This thread inspired me to do a count. On my display shelves the ratio for 1/35 armor vehicles is 3 tamiya to 1 others (Emhar, Academy, Trumpeter). However, my unbuilt kit stash is all Dragon for AFV’s (M4A1 76mm, Smart kit Panther, T-34/85, and a ton of figures). I know my kit buying criteria has changed drastically in the last 2 years.
Semper Fi,
Chris
I’ve been buying more DML/Dragon kits than Tamiya kits in the past 2 years. DML offers more variety and even more figure kits that I need. Tamiya has lots of catching up to do in 1/35 arena.
Dragon has definitely cornered the market on WW2 German armor. They have abandoned modern Soviet/Russian armor though. Their latest venture into modern US armor has produced a couple of kits, the M1A1AIM and Stryker, but so far, little else in this area.
Modern armor is a place where Tamiya still rules. The Leclerc, Challenger, Leo 2A5/6, Type 90 and T-72 are still the tops in the MBT arena. Their HMMWV, JGSDF LAV, and wheeled WW2 US vehicles have few equals save for the ex-Skybow AFV Club trucks.
Not being as old as some of you here (no offense), I didn’t exactly grow up with Tamiya being the only available game in town. From my early modelling days, Tamiya kits were not very attainable for me, simply because of the cost. Nowadays, having more disposable income, I find that the whole modelling situation has changed. The Tamiya kits of WWII subjects have come down in prices, and can be found for pretty cheap, if you know where to look. Their quality is still ace however. But, IMO, they just can’t keep up with DML. I’m in agreement with Rob on this one. DML has cornered the market when it comes to WWII. However, Tamiya still have some fantastic kits out there, especially for modern armour.
I know it may be OT a bit, but the company I’m most fond of is Trumpeter. They offered really cheap kits when I first got into armour. They weren’t the best fit kits, nor the most detailed, but they allowed me to build the vehicles I wanted to, practice basic modelling skills, and all of that at affordable prices. Now, they’re comming out with some very interesting and esoteric vehicles, which I absolutely love. Further, they seem to be the one company most in support of modern Russian vehicles, and for those reasons, they’re my No.1, over and above both Tamiya and DML.
Interesting thread.
I used to be a big fan of Tamiya’s 1/35 scale kits, and still am to a degree. I love their StuG IIIB and G, their Tiger kits are decent too. The kits are very easy to build, reasonably well detailed, but it still amazes me that parts of the underside (sponson area?) are still open (the Sherman’s come to mind).
The DML offerings, including the Premium and Smart Kits are pretty slick, the Sherman series and PzKpfw IV series are unmatched. Their kits are better detailed, seem more accurate and include all sorts of goodies that the Tamiya kits just don’t offer.
In terms of bang for the buck, the DML offerings win hands down. For newer modelers that are still learning some of the DML offerings can be very intimidating! I’m still learning so as much as I drool on my DML PzKpfw IVD, it still scares the crap out of me. [(-D]
I would take a Tamiya kit over a DML one any! While some of the Shanghai kits are better than the Tamiya ones, such as the Sturmpanzer Brummbar, Tamiya is still ace for it’s easy to follow assembly and well, with some of the older kits, a little extra is a little better anyway. I mean I still end up replacing the tool clamps and other details with added brass sets on a DML kit anyway, so why not get a better engineered kit. This rage with Dragon, it’s all just a fad IMHO. Though I do agree with Rob, need to see some more modern stuff come out from them!
Well, have they?
It’s possible. Tamiya has been concentrating more in other scales like 1/48 armor. But they’re still nice kits to build, easy to assemble, and are easy to find.
I grew up with more options, so it was either Tamiya, Esci/Ertl, Italeri, DML/Dragon, or whatever cottage industry came about. Tamiya at the time was not an option because of the price tag. So, it was Esci/Ertl, or Italeri. Sometimes a DML/Dragon kit, if I had the extra few bucks.
Whatever Tamiya kit I had, I built it simply because it was Tamiya. Granted, Dragon makes the better kits, but sometimes, I like to add details like resin or Photoetch. The engineering was good, so I never had any problems building them. I was also never intimidated by them either. It was the price tag that kept me away, (Tamiya that is) until I got a better job.
