Ok I've built Tamiya ,Dragon,Revell,Acamedy ad Iterli(sp) and I've come to the conclusion(sp) that all I want to build is Tamiya kits, because of the quality!! Dont get me wrong Dragon and Acamedy have great kits but Iterli(sp) is the worst!! Every time I buy one of those kits, the plastic is thin, parts are really warped or they break really easily! Maybe because I'm still in the novice stage where i like everything to fit really nicely. I would like your thoughts on the subject so I dont think it's just me. Thanks Scott

If you've got the money, and the subject you model are all present in the big T's range, and you're happy like this go that way, the hobby should be fun!!! I'm a snob in another way: I only model Italian Cavalry subjects so most of the kits are avg to poor resin ones. Often, if I find domething in plastic, it has to be heavily modified. On top of that I'm not afraid of small parts breaking or to find them bent. If it happens I just scratchbuild them. For me this is fun too!!!
Ciao

Not really, it is your money, spend it as you see fit. That being said, not all Tamiya kits are the high quality models you think they are (purchase their T-62, M-36, SdKfz 251/1, original Tiger I, Hunting Tiger, etc.). Some of their older kits are real stinkers.

Conversely, some of Italeri's older kits are superb like the M47 Patton. Italeri did several kits that were superior to the original identical kit made by Tamiya. For example:
Leopard 1A4 kit #224 was better than Tamiya's kit #35112.
Jeep w/trailer #314 was better than Tamiya's kit #35015.
Commando Jeep #320 was better than Tamiya's SAS Jeep #35033.
Schwimmwagen #313 was better than Tamiya's #35003.
Kubelwagen #312 was better than Tamiya's #35006.
PzKpfw IV Ausf. H #236 was better than Tamiya's #35054.

I will admit that other than the Leopard 1A4, Tamiya has retooled the above kits to all-new versions within the last 10 years. Those are superior to the old Italeri kits.

One area that Tamiya still does poorly in is the T-34. The DML or Italeri/Zvezda T-34 series is superior to any of Tamiya's versions and are normally much cheaper. Now if you want to buy a Leopard 2 or Tiger 1, Tamiya is the one you want.

BTW, several years ago, before Tamiya released their two latest HMMWVs, if you bought the old Tamiya HMMWV with M242 Bushmaster (#35143), inside you would have found the Italeri HMMWV.

Like Rob and Fabio have mentioned, you should build what you like. With that said, I think you are and or will limit yourself to what's available only through Tamiya. I do agree that some of Tamiya's kits are so good you could just throw a tube of glue in the box, shake it up a bit, open, and the model is complete. But, where's the challenge in that?! The other companies that you mentioned have a wide selection of kits to choose from that are not made by Tamiya that you will miss out on. And they are alot better than you give credit to.
If every kit you build is easier than the last, I would fear that this would become mundane.

Gotta agree with Rob 100% on this one.

Not all Tamiya kits are gems. Tell you what, Blackwolf: I've got a "beautiful" Tamiya Pz. III M/N that I will gladly trade you one-for-one for the Dragon Pz III M/N.

Like Rob says, "... it is your money. Spend it as you see fit." Me, I try to shop around and get the best model for my money.

Buying kits based on your judgment of their relative quality doesn't make you a snob, it makes you a choosy buyer, which isn't bad. Still, it's good to keep an open mind to all manufacturers' kits because of the diversity of subjects available and perhaps take what you view as a chance on a kit from a "questionable" manufacturer. You could be pleasantly surprised.

Enjoy what ever you build,
Shake and bake are a good starting place, but for me the challenge is taking a sow's ear, and making it into a silk purse.
Taking that so called "Unbuildable kit, and making it, and sometimes bringing home the bacon.
and having fun, and relaxing while doing it.

All I got are Italeri, something like 25 of them, and most of them I thought was pretty good, now a few things I can't understand, is like this WWII duce and a half of theirs, now they have a lot of detail under the frame, even more then I'd think they would, but then they get up to the engine, and they don't even give you one, just an oil pan molded to the front fenders, to do all that, then miss the engine all together. Engines must be their weak point.

Those kits are molds Italeri acquired from 1960s era Peerless Max. Among those ancient kits they inherited were the WC Dodges, White Scout Car, CWT trucks, 105mm and 155mm howitzers. At least they keep them in the market so you don't have to pay collectors prices for them.

