I have read a review on this kit at modellingmadness and it get’s trashed. Has anybody seen this kits, is it really that bad?
http://modelingmadness.com/reviews/allies/previews/tmc3251p.htm
OUCH!
Not one redeeming quality. Too bad as this release was eagerly anticipated.
[:(] Very dissappointing, I would have expected better from Dragon.
That really sucks, i’ve been waiting for this kit to hit the stores for three mo’s, i guess i’ll look at ordering mebee Hase’s Ki-84 as i want that one also and if i’m going to shell out $50 bones for a model i’d rather get one that’s a nice kit.
One of the most brutal reviews I’ve ever seen. And Dragon has suddenly delayed introduction of the kit. Hmmm ?
Regards, Rick
They have? I didn’t know that. Maybe they are going to do the same thing as Trumpeter did with their Wildcat…redo the whole thing!
Let’s hope so.
I too was hoping this kit was going to be a usual Dragon but i guess not.
Dragon has produced some great Armor kits, but their Aircraft kits have always been plauged with problems.
Regards, Rick
Ouch, got a bad rap right off the bat… that’s too bad, I was really looking forward to adding it to the stash… I need something to counter the 1/32 Bf109G-6, G-14 the FW190A8 and D9 in the stash. [:D]
uh oh… have to write another letter to Santa saying “DON’T GET ME THE MUSTANG!!!”
Heres what Jeff Herne had to say
this was posted over at LSP
I’ll chime in here (against my better judgement) 
I’ve had the opportunity to talk to individuals (in the past) at Dragon who are, for a better lack of terms, in positions of power. This of course was made possible by my time and travels with FSM, so I’m not claiming that I have any special inside contacts or sources now. I always found them to very receptive to conversations about products, and they always answered, to the best of their abilities, questions that I had about specific subjects and accuracy issues (mostly with armor models) It appeared to me that they were very concerned about the products they sold, their company image, and their reputation within the industry, because they took the time to listen to what I had to say, or, they were just being polite and waiting for me to go away. 
I won’t bother to repeat a lot of what’s been said, but guys, seriously…this is a hobby.
This kit marks the first 1/32 kit that Dragon has released. Remember some of those 1/48 kits they did years ago? Their Fw-190s were real bears to build, but they looked ok when they were done. There’s a learning curve involved when developing a kit this, certainly, and I’m not making excuses for Dragon. They should have gotten it right. Heaven knows there’s enough P-51 information out there, including actual aircraft, to use as references. Maybe, just maybe, they’re not in tune with the hardcore aircraft modelers of the world because its outside of their area of expertise. Dragon has only recently (within the last 2-3 years IIRC) started consulting armor ‘experten’ in the development of their new releases. If you think this is bad, you should have seen some of the armor revolts that have happened in the past!! But I digress…
Trumpeter’s 24th A6M2 had problems, the Wildcat had major problems, their D-9 had issues, their P-40 has problems … in fact, I’m sure that we can all find errors, large and small, in just about any kit, including the famed Tamiya and Hasegawa. These are just a little more (ok, a lot more) noticable than others.
Awhile ago, people jumped all over Accurate Miniatures because of sink marks in the fuselages of their Vindicators. I read posts from folks calling it treasonous, rip-offs, and calling for a boycott of Accurate Miniatures. In the end, someone 7800 miles away (Milwaukee to Hong Kong) pulled the parts from the mold too soon. But everyone had their panties in a knot and it caused the same type of mob rules mentality within the modeling community (present company here excluded of course!) that we’re seeing now.
In the end, Accurate Miniatures fixed the problem and the world returned to its normal axis.
Basically, from what I’ve seen on this forum, everyone here has the skills and the ability to fix this model if they choose. Ok, so the wheel wells are messed up. Cut, hack, and repair. Does it really make that much of a difference (in the grand scheme of things)? I can’t see into the wheel wells of any of my aircraft unless I flip them upside down! The seams and rivets are too deep. Fill and sand. Those that MUST have a new P-51 will do it. Others won’t, that’s your choice as consumers. Yes, we can be disappointed. I am, but I’ve also got more than enough kits on my shelf to keep me occupied until another P-51 appears, or until Dragon fixes theirs, or, until I decide to bite the bullet and fix the existing one.
