Guy's can any of you tell me what Elite models of Germany are like?

I found one review but that dates from 2007, I'm looking in particular at the Pionierpanzer 2 Dachs Kit 3508

Appreciate any advise / feed back.

Hi Luciano,
Elite Models was good some years ago but now it`s more or less going down. There casting quality is very varying, best would be when you buy the model on a show and look for what`s in the box. The master modles are yery good, built by experts at their days. I build once a master for the LARS 2 MRL. My own Dachs was quite good made years ago. Problem is that they don`t have a vacuum chamber when the fill the moulds. And I recommend getting a Leopard 1 from Italeri for the suspension and a set of AM tracks.
HTH
Hans-Hermann

I built their Faun 912 tractor & trailer and the casting was really bad. And I mean: really bad. Lots of bubbles, flash, broken parts and mold shift.

Thank you both for the feed back, I may look at one of the Perfect Scale Models ARV's instead.

I can only second to Mat: I bought their Biber bridge layer on ebay: unbuildable. Same with their Fuchs: The hull was one large chunk of bubble riddled resin. Limited detail on the running gear and so on.

If you are an experienced modeller who is bored by the shortest short run kits and you look for THE challenge of your modelling career - well, then go for it.
But if you want modelling to be fun, then avoid it like the plague.

Hope this eases your decision.

Michael

The Elite kits I've got are rather good, but they're older releases, I've heard but don't know if that is true that their kits were once moulded by DES KITS.

The problem with your "Perfect Scale" alternative is that Perfect Scale are a bit hit or miss, but it's more a problem with their masters than their castings.

Cheers,

Christophe

Christophe and Michael thank you, so my next question should be, if I want a Leopard engineering vehicle be it a Duchs or ARV where should I be looking?

The Elite Models Dachs is the only game in town for that AEV version. I am surprised that PSM has not come out with a Dachs conversion or full kit. PSM does offer the earlier version Leopard 1 AEV as a full kit.

For the ARV for sure look at PSM kits...they have several ARVs...Leopard 1 ARV, Leopard 1 ARV A2, and Leopard 2 ARV.

PSM is also coming out with the Biber AVLB.

http://www.perfect-scale.de/index.php

Hi Luciano,
the Bundeswehr uses/used two dedicated Pionierpanzers in it`s history. The Pionierpanzer 1 was the Bergepanzer (ARV) with -among others- wider dozerblade, ladder on the crane and a earth drill. Pionierpanzer 2 Dachs (Badger) has the crane replaced by a telescopic bucket arm. So there might be a chance that PSM releases a Dachs sooner or later, but no guarantee.
Cheers
H.-H.

Hi!
You should definitely be going for the Leopard ARV or the Leopard AEV by PSM, really nice kits and top casting quality. Also they do have the Leopard 2 ARV Buffel on offer.

It is correct that Elite once was cast by DES kit, but that was in the very early days only and with their very first kits. Later on they did their castings themselves and these were good at the beginning. I bought both the ARV and AEV Dachs when they came out, and casting quality also was good. However that was about 15 or so years ago. Today, it is more like said in the other answers.

Andreas

The problem with your "Perfect Scale" alternative is that Perfect Scale are a bit hit or miss, but it's more a problem with their masters than their castings.

Cheers,

Christophe[/quote]

What do mean exactly with "hit or miss" ?
I have build quite a few PSM kits ... and I mean the more challenging ones like the Bergepanzers 2&3, M1 ABV, MAN and Unimogs etc. and therefore I cannot concur with your statement .... especially in comparison with Elite kits.

Cheers
Christopher


PS: Luciano, if you are not in rush building a DACHS it may be worth waiting a bit.

[quote
Cheers
Christopher


PS: Luciano, if you are not in rush building a DACHS it may be worth waiting a bit.[/quote]

is that meaning that it maybe come a new kit of the DACHS in resin as not in plastic? If so... Either in Resin or plastic that would be great news

Let's say I have seen bit's and pieces which are only featured by the DACHS

Cheers
Christopher

Excellent...I hope those parts extend to the Canadian Badger AEV as well.

Well I sure hope this comes true as the Dachs is the one I would prefer to build be it plastic or resin, full kit or conversion. I built a braille scale one several years back and just so wanted to do one in 1/35, with that said I may still get one of the PSM ARV versions but there is enough in the stash to tide me over until a Dachs comes out.

Thanks everyone for your input.