[dasboot]

I'm new to collecting armor and would like to know who produces the best quality tanks. I really dont care if their plastic, but would prefer metal. I'm lloking for a line with good collectiblity and overall quality

Any help would be appreciated
thanks

[Epapazian]

In my experience the best quality 1:72 scale diecast armor vehicle models are produced by Dragon. Unfortunately this company has a fixation with German vehicles which are produced in a seemingly endless variety of detailing schemes and marks. Dragon also offers some very good U.S. and Russian models from WWII plus a good selection of more recent AFVs. A new company, Hobby Master, is also worth keeping an eye on. Its initial releases of Russia's KV-1 and KV-2 tanks has earned generally favorable reviews. Hobby Master is planning more releases, including the T-55 and Pershing, along with a Cromwell, Chaffee and Panzer MK IV and seems to be more flexible than Dragon in its selections. The ready-made plastic option is confined primarily to MRC's Easy Model line. According to this company's recently released 2007-08 catalog, a large number of tanks and AFVs are heading our way. These include many that are already available via Dragon, Hobby Master, Forces of Valor and others,such as Germany's Tiger, Panther and Stug III, Russia's T-34 and the U.S.A's Sherman and Pershing. Other models in MRC's catalog are more interesting. For example, it lists France's Char B1, Sweden's Strv-103, Israel's Merkava III, Russia's PT-76 and T-54, and many APCs and self-propelled guns. I generally prefer diecast , which often includes a fairly large quotient of plastic, to all-plastic, but given their lower prices, MRC's Easy Models offer good value and very decent quality. I usually buy them because of unusual paint schemes or to fill a void left by the diecast-makers.

[Cavtanker]

I agree with the comments on Dragon armor. I only have one MRC piece. I'm excited about their 2007-08 lineup though. But FOV models (at least the ones I see at Target) are hit and miss on quality. Some models look great while some, like their M1A2, need improvements.

[Copland]

Above comments right on the money. Dragon is head and shoulders above most other companies. The exception being Hobby Master, which has more metal and makes a tank equal to Dragon quality. You will find tons of Dragon Armor already released. Like mentioned above, a great number of German tanks, but all very, very, good. The Dragon Shermans are new and becoming "numerous." Would you like a list of vendors, or do you already have some leads? Welcome to a great hobby, and a great forum.

[dasboot]

I would appreciate some leads.

Tanks for your help guys. As a WWII german collector, I'm excited about dragons line and will start with them.

[klussdog]

Dragon and then Hobby Master................

[djjeffhall]

dasboot,
Hey there.

If you are looking for detail, then its Dragon and Hoby Master. MRC makes some nice, and obscure, tanks but don't hold up to the crisp detail of Dragon.

Someone above mentioned Forces of Valor. These are good tanks for the money. They are all available at Target for $8.00 I think? The detail isn't as crips as Dragon or Hoby Master, but the price is half. They are good for having on your desk at work, or somewhere they might be handled on a day to day basis. They are made to be toys, and while they are good toys (Rolling treads being the big playabilty factor and more sturdy in a day to day sense.) they are still toys. I've got a couple here on my desk and when I'm suffering from brain-fry I take great pleasure on maneuvering my tanks around my computer.

Also, they just came out with a Dragon Wagon that is a really nice deal for 15 bucks. I think they are the only one to make this tank carrier at this time?

One other manufacturer to keep in mind is Admiral. They have put out a couple of Panzer III's recently and are very nicely done. They have a few more very obscure types on the horizon, but they seem to have (At least temporarily) fallen off the grid. I think that they are still the only manufacturer to make the Panzer III so far? Or at least the only one to do so recently and still be available through the major diecast outlets.

Good luck and good hunting.

[Epapazian]

Originally Posted by djjeffhall

dasboot,
Hey there.

If you are looking for detail, then its Dragon and Hoby Master. MRC makes some nice, and obscure, tanks but don't hold up to the crisp detail of Dragon.

Someone above mentioned Forces of Valor. These are good tanks for the money. They are all available at Target for $8.00 I think? The detail isn't as crips as Dragon or Hoby Master, but the price is half. They are good for having on your desk at work, or somewhere they might be handled on a day to day basis. They are made to be toys, and while they are good toys (Rolling treads being the big playabilty factor and more sturdy in a day to day sense.) they are still toys. I've got a couple here on my desk and when I'm suffering from brain-fry I take great pleasure on maneuvering my tanks around my computer.

Also, they just came out with a Dragon Wagon that is a really nice deal for 15 bucks. I think they are the only one to make this tank carrier at this time?

One other manufacturer to keep in mind is Admiral. They have put out a couple of Panzer III's recently and are very nicely done. They have a few more very obscure types on the horizon, but they seem to have (At least temporarily) fallen off the grid. I think that they are still the only manufacturer to make the Panzer III so far? Or at least the only one to do so recently and still be available through the major diecast outlets.

Good luck and good hunting.

One wonders whether Admiral will continue to compete in this field. A while ago they were tantalizing us with pre-production pictures of a Japanese Type 97 tank. Then they began to have serious delays getting product to market. Next, they said that they were going all-plastic to hold costs in line. Now they are saying nothing. Hmmmm?

[dasboot]

How's dragon's 1/35 scale tanks? Are they worth getting?

Thanks again

[djjeffhall]

Epapazian,
I think that Admiral is going to close the line, if they haven't already. They were taking pre-orders for some of the later, very limited tanks, but the costs being asked were in the $50.00 range. There is a thread on the forum somewhere about it.

dasboot,
I don't have any of the 1/35 Dragons, but all the reviews I've read have been GLOWING. It's a weird scale, since everyone else seems content with 1/32, if they are going that big, but the tanks are supposed to be downright perfect.