Tamiya or dragon?

J

Jack10

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I think I'm going to pop to my local model shop tomorrow to buy a new set of 1/35 figures to paint, probably some german troops (not sure which ones yet) but was just wondering what brand people prefer/best quality. I've had Tamiya in the past and really like them, but have seen a lot of nice looking dragon sets out there so might give them a go. Tamiya of dragon can't decide...
 

Steve Brodie

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Tamiya figures used to have very soft details in the face area, dragon are slightly better, for the ultimate in heads/faces you would need to replace them with resin heads (i.e. Hornet), but horses for courses.
 

spanner570

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I wouldn't go for either - Get Miniart or Master Box. No need to waste money replacing anything.

........but as Steve writes "Horses for Courses"
 

Robert1968

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I would agree with Ron as Master box do a nice selection and no need to operate just build and paint
I have Miniart figs too but not tried yet
It's a personal choice but the options are out there, depends what your looking for
 
J

Jack10

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I went for these...IMG_1527.JPG they didn't have too much choice really didn't see any of the other makes mentioned. I like the look of these, I will prob end up struggling with the camo but I'm sure I'll have fun
 
J

Jens Andrée

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As someone who's recently come back to scale modelling I was at first really impressed with the detailed figures new Tamiya kit included, compared to the abominations I remember from the 80's kits, and then I ordered a figure kit from Master Box...
The big difference is that on the Tamiya figures you have enough details (face, clothes, belt, webbing, etc) to understand what it is whereas with Master Box all the details are really crisp and realistic.

screenhunter_488-jul-18-15-17_medium.jpg


Perhaps not the best picture but you can clearly see the difference on the details here.

The biggest problem is that after buying a Master Box kit I'm no longer as impressed with the newer Tamiya figures that comes with my kits... o_O
 
J

Jack10

Guest
As someone who's recently come back to scale modelling I was at first really impressed with the detailed figures new Tamiya kit included, compared to the abominations I remember from the 80's kits, and then I ordered a figure kit from Master Box...
The big difference is that on the Tamiya figures you have enough details (face, clothes, belt, webbing, etc) to understand what it is whereas with Master Box all the details are really crisp and realistic.

screenhunter_488-jul-18-15-17_medium.jpg


Perhaps not the best picture but you can clearly see the difference on the details here.

The biggest problem is that after buying a Master Box kit I'm no longer as impressed with the newer Tamiya figures that comes with my kits... o_O
Iust say a lot of the master box sets I've seen online look absolutely fab! I've never seen them in my local shop though? Do you buy them online? It's mainly Tamiya and dragon and a few revell and airfix sets in 1/35, 1/32 so that's the only reason I was asking between Tamiya and dragon. Might invest in some master box if these turn out ok
 
J

Jens Andrée

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Iust say a lot of the master box sets I've seen online look absolutely fab! I've never seen them in my local shop though? Do you buy them online? It's mainly Tamiya and dragon and a few revell and airfix sets in 1/35, 1/32 so that's the only reason I was asking between Tamiya and dragon. Might invest in some master box if these turn out ok

I buy 100% of my stuff online. I don't remember last time I was inside a hobby store but I also live rather "rural" and we don't have them here I guess... ;)
It's easy to just sit down at home an order whatever you want and then pick it up at the post office the next day (if you order early).
The only downside with doing this is that you can't inspect the kits prior, and I've bought one really wonky kit due to this, but since then I check all the models first on scalemates.com

The Master Box I bought included 4 figures at £7.50, which I thought wasn't bad.
 
J

Jack10

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Yeah that's quite cheap! I remember only paying £3 a box for my Tamiya figures years ago. These set me back £11!
 
J

Jack10

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I buy 100% of my stuff online. I don't remember last time I was inside a hobby store but I also live rather "rural" and we don't have them here I guess... ;)
It's easy to just sit down at home an order whatever you want and then pick it up at the post office the next day (if you order early).
The only downside with doing this is that you can't inspect the kits prior, and I've bought one really wonky kit due to this, but since then I check all the models first on scalemates.com

The Master Box I bought included 4 figures at £7.50, which I thought wasn't bad.

Which website do you use to buy figures mate which offers the best value for money?
 
J

Jens Andrée

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Which website do you use to buy figures mate which offers the best value for money?

