Well,got into Dragon kit#6043 StuG IV and the rear deck parts are for the jagdpanzer. Parts aren’t even close.Yes, I checked and double checked.Thought maybe some steps weren’t printed and needed to put parts on that weren’t shown, but no–it’s the wrong part. Double checked with the part picture-- wrong part.I may be able to scratch something to make it look half way decent but this is where the mount for the rear sprocket goes so I gotta do some research. Not cool. The kit cost as much if not more than Tamiya and I’ve NEVER had a problem with Tamiya. Got a hold of Dragon Care so we shall see. After all the hype about Dragon kits I’m bummed.[V][banghead]
Don’t be too bummed out. The first Tamiya kit I bought was when I was 12. It was a Japanese Chi Ha, only problem was it came with a M3 Stuart Hull - talk about your mission impossible’s. My solution was to take it back to the store who could only replace it with another kit of similar value. Bummer I really wanted to make that sucker.
Anyway mistakes happen I am sure your vendor or DML will only be too happy to oblige.
I can only speak praise for the couple of Dragon kits I have built, real quality.
Andy,
Are you saying that you have extra parts in your kit for the Jagdpanzer, or you have the wrong sprue packaged in?
I have the early version. i will check my box when I get home for comparison sake. In the mean time, you could contact Dragoncare.
http://www.dragonmodelsusa.com/dmlusa/welcome.asp has a phone number and
http://www.dragoncare.com/ is the site. As of 9:40 EST it isn’t working, but I was on their a couple days back for someone else. Try it a little later
dragoncare works now
It does suck to be missing a part, or to get the wrong one. Annoying, but I’ve heard that Dragon’s CS is pretty good.
I once got a limited edition resin kit from France that took weeks for the retailer to get from the maker – and that’s because I was lucky enough to catch them when they were about to make a shipment – the previous one had been months before. It arrived, and was missing a complicated piece that would have been virtually impossible to scratchbuild. [:(] I waited over a month for the replacement part to arrive. “I feel your pain …”.
That’s pretty bad, but I wouldn’t be too concerned. It’s definitely not the usual fare for Dragon, and their customer service is generally quite good.
Ya, sorry about the rant. [
] Iwas all geeked up about this kit. Obviosly by my screen name I’m into StuGs, and I thought for sure I was just misreading the directions but nope.In Dragon’s defense they did reply right back and am sending a new part.I’ll dive into my Firefly for the group build till it gets here.A thousand apologies for the whine!!
No apologies necessary, we’ve all been there before, all cheesed of and no one to vent on. I have a few Dragon 1/72 kits and they look very nice in the box, I haven’t taken a knife to one yet though. I forcing myself to learn on some Hasegawa kits I bought that aren’t nearly as nice as the Dragon offerings.
its bad when it happens but it could happen with Tamiya too
I just wanted to make a few quick comments…
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After I started building DML, (Dragon, Dragon/Shanghai) kits I have not looked back. I do not buy anything made by Tamiya except for their paints. I even prefer ICM and Zveda to Tamiya because of value for the dollar.
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Tamiya, in my opinion is too basic and the models look like toys to me. The tracks are lame, the kits are lame in my mind. The fit is ok with Tamiya kits but only few models dont fit well regardless of brand name. I have never had a “fit” issue with a dragon kit. This is not to be confused with a “challenging build” that “requires modelling skill”. The Italeri kits that I"ve seen look better than a lot of Tamiya kits and they cost less than Tamiya also.
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As far as instructions I can count on ONE HAND the number of kits that have what can be considered “good instructions”. Top on the list is Accurate Miniatures airplanes, now THAT"S instructions!!! [:p] Having good reference material might also help you with the build process if the instructions are poor.
