Hello!
I'd like to get an 1:35 KV-1... Tamiya or Trumpeter?
And do they feature RUBBER TRACKS (don't hate me...)?
Thanks!

Giacomo

Trumpeter, no question

it's trumpeter all the way. they are far superior to the acient tamiya kit.
check the review-section here at armorama. there have to be reviews for nearly every variant released by trumpeter.

I have to agree wholeheartedl with Trumpeter and it comes with both single piece "rubber-band" tracks and semi-individual plastic....some sectional some loose link.

Trumpeter all the way. It comes with both rubberbands and link & length track

Trumpeter, for all the above reasons. For the quality it's also resonably priced.

The Trumpeter kits are superb, and much more accurate and more detailed than the very elderly Tamiya kits. And the Trumpeter kits include a choice of really nice link-and-length tracks (with the track droop on the top run already molded in!), or very flexible and crisply detailed vinyl tracks.

Trumpeter all the way,

Quick Question: I have seen a lot of disapproval of the Tamiya kits and was wondering just how old their main line kits are and if they are going to come out with any re-releases of their old kits?

The KV series and T-34 series are at least 30 years old if not older. Sometimes, like the T-34/76 Chtz or Universal Carrier, they toss a new sprue in with some conversion parts and try to pass it off as a new tool kit.

Some of the old kits were totally redone (everything is new) in the 1990s like the Tiger, Panther, PzKpfw IV and King Tiger.

Trumpeter KV kits are the way to go. You cant go wrong. They have both vinyl band tracks, and link-and-length tracks (with a natural sag built in). Great price, and more versions of the KV-1 (and KV-2) are offered.

Tamiya KV kits are good kits to practice airbrush and other techniques out on, then take them to to back yard and make them targets

Cheers !!

Alpen

I recommend the Trumpeteer ones all the way.I have built them all,each taking about 1 week,3 hours per day.If you go with the vinyl track,you can subtract one whole session.Everything fits,cleanup is minor.
Buy one
(++) (++) (++) (++)

Thanks Sabot,
Wow didnt know the Russian tank kits I have recently been building from Tamiya were that old, no wonder there $15 each. They really should re-produce these kits in their own "Premium Series" like DML.

I loved the Tamiya kits when they came out. They built easily and looked fairly good. However, that was 30 years ago. The hobby has moved on, but the Tamiya kits haven't. Even though Tamiya has tried to dress them up with accessories (metal tracks and barrels in some releases), they are still a "pig in a wig" (++) by today's standards.

Go with the Trumpeter kits. They are excellent: build up very nicely out of the box, look great, and are priced very reasonably.

Jim

Ok I will add my 5cents.Yeah go for the Trumpeter kit,they have a few versions of the KV1 and they are an excellent build,I finished an early version with the early L-11 76mm main gun which was an option in the kit.
I have the Trump kit sitting next to the Tamiya on display while both look like KVs you can see the detail differences between them and the Trumpeter is far Superior.

Have fun

Regards

Mark

A few months ago, we published a Feature, linking together all the Reviews and Features which have been published on the site for the KV. It includes basic kits, upgrade/conversion sets and reference material. It can be seen: KV RESOURCE FEATURE (LINK)

Regarding the KVs in 1/35th scale, the ONLY decent (well, excellent actually) kits are those by Trumpeter. The Tamiya kits are unmitigated garbage which should be consigned to the dustbin...Jim

Thanks everyone (also for the link)!
I don't think I will find Trumpeter kits in my local store, because I've never seen them so far.
I'd go for some Tamiya then. It seems to me you disliked the Japanese brand's T-34... I found a link where they show the content of the box, and it seems that all the versions feature a metal gun barrel and updates... But are they that bad?
I noticed Tamiya is using old parts: For example, the Jagdpanther hull has "Tamiya 1984" written on it!
Here are two links:
http://www.geocities.jp/dom_sugi/puramo/TAMIYA-MM-141-150.htm
http://www.geocities.jp/dom_sugi/puramo/TAMIYA-MM-131-140.htm
(scroll down til you see the T-34).
What would you do?

In the case of T34s, the only game in town, is DML. Some of the Tamiya T34s are fairly modern, but as far as accuracy (and choice) is concerned, only DML have good, modern kits.

If you can't find the KVs locally, take a look at some of (HK) advertisers on the right-hand side of the screen, you may be amazed at the prices you can pick them up for..Jim

Jim is right that you can get them reasonably cheap from some of the HK based sellers.

However, if you are not comfortable with import from outside the eec, paying duty and vat etc.., you can also find the kits from various dealers inside the eec where the parcel will be delivered directly to your doorstep without any customs formalities whatsovever.

Plasticmodelbouw

Think about the Tamiya... then buy the Trumpeter...

For all the reasons above Trumpeter is a better kit AND I'll bet it's cheaper too...

I agree with all the other comments the Tamiya kits are very dated and even if you spent the considerable sum of money to make them decent kits they suffer from inaccuracies from having been motorized kits originally. I am finishing a Trump KV1 and for the price the kits are a steal. Fun to build, come with both types of tracks (and the plastic tracks are not hard to assemble at all), nice towing cable, lens for the lights, etc. Don't pass these up.

I'll just add my 2 cents to support everyone else. Trumpeter is the way to go and the kits only cost about $20.00 at my LHS.

I have built both rececently. I am in the minority, but I favor the Tamiya. The quality of the plastic is good, there are no part fitting problems, and it is an easy build. Absolutely no frustration. Detail can later be added on to the model based on the level of skill of the builder.

Same considerations for all those tanks based on the T-34 and KV-1 (such as SU-85, SU-100, ISU-152 and KV-2), right?

Not trying to be (deliberately) nasty here, but the biggest frustration is the lack of accuracy. Let's be honest , the Tamiya KVs and T34s offer NOTHING. There is nothing easier than the construction of the DML T34s or the Trump KVs...As for 'plastic' give me the Trump plastic any day of the week...Jim

Done!
My brother went to the hobby store and got a Tamiya T-34/85. No Trumpeter tanks available (only aircrafts), at least for this summer!
I got worried about the Tamiya KV-1 when I've seen this
(last photo, and compliments to the author, Paul/FingersEddie!)
https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/76405&page=2