Well, being of scandihuligan origin (i.e. Sweden) my online store is probably not the cheapest one for you, nor for me to be honest - but the guy running it has fantastic customer service attitude and seldom take more than an hour from you press "order" until you get the notification that is has been processed by the post office!!! (as long as you order daytime that is...)
However, the store is www.hobbyland.se and although he doesn't have more than one or two of each model at home at any given time - as soon as one is sold it's restocked in a week-ish, and it's also a physical store hence why I try to support them.

He's pretty much having the same prices as the bigger international players and often it turns out cheaper than if I order each model separate from eBay e.g. since the shipping will drive up the price. It's no longer "free shipping" from China so that's not as cheap as it used to be.

I've always stayed true to those who give me great service and I will always by locally, regardless what it is, even if it costs 50% more (unless we're talking big money) because in the end you save money doing this since you don't have to drive around shopping and the fact that good and loyal customers will get better prices after a while. Also it's the only way to keep the local businesses from dying to the big supermarkets and shopping centres...

Sadly the sterling is rather poor with regards to value right now so you're not going to notice any fantastic prices here, but when the Swedish krona was 15 to £1 there were some nice bargains to be made! (it's 10 kr to £1 today)
Back in the days when I used to live outside Guildford in Surrey I got 15 SEK for £1 which was very nice whenever I visited Sweden because suddenly everything (apart from alcohol!!!) was cheap in Sweden?!
Scale modelling has always been popular here so there are still quite a few "hobby stores" around, but nowhere close to the amount we had back in the late 80's and early 90's...

With that said the cheapest places to buy new scale models are eBay and alibaba if you can combine shipping when buying several models, but every time we buy from these Asian sellers another hobby store will have to shut shop... Ok, not "every" time but you know what I mean.

If/when the sterling recovers, and/or the Swedish krona takes a dive again, ordering from Sweden is not a bad idea and p&p isn't too bad from here either but at the moment you and me are on the same Big Mac index so we're more or less having the same prices, I think.
 

spanner570

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Why not try our own shop here on S.M.? I'm sure John would give it his best shot re. price.
 
J

Jack10

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Well, being of scandihuligan origin (i.e. Sweden) my online store is probably not the cheapest one for you, nor for me to be honest - but the guy running it has fantastic customer service attitude and seldom take more than an hour from you press "order" until you get the notification that is has been processed by the post office!!! (as long as you order daytime that is...)
However, the store is www.hobbyland.se and although he doesn't have more than one or two of each model at home at any given time - as soon as one is sold it's restocked in a week-ish, and it's also a physical store hence why I try to support them.

He's pretty much having the same prices as the bigger international players and often it turns out cheaper than if I order each model separate from eBay e.g. since the shipping will drive up the price. It's no longer "free shipping" from China so that's not as cheap as it used to be.

I've always stayed true to those who give me great service and I will always by locally, regardless what it is, even if it costs 50% more (unless we're talking big money) because in the end you save money doing this since you don't have to drive around shopping and the fact that good and loyal customers will get better prices after a while. Also it's the only way to keep the local businesses from dying to the big supermarkets and shopping centres...

Sadly the sterling is rather poor with regards to value right now so you're not going to notice any fantastic prices here, but when the Swedish krona was 15 to £1 there were some nice bargains to be made! (it's 10 kr to £1 today)
Back in the days when I used to live outside Guildford in Surrey I got 15 SEK for £1 which was very nice whenever I visited Sweden because suddenly everything (apart from alcohol!!!) was cheap in Sweden?!
Scale modelling has always been popular here so there are still quite a few "hobby stores" around, but nowhere close to the amount we had back in the late 80's and early 90's...

With that said the cheapest places to buy new scale models are eBay and alibaba if you can combine shipping when buying several models, but every time we buy from these Asian sellers another hobby store will have to shut shop... Ok, not "every" time but you know what I mean.

If/when the sterling recovers, and/or the Swedish krona takes a dive again, ordering from Sweden is not a bad idea and p&p isn't too bad from here either but at the moment you and me are on the same Big Mac index so we're more or less having the same prices, I think.
Ah didn't realise you was from Sweden my friend. Think I'll have a look on eBay then for now. Yeah I know what you mean about hobby shops being few abs far between now. Although I'm quite lucky there are still 3 in walking distance from me so not too bad Cheers for the help anyways buddy take care
 
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