So, I've got a post going about an airbrush I'd like to buy, but now I need something to paint. So in your opinions, what is the nicest (detail-wise) 1/35 kit to build right now. I prefer WWII German armor, but I'll build anything if its good enough.

I'm considering the Academy Tiger, with the full interior - anyone build this yet?

Thanks,

Hey there,
The "ultimate" kit just can't be named because, it usually gets beat out by some other kit the day that we proclaim one the best.

However, here's a few of my favorites-

German
Tamiya Marder III M
Tamiya Panzerjaeger 38(t)
Tamiya Wespe
Tamiya Tiger I (ALL of the newer ones)
Tamiya King Tiger
Tamiya Panzer IV H & J

DML Panther G, D, A (Early and Late)
DML Ferdinand
DML 250 halftrack series


Tristar Panzer IA

Oh yeah if you want to build allied subjects check out -
Tamiya Cromwell
Tamiya M8 Greyhound
DML SU-100 or 85M
DML T-34/85
Finemolds - any kit

Later,
Tim

Well, the new Dragon Stuff such as the Panthers A and D are good.
Any of the new Tamiya stuff is nice, ie/ the Marder M.

My main recommendation is the Tristar Panzer 1 A with Aber upgrade.
Without the Aber, the Tristar kit comes with excellently moulded detail, Cartograph decals, Modelkasten tracks (workable) and PE exhaust shrouds. If you do get this excellent kit, I recommend the ABER upgrade.

Andrew

I've got a pair of the new Tamiya PzKfw III chassisied vehicles, both the Pzkfw III Ausf. J and the StuG III Ausf. G. I am very impressed with the quality of these two German armor kits. A couple other WW2 kits I own that I am really impressed with (but are not German) are:
AFV Club M-10
Academy M-18
Tamiya Centaur
Tamiya Pershing
DML Firefly Vc
DML Ferdinand (OK, so it is German)
DML M4A1 75mm Early

Geez, talk about a subjective post!
I lean towards the DML/Dragon kit. Nice detail, some PE, middle of the price range. And you get lots of extras for your parts box. Ir you want to build any of the Panzer/Stug III models, DML/Dragon is it. Plus the new Panthers look really nice.
Just MHO

I will recommend:

Tamiya Pz IV H
DML Nashorn
Tamiya Marder III M
Academy Tiger with interior
DML Panther A, D
DML Nashorn
Tristar Pz I Ausf A
Tamiya Jagdpanther is also nice
DML Nashorn
DML Nashorn
DML Naaaarrrrrsssshhhhhoooorrrrrnnnnnn!!!!!!!!

No matter who you ask, the answer will not be the same, because we all have our favorites.
The way I feel is that all the kits out there need some kind of help, wire, PE, resin, minor or major scratch building, the list goes on, BUT and I am not stepping on anyones toes or hurting there feelings, this is how I myself work.
I have seen armor kits on this page that I feel was not the greatest, then some builds it and it looks GREAT (jaw hits the floor) but then I have seen armor kits that I have built many times and some else builds it and it is well........ I shake my head. Now this is me and only me.
How ever you want pick the kit out or if you want to build it straight out of the box or give it a total make-over, the choice is yours, main thing is to have fun and enjoy the work being done. :-)

My Fav so far has to be the Tamiya King Tiger, but I have an Academy 1/35 Full interior Tiger that I haven't built yet, and it is supposedly voted as the "top" tiger model so far.

Tamiya 2.5 ton GMC truck.....

Nate
Wisc. USA

i like the Italeri softskins:
Horch 15
Mercedes-Benz L3000S
Opel'Blitz' Lkw3.6-36S3t

these 3 are excellent examples

Chris One Large Hog

Nothing impresses me like a well built Dragon Wagon or Famo. Of course, both of my kits are still in the box waiting for the right moment.

PAK - I am completing the Italeri Horch 15. It's a nice kit except for those d___ rubber wheels. Sorry but I have not "dipped" in to the after market yet.

