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Armor/AFV: Modern Armor
Modern armor in general.
Hosted by Darren Baker
Good kit for someone new to armor
LimaRomeo
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Netherlands
Joined: December 06, 2012
KitMaker: 25 posts
Armorama: 24 posts
Posted: Thursday, December 06, 2012 - 07:15 AM UTC
Hi all,

Normally I build aircraft but I'd like to try out some armor. What I'd like to build is a good (relatively easy) kit of a modern battle tank from the 80's or later that doesn't require loads of aftermarket. What do you guys recommend?

Thanks,

LR
Tojo72
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North Carolina, United States
Joined: June 06, 2006
KitMaker: 4,691 posts
Armorama: 3,509 posts
Posted: Thursday, December 06, 2012 - 07:19 AM UTC
Tamiya T-72 is a vey straight forward kit,comes with a little PE
junglejim
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Alberta, Canada
Joined: February 18, 2003
KitMaker: 1,728 posts
Armorama: 1,629 posts
Posted: Thursday, December 06, 2012 - 08:17 AM UTC
Sure, if you want a relatively rare version of the T-72. A proper T-72M1 will need at least a new turret.
My picks depending on your interest:
Meng Merkava 3D
Tamiya T-55
Forthcoming Tamiya M1A2 SEP
Dragon M1A1 AIM, M1A2 SEP (will be a little more finicky than the Tamiya kit)
Trumpeter T-62's
Trumpeter Challenger 2 - the latest release with the slat armour.

Jim
thewrongguy
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Ontario, Canada
Joined: October 17, 2002
KitMaker: 448 posts
Armorama: 306 posts
Posted: Thursday, December 06, 2012 - 08:48 AM UTC
Tamiya T-55 seconded.

Kenaicop
#384
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Nevada, United States
Joined: August 23, 2005
KitMaker: 1,426 posts
Armorama: 1,316 posts
Posted: Thursday, December 06, 2012 - 09:14 AM UTC
Anything Tamiya. No surpises, build up nice, good detail.
grunt136mike
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Florida, United States
Joined: November 24, 2012
KitMaker: 1,896 posts
Armorama: 1,858 posts
Posted: Thursday, December 06, 2012 - 09:23 AM UTC
Hi Lima Romeo;
Your choiches are limitless All of the manufatures kits have there Pluses & Minuses. Tamiya has always been the Best for Easy Builds and Quality.
Dont get caught in the talk about a kits Problems
Build it Your Way and Have Fun

GOOD LUCK; MIKE.
tankglasgow
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Scotland, United Kingdom
Joined: October 04, 2010
KitMaker: 275 posts
Armorama: 260 posts
Posted: Thursday, December 06, 2012 - 10:06 AM UTC
Tamiya Challenger (desertised) is a really nice big impressive tank and being Tamiya almost builds itself.
russamotto
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Utah, United States
Joined: December 14, 2007
KitMaker: 3,389 posts
Armorama: 2,054 posts
Posted: Thursday, December 06, 2012 - 10:18 AM UTC
I've enjoyed the Hobby Boss Leopards and Chinese tanks. Tamiya kits are good builds generally.
asmodeuss
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Quebec, Canada
Joined: November 19, 2011
KitMaker: 1,389 posts
Armorama: 1,388 posts
Posted: Thursday, December 06, 2012 - 10:33 AM UTC
I loved my Tamiya m2a2. ods It was my first return to modelling kit, and it was a blast!
ninjrk
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Alabama, United States
Joined: January 26, 2006
KitMaker: 1,381 posts
Armorama: 1,347 posts
Posted: Thursday, December 06, 2012 - 11:10 AM UTC
I've got to echo going Tamiya if you want a current generation kit that is a straightforward build. I'd recommend the Japanese Type 90 myself as it looks cool and is an easy build. T-72 is also a good one, even if it is a rare variant. Dragon will look better when its done due to their finer level of detail but they have a tendency to make you sweat and bleed to get there.

Matt
bill_c
Staff MemberCampaigns Administrator
MODEL SHIPWRIGHTS
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New Jersey, United States
Joined: January 09, 2008
KitMaker: 10,553 posts
Armorama: 8,109 posts
Posted: Thursday, December 06, 2012 - 11:20 AM UTC
Dragon M1A1 AIM Abrams. One of the finest kits of ANY period I've built.
LimaRomeo
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Netherlands
Joined: December 06, 2012
KitMaker: 25 posts
Armorama: 24 posts
Posted: Friday, December 07, 2012 - 01:02 AM UTC
Thanks for the tips guys! Since I'll have my hands full actually building my first tank model I'll stick to an easy scheme so I can focus more on the weathering process which should be quite different from aircraft.

Many of you fine gentlemen recommend Tamiya tanks (which knowing their aircraft kits doesn't surprise me) and I happen to have a chance to pick up a cheap Tamiya Challenger 1 Mk.3.

