I’m wanting to get into WW2 1/72 armor kits. Can someone recommend some online retailers (since I have no hobby shops nearby) and what brands tend to have the better mold quality?
Thanks!
I am assuming you are in the USA. If so, I would try Sprue Brothers. As for brands, Dragon have a nice selection of WW2 armour. But there 35th kits are not usually recommended for first time armour builders, but I am not sure about there 72nd kits. I did build a Revell kit a few months back, though it was a modern vehicle, and that was pretty nice.
If your in the US, take a look at Squadron and Hobbylink as well.
You might also be interested in www.onthewaymodels.com They are a web site exclusively to 1/72 armour.
I am currently liquidating a small collection of WWII (mostly) 1/72 kits with subject countries of Germany, Soviet, British and USA. If you are interested, I can send you a spreadsheet with what I have. Prices will beat ebay but they are sold as is.
PM sent
PM also sent
One word–eBay.
Dragon’s are the best detailed, but try to get the ones without those stupid DS tracks, which are usually too long and look wonky. Earlier releases have single link tracks, I believe?
Revell are a good middle-of-the-road bargain Decent detail and usually link-n-length tracks.
Trumpeter has some nice subjects, but I couldn’t get their tracks to glue no matter what I tried. The detail is very good, however.
Other small and expensive kits like UM and some other brands can be nice, but they’re in a price range that I just refuse to pay.
Italeri’s are expensive now too, and are in many cases just re-packaged older ESCI kits. The old Esci kits can are decent enough for a beginner, but some have serious issues of accuracy like their M60 and M1 Abrams series which have one-piece wheels which look totally goofy. You have to cut grooves in between them to look like two wheels, as is proper. They have both a rubber-band track line (early molds) and an older link-length track which is much better in appearance. Hasegawa kits are on the par with these.
Stay away from Airfix. Pure amateur stuff.
You might also be tempted by 1/76 scale. Not too much in this caegory, but the old Nitto kits can be downright impressive in that scale; some of them actualy contain rudimentary interiors.
Also try the “armor” forum in this (FSM’s) group of forums.