[lenswerks]

I believe it has been announced on the other forum that Admiral is switching to ABS construction or did I read that wrong?

[panzercommander]

Wow...this debate again?! Stop trying to do arm curls with your tanks and enjoy the amazing amounts of detail that we are getting in 1:72. IMO Dragon Armor are better than anything released previously, CDC included. I'd rather Dragon focused on their production sizes than the metal content of their product.

[mikeb1958]

Originally Posted by SkyBuffalo

Personally, I don't understand the fascination with the amount of "metal" in a 1/72 piece of armour. It's not as if it's GOLD! It's not hundreds of dollars per ounce. How much lead or pewter or nickel is irrelevant.

What matters to me is the quality. The Dragon tanks use a DIE to CAST their tanks, so they are die-cast. Even if it is mostly plastic.

I now have a number of Dragon armour examples, a few FOV tanks and one Admiral Toys example. While all good, the Dragon tanks have better detail in their castings and are painted better, IMHO. I basically give the Dragons an A, the Admiral Toys A- and the FOV a B+.

If you want better quality of how the model looks, go for a Dragon.

If you want a better paperweight, get an Admiral Toys.

Metal, shmetal. The Dragons are mighty puuuurty.

I totally agree SkyBuffalo! I have over 100 Dragon tanks along with some FOV and Admirals and love them! The Dragon detail is second to none and who really cares if they aren't metal. They are still the same if your looking at them from 6 inches away. Maybe adding metal would add more to the cost anyway.

[Cavtanker]

I have 30 pieces of Dragon Armor and 2 pieces of MRC armor (sorry, no Admiral, CDC, or FOV armor for me yet). Initially, I detested my Dragon Shermans due to lack of metal content since I was spoiled by the metal content of my previous Dragons. But, I grew to like them for their detail.

My latest piece is the M2A2 with ERA and it is awesome. Dragon painted the coax barrel and mounted the TOW missiles correctly when compared to the Bradleys I purchased before.

I say that if they look good in your collection, keep them. Metal content is difficult to decipher from across the room.

[DirtyACE]

My 2 cents: It really makes no difference to me about how much plastic Dragon uses. What does matter is the quality and attention to detail. I believe it was said that one of the reasons why Dragon uses more plastic is to be able to give us the kind of detail we expect from these models. Details such as zimmerit paste on the hull's of tanks. Dragon also puts a metal piece inside the tank to increase the weight so it still has weight to it as well as the amazing detail.

[Ara1]

I have found diecast metal to be easier to handle and keep clean than plastic. I also enjoy the more durable finish.

But I own several Dragon tanks in 1/72 and enjoy their accuracy.

[flaps]

I have some of the Admiral, Some of the Forces of Valor and Some of the Dragon.

I think the Dragon are very well done, but recently with prices going up they are no longer on my collecting list.'

I love FOV, for this scale and detail and mostly metal as well as fantastic pricing they can not be beat.

Flaps

[Copland]

I have always loved Dragon, and believe that they are the standard in 1/72 scale military models. I also have FOV armor, which, in my opinion don't quite rise to Dragon's detail. I have many of the first Dragon issues, and the metal content has definitely plummeted. What I would like to know is, why? Admiral enters the game with 90% metal, with comparable prices. Has Dragon made a statement concerning the lessening of their metal content, in order to do a more detailed job? Just wondering.

[wurger_high]

I think it's much easier to create detail with plastic, and everyone should notice that dragon tanks are really detailed, especially the modern tank series, like the M2 Bradley ERA, it's a beauty.
May be Dragon should put some more weights into their platic tanks, not that they arn't doing it alrdy, i want more heavier stuff.

[djjeffhall]

Hey folks,
If I recall, Hawkonevoodoo covered this extentsively in a posting about Hobby Master planes. The result came down to, more details means you have to use more plastic. Metal doesn't acheive the same results.

It's nice to have a nice hefty model, but I'll gladly take plastic is the detail is good.