Hi all,
I've found in a little shop some kits from Esci and AMT of the BMP1 and the T74.
When looking at the box pics, it seems the BMP is very close to Dragon one. The T74 pics show a wrong shaped commander cupola and low res detailing.
Has anybody out there built those kits and what are they worth ?
TIA
olivier

The BMP-1 is not to bad of a kit!with some work can be built in to a respectable model.The t-74 on the other hand is a dog!!!!!!stay away from it it is underscale the turret is way off in scale and the detail is soft.....thanks larry (:-)

I agree with Larry. The BMP-1 was as good and better in some places than the DML BMP-1. The T-74, on the other hand, is good to give a youngster who wants to build a tank.

Good to hear the BMP ! is a fair model I have that one I bought in a box lot of models. I figured it was a cheapo but I still have it laying in the build pile.

Dave

I guess we never answered Oliver's questions. Yes, I have built both the AMT (Esci) T-74 and BMP-1. The T-74 was their T-72 kit with side skirts and smoke grenade launchers. I would rate the BMP at about $10 USD (being generous here) and the T-74 at no more than $5.

The Esci BMP-1 looks like the DML kit because legend has it that the same tool maker in Korea cut both the DML and Esci molds.

I believe the Esci kit is superior. I think the detail is nicer overall and the link and length track is easier to deal with than the early DML individual tracks.

Another difference between the BMP kits is that DML manufactured the hatches to open and close. This resulted in oversized hinges and the need to fill the area around the mount points in the upper hull. The benefit to this is that an interior or crewmen can be posed in the hatches.

Esci molded the hatches closed and gives a cleaner build.

Concidering all the flak ECSI's T-74 kit is recieving I'm glad I only payed $8 for mine.

Anyone want to buy a T-74 kit????

However this brings me to another question. Does anyone else besides ESCI make a T-74???

AFAIK, there is no such beast as a T74.

In ESCI's (and Lindberg's defence for their T80), when these kits hit the stores, there was still very little known about the WARPACT armor. If some NATO wag or Tom Clancy called them T-whatevers, then that's what the model companies called them when they popped them from whatever fuzzy photos they used to tool their kits.

And mercifully no, do not give the "T74" to a kid; the awful fit of the side skirts to upper hull will certainly turn one to the dark side of winged-things. BTDT.

BTW, have both ESCI unbuilt BMP1 and 2 available for trade!

Thank you all for your answers and comments.
I guess I might spend some bucks on the BMP family but stay away from the T74.

Have a merry Christmas all of you with a full list of kits in (:-) rucksack.

cheers
olivier

Steve's right, there is no T-74. I think the tank was an attempt at what we now know as a T-72M as they were seen in service in the DDR.

FWIW before the Wall came down, these kits were long awaited. Esci and Lindberg just had bad timing to release the kits right before DML got to see the real things.

If you can get the Esci "t74" cheap enough, they're worth buying for the tracks. You can use them to cheaply upgrade T55 kits.