i was wondering how any of you more experienced modelers would rate Academy kits? I have my eye on a well priced 1/25 Jagdpanther but wonder what is the level of detail and quality of Academy kits. Thanks for any feedback.
Howdy, well I don’t know how experienced I am but it depends on which ones you get. I did the M18 and was happy with it. I know some of their kits are knock offs of old Tamiya’s. I got the PzIV and Whirblewind recently for about $ 13 a pop and was kind of chided by a few who said “They’re just Tamiya knock Off’s” Hey, for $13 a pop even an old Tamiya knock off works.They look like good basic kits, I heard that the Whirblewind had all these fit problems so I dry fitted the kit and it seems O.K. for me. These two kits are perfect subjects for PE sets and I bet I enjoy bulding them.
I’m not sure about the one you’re talking about but if it’s a good price why not?
[:D] hi,i have built a numer of there kits and so far no problems.[:D]
i have the motorized 1/25th academy panther and i like the kit. even the usable tracks are pretty decent quality. the material is good and the details are pretty crisp. or so i thought anyway, i haven’t seen that kit in a few months
I’ve got that Jagdpanther and it is neat, more of a toy than a serious scale model. It does look impressive when completed.
Thanks to all for their posts, I wanted to go with something on a little larger scale than 1/35 in hopes of getting more detail but would i get the same or more amount of detail from a 1/35 DML Jagdpanther?
Academy’s quality is good, I have built 3 kits and there have been no fit problems, and detail is good.
Answer: Y
Im with Anthony14 on this one as well. I have never had any problems with any of the models I had from Academy as well.[:D]
Yes, but you guys are recommending Academy kits based on your experiences with the newer kits. The old 1/25 scale J-P is from the 70s when they made cheap copies of Tamiya kits. Even the original Tamiya version is well past its prime and into the 30+ yr old range.
i have built and building 2 academy 1/35 tigers since being here in korea with the army. the first was an older one (early or mid 90s) got it for 9 dollars at the camp stanley rec center and it had some fit problems in the glacsis sheild area to the top hull section. but i was able to fill it in with super glue clots semidry. it has average detail and looks good. right now i got a tiger on the bench 85% done that has a 97 or 98 manufacter date i geuss . # 1386 i believe and got it for 16 dollars and it is detailed as much as any other kits and i primarily put together tamiya kits. but this academy kit is nice and is detailed very good. i found this model in a hooby shop in tong du chon, a little town outside camp casey and i asked to look at the model before i bought it .the korean dude was kinda hesitant .but i said i dont get a look , i dont buy, needless to say i bought it cause it was a very well made and good priced model. i just ask to look hands on before i buy , and if shops wont let you open the box before you buy they dont deserve your patronage
As Rob has pointed out, you need to look at the specific kit as to whether it is good or not. Ie the cheap Panzer IV Ausf H, Wirblewind, etc are knock offs of poor quality ancient Tamiya Kits. Even the LVTP7 is basically a knock off of the Tamiya LVTP7A, albeit with a few extra’s, but it is still very poor in the detail area. On the other hand the Hellcat, Achilles, Warrior (corrected recent release), etc are their own more recent manufacture and are pretty good, if having a lot of pin marks and lacking some accuracy in places.
The Acadamy US Machine gun set is excellent, a must for anyone wanting good quality injected .30 and .50 cals to replace the chunky ones in some kits.
If you are serious in buying one of their kits, ask the owner at the LHS to open the box so you can have a look at what you get.
The Early Tiger with interior is great, but the mid Production with interior uses the same early interior which is incorrect for a mid.
As others have said, the 1/25 models ARE knockoffs of ancient Tamiya kits. My main experience with this activity is with their early M151 kits. Obvious knockoffs with much less a quality fit than the original Tamiya kits they copied.
I’m sure a newer release of a jagdpanther will give you better detail and more accuracy than even the original Tamiya kit.
I have enjoyed building Academy’s models the most personally. Their quality isn’t the greatest out there sometimes, but for the money, I really recommend them. Not to mention they have a pretty good selection of different, harder to find vehicles.
Yes. But as others have hinted - it depends on which Academy kit you speak of.
Their 1/25th JPanther and Panther A are exact dupes of the Tamiya kits of the late 60’s. And back in the day, they WERE the best. (Tamiya was king of 1/21-1/25th motorized AFVs back then.)
So, despite the boltcounters complaints over the shape of the hugivzaschittzen, you ARE getting a Tamiya kit for all practical purposes. No, not a 21st century Tamiya kit, but a nice kit never the less. You should see a 1/25th JPanther built-up sitting in front of you; shock and awe.
As for the Academy 1/25th Panther G; that is their very own new tool - along with a mix of sprues shared with the Panther A and JPanther kits.
Their Panther G has single length vinyl tracks, unlike the linky-linkys with the ex-Tamiya kits. And yes, boltcounters deride it for accuracy too, but it looks good on the shelf next to the other two war-cats. And you don’t have to zimm the G!
[:D]todate the only trouble i have had is the decals,they dont seem to go on the kit so well,and getting them of the paper is hard.but it just might me.[:D]
Hello!
My vote is for 1-25 scale,which i built only.I`ve Panther A. G and Jagdpanter by Academy.No one time problem with kit,and every time result is acceptable.Panter A is ready ,G waits for camo and Jagdpanter is under construction.See my jagd 
.My report soon.
I like Academy kits. Their newer models are well detailed and build up well. I also buy their accessory kits when I see them on the shelf. The older kits (mostly german, I think) are the ones to avoid.