Armorama :: Beware of Dragons "new" #6253

Armor/AFV
For discussions on tanks, artillery, jeeps, etc.

Hosted by Darren Baker, Mario Matijasic

Beware of Dragons "new" #6253

Tojo72

North Carolina, United States
Joined: June 06, 2006
KitMaker: 4,691 posts
Armorama: 3,509 posts

PROFILE

WWW

Posted: Monday, October 05, 2015 - 01:50 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Quoted Text

Quoted Text

I actually made an account here to pretty much write the same warning...

Still stunned...going to return them...first time ever this is going to happen as I usually build even the crappiest models but this time really feel taken advantage of.

Wouldn't you read what was in the contents of a kit before ordereing it blindly and then complaining about it,I know Dragonusaonline usually lists what a kit has or hasn't.It's good to wait for a "whats in the box review" before plunking down big bucks.Did they mislead you as to the contents of the kit you want to return ?

I don't know,just askin ?

Except that Dragon has included clear periscopes forever, so people are likely to overlook that omission because its so unexpected that they could possibly revert to 1980s standards.

The OP also mentioned Aluminum Barrel and PE side skirts,I would think that those would be mentioned in the contents.

ChrisK89

Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Joined: June 04, 2015
KitMaker: 80 posts
Armorama: 73 posts

PROFILE

Posted: Monday, October 05, 2015 - 01:56 AM UTC

Yes it's right i mentioned it and it isn't on the contentpicture but if you just google "Dragon 6253" you will find endless reviews where all these items are included.
Yes i know this is now a rerelease and not the original kit but i felt i have to warn everyone who is interested in buying this kit.

The biggest problem with this kit is not the missing barrel or other PE pieces.... it is the missing clear parts.
Every other Dragon Tiger has these, Tunisian,Wittmans, Initial, Africa... all have clear parts and this one hasn't? Thats just a huge joke! Or do you really want a drivers visor with a huge hole in it instead of armored glass?

Skar1975

Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Joined: October 05, 2015
KitMaker: 3 posts
Armorama: 3 posts

PROFILE

Posted: Monday, October 05, 2015 - 02:03 AM UTC

Put it like this: Usually I do wait for the reviews but this time i was unsure how many would be thrown on the market so I preordered (you can bet I won't do that again). As far as misleading goes, at least the sites I frequent not a single one mentioned anything about the state of the kit or better of the general content. It was only "rerelease of the classic kits". Now the retailers add a...with DS tracks...and nothing else on their sites, so you can at least guess something is not quite right and check closer.

edmund

United States
Joined: November 10, 2014
KitMaker: 668 posts
Armorama: 456 posts

PROFILE

Posted: Monday, October 05, 2015 - 02:47 AM UTC

You bought it on a leap of faith , now that faith has been broken !

Deitrich

Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Joined: September 28, 2015
KitMaker: 20 posts
Armorama: 20 posts

PROFILE

Posted: Monday, October 05, 2015 - 02:54 AM UTC

I had to contact Dragon care(their 'customer service') once to get a set of instructions I'd misplaced.

Took about a month to get back to me and then demanded proof of purchase.

I told them at the time they'd lost a customer.

There are so many alternatives out there.

jwest21

Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: October 16, 2006
KitMaker: 3,374 posts
Armorama: 3,126 posts

PROFILE

Posted: Monday, October 05, 2015 - 04:30 AM UTC

Weird- I contacted Dragoncare last Thursday due to warped parts and the replacements were in my mailbox today. I did have to prove I bought it, but I assume they do that to prevent people from getting free parts for other kits.

I really think Dragon could have easily avoided this problem by either 1) using a different box, 2) using a different kit number or 3) slapping a sticker on the front of the box

Deitrich

Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Joined: September 28, 2015
KitMaker: 20 posts
Armorama: 20 posts

PROFILE

Posted: Monday, October 05, 2015 - 04:31 AM UTC

I'm managing to survive ok using Tamiya and AFV club products.

The only reason I'd revisit Dragon is for their figures.

