobby Fan conversion( I want to get this one really bad, i think is the F.S.V. conversion with the 50cal's on it?)

Mike
Armor135


Mike - I have both of the Hobby Fan gun truck releases now. They are really overpriced for what you get - you may be a little disappointed.

First off - the decal sheet is the same in both HF-027 and HF-028 - which surprised me! Mabye I got a packaging mistake, but I wonder. They do cover three trucks, and you can model them all - with three AFV Club Deuces and some extra scratchbuilding work to cover them all - as you can only model one of them with the parts included in the conversion set(s). For the cost of each, I feel you could have gotten at least the appropriate armor plating configuration for all three decal options, that's how few pieces there actually are in the kit.

Gunnie

Thanks for the info Gunnie I actually found a really good price on both of the guntrucks iam getting the A.P.C. version the one wih all the M-60's on it for $44.00 + shipping. and the other ones is $65 + shipping. , and what do you mean comes with decals for 3 different vechiles?

Mike
GeneralFailure
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European Union
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Posted: Tuesday, May 07, 2002 - 04:12 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Actually YodaMan - marriage is the greatest! At least that's been my experience.

My wife and I have been together going on nine years now, and it only keeps getting better. She's my best bud too - so there's a lot more than the "husband & wife thing" between us. I know her like a book (cough, cough, gurggle, gurggle) and I'm sure she'd say the same thing. Thoughts pass between us without words being spoken - so I know what she's thinking when she catches a new model or something coming through the door. I don't even try to hide it - and that's the fun of it.

One thing we practice successfully is not telling each other "NO". Acting as adults (insert more coughing here) we know what we can and cannot spend on bills and entertainment. I bellyache and tease her when she wants the latest crafty-stickery-stampy-thingy - and she boxes my ears about my latest model selection - she will choose something else for me sometimes - but it's all in fun. She gets what she wants, and so do I, even if it takes a little while.

After all these years together, I do have virtually all that I wanted, so the urge isn't there to raid the hobby shop every week like I did when I was single. Marriage and the partnership got me to that stage, and I don't toss out anywhere near the money I did when single. Marriage teaches temperance, I suppose, along with patience.

With the right YodaLady - you'll be juuuuust fine...

Gunnie



Words spoken by a truly wise man.

;o))
GeneralFailure
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Posted: Tuesday, May 07, 2002 - 04:14 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I think I'm missing something...... :-)

YodaMan



think of the Master's word, Yodaman :

"When nine hundred years old you reach, look as good you will not." --Yoda
2-2dragoon
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Washington, United States
Joined: March 08, 2002
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Posted: Tuesday, May 07, 2002 - 12:45 PM UTC
My three fav's are:

M-60A1 (Tamiya)
M-48A5 (Tamiya)
M-60A2 (Tamiya)

I know, Patton, Patton... but that is my thing right now...

Ihave to build another sherman or two, though.
Bravo-Comm
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Joined: March 20, 2002
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Posted: Tuesday, May 07, 2002 - 10:13 PM UTC
Is'nt it interesting how the Tamiya kit's seems to be the most favored of the kit's mentioned here. Them amd Italeri. (Which i've nevwer tried) But I guess I will have to some time in the near future. As for me I really do prefer Tamiya when Building Armor. They have never let me down so far. Are thier any probl;ems that I should be aware of weith the Italeri kit's ??

DAGGER : A weapon with a short pointed Blade" THE CUTTING EDGE"
GunTruck
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Posted: Tuesday, May 07, 2002 - 10:19 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Is'nt it interesting how the Tamiya kit's seems to be the most favored of the kit's mentioned here. Them amd Italeri. (Which i've nevwer tried) But I guess I will have to some time in the near future. As for me I really do prefer Tamiya when Building Armor. They have never let me down so far. Are thier any probl;ems that I should be aware of weith the Italeri kit's ??

DAGGER : A weapon with a short pointed Blade" THE CUTTING EDGE"


Not problems, per se Dagger-1, with Italeri kits - just clean-up required to finish them. Some of their older kits were wonderfully done and a joy to build, where others released just prior and sometimes just after suffer from short-shots, mold-shift, and excessive ejector pin marring.

With a Tamiya kit you feel pretty good that it's well-engineered, well-detailed, and cast sharply and cleanly in the mold. The Italeri kit is less-expensive, but with that comes a few more engineering challenges, ocassionally not as much detailing, and some flashing and other molding issues you don't expect to see on a Tamiya kit, that's all. I wouldn't recommend you shy away from an Italeri kit - these are excellent to sharpen your model building skills.

Gunnie
Bravo-Comm
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Posted: Tuesday, May 07, 2002 - 10:23 PM UTC
Thanks Gunny will give them a try. NOT RIGHT AWAY though. And that's only because I .have several other projects in line to get thru first.


DAGGER
avukich
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Virginia, United States
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Posted: Tuesday, May 07, 2002 - 10:28 PM UTC
You obviously have not built some of the older Tamiya kits such as the old Panther Ausf. A or the early Tiger I. Those kits will let you down in a hurry, but the newer Tamiya kits are second to none.

Italeri kits are inconsistent. Some of their kits are wonderful while others are real dogs. You should ask about a specific kit(s) that you are interested to get feedback on that kit. Something to be wary of is that Italeri reboxes other manufacturers kits a lot of the time and those can be a wildcard. Examples include the T-26, BT-5, and the Panzerjager I which are reboxes of Zvezda kits. These particular kits are good, but with others you might not be so lucky. The one complaint that I have of some Italeri kits (T-26 comes to mind) is that they use two pieces of rubber track for each side rather than the one that Tamiya provides. This isn't that big of a problem for me because I replace the rubber band track with either Friulmodel or Modelkasten tracks, but I wouldn't like those tracks if I were going to use it.

