Well, I sure have gotten some cool models of late! Today, the Rye Field M1A1/M1A2 and Takom Merkava Mk. 1 Hybrid just arrived, and last week, the Takom Merkava Mk. 1. This is the first time I've gotten kits by either of these guys, and I am super thrilled! I have been a very loyal Dragon guy, and I still love them, and have a huge amount of models by them still unbuilt, but I am now so relieved to see that even if Dragon fails to keep up, these newer players, along with Meng, will keep me in wonderful armor. Many of you have discussed these kits before, and it will be awhile until I get to any of these three, but I have a lot to look forward to, now. I just wanted to say how excited I am about these new tanks!

Yes companies like Takom, Meng, Mirror etc. are certainly claiming their stake! I bought the Takom Hanomag tractor and V2. It's nice! (Although it's being towed backwards on the box art). It's nice to see Tamiya releasing a few things too, like the Goliath etc. That being said, I did purchase two Dragon Tigers on their black Friday deals.

I started working on one of my Dragon M1A1 AIM kits this weekend. Some time ago, before any of the new Abrams kits were announced, I had loaded up on the Dragon ones, now with two AIMs, two M1A2 SEPs, and two M1A2 SEP V2s (plus the three or so AIMs I’ve already built), as I had been so afraid that they would cease production and I wanted multiple copies of the current US tank. They are all still in their boxes, save for the one AIM that I started this weekend. I can see that the molds have started to take a hit, as edges are not as smooth as older copies of the AIM kit I have built. Also, though I never planned to use the Magic Tracks or DS Tracks (I have many copies of the Bronco movable tracks for all these kits), I was chagrined to note the other day that the DS tracks in one of my SEP kits had literally started to liquify in the separate bag they were sealed in. I had wanted to use those tracks as a measure to make sure I got the correct length when doing the Bronco tracks, and the sealed bags were filled with an oily fluid, and when I opened the bags, the tracks started to crack and crumble. WOW! I have never seen this before, and while I didn’t plan to use them anyway, I am very irritated with this. I would be FORCED to use aftermarket tracks, even if I had not planned on it. I’ve heard of problems with DS tracks before, but nothing like THIS! I should complain to Dragon. The kits were always kept in temperate conditions, not exposed to any extreme environment. Who knows what would have happened if they had been on the model? I’ve noted that the Rye Field tracks are almost identical to the Bronco tracks in assembly and design, with the exception of the track end pins, which are better on the Rye kit tracks, AND they have a ‘frame’ to hold about 10 links at a time, which will make putting them together a lot easier than the makeshift tape method I’ve used for the many sets of Bronco tracks I’ve put together. Come to think of it, I need to see if that frame will work for the Bronco tracks, also. If it works, wow, would THAT make things better!!

I am truly looking forward to the new kits, and apparently no longer have to worry about Abrams tanks in 1/35 going out of production!

I'll throw Thunder Model and IBG (excellent new Scammell models from each), Miniart (T-54/55 series with interior) Panda (early 105mm Abrams) in there as well. It's a great time to be an armor modeler, that's for sure! Not a great time to be my wallet, though...

I’ll go along with that, sir! Not just models and supporting stuff that’s hurting my wallet, but the models aren’t helping, WITHOUT A DOUBT!! LOL

Am I mistaken in thinking that Tamiya had gotten really good reviews for their T-55 model? Of course, new, competing models, even against well thought of kits, may have aspects that are better, not to mention that the Tamiya had no interior.

Yes, at the time of its release (2002), the Tamiya T-55 was a great kit and got excellent reviews. It is still a good kit, but has been eclipsed by the newer ones by Takom and Mini Art.

Interiors or no interiors is a matter of taste (and money & time)

One of the main criticisms of the Tamiya T-55 was that some of the markings were "impossible" since they required a different engine deck (depends on where the tank was built).
The rest was minor detailing, maybe compromises to keep the kit easy to build. I think the engine deck issue concerned a few of Miniarts marking alternatives as well (could be wrong though ...)
/ Robin

Hi Everybody;

IMHO I think it's just A Lil-bit unfair when you try to compare kit's these day's ! For Exp;) kit's that were made even back, let's say; In 2000 are not close in level of Details, Number of part's, or Complexity of Assembly !!! With the Coming of Age of the Computer, and CAD Design and the Influx of new Company's like Takom, Tiger Design, Meng, and the way in which they are willing to add to the Complexity of there product's are Mind Boggeling ! For the Older Company's it's Nearly Impossible to keep up; Do to the Cost of Operating at this Level; Materials, Labor, Design, Marketing, are just to much !!!! The Tamiya T-55 was given as the example; O.K. let's look at It !
There were Gripes of it Not Being Accurate for the Vehicle depicted in the Box; Now even back when it was released there were AM Decals that were attainable or easy to source from other product's ! To Compare the Tamiya T-55 with Miniart IMHO is Not A Fair Comparison these days.

CHEERS; MIKE.

Sometimes the opposite is true in regards to kit quality: I am sure glad I picked up Dragon's older Tigers and 251s with all the metal barrels and PE bits etc. Or their Marder II, can't remember the details but the later one they brought out had the wrong idlers and no PE I think.

I have one of the MiniArt T-54's coming in the mail and also a few Tamiya T-55's in the stash. You can not beat the fit and simple build of any Tamiya kit. As for new kits, I just got two DioPark field modified trucks in and they are awesome! Photo etch, extra parts such as rocket rounds and cases. Decals are great also.

Hi;

O.K.;--Now were talking about A Hole Different Ball Game;
After Market; Should NOT BE IN Consideration when comparing One kit Against Another !! Again let's say back in 2000 there was not that much of an Influx on A kit that we have on today's kit. There were AM product's but not like we have today; PE, Metal Barrels, Decals, Resin Upgrades are all being Demanded in kit's by Consumers.
Now some kit maker's are including AM in there kit, such as PE,& Metal Barrels, but that's Not the Norm.

CHEERS; MIKE.

I caught a TV programme about von Braun and the V2 programme showing original film of how mobile V2 units operated including the whole operation sequence from rail wagon to firing, including both trailers. IIRC, both were shown being towed from both ends - although having the steering wheels free-castoring at the back must have been problematic.