The industry, is much like anything else, fads and phases. I’m sure another company will be better than the other at one point or another. Who knows, Maybe Tamiya will make some better kits.
Not being as young as some of you here (no offense), I didn’t exactly grow up with Tamiya being the only available game in town.
In fact, Aurora, Adams and Revell used to be major contendors, with Aurora producing the most at 1/48th scale. Later on, Airfix flooded the market with some nice 1/72nd scalers.
I remember when the Japanese broke into the market with a very large, remote-controlled Panther with individual snap-together vinyl track links (maybe Tamiya?).
Interestingly enough, Aurora stuck to 1/48th scale when the standard finally became 1/35th.
Now I see a “repeat of history”, with the leader, Tamiya, seeking to “steer the market” into it’s 1/48th scale line. I do kind of see this as “ducking the competition” from the likes of DML, as well as “hedging their bets”, since the 1/48th scale kits are cheaper to produce, and they seem to be asking as much or more then they used to for their older 1/35th scalers to “make up the difference” [:-^]
Tom [C):-)]
Interesting repsonses…however, I can’t disagree enough with the post that stated DML is just a fad…I think they are here to stay…(in fact they are NOT overnight successes–been around in the market approx 20 yrs) and I do agree that DML itself has evolved; they have seemed to abandon some of their earlier subjects, such as the Russiam armor (loved that Afghan BMP kit that I was stupid enough to give away), and Dragon Wings series…having said that, Tamiya still offers basic platforms for some awesome builds, and some of their newer subjects are awesome, such as the T-55, Char Bis and even the StuG…although—I agree–can’t think for the life of me why they can’t close an open sponson!!! One thing I feel is killing Tamiya is labor costs…DML uses cheap labor in China, and Tamiya probably pays union wages in Japan…however, I am not so sure they have any excuse for their recent lack of imagination…
They have race queens, maybe they should try model queens 
[#ditto]
I agree completely!
Why don’t they break out of their “Japanese Only” cocoon and get someone in China or South Korea to do their kits for them?
Otherwise, they could go the way of the Aurora armor kits, nice but not meeting the market demands.
Tom [C):-)]
hee hee hee…from what I have seen, the Japanese DO stick a lot of females in their model magazines and advertisements…take a look at one of their Armour Modeling mags…
I’d say if anyone can challenge them for value, it might well be Tristar. I’ve heard nothing but raves about all their releases. Their Marder III H blows away Dragons on the accuracy aspect, but they are a bit pricey. I think most modelers would prefer accuracy over price if they can afford a kit, but that debate is for another thread. [:D]
I agree, but when it comes to cranking subject matter out, NOBODY beats DML…they seem to release a new kit every other day…I think that they have released EVERY 251 variant there was—EXCEPT for the one with FIELD-APPLED zimm, but I think that will be out in time for Xmas—LOL…
You’re bad!
Yes, Tristar will never be prolific like DML, but that is fine with me. Another contender has to be AFV Club. I have 4 kits in the stash and they are amazing on the sprues. At least they offer a few goodies like PE this and aluminum that.
agree…like tristar, when tascha sinks their teeth into a subject they put out the sublime…AFV Club is probably DML’s most direct competitor…they seem to have both adopted the 3 in 1 marketing idea as well as extra goodies in the box…even Tamiya has grudegenly started adding goodies, such as their majestic alum barrel for their StuG…
Ahhh… Tamiya has given in a bit, but of course us modelers really get socked with the price. I didn’t see enough extras in their Hetzer to make me want to run out and grab one. Of course my mind could be swayed by an excellent review.
Forgot about Tasca, I heard their Luchs is sweet. Still, no volume of choices, much like Tristar.
…yeah, I read two separate reviews on Tascha’s Luchs and new Firefly, and each reviewer concluded that they thought the kit might be the best styrene model of an AFV EVER produced…wow…have no experience with either so I don’t know…
I’m just finishing the Tasca Firefly and it’s definitely the best plastic kit I’ve ever built, and I’ve built over 50 kits from many manufacturers. Tasca, once they get a little more selection, could easily become the best in the business.
anyone have any experience with the Luchs?