[tank nut]

I am getting in some dragon warbirds and I see that it looks like you have to put them together, if so how much of a pain is this going to be lol. Why can't they be like corgi or gemini and be ready to display?

[PappyB]

Dragon models definitely come with a sweat factor, however to many (including myself) that is part of their charm. I don't have the time, patience, or skill to assemble a plastic model to the same level... so, attaching a few fiddly bits to a dragon model give me a bit of a sense of accomplishment

Anyone can take a corgi, witty, or gem out of the box and have it looking fine in no time, and that "new model joy" is over pretty quickly...

Some dragons are far worse than others, and the level of difficulty can even vary dramatically with the same mold! For example, i recently got a Dragon Sundowners Tomcat in a trade, and it went together with no trouble, no glue, and even stands on its feet just fine, which is a real rarity for this model -- one member even smashed his dragon tomcat in frustration (I think it was a sundowner, too)...

Some of the gear fits fine on my Dragon mustangs, some doesn't... same with the 190s... You never quite know what you're going to find.

But I really do believe the line is worth the effort -- I think most of my dragons look better displayed than most comparable offerings from other makers. Take the Corgi P-51D versus Dragon P-51D, or P-47 vs P-47 and it's hard to argue this point IMHO.

When I tend to curse Dragon is when it's time to pack up some of them for storage -- then I miss the simplicity of Corgi :-)

[tank nut]

Hi pappy I was just on your site cool stuff, at least I use to model some time back so if i have to use glue I think that I can do it LOL

[hworth18]

Originally Posted by tank nut

Hi pappy I was just on your site cool stuff, at least I use to model some time back so if i have to use glue I think that I can do it LOL

Dragons aren't that hard to assemble, but some of the "fiddly bits" can be hard to keep ahold of and on the Fw-190s, getting the landing gear aligned correctly can be a pain, but other than that, it isn't any tougher than assembling a Gemini or Corgi.. One thing I suggest though is using elmers glue which is water based/ dries clear and isn't permanent..

[STARMAN 352ND]

For me it's not that bad to assemble the "fiddly bits".I like to put things together and i enjoy doing it..As long as it it fits right.
I also use elmers glue as well...I know some people have used super glue but that's not a good thing to do if you want to change your landing gears later on down the road.
That story Pappy said about the Dragon Sundowner F-14 ...I have "Miss Molly" Sundowner as well and it's the best Dragon F-14 i have seen to date everything fits nice and tight ..no problems.
JP

[flyXwire]

Originally Posted by PappyB

Some dragons are far worse than others, and the level of difficulty can even vary dramatically with the same mold! For example, i recently got a Dragon Sundowners Tomcat in a trade, and it went together with no trouble, no glue, and even stands on its feet just fine, which is a real rarity for this model -- one member even smashed his dragon tomcat in frustration (I think it was a sundowner, too)...

I personally picked that one up in the dealers showroom just for you, PappyB....after giving it an out-the-box QA inspection drill!

[Epapazian]

I don't mind Dragon's fiddly bits so much and can usually make them fit with some work. I do have two beefs with Dragon on this score, in both cases regarding German planes. The antennae for Dragon's BF-109Es are especially tricky to install and gluing, even with white glue, can be messy. Corgi's BF-109Es are far superior in this respect. My biggest beef, however, is reserved for Dragon's FW-190 series. Why give us two options for the main wheels ( up or down modes ), but only one for the tail wheel?I like to display my planes both ways. To do a wheels-up display with Dragon's FW-190s, I have to fabricate a semi-retractable tail wheel , install it and paint it. I don't care if an occasional FW-190 flew suicide missions with its tail wheel down late in the war, as I have seen depicted in some art work. This is a poor excuse for Dragon's rather obvious production shortcut.

[SKUNKY]

Originally Posted by Epapazian

The antennae for Dragon's BF-109Es are especially tricky to install and gluing, even with white glue, can be messy.

Epapazian, this is where thick formula cyanoacrylate really shines. One drop does the trick...... CA is the Draggin' collector's best friend....

[Epapazian]

Originally Posted by SKUNKY

[/indent]Epapazian, this is where thick formula cyanoacrylate really shines. One drop does the trick...... CA is the Draggin' collector's best friend....

As I recall, this is a more technical name for Superglue, Krazy Glue, etc, which I frequently use on my models. Trouble is that when I apply even small amounts of this stuff on or very near a canopy, I risk misting, which is a real pain. The negative effects can be fixed to some extent by careful applications of Future floor polish, but I try to avoid this particular risk as much as possible. Perhaps I'm not using this type of glue for making antennae- to-canopy attachments correctly. Have you found a method that circumvents the misting problem?

[KG_Jag]

There's no good reason for Dragon to present its customers with frequent and reoccurring problems with putting its diecast planes together. Let's call it what it is: poor design and/or quality control.

I am especially disappointed by their FW 190A's. The single tail wheel option has been mentioned here and the political correctness elsewhere on this board. The stands are cheap and look the part. Perhaps most important, there is little difference in the models of the various marks of the A's. The second set of wing cannons are missing on models that should have them. Corgi and Matchbox are both superior in 1:72 scale.

Come on Dragon--your AFV's are great. Get to work on your planes, especially the FW 190A's!