Dragon Smart Kits

[Phil_H]

I still have a bunch of Dragon’s ‘Imperial Series’ kits in my stash. Are they updates on Dragon’s original line or where exactly do they fit in? Just curoius gentlemen.

Most, if not all of Dragon’s “Imperial Series” kits come from or are based on kits from other manufacturers’ moulds - eg. the Pz III/IV family and Panther based kits in the 9000 series were based on the Gunze Sangyo originals. The Gunze “High-Tech” kits from the late 80’s included cast metal parts, PE parts and often MK tracks. Those which Dragon took over had the moulds retooled to provide the previously cast metal and where possible, the PE parts in styrene and the tracks were rendered as conventional indies.

[Gamera]

Thanks Phil. I remember those Gunze kits but since I was in high school/college at that time I couldn’t afford their ‘High Tech’ line.

Funny, Fine Molds did the same thing with their aircraft line.

[bacasino]

Okay, I ordered four kits that should keep me busy for a while

1. Bronco- T17E1 Staghound MK1

2. Dragon- Flakpanzer 1 Premium edition

3. Hobby Boss- M706 Commando Armored Car in Vietman

4)Trumpeter- Russia Sam 6 Anti aircraft missle

Now i found detail sets for the flakpanzer and the stagound. The Staghounds detail set i might get but the flakpanzer detail set just looked like overkill, so i will pass on that one. Does anybody know of any sets for the Commando armored car or the sam 6??? Thanks again

Brett

[Phil_H]

Thanks Phil. I remember those Gunze kits but since I was in high school/college at that time I couldn’t afford their ‘High Tech’ line.

Funny, Fine Molds did the same thing with their aircraft line.

Dragon also took a similar route with their early aircraft kits, the 1/48 scale FW190’s, Me 262, He 162 and, I think, the Me 163 were originally by TriMaster, but with the cast metal parts re-tooled in styrene and some of the PE retained.

[Gamera]

Gamera:

Thanks Phil. I remember those Gunze kits but since I was in high school/college at that time I couldn’t afford their ‘High Tech’ line.

Funny, Fine Molds did the same thing with their aircraft line.

Dragon also took a similar route with their early aircraft kits, the 1/48 scale FW190’s, Me 262, He 162 and, I think, the Me 163 were originally by TriMaster, but with the cast metal parts re-tooled in styrene and some of the PE retained.

Thanks again Phil. Now that I look back the ‘High Tech’ kit was the big new upcoming thing back then. I suppose the price point killed the whole idea. Back when a good quality kit cost about $15-$20 bucks and Dragon was charging $60-$120 for a kit I remember thinking that I’d pass on those.