Has anyone seen these or have any experience with them? I just ran across the M41 Howitzer on eBay.
They have lots of other pieces too.
I have only had dealings with their 1/72 scale stuff, overall they are well printed can suffer from some warping that is not possible to repair they will however replace parts, the only real problems with them is that they are based on WOT renders so can contain a few errors in them, most people seem happy with what they get though
I have several of their 1/35 kits of some of their more esoteric subjects (BTSV, IJA Type 91, Somua SP guns).
Their print quality is quite good. I have had some problems with breakage during shipping which I am still working to get replaced. Haven’t seen any warping yet.
You will get a big slab of printed resin, with the suspension and tracks as a single piece, if not already attached to the hull. There will also be a handful of loose pieces that needs to be attached, but in general 20 parts or less. The printing “trees” break off easy and clean up nicely. Print striations appear minimal and should disappear with priming/painting.
As already stated, some of the design is a little “iffy”, but since I am going after mainly “paper panzers” I am willing to be a bit forgiving.
The one open-top kit I have looks like it is going to be a challenge to clean up the interior trees and the interior itself appears somewhat simplified. Also going to be interesting to detail and paint, as it is already built up.
For the M41, you will probably received a decent kit that “looks like” an M41 and will display nicely if you are willing to put a little work into detailing.
I encourage everyone to purchase the M41, because then AFV Club/Bronco will finally release theirs. C’mon people, take one for the team!
Gino, I picked one SSModel, the T1E1, to check them out. The kit arrived fairly quickly. In spite of being well packed, it had some breakage. The resin is very brittle. The design was simplified and had several accuracy issues. The printing was decent - print lines fairly minimal. The tracks just didn’t look right, and it took me a minute to figure out why. The track links were all sharp 90 degree angles. Every edge on every link would need to be sanded to take off those sharp edges.
I’ve looked at a couple of their Korea/Cold War SP’s, the M37 and the M41. I may have to break down and pick them up just in case they can be built up into some that is accurate enough and detailed enough.
Thanks guys. Based on what everyone is saying, I’ll pass. They don’t sound accurate and refined enough for me.
Hi,
I recently purchased 4 1/35 Italian tank and sp resin kits from SS Models and to be honest I’m not that impressed.
There seemed to be good detail but the issue is with the print quality. Once I started to separate the parts I began to notice quite a few defects in the resin. Deep lines and holes in places where the printing has missed filling areas.
I also had a problem with an oval shaped barrel, which I complained about and they did send me another one but it was the same, oval shaped. When I told them, they tried to tell me it was correct!
I’ve sent another message about the defects and the barrel again, so we will see what happens.
This is my first experience with resin models and to be honest it will be my last!
Although resin has some nice details, I much prefer to build a plastic kit. Plastic kits in my opinion are much more enjoyable to build up.
I would not recommend SS Model resin kits.
RB
Don’t let this deter you from other 3D printed or resin cast kits. There are numerous manufacturers, large and small, that product well researched, quality resin and 3D printed kits that are as good or better then any plastic kit and don’t really require any more work. If you are looking for Italian subjects, Brach Model and Model Victoria produce excellent resin cast kits.
1 Like
I’ve bought a few of their kits - their quality tends to vary. Their earliest kits were terrible and full of printing strata lines, but I’m sure those kits are long out of production, and no longer to be found. The ones that I do have are generally not bad, but contain a few errors - usually correctable, or able to conceal. As stated above there are sometimes warped sections that will need to be firmly clamped while super glue, or epoxy glue sets. The resin used is quite brittle so forget about modifications requiring cutting or drilling, which is unfortunate, because the examples I have all have hatches printed shut, and I would probably ruin the model if I tried to cut the hatches open. I would recommend getting an SS Model only if that kit is not available in styrene (or any other printed source), or if you really, REALLY wanted that vehicle. To their credit, they do produce models that are not otherwise available.
1 Like
From what I read somewhere else, they’re apparently mostly models pulled from computer games. Going purely by the renderings I’ve seen, I would not want to spend money on (m)any of them, at least not in scales like 1:35 or 1:48 because the detail seems very crude. It will probably look better in 1:72 or so?
1 Like
I noticed that some details look great and some obvious detail missing.
I’ll try and repair what I have as It’s a rare Italian AFV that no one else makes.
Semovente M41M 90/53
I’ll attach some pics of some of the issues.
First pic has some pretty deep lines in what should be flat panels, second has resin missing from corner of the mud guard. Third pic has holes in the sprocket wheel and is very thin all around.
I’ll try and fill them with putty.
2 Likes
I bought their Stuart based 75mm howitzer and my impression was very good overall.
2 Likes
Actually, a number of companies have produced the Semovente M41 90/53 in resin in the past (Historica, Criel, Commanders). Brach Model also produces it and it is available based on their website. Brach Model kits are VERY well done (I have at least a dozen of their kits) and even for resin, extremely buildable.
2 Likes
Also with the kits I purchased, they all have warped track/wheel assembly.
Any tips on how to straighten the resin out would me much appreciated as I’m just about ready to bin them all!
Cheers
RB
1 Like
You can try heating them in hot water, which softens the resin, and gently bending them into position. Hot air from a hair dryer also has the same effect on the resin.
2 Likes
I’ll give it a go.
Thanks
1 Like
Be sure to give it enough time for the heat to penetrate into the parts rather than heating up the outside only. But be careful you don’t heat it too far that it will flop all over the place.
1 Like
After buying its M8 HMC 3D printed in 1/35, I am staying away from other kits from SS Model. Very disappointing in accuracy level. That’s just my experience with one offering however.
1 Like
I also picked up a kit from them to try out, got the su-76b. Looks ok, detail on the commanders copula feels a bit weak. The Dshk dosen’t look particularly good. I do plan to eventually build it, repairing damage and replacing handles, lifting hooks, Dshk, gun, etc. The engine deck needs some PE screens also. Packaged in bubble wrap and foam but still had some breakage. Left side front fender gone.
1 Like
I have quite a few of their add-on parts for M1s and T-55s in 1/72 and 1/35. Like others say, quality and accuracy is highly variable. At their best they’re excellent; I’ve also sent some stuff straight to the bin.
1 Like
So here’s my conclusion,
I was silly in purchasing 4 kits from SS Models straight up, should’ve bought one first , total cost was around $300.00 AU.
All 1/35 scale WW2 Italian tanks.
After finding more defects, warping and missing details, I’ve decided to bin them all.
Also, they have made every excuse not to replace any parts.
I know some of you have said other brands of resin models are very good but this experience has killed it for me.
In my opinion, plastic kits are a far more enjoyable to build up.
My final word in regards to SS Models - STAY AWAY!
Cheers
RB
2 Likes