What do you guys think of Zvezda kits, specifically their T-72, IS-2 and BMP-2?

Well so far I've build only one Zvedza kit- and it wasn't armour! It was an 120 mm mortar with crew (4 figures), an Italeri/Zvedza production... Well the quality was medium... nothing outstanding, bt also not too bad...

See yaaa

I've built several, and for the money they are not bad. The tracks leave a lot to be desired, but other than that, they can be a fun build, and will look fine once painted up and weathered.

Good luck if you give one a go.


Steve

I have to agree with WWH, for the money they aren't too bad. I have built the T-34/85 and a couple sets of figures (JS2 is on workbench right now) and I was pleased with the overall quality. The instructions were not as clear as Tamiya etc, the decals were a little funky and the tracks were very primitive. But some things like the weld seems and texture on the turret etc were very well done.

the latest Zvezda kit I have is the Spetnatz figures. The quality of the plastic is 3-4 times better than the old Zvezda kits. Not much details and ammo pouches are molded on the body but it worths money. I wish latest armor kits are also good as figure kits.

I have Zvezda's 1/35 BTR-80 & Russian Spetsnaz figure but I haven done them yet so I can't give any opinion on how they are but price wise they're cheap & I think there's nothing a little weathering couldn't hide if it has any defect.

The T-72 and the BMP-2 are both former DML kits. While the BMP is not bad, believe it or not the Esci BMP-2 was actually better. Main problem with the kit construction-wise is that they made oversized hinges to make hatches moveable. Since there is no interior, it would have been better to just make the hatches better with the option of open or closed.

DML's T-72s have gotten a lot of bad press. I think they look good once completed. Both kits have some accuracy issues as well. The DML boxings of these two kits are relatively inexpensive so I would only buy the Zvezda boxing if it was around the same price.

The IS-2 has shown up in Italeri boxing. Again, I'd only go for it if it was priced better than the Italeri kit.

EDIT: I should also add that Zvezda makes one of the two kits that I own that I consider a waste of glue and paint to construct. Their T-60 is a pitiful kit. The other glue waster I own was the Trumpeter M60A1/A3 kit.

The armor seems better than before, but the figures still have a ways to go... lots of sink holes and ejector pin marks. Still not Tamiya or even Italeri quality....

Zvezda do a few re-boxes of italeri stuff including the Pz 1b and command tank which are very nice for their age just check as I think the T-34 and IS2 are also italeri re-boxes

As SABOT said, the BMP-2 and T-72 (all varaints from Zvezda) are DML offerings.

the JS-2 is different from the DML kit, and in some respects, a better kit. DML has their upper hull too close to the running gear, but the Italeri/Zvezda kit has this modelled better. Yes, the Italeri kit and the Zvezda JS-2 are the same kit.

I made a semovente 75/18 by zvezda, and it isn' t orrible...
I have to do also a t34/85...
I think is a good raport betwen quality and price...It's cheap and the model are quite nice (so far of the standard of quality of dragon and tamiya)
cheers