My favorite would be the
......ahhh
.......hold on
....it's right on the tip of my tongue
......oh yeah! now I remember
....The Sherman.
I especially liked DML's M4A1....bring it back please!!!!! But seeing as that won't happen for a while my second choice would be Academy's M12 closely followed by Tamiya's M4.
Tamiya's Dragon Wagon is also a great kit....especially if you use it as a display stand for a Sherman.

Not sure if you would classify it armor but having just finished one I would say Tamiya Jeep kit (the new one obviously). Quick build, no fit problems and it looks like what it is suppose to without aftermarket stuff.
Eric

The best armor model ever made must be any one of the 72 unbuilt kits in my closet. Either that or I've wasted a lot of money!

Great German subject models:
Recent DML Panther kits
Tamiya Marder III or III M
Tristar panzer 1A
MOnogram 1/32 Panzersahwagen (no, REALLY, it's a gem!)

My favorites are:
Tamiya: King Tiger "Ardennes Front"
Famo (not built yet.......looks great in the box)
Steyr 1500 (both the command car and personnel carrier)
Academy: Early Tiger
Italeri: SturmTiger and just about any other armor kit they make. (they may not be the most accurate..but you get the most most bang......... get it........ for your buck).
AFV Club: All the new German stuff from them is excellent. I just finished building the Sd.Kfz. 11 in Afrika Corps colors. It was a real joy to build.Those are my choices. Jeff

It does`nt matter what you build, if you like it, you`ll get pleasure out of you`re new airbrush.
Personally I prefer the ``softies`` too.I suppose if I built car models I`ld lean toword the `40s Chevy and Ford trucks.....somthing about those curvatious hoods and fenders,and those great big headlights sticking out in front,(I digress ?).But.....Ohhh,add a set of comlplex track assemblies and pile on that stowage.....now thats modelling.

pB

Having built two FAMO`s, IMHO this is the 'perfect kit'. Well, close to perfect. A true joy to build. No problems at all.
Good luck and enjoy whatever you build.

I think the Tamiya StuG III G is a geat kit. The kit builds without any problems and it is a great little kit to drybrush and weather. You really can't go wrong with any of the new Tamiya stuff.

Patrick

By what criteria do you mean best (detail-wise)?
The kit with the most avaialble aftermarket details?
The kit that is the most detailed out of the box?
The kit that has the most accurate details?
The kit with the most accurate dimensions/least mistakes..?

(sorry, just finished a ed grad school course on evaluation and assessment and am stuck in that mode of thinking..)

For me, I like the Tamiya Panther G's. They are accurate out of the box within reasonable limits, they can be detailed to the nth degree if you so choose. They are well documented so they can be accurately modeled. The DML kits have some more finer details missing from the Tamiya kits and have link to link tracks, but the suspension arms are molded on so you cannot pose the roadwheel arms.

Tamiya's KingTigers ( the new releases, not the ancient one) are pretty nice as well.

I am not an open topped SPG fan, but I hear really good things about the new Tamiya Marders.

Like most other things it's a matter of personal preferernce, you pays you money and you takes you chances..

Mike

Hi all,
I really enjoy the Tamiya Ford amphibian jeep...easy build looks great...perfect beside a knocked out Panther....david + goliath effect
Cheers,
Dave

For me the Tiger I. I think the Tamiya Tiger is the best, it has no fit problems and when finished it looks great (you can see one of my Tigers with a white wash in the Gallery).
I also like the Italeri Tiger I Early Version with this one you can build a nice DAK Tiger I.

But the one that I like more is the SHERMAN. You will find a lot of posibilities to make diferent versions.

Got to be the new Tamiya T-55. Great kit OOB.

Whoops! You said WWII. OK then, the Tamiya T-55!

No, really, I think the new Tamiya Marders are very good OOB if you are into assult guns and things with an interior.

But the new DML Elephant or Ferdinand is also an awesome kit OOB, and not that difficult because of the rather simple design of the original vehicles. Plus, you can do some nice and fairly straight-forward camo schemes. They will build-up into an impressive piece.

And, you will have the indy link tracks to tackle. They aren't that difficult and look very nice after all the hard work.

Or, you can get that T-55!

Steve