So, you guys I see many re-releases of Dragon kits, some with new 3d bits but at exorbitant prices. Which of them are still worth buying? Are the newer offerings from other manufacturers always better/more accurate?
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Dragons German armor is still good. They just cost too much compared to the competition. I was lucky and picked up a Dragon Stug lll for $30. I thought that was a fair price.
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Honestly, if it’s also made by RFM, Meng, or Takom you’re better off buying it from them. You’ll get a better engineered kit at a cheaper price. But the Dragon re-releases are all still generally excellent kits. As long as you can get it for a fair price. None of them are worth $80 - $90.
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Generally speaking I find there T-34 rather bad accuracy wise, excepting maybe the early 41 once. Also, I’ve got the impression that their Shermans are not that awesome.
As a rule of thumb are there German stuff the better researched once?
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Dragon’s German stuff definitely has first priority as far as research and quality goes. Many of Dragon’s Sherman kits have fit issues. Better to go with RFM, Meng, or Takom Shermans.
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It is impossible to judge the accuracy of a model by looking at the name on the box.
It is impossible to judge the accuracy of a model based on another model by the same company.
It is impossible to judge the accuracy of a model based on a single review or reference book.
It is impossible to judge a model based on the opinion of a single person.
Dragon M4 mediums are a very mixed bag, released over 30+ years of advancing technology. Having build a half dozen or so, they have good bones but will benefit from some tweaks. Figuring out what to tweak requires significant knowledge of the subject and/or research. Once identified, tweaks are usually fairly easy to implement.
Almost everyone says Asuka and Rye Field are better than Dragon. Having compared them all, I suspect that is mostly about getting little details right for specific vehicles and good instructions. Dragon models usually have a lot of useful stuff in the box but knowing what to use, knowing where the instructions are flat out wrong, is back to know how and research.
I agree that modern models from newer companies are often superior to old Dragon stuff. I also agree that many Dragon models are over priced. (That was even more true 15 years ago!) However, I very much look forward to building all the Dragon models in my closet, especially the Panthers and Panzer IVs.
I do like Takom a lot and look forward to the upcoming M4s from that company.
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Hi Rex, my primary interest is German WW2.
In my opinion, some of Dragon’s kits are still worthy. Talking about newer tooled kits, nothing Imperial or legacy Dragon.
Panzer IV’s are pretty good 
Tiger’s are pretty good
Late Panther G 2n1 is outstanding!
Panther D & A are 3rd rate by todays standards. I wouldn’t waste stash space on them if they were free.
Panzer III kits are pretty 2nd rate for today
234/2 Puma & friends- it’s fair I built one but RFM’s looks better in the box. I’d go with a newer one.
Wouldn’t allow another Dragon Sherman, modern, or black label kit in my house never mind near the stash.
Likewise wouldn’t allow a Dragon T-34-85 kit in my house never mind near the stash.
Given the low availability of quality choices for most T-34/76’s versions, I think some of the Dragon T-34/76’s are still worthwhile.
With that said just my opinion and everyone’s got an opinion.
YMMV
Best wishes on adding quality new kits to the stash.
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No one has released a new M-247 Mule.
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Yes they are
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What brands would you recommend for Panthers A and D, Panzer IIIs and T-34/85s?
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Richard, I think except for the tracks and to a lesser degree the wheels, the Meng Panther D & A are pretty decent. Admittedly, I’ve not built either yet and scoured them with references in hand. For a very serious Panther D build in the future, I’ve settled on the Meng kit.
I also believe Takom does pretty well with their Panther kits, especially the G.
Panzer III, the Dragon kits have overall pretty good reputations. I much prefered the Academy Pz III kit (built) & RFM Pz III. Most fault with the Dragon Pz III kits are instructions, mixing and matching parts from various kits and not quite being up to today’s standards molding or design. With that said Dragon still has exquisite fenders in their Pz III & Stug III kits.
My gripe with Dragon’s T-34-85 is very poor quality control and that its dated. ~120+ sink marks in the three kits I owned. They address this later but you’re still stuck with a ~1996 designed kit…and it pretty much looks it in my opinion. Scratch, brass & aftermarket thrown at it helps but is sort of lip stick on a pig to my way of thinking.
