[Epapazian]

Not that Dragon is the only diecast manufacturer who screws things up. Far from it. However, looking at the pictures of Dragon's latest F6F, with those huge gaps and awful canopy fit, I thought back. Is this the worst error by this company------or just the latest in a series of blunders?Going back a way there was that long and far too obvious gap in the Zero's rear canopy as it supposedly rests on the fuselage. Then they made the incredible decision to give us the wheels-up and wheels-down option for the FW-190 ( A and D ), but only for the main gears. The tail wheel was only provided in the "down" mode. That really bummed me until I saw the Jimmy Durante propeller hub on the "FM" Wildcat. Then the Sci-fi paint scheme on the ME-262B nightfighter took us to another level. What were they thinking? Now we get a butchered Hellcat. So far, I have found solutions for all but the last of the problems cited above, but I wonder. Will Dragon ever give us a consistently good line of products? Have we seen the worst or are many more foul-ups ahead of us? Any thoughts guys?

[David Hingtgen]

Where to start?

Super Hornet: completely wrong aft fuselage---that of a legacy Hornet. AMRAMM's mounted on permanently-mounted HARM launchers---and their own HARM's won't fit on the HARM launchers! So you can't use that entire pylon. The aft fuselage was corrected (not entirely, but close) but the weapons are still an issue.

Legacy Hornet---landing gear so narrow you can't fit an AMRAAM on the fuselage corners, much less a Sparrow. Wingtips molded so you can't put a Sidewinder in the right position---and that's the ONLY weapon that ever goes there. It was molded so that only an AMRAAM fits in the "right" position--even though there is no right position for it, as AMRAAM's don't ever go there (and never will---they tried once and quickly realized it was a BAD idea and will never happen again). While you can physically get a Sidewinder attached, it's still way wrong fore/aft position-wise. It's amazing that they went to the time and effort to mold it so an AMRAAM fits (which shouldn't) and at the same time made it so the only thing that should fit, can't.

F-16C: All their F-16C's have the large intake and GE engines. Even the ones that have PW nozzles. The gear-up gear is the early version for Block 25/30, while the gear down gear doors are the Block 40+ version---but the gear itself is still early. Nose gear doors are late style. Gun vents are early style. Wingtip launchers are AIM-9 only. All this with paint schemes that are usually very late-model F-16C's. (They seem to intentionally choose paint schemes that are least appropriate for what the mold actually is) Also suffers from the same HARM launcher problem as the Super Hornet---though HARMs actually fit on those HARM launchers---it's just not very appropriate to put them on many of the ones they release. (And they usually include other weapons, which can't go on HARM launchers).

F-15E. Not an F-15E. At all. Not even close. The conformal tanks are only one of the many ways in which it is not an F-15E.

F-14A: Has nearly half of the identifying characteristics of the F-14D. And no nose probe.
F-14B: Has nozzles somewhat like an F-14B. Otherwise, it's an F-14A. Except for the F-14D parts.
F-14D: Missing the most obvious F-14D identifying feature. (On most releases). Later ones correct that, but still have the back half of the plane being mostly F-14A parts.

Yes, in summary---their F-14's are almost backwards. The D has A parts, and the A has D parts. And they just love to put permanently-mounted HARM launchers on their jets---and then make it so you can't use them.

[Cruver Collecter]

I have only been on this site for a couple of weeks now and I have made this observation from some comments I have seen so far. No matter who the company is, somebody has a gripe with the products they put out. Some like the wrong wind screen on the Gemin Aces Spitfire was a real beaut. It may all boil down to the simple fact " If you want a guarantee, buy a toaster", other than that it is buyer beware or maybe just plain dumb luck.

[Shawn 507]

1. Open cowl flaps on Corsairs and P-47
2. Lousy cockpit fit on Hellcats
3. Not doing that last P-51D Lord is my Shepard

[tank nut]

4 making shawn complain that they did not make the lord is my shepard

[Elmer]

How about no roundel on underside wing of P-51D Big Beautiful Doll (and that flap that falls off when you look at it)? Or, no striping (to correspond with black wing stripes) on gear down doors of P-51D The Millie G? Fortunately, these problems can be fixed, but shouldn't have to.

[b-huj]

Originally Posted by David Hingtgen

Where to start?

Super Hornet: completely wrong aft fuselage---that of a legacy Hornet. AMRAMM's mounted on permanently-mounted HARM launchers---and their own HARM's won't fit on the HARM launchers! So you can't use that entire pylon. The aft fuselage was corrected (not entirely, but close) but the weapons are still an issue.

Legacy Hornet---landing gear so narrow you can't fit an AMRAAM on the fuselage corners, much less a Sparrow. Wingtips molded so you can't put a Sidewinder in the right position---and that's the ONLY weapon that ever goes there. It was molded so that only an AMRAAM fits in the "right" position--even though there is no right position for it, as AMRAAM's don't ever go there (and never will---they tried once and quickly realized it was a BAD idea and will never happen again). While you can physically get a Sidewinder attached, it's still way wrong fore/aft position-wise. It's amazing that they went to the time and effort to mold it so an AMRAAM fits (which shouldn't) and at the same time made it so the only thing that should fit, can't.

