You know, I go back and forth on this one sometimes it feels with each new model I get branded by one or the other.
I've got a couple original CDC releases (Red/tan boxes) that are all tampo printing and are well made with no glaring QA issues. But I've also seen the same models, and had other molds from the same timeframe (same red/tan boxes) with all sticker decals (still well made though).
Then for FM branded stuff it seems that anything made during the last two years has tampo graphics, and the quality seems to have improved a bit on the QA front -- I'm talking better paint application no more rough edges to the metal, etc.
For a 2-3 year period after CDC was acquired by TFM it seems that model quality was all over the map -- I'd get one bird that was perfect (A-10 Flying Tigers for example, all tampo and not a blemish on it) then I'd get a Mig-29 that looked like a couple of monkeys made it, and it had stickers.
When I asked a large FM retailer about this (early 2000's) they said that FM was trying out many different manufacturing companies and that quality was all over the place as a result. I suspect, that many of the models for this time were dumped and may still be being dumped as many of the obscenely good deals I pick up on ebay seem to have that "Friday Afternoon" quality to them. (Most recently a Mossie and P-38 I picked up for peanuts on the 'bay.)
So I guess this is a long winded way of saying I'm really not sure if there is a sig quality difference -- and I've been collecting the line since it debuted. It seems to me that no matter what timeframe and brand an Armour model comes from, you are still "paying your money and taking your chances" to some degree. I really wish the date of manufacture was stamped on the model or box somewhere (if it is, I can't find it -- I believe this info may be hidden in the bar code/s?) That said, I believe CDC models to be better made, in terms of QA issues, but the CDC stamp does not mean 100% tampo graphics, necessarily. So I'd tend to opt for the CDC branded model if given the choice -- that said...
I'd prefer to look 'em over in a brick and mortar shop because of this, but retail prices are simply obscene (does anyone really pay $175 for a B-17 or $120 for an A-10?) -- so I take my chances with ebay and other online retailers that seem to be getting away with some major price slashing on certain models (there are a few ebay vendors selling armour stuff for just crazy deals right now). Kind of ads an extra element of suspense to it all to as I await the package and then open it up, almost afraid to look......
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