Now I know that kit is a bit older than some of the kits suggested in this topic so would you people recommend it? I've looked for info on Challenger kits but most topics are about the Challenger II kits it seems.
nooplwb
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Hong Kong S.A.R. / 繁體
Joined: April 12, 2005
KitMaker: 202 posts
Armorama: 195 posts
Posted: Friday, December 07, 2012 - 01:17 AM UTC
T A M I Y A
thewrongguy
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Ontario, Canada
Joined: October 17, 2002
KitMaker: 448 posts
Armorama: 306 posts
Posted: Friday, December 07, 2012 - 03:11 AM UTC
You might want to check out this book.

http://www.ospreypublishing.com/store/Modelling-the-Challenger-1-and-2-MBT-and-Variants_9781841769271

I will say to start I haven't read this book specifically, but Graeme Davidson and Pat Johnston do phenomenal work. I've purchased Osprey how-to books in the past and found them to be very helpful and for under $15 dollars locally pretty affordable. Plus a great deal of the information is easy to transition into other modern MBT's of different nationalities.

Cheers

Jeff

didgeboy
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Washington, United States
Joined: September 21, 2010
KitMaker: 1,846 posts
Armorama: 1,509 posts
Posted: Friday, December 07, 2012 - 03:43 AM UTC
The other one that everyone seems to have not mentioned yet is the Tamiya leopard 2a6. Nice kit, good detail and no need to junk it up with a bunch of gear. Build, paint, slap on some mud and viola! Good luck and post pics. Cheers.
ninjrk
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Alabama, United States
Joined: January 26, 2006
KitMaker: 1,381 posts
Armorama: 1,347 posts
Posted: Friday, December 07, 2012 - 03:49 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Dragon M1A1 AIM Abrams. One of the finest kits of ANY period I've built.


Agreed. My only concern is that it's not the easiest of builds.

Matt
LimaRomeo
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Netherlands
Joined: December 06, 2012
KitMaker: 25 posts
Armorama: 24 posts
Posted: Friday, December 07, 2012 - 07:07 AM UTC

Quoted Text

You might want to check out this book.

http://www.ospreypublishing.com/store/Modelling-the-Challenger-1-and-2-MBT-and-Variants_9781841769271

I will say to start I haven't read this book specifically, but Graeme Davidson and Pat Johnston do phenomenal work. I've purchased Osprey how-to books in the past and found them to be very helpful and for under $15 dollars locally pretty affordable. Plus a great deal of the information is easy to transition into other modern MBT's of different nationalities.

Cheers

Jeff



Thanks Jeff! Before I look at purchasing that book, does anyone want to comment about the Challenger 1 Mk.3 kit? As said I mostly find topics about the Challenger 2 when I do a search. Would it be a good choice?
panzerconor
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Massachusetts, United States
Joined: February 08, 2012
KitMaker: 1,271 posts
Armorama: 1,253 posts
Posted: Friday, December 07, 2012 - 08:02 AM UTC
I'll just echo everyone else and say Tamiya. Their M1A1 is a great kit, as is the M2A2.

Makes me want to go get one...

-Conor
iowabrit
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Iowa, United States
Joined: November 06, 2007
KitMaker: 585 posts
Armorama: 557 posts
Posted: Friday, December 07, 2012 - 08:36 AM UTC
The challenger 1 is a great kit and looks equally good in green/black as it does in desert sand. The tracks are rubber band but with careful painting look ok and of course the fit is first class.
grunt136mike
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Florida, United States
Joined: November 24, 2012
KitMaker: 1,896 posts
Armorama: 1,858 posts
Posted: Friday, December 07, 2012 - 02:40 PM UTC
Hi Lima Romeo;
Thats a Good kit, i built it a number of years ago. There are no issues with that kit, the detail, quality, and easy to follow instruction will give you a Great model.
Build it strait out of the Box, The British Bronze Green with
Black Bands looks Striking. Look on the Web and it will show
you lots of Good Info; There is a Ton of Refernce Books available on British Tanks How much Info you are willing too due is up to only you -- MIKE.
bill_c
Staff MemberCampaigns Administrator
MODEL SHIPWRIGHTS
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New Jersey, United States
Joined: January 09, 2008
KitMaker: 10,553 posts
Armorama: 8,109 posts
Posted: Saturday, December 08, 2012 - 05:47 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Dragon M1A1 AIM Abrams. One of the finest kits of ANY period I've built.


Agreed. My only concern is that it's not the easiest of builds.

Matt

Ease of construction usually gives the nod to Tamiya, though their older kits are not always that accurate, and detail is often sacrificed for buildability.

I loved my DML so much I recently secured another M1A1 to build an Afghanistan USMC tank.
ninjrk
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Alabama, United States
Joined: January 26, 2006
KitMaker: 1,381 posts
Armorama: 1,347 posts
Posted: Saturday, December 08, 2012 - 08:56 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Dragon M1A1 AIM Abrams. One of the finest kits of ANY period I've built.


Agreed. My only concern is that it's not the easiest of builds.

Matt

Ease of construction usually gives the nod to Tamiya, though their older kits are not always that accurate, and detail is often sacrificed for buildability.

I loved my DML so much I recently secured another M1A1 to build an Afghanistan USMC tank.


Agreed. I have built three of the Dragon M1's and I think those are probably the high water mark for plastic kits to date, maybe edging things like the Tamiya 1/32 P-51D.

Matt
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