[coldupnorth]

From your experience, do you consider the original CDC Armour items to be better quality wise than the new FM items (gaps, paint, decals)? If you were to choose between a 98XXX number and a B11XXXX number for exactly the same plane, same livery, which one would you choose?

Thanks,
CUPN

[STARMAN 352ND]

I have seen some nice CDC planes that look better than a Franklin Mint plane when FM first came out that is...Now days some of the FM planes
look better without all the decals on them like the early birds had.
I had a CDC Phantom that was perfect and gave it to my father and i wanted one too but i could not find another CDC Phantom so i ended up ordering a FM one and i hated that one
it was all decals so i kept it around and then i was told that FM did a better job on the last run they did on that Phantom so i took another shot at it and Wow it was better then the other one i had got a few years before and it had no decals all pad printed tampos on it....
When FM first took over they were trying different manufacturing companies for their planes and some turned out ok and others didn't.
I would always choose the plane with printed tampo's on it because the decals can start silvering & flaking as they get older.
It's a little scary getting these planes on-line because you never know what your gonna get.
JP

[PappyB]

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......

or

[derhamburgerjung]

I agree to what Pappy said.
Due to so many, even small failures I like to take a look at the model first.It is not always possible, but I made several
disappointing deals so I am more cautious.

And when it comes to prices, 175USD would be cheap.
I just checked two German Armour retailers and they offer their B-17 in a range between 203.- and 265.- USD plus shipping.

[Captain Eddie]

I have no FM models, but I do have one CDC model-Bader's Spitfire-and I think it's great. (even if rather under-detailed for it's size)

[coldupnorth]

Originally Posted by PappyB

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).

Red/tan boxes..?? I always thought that the original CDC were the blue boxes with the sketch of the model on it...

[PappyB]

Originally Posted by coldupnorth

Red/tan boxes..?? I always thought that the original CDC were the blue boxes with the sketch of the model on it...

No, those were the second type of boxes used -- then came the version with the clear window right before FM bought the line... FM used these for a bit before change the graphics to what they are now. So there were/are 4 different types of packaging that I am aware of from the start of the Armour series until now.

[coldupnorth]

Originally Posted by PappyB

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......

or

I have to rely on ebay and online retailers too because the nearest shop is about 3 hours away!!! I've been lucky so far (only one big disappointment).

Thanks!!

[derhamburgerjung]

Originally Posted by coldupnorth

I have to rely on ebay and online retailers too because the nearest shop is about 3 hours away!!! I've been lucky so far (only one big disappointment).

Thanks!!

Hello CUPN,
have you ever been to the Spitfire Emporium in Ontario?I ordered two CF-18 and the shippment arrived here in less than one week

The have some F/M on stock

[smartd]

Originally Posted by derhamburgerjung

Hello CUPN,
have you ever been to the Spitfire Emporium in Ontario?I ordered two CF-18 and the shippment arrived here in less than one week

The have some F/M on stock

It's one of my local stores, excellent place to send a couple of hours trying to decide what to buy.