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I have not built DML # 6043, but looking at the catalog number of it I think it is an older kit and may be “one of the ones to avoid”, I dont know, just guessing. I have the Stug3 ausf C (I think its a “c”) and I peeked inside and it looks incredible I may have to bump it up my list order [:p]
No apology needed for being upset when a piece is missing. If you were upset that the kit was complete we would have to have a talk [B)]
Is your Firefly the Dragon kit? Have you seen what is required for the tracks on that kit? [}:)] There are 3 pieces per link! [B)] I have that kit also and I could be convinced to try to start that kit if I knew someone else was going to suffer along with me. We could try to start up a small group build (unofficial) or a MAD build out of it.
Stug- I noticed my rear decking has the lable Panzer IV, not Stug. However, eyeballing it against the directions and box pic, it looks right. Not sure. What part number is wrong with yours.
I`ve got that firefly from dragon and have started it, I dread those tracks,I hope they are worth the trouble!
Jason the piece in ? is 31B and if you look at the ins. sheet the back panel for the deck or aft is where the rear axles mount for the idler.The piece I have in the kit has no mounting brackets for the axles. Now I searched the entire kit thinking maybe a step was missing in the ins. and that I had to add these pieces(which is O.K., I don’t think any model manufacturer is perfect} There were none. Upon further examination with the piece in hand and inspecting the picture in the ins. sheet , they are two different animals. On the bottum of the correct part there are two stepped ridges and a line of rivets. On each side are the mounts for the axles. The piece I got has an opening where the Ridges should be(this is where I searched the kit thinking I needed to add these parts)and no mounts for the axles. Like I said, I could easily scratch the ridges and could probably scratch the axle mounts,but I should’nt have to.
As to the price of Tamiya kits, I’m sorry but I like Tamiya and in my shopping I haven’t noticed THAT big of a discrepency. And yes this could happen with Tamiya but it hasn’t. It did happen with the Maquette Pz-38t and I was not able to resolve that matter. I know I’m probably peevish on this issue due to the years in retail and customer service. When I first started building models back in the stone age there was no Dragon and with all the good things I’d heard since getting back into building about these kits I was very disappointed. My world is still intact, but it pi@#ed me off!! All I could think of is I’ve got 5 unbuilt Dragon kits and with my luck they’re all gonna be !#$%ed up!
As for the Firefly kit, it too is a Dragon. I think I’m gonna get some Modelkasten tracks for that puppy. It seems I hit a nerve for all the Dragon fans out there, and I do agree that as far as the detailing and overall look of the kits they are sweet. I do give kudos to Dragon for contacting me and resolving the matter quickly— that is huge!!!
Like I said, sorry about PMSing about the issue but I expected better.Now I’m off to say my serenity prayer about this kit and contemplate those Firefly tracks!![soapbox][BH][BH]
Just one tip on the Firefly tracks. If you are brave enough to use the kit individial track links…don’t use the duckbill end connectors. I found out that the receiving holes in the duckbill end connectors are not perfectly aligned to that on the ordinary end connectors. When used, the assembled tracks will be curving slightly and will give you a headache in fitting it to the roadwheels. I found this out the hard way and I ended up disassembling the tracks and cutting off the connecting pins at the sides of the individual link.
But overall, it was a very good Firefly kit.
And to add to the Firefly advice, start the tracks as soon as you can. They take forever to build, because each of the track pads needs cleaning up. I hated it!
Sorry, I hate Dragon. Give me Tamiya anyday. I am sick of indie tracks and poor fit and lousey sprues. Cut a piece from the sprue and be careful, you might vut the piece in half because the stem is so short. I got 2-Dragons for XMAS and the boxart will decorate my shelf for a long time until someone comes out with vinyl tracks that fit the 2 kits.
Heh. In 1/35 scale, Dragon is still my #1 favorite manufacturer. Give me the kits; I’ll build 'em! 
Damon.
I’ve got a SU-100 that has rubber tracks that I wish I had a set of indies for [:)]
Hey garrand,GIVE them??? I may have PMSed about the kit but it did’nt make me friggin’ crazy!! I’m not giving up on Dragon, as I said earlier I was VERY impressed by their customer service and their products seem O.K. After all the rave reviews I had seen it was just a bummer.But if you have Tamiya kits of the same vehicles I’ll trade-- but give----(just kidding, I’ve paid enough in shipping already)