I can understand the disappointment, but hey, this could very easily cause Hasegawa to retool their P-51. It could cause Trumpeter to release one (hopefully not repeating the problems found in their 1/24 kit).
I don’t think angry emails to Dragon are going to help (Tim, I’m generalizing, I didn’t think your email was mean-spirited at all). You’ll attract more flies with honey than with vinegar. But I honestly believe that if we address the issues with the model in a civilized manner, that we might just get Dragon’s attention.
There’s just too much bad karma in this hobby anyway. As for me, I’m finishing up a large scale boat (1/72 Gato, man this thing is HUGE), then it’s on to my Staggerwing and possibly a 1/32 Mistel 5. I’m content to sit back and wait. But in the end, if you ordered one of these and are considering tossing it, drop me a line, I might just be willing to swap you something for it. I am, after all, a glutton for punishment.
May the X-acto knife of life miss your foot when it rolls off the desk,
Jeff
Go for the Hasegawa kit kit you guys!
Notice, in the review, the author says “It’s really too bad that Dragon didn’t follow the Hasegawa method with this kit.”
I built one and am very happy with it.
I keep hearing it needs improvement, but I guess I must be blind,'cause I don’t see where. In fact it gave me spare parts to improve my Revell 1/32 P-47 with. [%-)]
Tom [C):-)]
My [2c]
Actually, if you took the time to read the review, the primary objection is regarding the general finish of the model itself, i.e., horribly exaggerated grooves for panel seam lines, which at this larger scale seems even worse.
To “fix” this literally requires refinishing the entire kit’s outer surface-not a minor thing like sink-holes and what not, which presumes a lot from “every reader here”. At best, this looks like a good subject for covering with aluminum foil. I would say that would not be for a novice, and therefore this type of oversimplification can seem to make the author aloof to what others feel are valid concerns, and therefore, in general, I disagree with the attitude of this post.
Also, I feel it is incumbant of model makes to regularly review websites such as this one for comments like ours, thus showing a proper concern for our sensativities, not just our obligation to contact them.
OK?
Tom [C):-)]
I did read the review i could care less what the guy says its a model and its a hobby leave it at that. Everyone is intitled to there own opinion, and to throw away a kit because he thinks its junk is rediculase. I think every one should wait until its realseed and there are more reviews out there.
In the end money talks. If it truly is as bad as it looks Dragon will lose money and realize they made a mistake. Hopefully they will get it right the next time. Their amor models have really improved over the last few years so hopefully we can expect the same from the aircraft department. [:)]
From what the review say’s, it’s more than just the overall appearence of the model on the outside that’s at issue, there 's a general lack of detail throughout particularly in the cockpit area and since it’s 1/32nd scale you would think they would at least get THAT right. But like you said, it’s a hobby, and the mucketymucks at Dragon no doubt read these forum’s just like you me and everyone else in this post, and hopefully with them delaying the release, mean’s a total rework of the kit. Patience children Patience[:-^]
Dragons reply Basically they don’t see a problem.
http://www.dragon-models.com/catalog/dml/insidestory/3201insidestory.htm
I will buy it, I will not fix a thing and see how it turns out.
Perhaps the foklks at Dragon have yet to actually build this kit …
For starters, mine has alignment pins on BOTH sides of the fuselage, thereby requiring that at least one side of the fuse has to be sanded flush so the other will ‘mate’ up properly …
The canopy has a molding line running right down its centerline, etc., etc. …
'Tis going to be a challenge but it will turn out just fine …
I have the Hasegawa kit as well and p’haps will be able to build something acceptable using bits and pieces from the two kits …
Pepper Kay
Garland, TX