Tojo72

North Carolina, United States
Joined: June 06, 2006
KitMaker: 4,691 posts
Armorama: 3,509 posts

PROFILE

WWW

Posted: Monday, October 05, 2015 - 04:49 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I'm managing to survive ok using Tamiya and AFV club products.

The only reason I'd revisit Dragon is for their figures.

Check out Masterbox for a great range of figures.

KurtLaughlin

Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: January 18, 2003
KitMaker: 2,402 posts
Armorama: 2,377 posts

PROFILE

Posted: Monday, October 05, 2015 - 06:27 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Not including periscopes is a rude surprise indeed and not immediately discernible from the contents.

I'm surprised people think clear molded periscopes - that have to be painted over the majority of their surface - are so desirable. The ones I've used were OK, but not far and away better than opaque pieces with film overlays.

KL

M4A1Sherman

New York, United States
Joined: May 02, 2013
KitMaker: 4,403 posts
Armorama: 4,078 posts

PROFILE

Posted: Monday, October 05, 2015 - 07:25 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Quoted Text

Not including periscopes is a rude surprise indeed and not immediately discernible from the contents.

I'm surprised people think clear molded periscopes - that have to be painted over the majority of their surface - are so desirable. The ones I've used were OK, but not far and away better than opaque pieces with film overlays.

KL

Agree... As I said before: "Get used to it"... For some reason, DRAGON has chosen to economize, or they've become greedy (Oh, MY!) at the expense of the details and extras that we've all become so used to seeing from them. I have 3 Tiger Is in my vast collection. The initial "Afrika" version, a mid production vehicle and a late "steel-wheeled" version. Personally. I don't see the need to build a model of every single Tiger I that ever made it off the production line. Tigers, both Is and IIs weren't all that great, anyway.

RYEFIELD makes nice Tiger I kits, and I'm sure that there will be follow-on kits from them in different guises. If you want to keep buying DRAGON kits, go ahead. If you want to defect from DRAGON, that's your choice, too. Having a hemorrhage over a model isn't conducive to good health. Most of us find ourselves replacing quite a few parts on ANY kit from ANY manufacturer, ANYWAY. I've seen and read articles where some modellers replace the "vaunted Magic Tracks" with aftermarket sets, periscopes with resin ones, replace the kit-supplied metal barrels with superior aftermarket metal barrels from at least a half-dozen different suppliers. And as for PE sets for 1/35 DRAGON Tiger Is, TAKE YOUR PICK... So what's the big deal?

Belly-aching about pricing isn't going to get you a cheaper DRAGON Tiger I, unless you know where to look. Over the years, I've saved hundreds of dollars by looking for the right deals on places like ebay, Kits 'N' Things, Craigslist, and discount mail-order houses, and not just for models, either. Seek, and ye shall find, my brothers...

Deitrich

Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Joined: September 28, 2015
KitMaker: 20 posts
Armorama: 20 posts

PROFILE

Posted: Monday, October 05, 2015 - 08:06 AM UTC

Tamiya and AFV club do not offer the same variety, or in the instance of Tamiya, the same level of accuracy as Dragon. How are you going to build a Stug III F8 or Panther A except by Dragon? Exactly![/quote]

So you've mentioned 2 out of possibly hundreds of tanks.

I've simply said I have no intention of using Dragon again. Whether you agree with this or not its up to you.

I'll keep Dragon in mind if I ever need to build a second Stug III though.

Deitrich

Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Joined: September 28, 2015
KitMaker: 20 posts
Armorama: 20 posts

PROFILE

Posted: Monday, October 05, 2015 - 08:09 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Quoted Text

I'm managing to survive ok using Tamiya and AFV club products.

The only reason I'd revisit Dragon is for their figures.

Check out Masterbox for a great range of figures.

Thanks mate, I'm halfway through building their R75 with sidecar, I've found the parts are quite fickle and instructions a bit hard to follow. Still good fun.

You're right about the figures though, good quality and original poses.

