I think the Black Label kit is the best available at this time. I have one in the stash and ordered some DEF wheels for it.
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Compiled w/ChatGTP, a few kits to consider.
Per AI’s research, are these uniquely offered by Dragon Models — meaning no other manufacturer has released a plastic kit of these exact subjects in 1/35 scale as configured by Dragon.
(Probably worth confirming no one else offers exact same.)
This list also includes the year Dragon released each kit and the year its base tooling kit debuted.
- VK 45.02(P)H Prototype Heavy Tank
Kit #: 6657
Released: 2011 (new tool)
Notes: Rare German WWII prototype with a rear-mounted turret. Features aluminum barrel and DS tracks.
- M67 “Zippo” Flamethrower Tank
Kit #: 3584
Released: 2013 (new tool), 2017 (new parts)
Notes: Vietnam-era flamethrower tank on an M48A3 chassis.
- Borgward IV Ausf. A Heavy Demolition Vehicle
Kit #: 6101
Released: 1999 (new tool)
Notes: Remote-controlled German demolition carrier. Still the only 1/35 plastic kit of this vehicle.
- Sd.Kfz.234/4 “Falke” w/ Night Vision
Kit #: 6838
Released: 2006 (new tool) 2023 (new parts)
Notes: A fictional or prototype variant of the 234/4 equipped with night vision gear. A unique Dragon subject.
- Sd.Kfz.165 Hummel Initial Production
Kit #: 6430
Released: 1993 (new tool), 2023 (new parts)
Notes: Represents the initial production variant of the Hummel SPG, not available from other manufacturers in this form.
Are there additional kits Dragon has uniquely covered?
Have you built any of these and have insights or pics to share!?
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Do you consider this the same or different?
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Ryan, it maybe easy enough to leave the S-mines & rockets off of the Das Werks/Amusing Hobby kit and make an acceptable ausf A like the Dragon kit.
However, I’d think of them as different kits as since the instructions are tailored to different configurations.
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But Hobby boss has 2 vk 4502s, the one with the turret in the back is
Don’t understand why the list does not include SU-76i or Stug 3 ausf A and the early panzer 3s
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Aren’t there more than these if you consider those awful “Black Plague” kits and some of their “Stupid” kit lines in 1/35?
T54E1
M6 and M6A1
MBT-70
M48 and M60 AVLBs
T28
M60 “Slick”
All those US Half-tracks (still quite good in my opinion - not like the Black Plagues):
- OK, Tamiya had these but frankly, they were 1970’s antiques..
And all those M48 Patton-based IDF Magaches:
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I’d say part of the fault is I asked for “a list” of unique Dragon models’ not “an exhaustive list all inclusive list of of ALL unique Dragon models”. Additional follow up questions probably would have helped refinement.
Not sure why it missed the Hobby Boss vk 4502(p) unless it’s because the AI considered the H in the Dragon vk 4502(p)H name as making it unique.
Based on a discussion with the AI about battleships, it made three assertions about the USS South Dakota class that were wrong but commonly held misconceptions. These assertions I believe were made or repeated in a well regarded reference book. I don’t believe at the level of access I have (free) there was cross checking of technical facts.
The AI provided a good overview or starting point for discussion in the battleship chat. Example it claimed the South Dakota class (16) had more 5 inch AA guns than the North Carolina class (20). Apparently the source it used listed 10 twin 5 inch guns vs 16 five inch guns or something like that. With “discussion” and me telling it to dig deeper it finally recognized that error and adjust its analysis of anti aircraft capabilities of the the ships relative to each other.
At one point, the AI insisted the torpedo damage to USS North Carolina was used to revise the underwater protection of the USS South Dakota. I asked the AI if it was using World of Warships as its primary source. The AI wasn’t but might well have been because the SD was COMMISSIONED several months before NC was torpedoed. When that was pointed out with dates as an irrefutable fact the AI acknowledged the error. It was so nice for a fact to determine the outcome of a discussion.
Sharing that as an example of why it was necessary to have (Probably worth confirming no one else offers exact same.) in my initial post on the AI list.