Hi. Hard to disagree with you here as I've never really bought a bad Tamiya kit, even the older ones seem to go together pretty well, they just need a tad of up-dating here and there.

But don't close your mind to the other companies, as there are some really fine kits out there by all the major makers now. Thinking here of AFV Club and Tasca at the moment , not to mention the latest round of kits just coming out from Dragon and Trumpeter, etc. And they are ALL getting better everyday. They have to if they want to sucessfully compete for the modeler's dollar. And this is all to our eventual benefit, if we can afford them that is. Ha, ha!

Take care, Sgirty

I think my biggest thing is, is that I've always built the big"T". I tried to build Italeri's Commando Hummvee when I first got back into the hobby and it was a big (fill in the blank). Well I guess I should take my blinders off and check out whats any my hobby shop this weekend. I'm up for any ideas wait ,how about I'm up for any new challenges. Scott

That's the spirit, Scott.

If you're not quite sure exactly what you're looking for, it might pay to check out reviews online. My favorite reviews are at the Perth Military Modeling Society. They are pretty fair, give the plusses and minuses of kits, plus there are pics of the sprues and decals, so you can see what you are getting in the box. Here's a link: http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/

This site also has quite a few reviews, as does Hyperscale, Track Links and Missing Lynx. I think there are links to all of these sites off Armorama's home page.

Happy hunting!

Snobbery?
I don't think so....you should model whatever you are happy with.

But for me, I don't buy a kit because its made by this manufacturer or that company. I buy because I want "the" aircraft, no matter who makes it...even if it might be an assembly list of problems.

Cheers
Peter
:-)

I guess that I'm a snob also, I only build armor. And I prefer to use either Academy, Dragon or Tamiya products. Everybody has their preferences, as long as you can afford to accomodate your preferences without taking food out of the kids mouths or shoes off of their feet then you have every right in the world to be a "snob".

I don't think any of us are snob's.We buy what catches our eyebut at the same time we don't want to piss(oops can i say that)our money away either.

I like Tamyia for a easy build and Academy for lots of extra goodies but I would love for Italieri to re release their german 8 rad armoured cars,i built them in the 80's they were goodkits and unusual subjects. :-)

Like Rob and Fabio have mentioned, you should build what you like.
But for me, I don't buy a kit because it has made by this or that company. I buy because I want the model I am interested in, no matter who makes it.
Open mind is ever better Trumpeter is manufacturing the Chally II no one else or better Accurate Armor does it also maybe a more accurate one but I do not waste my money if I can make some adjustments on the kit and this also make fun to me
Lagumiles

at the end of the day its totally up to you.

i wouldnt say your a snob, you just like easy to build kits. so tamiya kits appeal to you.

i on the other hand dont like tamiya, sure most of thier kits are good but IMHO the subject choice is crap, and they spend too much time producing crap ready built models and re-issues for my likeing.

my favorite companies at the moment are AFV club, Academy and trumpeter. as they are frequently knocking out good quality kits of different subjects.

as far as tamiya seem to be concerned, if it aint german, it aint worth it, because they only cater for the far eastern market.

cheers

joe

I have to go with the crowd, sounds more like discriminating and choosy consumer.

I think that 'snob' would be more like if you thought less of others for their skill or choice of subject matter, amount of added detail.. "Ewww...You bought the Tamiya Panther A, and didn't add barrel, etch, yadda ?!?!????"
That's a snob!


I don't think it has much to do with money either, I've met some wealthy people who were very acceping of others and their views and perspectives and some very norrow (read as closed) minded people with very little money.

My US$0.02
Mike

I' ve built Tamiya, Academy and Italeri kits and i agree that Tamiya's kits are always great quality ( i like them most). In Italeri i like that they give additional equipment like bags so you don't have to buy an extra kit to make realistic dio. I don't like academy because i don't trust them. They make mistake even on boxes. f.e. i have panzerkampwagen not panzer kampfwagen. So are we snobs if we just like qulity?

I build more Italeri, AFV Club and Academy. Mostly because I buy by subject rather than manufacturer, and all Tamiya have made lately is German. All the others have a wider choice, and don't need me to mortgage the house to buy ( Dragon are even worse for price, and I need valium after trying indi-link tracks!)