Specific kits that I know about:

T-26 = good
BT-5 = good
Puma = good
Crusader II = really nice
Panther A = better than Tamiya's but the new DML kit is worlds better
Tiger I E/H = better than the old Tamiya Tiger I, but if you want a really nice Tiger I kit go with the newer Tamiya ones or an Academy kit

Some other manufacturers to look at are DML, ICM, CMK, Academy, Skybow, and AFV Club. These guys make some good kits, but just like every other manufacturer (Tamiya included) there are good kits and bad kits. These guys just tend to have more good than bad IMHO.

HTH
avukich
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Posted: Tuesday, May 07, 2002 - 10:32 PM UTC
Even with all of that said in the previous post by me, I agree with Gunnie. I've never seen a truly terrible kit by Italeri and they will help you to hone your modeling skills because they are a bit more challenging than your typical Tamiya kit.
Bravo-Comm
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Posted: Tuesday, May 07, 2002 - 10:49 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Even with all of that said in the previous post by me, I agree with Gunnie. I've never seen a truly terrible kit by Italeri and they will help you to hone your modeling skills because they are a bit more challenging than your typical Tamiya kit.


Well I guess that I can not argue with the voice(s) of experience. So I appreciate your input guys. As I said I will have to give them a try some time in the near future.. And let you know what I think or how things turn out.
DAGGER: A weapon with a short pointed Blade: :THE CUTTING EDGE"

YodaMan
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Posted: Tuesday, May 07, 2002 - 10:58 PM UTC

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Quoted Text


With the right YodaLady - you'll be juuuuust fine...

Gunnie


Did this occur to anyone else?

YodaLady Who?

Get it?
You know, a month later, I still don't get it..... I think I'll just go and work on the Alien some more.
As for armor, Tamiya's M41 Walker Bulldog has been added to the list. It looks like a great kit, and I can't wait to get started. It'll be the first model that I buy PE details for. It'll also be the first tank I airbrush. Man, I love armor! :-)
Heh heh, tanks are, like, cool man! Heh heh.

YodaMan
GunTruck
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Posted: Tuesday, May 07, 2002 - 11:22 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Even with all of that said in the previous post by me, I agree with Gunnie. I've never seen a truly terrible kit by Italeri and they will help you to hone your modeling skills because they are a bit more challenging than your typical Tamiya kit.


Well I guess that I can not argue with the voice(s) of experience. So I appreciate your input guys. As I said I will have to give them a try some time in the near future.. And let you know what I think or how things turn out.
DAGGER: A weapon with a short pointed Blade: :THE CUTTING EDGE"



Actually Dagger-1 - you can argue with the voice(s) of experience :-) - no one here is all-knowing, all-powerful, all-seeing on the subjects presented here for your entertainment. What I consider a blissfully easy model kit might very well be the bane of another modeler's experience - and vice versa. The same with perspectives on quality in a model. Share what you learn too - so that we all become richer for the experience - that is what ArmoramA is all about!

Sensei Gunnie
Phantom
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Posted: Wednesday, May 08, 2002 - 12:00 AM UTC
What exactly is the problem with the early Tamiya Panther Ausf. A? I know that it is infamously bad, but have never really heard the reason.

The M41 Bulldog sounds pretty good, and I think I'm gonna pick one up as well for my first 'real' armor project - due to universally positive reviews here, and the $12 price tag - I'm pretty sure I won't be going the superdetailed route though just yet.

Also wondered what everyones opinion was of Tamiyas SdKfz. 251/I and ESCI's BMP-1?
YodaMan
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Posted: Wednesday, May 08, 2002 - 12:05 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Also wondered what everyones opinion was of Tamiyas SdKfz. 251/I and ESCI's BMP-1?
At first looks, the sdkfz appears to be pretty decent. I haven't really done too much on the kit yet, but when I do I'll let you know. You can send me a PM for more info if you want. Or you can post questions here. Whatever.

YodaMan
avukich
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Posted: Wednesday, May 08, 2002 - 12:06 AM UTC
I never built the Tamiya Panther A, but I seem to remember hearing that besides being completely inaccurate it didn't go together well either.

I can't speak to the Tamiya SdKfz 251/1too much. I know that the Hanomag version is an older kit, but is still probably good and that the newer 251s are supposed to be really nice, but I haven't actually seen them myself.

The ESCI BMP-1 is the same as the DML BMP-1. I have the DML BMP-1 (unbuilt) at home and it doesn't look too bad or too good. I know it has a bad rap as well and I would be curious to hear what people think are its problems.
Sabot
Joined: December 18, 2001
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Posted: Wednesday, May 08, 2002 - 12:22 AM UTC

Quoted Text

The ESCI BMP-1 is the same as the DML BMP-1. I have the DML BMP-1 (unbuilt) at home and it doesn't look too bad or too good. I know it has a bad rap as well and I would be curious to hear what people think are its problems.
I have both (actually a couple of each) and they are not the same kits. It's true that the mold cutter did use many of the same masters for the hull, but the DML kit isn't the same as the Esci kit. When I get home I can give you a rundown of the differences, some that jump to mind are the hatches, DML made each hatch operable. The hinges and the parts that glue down to the top of the hull are a royal pain.

As far as a bad rap, I just don't like the fit and the fidgety parts that they attempted to make workable. As far as a BMP looking kit, I think it looks just fine. I also have an Eduard PE for the BMP-1 and it was not compatable with the Esci BMP-1 (I attempted this).
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