I failed to mention the list wasn’t an exhaustive list because I was happy the AI identified five. I hadn’t thought about asking for an exhaustive list of all.
BTW - I didn’t know about the HobbyBoss kit and had forgotten about the Dragon vk 4502(p)h. When the AI showed the Dragon kit, I was so excited…I stopped the chat and went and bought the damned thing!
HTH
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I own a two or three of those Dragon United States half tracks. The one I built was really nice and only needed a few tweaks to meet my needs. (Some model builders will be more demanding.) They even have hard plastic tires and tracks, the latter molded in a very clever way. If time was unlimited, I would definitely buy and build more of those.
On the other hand, the M6s and T28 were very disappointing because of errors in major dimensions. I still go back and forth on accepting the issues and buying them anyway, just to fill out my United States heavy tank tree.
I do not remember what was wrong with the T54E1 and MBT 70 models. Memory usage has exceeded capacity and some blocks are failing.
If I recall correctly, Gino ranked the Dragon M48s as decent to very good. I would definitely buy and build those if time permits and nothing better comes along.
Hobby Boss models are usually easier to build, less detailed, and significantly cheaper than Dragon models. I have never compared those two Porsche Tigers, head to head.
Enjoying this discussion. Refreshing memory. Considering buying some stuff.
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Agreed, this thread raises some real first world, retired arm chair general questions of the greatest importance too like…
Neubaufahrzeug vs VK 45.02(P)H vs M10 Booker vs all that Black Label 
For Best Tank That Never Was Part #4
Decisions, decisions 
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For the Neubaufahrzeug, if I recall correctly, Terry Ashley ranked them Amusing Hobby > Dragon > Trumpeter. Looked that one up relatively recently on eBay and the Amusing Hobby version is getting rare.
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I gave up on finding the Amusing Hobby Neubaufahrzeug. Failed 3x to buy it.
Would show in stock, I’d order it and they’d refund a few days later.
You could hear the Dragon Neubaufahrzeug laughing on the shelf, “…your not going to get out of building me!..Muh-hahaha!”
Hard to believe only nine were built but we have three manufacturers!
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That’s because it’s a cool looking tank and it’s got that multiple turret mystique.
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AI is the 
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AI is Satan’s minion. We should definitely hold an intervention for Wade…
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It is a super cool vehicle. (Ninja’d by Matt!)
If you have not done so, I highly recommend doing an eBay search for the kit. Set the price and other parameters within your comfort zone. Save the search and make sure email alerts for that specific search are turned on. Eventually, one will cross you bow, located in the United States, from some guy, just like us, who is out of storage space.
Fair warning: the search will generate some email spam because many people are out of touch with model price reality. If you do not want your main email box spammed, set up an email address specifically for this sort of thing and let the eBay traffic accumulate there. Alternately, set you email application to direct all eBay email into a specific folder where you can safely ignore it most of the time. (Not all email applications are smart enough to set up this sort of thing.)
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Very informal impression from over at Spruebrothers.com for 1/35 AFV kit availability for a few Chinese manufacturers plus Tamiya.
Tamiya ~94%
Dragon ~100% of listed AFV kits
HobbyBoss ~98%
Trumpeter ~97%
Border ~92%
Ryefield ~85%
Meng ~60%
Takom ~ 30%
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As much as AI has advanced and is a big deal now, I always look at the data with a grain of salt. Especially at work, if I use it to do any regulatory research, there are times when it gets 100% accurate, and sometimes, it gives completely incorrect information. Looks like a similar limitation is shown for the Dragon kit offerings.
Obviously, we are far from days when Skynet’s T-800 or T-1000 will be roaming the earth and kill us all - dudes will most likely want attractive robot gf’s before those.
Shoot, I already forgot what I was going to say next.
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That’s an interest data. Not sure if it’s a chicken or egg situation but I feel like it’s a combo of supply/demand mismatch, as well as unreasonable pricing.
I for one have only bought 2nd hand (or even 3rd, 4th hand) Dragon kits from eBay or FB marketplace for the past 2 decades except for a couple that were on huge sale at Aliexpress…
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