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Meng or Panda 6x6 Cougar?
Jeff8600
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Georgia, United States
Joined: June 19, 2007
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Posted: Saturday, November 04, 2017 - 07:55 AM UTC
Am I loosing my mind or did someone do a comparison of the two?

Thanks,
Jeff
Mortifa
#464
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British Columbia, Canada
Joined: December 02, 2016
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Posted: Saturday, November 04, 2017 - 09:22 AM UTC
I did a search when I was trying to decide.

Somewhere it was mentioned that the Panda had some fit issues, while the Meng was a good assembly.

I will try to find the article for you.

Here it is; http://armorama.kitmaker.net/review/12008

Vodnik
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Warszawa, Poland
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Posted: Saturday, November 04, 2017 - 11:45 AM UTC
Meng kit has a design error: it is significantly stretched in length. It is some 13mm or so too long if I remember correctly. For me it is VERY noticeable, particularly the much too long engine hood (which itself is about 7mm too long!).

Panda kit also isn't perfect dimensionally - it is about 4mm too narrow. But in my opinion it is much less visible than the Meng error.

On the other hand the Meng kit is a much better build, with better fit, instructions and nicer details.

So it all depends on your priorities: more accurately looking final model or more pleasant and easier build...
leopard122
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European Union
Joined: August 26, 2016
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Posted: Saturday, November 04, 2017 - 01:42 PM UTC
Or what version you want to have...
terminators
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France
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Posted: Saturday, November 04, 2017 - 03:26 PM UTC
I wonder how it is possible to have measures mistakes on a kit. Measures aren't taken on a real vehicle ?
MikeyBugs95
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Joined: May 27, 2013
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Posted: Saturday, November 04, 2017 - 10:10 PM UTC

Quoted Text

I wonder how it is possible to have measures mistakes on a kit. Measures aren't taken on a real vehicle ?


Well if the drawing(s) you use to make the design are incorrect, the person taking measurements from the vehicle interpreted the measurements wrong, unit conversion errors, various inconsistencies in the specific vehicle you're measuring (think Tamiya M48), designer error... A whole host of things can crop up which would lead to mistakes in a kit.

A real vehicle isn't always available to take measurements of. Sometimes pictures and drawings have to be used instead.
90designer
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England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: January 25, 2009
KitMaker: 16 posts
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Posted: Saturday, November 04, 2017 - 10:23 PM UTC
Having abandoned the build of the Panda JERRV Cougar, due to the abysmal fit, I would go for the Meng version, dimensionally flawed or not. Life is short enough without adding problems!!!
Dave
Vodnik
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Warszawa, Poland
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Posted: Saturday, November 04, 2017 - 11:26 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Having abandoned the build of the Panda JERRV Cougar, due to the abysmal fit, I would go for the Meng version, dimensionally flawed or not. Life is short enough without adding problems!!!
Dave


For some of us the caricaturally wrong length is also a problem. And a harder to deal with one than the bad fit.
Vodnik
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Posted: Saturday, November 04, 2017 - 11:29 PM UTC

Quoted Text

I wonder how it is possible to have measures mistakes on a kit. Measures aren't taken on a real vehicle ?


In this case the most likely explanation is that Meng used the dimensions published by the real vehicle manufacturer, but did't realize that they include quite big boarding steps at the rear, tow pintles etc. and applied that length number only to the hull itself, making it too long.
Jeff8600
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Georgia, United States
Joined: June 19, 2007
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Posted: Sunday, November 05, 2017 - 12:00 AM UTC
I have the Panda kit on the way, I won it and the Meng EOD team on eBay for $41 so I don't mind dealing with the fit issues a little bit. I like accuracy but I'm no rivet counter.
arleighburke
Joined: April 22, 2007
KitMaker: 35 posts
Armorama: 33 posts
Posted: Sunday, November 05, 2017 - 02:54 AM UTC
Hi Jeff, maybe this was the comparison you were thinking about in your first post?

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/230887#1945776
Jeff8600
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Georgia, United States
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Posted: Sunday, November 05, 2017 - 06:34 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Hi Jeff, maybe this was the comparison you were thinking about in your first post?

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/230887#1945776


Thats the one, tood bad the pictures don't work.
stephane
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Hauts-de-Seine, France
Joined: October 10, 2005
KitMaker: 432 posts
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Posted: Sunday, November 05, 2017 - 03:38 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Panda kit also isn't perfect dimensionally - it is about 4mm too narrow. But in my opinion it is much less visible than the Meng .


Hi
I'm not sure that Panda 4x4 cougar is 4mm too narrow.
I didn't build it but i measured some parts Vs my Cromwell 6x6 Cougar and blue prints found on the net.
The front parts (bonnets, front grill...) of the Panda kit is very close to Cromwell ones and the Cromwell kit is close to the blue print. I thinks Cromwell designed its kit with the help of Rob Skipper.
Of course it's only when i'll have the complete kit builded that i'll know if Panda's kit is really accurate.
BTW Panda annonced the same Cougar 6x6 version as future release.

It's a bit like for the Tamiya T55 that all people says it's an accurate kit but when compared with existing blue prints, its turret is far too small.

Happy modelling
Stephane
Vodnik
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Posted: Sunday, November 05, 2017 - 06:58 PM UTC

Quoted Text


I'm not sure that Panda 4x4 cougar is 4mm too narrow.
I didn't build it but i measured some parts

I didn't build it either, but I measured hull parts (plus fenders etc) and compared them to the set of dimensions published by GDLS - the same set that shows the Meng kit to be way too long. Of course it is possible that I made a mistake in my measurements.
stephane
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Posted: Sunday, November 05, 2017 - 08:50 PM UTC
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