While Ryefield’s instructions may be off a little for serious experts of the T-34-85, their kits seem pretty good. I don’t get too wrapped up in factory xyz used hatch #25 vs #32 and I don’t think RFM did either. The RFM bones seem very good, it fits well and builds nice. References would be a must for a serious build. RFM’s 85 tracks suck. Very happy w/RFM’s 85’s & aftermarket tracks. Academy has a good reputation but I haven’t build one of those.
I’m not really into Stug III but Dragon’s Stug III kits are still very good from what I understand.
HTH
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The reason I ask is I do have many older Dragon kits in my stash and I’m looking to clear out some of it. There seems to be so many new companies out there making updated kits.
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In regards to what is in the box, the best researched T-34/85s are those from Miniart. But those are some though build and have only factory 112 and Czechoslovak tanks. Rfm are weird in many ways. They started from the Egyptian SPG built from a Czechoslovak tank, but keep adding new parts ala Dragon. So the best one of them is probably the original.
Academy are ok, but nowhere as accurate as miniart for factory 112, and did not have factory 183.
The newish Zvezda is pretty good for an early 183.
Haven’t seen the new Italeri T-34s (nor do I ever want to), nor the older AFV club.
ICM/Revell of Germany unfortunately are not very good either.
Run from Border.
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Do you know if there is a site for Sherman tanks what 4bogreen was for the Soviet havies?
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Yes/No, not one to break down the plastic but good for 1:1. Sherman minutia homepage
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I assume you want to know if the kits are good kits, not good values. The former is only somewhat subjective, at least relative to other kits while the latter is completely subjective. The greatest and best kit ever made may be worth buying at $50 but untouchable at $500.
The first cut would be: Does anyone else make the subject? If no, then those are worth a close look, at least. There are some that are bad kits and essentially worthless if you care about accuracy or buildability or fancy undertaking a magnum opus to correct it.
The second would be Are the DML kits better detailed or molded, or more accurate than a competing product? I would evaluate them myself or insist on a thorough comparison from others.
I would not put too much stock in general statements like “The RFM kits are better” unless you take a really deep dive into what that person specifically thinks are the better aspects compared to the DML items and why. There are plenty of people who make broad dismissals of certain kits over things like “They have PE/They don’t have PE”, “They have indy link tracks/They have link and length tracks.”, or “Their instructions are bad”. Their individual opinions are perfectly valid, but if you are counting on them to guide your own decisions you ought to get more information. A fellow who likes to detail vs one who like to paint can have divergent views of the same features, as can a experienced modeler vs. a newer builder.
If you are looking for a kit list, well, good luck. DML issued a zillion 1/35 kits. I doubt anyone is going to give you a rundown from #3501 to #6899 or whatever number they ended with.
KL
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So which T34-85 stands out as excellent?
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Greg, I’m definitely not a student of the finer points of the T-34-85 and it’s various factories & fine details. The folks that can tolerant Mini-Art kits seem to like that series the best so it’s a YMMV preference.
Between the spares box and the optional parts included I felt the RFM kit covered all the T-34-85 stuff I needed or cared to build. It’s the best kit out of all nine T-34’s I’ve built. (Tamiya, ICM, Dragon & Ryefield).
I disliked the kit’s link & length tracks and replaced them. Was very happy with how it built. The PE engine deck screen fit was incredibly good and easy to fit properly.
Bought four more back in 2021. Two were for friends and two for the stash. Very few model kits make that sort of favorable impression on me. Dragon’s Late Tiger 1 #6406 being one such kit and Late Panther G 2n1 #6602MT the other.
With that said, several serious aficionados were less enthralled with the RFM kit than myself.
HTH
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And what about the 251 and especially 250?
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They were the only game in town for the MBT 70, but I guess Amusing Hobby will be releasing one in the near future ,( extra wheels / suspension on their VT 1-2 kit)
like the included photo references for the Dragon kit.
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