Deitrich

Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Joined: September 28, 2015
KitMaker: 20 posts
Armorama: 20 posts

PROFILE

Posted: Monday, October 05, 2015 - 10:19 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Quoted Text

Tamiya and AFV club do not offer the same variety, or in the instance of Tamiya, the same level of accuracy as Dragon. How are you going to build a Stug III F8 or Panther A except by Dragon? Exactly!

So you've mentioned 2 out of possibly hundreds of tanks.

I've simply said I have no intention of using Dragon again. Whether you agree with this or not its up to you.

I'll keep Dragon in mind if I ever need to build a second Stug III though.

Those are just two examples off the top of my head, while at work. Do you really want me list off the scores of German AFV vehicles that Dragon does that no one else does?[/quote]

Course not mate- Now get back to work!

Beastmaster

United Kingdom
Joined: January 27, 2009
KitMaker: 592 posts
Armorama: 588 posts

PROFILE

Posted: Monday, October 05, 2015 - 10:33 AM UTC

I've got the Panther Late Smart Kit, the 2 King Tigers with zimmerit and they all have the following.......

MAGIC TRACKS
CLEAR PERISCOPES AND LIGHTS
ONE PIECE BARRELS (THE PANTHER HAS A NICE PLASTIC ONE)
PRE DRILLED MACHINE GUN BARRELS

Things like these should be standard on kits now especially from Dragon. I can't see why they don't release some Tiger 1's with all these things lately. They all have those damn DS band type tracks. And why can't they put DS and Magic Tracks in the same box so that way it pleases both.

hanb7323

Daejeon, Korea / 대한민국
Joined: October 06, 2014
KitMaker: 408 posts
Armorama: 407 posts

PROFILE

Posted: Monday, October 05, 2015 - 11:57 AM UTC

Thanks for good information. Is the Dragon changing into dragon fly now? Hahaha. Sorry just joke. But I still love its Smart kits except most of re released version and brand new kits.

Cantstopbuyingkits

European Union
Joined: January 28, 2015
KitMaker: 2,099 posts
Armorama: 1,920 posts

PROFILE

Posted: Monday, October 05, 2015 - 05:59 PM UTC

Quoted Text

or in the instance of Tamiya, the same level of accuracy as Dragon.

Seriously?

M4A1Sherman

New York, United States
Joined: May 02, 2013
KitMaker: 4,403 posts
Armorama: 4,078 posts

PROFILE

Posted: Monday, October 05, 2015 - 06:30 PM UTC

Quoted Text

I've got the Panther Late Smart Kit, the 2 King Tigers with zimmerit and they all have the following.......

MAGIC TRACKS
CLEAR PERISCOPES AND LIGHTS
ONE PIECE BARRELS (THE PANTHER HAS A NICE PLASTIC ONE)
PRE DRILLED MACHINE GUN BARRELS

Things like these should be standard on kits now especially from Dragon. I can't see why they don't release some Tiger 1's with all these things lately. They all have those damn DS band type tracks. And why can't they put DS and Magic Tracks in the same box so that way it pleases both.

Don't you guys get it yet? DRAGON WANTS TO SAVE THEMSELVES $$$MONEY$$$, AND CHARGE YOU MORE $$$MONEY$$$ AT THE SAME TIME, BECAUSE THEY WANT $$$PROFITS$$$, $$$PROFITS$$$, $$$PROFITS$$$... It's as simple as that. Slide-mold technology and live tooling are EXPENSIVE; all those great features that we are used to WILL BE GOING BY THE WAYSIDE...

Cantstopbuyingkits

European Union
Joined: January 28, 2015
KitMaker: 2,099 posts
Armorama: 1,920 posts

PROFILE

Posted: Monday, October 05, 2015 - 10:34 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Quoted Text

Quoted Text

or in the instance of Tamiya, the same level of accuracy as Dragon.

Seriously?

Yes, seriously. From the Panzer IV H to the Panther kits, Dragon overshadows Tamiya.

You said Tamiya kits do not have the same level as accuracy, when most people agree that Tamiya's kits are extremely accurate overall, whilst Dragon's non-Wermacht [and some Wermacht] releases can have a low level of accuracy.

TOP