F-16C: All their F-16C's have the large intake and GE engines. Even the ones that have PW nozzles. The gear-up gear is the early version for Block 25/30, while the gear down gear doors are the Block 40+ version---but the gear itself is still early. Nose gear doors are late style. Gun vents are early style. Wingtip launchers are AIM-9 only. All this with paint schemes that are usually very late-model F-16C's. (They seem to intentionally choose paint schemes that are least appropriate for what the mold actually is) Also suffers from the same HARM launcher problem as the Super Hornet---though HARMs actually fit on those HARM launchers---it's just not very appropriate to put them on many of the ones they release. (And they usually include other weapons, which can't go on HARM launchers).

F-15E. Not an F-15E. At all. Not even close. The conformal tanks are only one of the many ways in which it is not an F-15E.

F-14A: Has nearly half of the identifying characteristics of the F-14D. And no nose probe.
F-14B: Has nozzles somewhat like an F-14B. Otherwise, it's an F-14A. Except for the F-14D parts.
F-14D: Missing the most obvious F-14D identifying feature. (On most releases). Later ones correct that, but still have the back half of the plane being mostly F-14A parts.

Yes, in summary---their F-14's are almost backwards. The D has A parts, and the A has D parts. And they just love to put permanently-mounted HARM launchers on their jets---and then make it so you can't use them.

I think this post should become a "sticky". It is so concise yet definitely authoritative that no more questions on the issue of "Does Dragon make the best ..." should ever be asked again.
If you please, David, make a similar list of the errors made by other manufacturers (if you haven't done so yet)? Let's start with Witty!

[flyXwire]

Originally Posted by Shawn 507

3. Not doing that last P-51D Lord is my Shepard

Ain't that the truth! It's too bad Dragon early-retired a perfect example of a fine mold that could've been exploited for it's potential to do more schemes of Mustangs that served in the ETO, MTO and PTO arena. I would, no doubt, still be buying these birds if that were to happen!

[Shawn 507]

Originally Posted by flyXwire

Ain't that the truth! It's too bad Dragon early-retired a perfect example of a fine mold that could've been exploited for it's potential to do more schemes of Mustangs that served in the ETO, MTO and PTO arena. I would, no doubt, still be buying these birds if that were to happen!

To tell the truth, I'm actually more interested in the Gemini P-51Bs. But I do wish they had made a few more.

[smartd]

Originally Posted by David Hingtgen

Where to start?

Super Hornet: completely wrong aft fuselage---that of a legacy Hornet. AMRAMM's mounted on permanently-mounted HARM launchers---and their own HARM's won't fit on the HARM launchers! So you can't use that entire pylon. The aft fuselage was corrected (not entirely, but close) but the weapons are still an issue.

Legacy Hornet---landing gear so narrow you can't fit an AMRAAM on the fuselage corners, much less a Sparrow. Wingtips molded so you can't put a Sidewinder in the right position---and that's the ONLY weapon that ever goes there. It was molded so that only an AMRAAM fits in the "right" position--even though there is no right position for it, as AMRAAM's don't ever go there (and never will---they tried once and quickly realized it was a BAD idea and will never happen again). While you can physically get a Sidewinder attached, it's still way wrong fore/aft position-wise. It's amazing that they went to the time and effort to mold it so an AMRAAM fits (which shouldn't) and at the same time made it so the only thing that should fit, can't.

F-16C: All their F-16C's have the large intake and GE engines. Even the ones that have PW nozzles. The gear-up gear is the early version for Block 25/30, while the gear down gear doors are the Block 40+ version---but the gear itself is still early. Nose gear doors are late style. Gun vents are early style. Wingtip launchers are AIM-9 only. All this with paint schemes that are usually very late-model F-16C's. (They seem to intentionally choose paint schemes that are least appropriate for what the mold actually is) Also suffers from the same HARM launcher problem as the Super Hornet---though HARMs actually fit on those HARM launchers---it's just not very appropriate to put them on many of the ones they release. (And they usually include other weapons, which can't go on HARM launchers).

F-15E. Not an F-15E. At all. Not even close. The conformal tanks are only one of the many ways in which it is not an F-15E.

F-14A: Has nearly half of the identifying characteristics of the F-14D. And no nose probe.
F-14B: Has nozzles somewhat like an F-14B. Otherwise, it's an F-14A. Except for the F-14D parts.
F-14D: Missing the most obvious F-14D identifying feature. (On most releases). Later ones correct that, but still have the back half of the plane being mostly F-14A parts.

Yes, in summary---their F-14's are almost backwards. The D has A parts, and the A has D parts. And they just love to put permanently-mounted HARM launchers on their jets---and then make it so you can't use them.

Tell us how you really feel David.