what do you guys think of panda kits? Better than MRC/Revell or ?? 1/35 is what i’m speaking of.
I’ve got a copy of the Cav UH-1D. About the only good thing I can say about it is that it’s 1/35th scale. Fuselage panels are are mostly incorrect. Maybe correct for an N model but not for a D or H. The main rotor blades are for an N model, not a D/H. It has pin holes in the windshield for you to put the wipers on. There’s plenty of room for detailing but I would rate it ‘fair to good’ at best. A big disappointment. Since I suspect the fuselage panels are pretty accurate for a N model, I plan on buying a copy of the HH-1N SAR aircraft when it comes out but that’s it. I’ll stick with the Revell 1/32nd kit for a D/H model 'til something better comes along. If you detail the Revell kit, you’ve at least got an accurate bird. As for MRC/Academy … they are by far the best of all 1/35 scale helicopters available … if they have the variant you’re looking for.
Paul
Paul said it all right there![:)]
Paul…have you also noticed over sized rivits on your Panda examples?
The older 1/32 scale Huey ‘Nam’ line up are very accurate and MRC are excellent kits!
Personally…I don’t know how bad the Panda 1/35 Chinooks will or might …( gulp ) be…at that scale…WHO CARES!
whats this? panda is comming out with a 35 scale chinook? Noway! I dont believe it.
Man have you been under a rock or what?
Check it out! I look at this site almost every day!..its due “this year” they are also doing a 1/32 scale B-17F and G!..WOW!!..I wish I where in your shoes…I have known about this kit for almost one year now and Old Hooker and I are going nucking futz![:p]
…but just don’t take my word …have a look!
AND! look at Pandas 2003 booklet!
I hope that PANDA using a GUNS A GO GO pic for thier HEAVY Nam Chinook is not just a coincidence![:D]
Nice… well I guess I dont have to wait as long as some of you!! I didn’t however see a pic? Anyone have one? Whats a projection date for release? Should I call panda and find out!
Thats the golden question for now…WHEN???..as for the ‘pic’ they only have real snap shots for now no build ups.
If the link to Pandas home page work you need to click on the catalog and then at the bottom keep hitting the foward button.
There are TONS of HELO kits that are in thier line up…but we will see[?]
Good luck getting anything from Panda! They are in China and have not returned e-mails to anyone at all. Most of Panda’s kits are being imported by Dragon Models…They do not offer much either.
I first heard about the 1/35 Hook kit about a year ago when our local Hobby Shop owner came back from a big Toy/Model show in Chicago and had a flyer from Panda…Man I freaked!
We can only keep our fingers crossed.
The other cool kit comming this Nov! is a 1/72 scale WWII German U-BOOT! about 36 inches long! but its Revell of Germany only so far and the projected the U.S. price will be about 50.00 or 60.00 bucks if not more! here is a Finescale link that has all the GOOD info!
and get this! I just checked and there is a also a link to HOBBY LINK that is STILL offering that kit at 16.99!! plus shipping and they are taking pre -orders!
http://www.finescale.com/fsm/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3675
Panda is a Dragon company. Dragon created them in order to take molds of existing kits and either produce them as-is, improve them, or increase the scale and release. Their purpose is to simply re-release existing material in a new format. The releases scheduled for them are promises, and we all know that you can’t believe a promise from a model company until you see the build-up. My fingers are crossed for that 1/32 scale Fortress though!! 
Since I have heard that before I’m going to take that as a fact.
There was a pre mold mock up a few years back for MRC of a 1/35 scale Chinook that MRC dropped ( for some stupid reason ) I wonder if Dragon got a hold of that?
Lets just keep our fingers crossed…I have already made up my mind to build that 1/23 B-17G as my Uncles plane from the 390th Bg. 568th Sq. It would be even better if I can do it before he leaves this rock.
Hey dudes…
Here’s a couple more pictures of MRC’s Master Mold of their now cancelled 1/35 Chinook.
Don’t know who these model manufacturers have doing their Marketing, but MRC sure past up a grand opportunity when it passed on that project.
Oh yeah, Papa, I finally got finished with that Bobby Allison 1971 Monte Carlo… I speed-blurred the track, wall, & tires, so with the proper background, it looks like it’s actually in motion!
You said you wanted to see it when it got finished, so here ya go. [:)]
Frank
Sorry Panda… I mean Papa… [:D]
Here’s the car from the last post… sorry
COOL!..Nice car…GOOD JOB!..looks like fun!
I e-mailed Dragon on fri about the Panda Hook kit…maybe they will give me some info?
I’m getting lotz done on my 1/24 Huey…trying to get ‘closer’ to how the foot pedals really link up is a bugger!..but I have made boots for the cyclic controls and throttle adjusters and a button plate on the collective controls. I even have real springs on the back of the Seats that are set up with full chicken plates!
Oh yeah!..The ‘door post’ are done and look great!..as soon as my Wife and kidz get back from Cal, I will snap some digies and post them for all to see so you can see that I really am doing something![:p]
<— waiting to see papa’s pics
Dragon/VLS got back to me today and said “No word yet” on the Panda Chinook.[:(]
What does the reference “Panda/VLS” mean? The only relationship they have is one sells the other’s products. But anyway… Panda has promised the 1/35 CH-47 in four distinct versions, so I tend to believe they’ll follow through. Let’s keep our fingers crossed on that and the 1/32 B-17!
1/32nd b 17 is amazing. I want pictues of all the above.
None yet …that I know of anyways.[:(]
Don’t forget! this Nov…Revell of Germany is releasing a 1/72 scale VIIC WWII German Sub! thats 36 inches long and!..right now hobbylinc is STILL taking pre orders at a very very very very low price of 16.99 sale price of what is the normal 22.00! HA! ( so far that is )…That kit will be 50.00 Euro! ( told to me by Revell of Germany! ) and that will make it at least a 65.00 to 75.00 here! In my last letter to HOBBYLINC I even stated that I believe the kit will be at least 20.00 to 40.00 more than they are advertising… I just recieved a SECOND confermation from them that MY PRICE will NOT change NO MATTER WHAT!..( They have been told by thier vender that is the price they have been given ) …I would take advantage of this if I were you. White Ensign models of England has already started on the Photo Etch kit for this one! I’m not really a ship builder BUT! I have always liked WWII Subs.
We’re expecting them too, and our retail book says $20.75 (for which we sell at $17.)