When I was in Shenzhen, China last week I went to a Wal-Mart (yes they have Wal-Marts!) and found some 1/35 kits made by “LEE”. There was a T-34/76 (looked like a '42 version on the box art), a T-34/85, and a T-54 or T-55 (can’t remember which). I was tempted to buy a couple since they only cost 45 RMB each (approx $7 USD)! I didn’t buy them thinking that they were probably crap kits, but now I wonder if I could have scored. Is it possible they are reboxed Maquette or Zvedza kits??
Ernest
Tamiya did a kit of the “Lee”, think I heard someone was to release I new one this year
Run away, run away. They are cheap, motorized copies of Tamiya and Academy kits.
Here is a comparison review of the Lee T-55: http://www5b.biglobe.ne.jp/~TANK-GUY/KIT-REVIEW06.html
yea I think I saw some of those when I was in korea…looked pretty sorry!
Before the Tamiya T-55 was released, I bought a Lee T-55 thinking it could be made into something decent with some work. I couldn’t have been more wrong. It has never been finished, however the hull and turret have served useful purposes as experiments in painting and weathering. Save your money.
Rob, I figured you’d know about this maker! Thanks for your input!
kaleu, thanks for your input as well. I was also thinking that the kits could be useful for painting and weathering experiments since they are so cheap, but in retrospect I can probably find something similar at a swap meet!
I am back in the U.S. now without having bought any of the LEE kits, just wanted to know if I blew a golden opportunity! Now I know better! Thanks again guys!
Ernest
I bought one of their Leopard kits - what a GOOSE. It still sits on the shelf staring at me. As Mjr Rob said - walk away, walk away
Sometimes you may see them labeled as CC Lee and they have crept into Hobbycraft boxes as well. The Hobbycraft HMMWVs and Bradley fighting vehicles are CC Lee kits.
Also much like Trumpeter’s early knock-off kits, the plastic used in making these kits is not what we normally use in plastic models. Early ones could not be glued with regular liquid cement. Super glue was required.