Mike Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 I've been scouring the 'net for information on Dragon's new Black Label kit of the Conqueror heavy tank, and apart from one thread from a chap who had actually got the kit in his hands and didn't like two-part DS tracks or styrene barrels split in half, I couldn't seem to put my finger on an actual list of things that're wrong with the kit, other than people's general disdain for the Black Label kits, which they call Black death instead. Are people just picking up on the vibe when they say that Dragon have "didn't do a very good job", or are there some actual documented things wrong with it? I know there are bound to be at least a few minor things wrong with any kit, as nothing's perfect, as to expect otherwise would make you a very grumpy person indeed due to the constant disappointment. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 A quick search of some of my other haunts suggests many AFV modellers are asking exactly the same question. Dragon have been on a steep downhill slope in Braille Scale at least and I'd imagine DS-100 tracks would be hideous on something this big. The reports of DS-100 crumbling are becoming quite prevalent, more so in small scale where modellers are less likely to replace the kit tracks as a matter of course. FWIW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andygif290368 Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 Has anyone actually got hold of one yet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted June 9, 2015 Author Share Posted June 9, 2015 Seems odd that it's not 'ere yet and we have only vague rumblings (to my knowledge) that it's "off" here & there. I'd like to know more if anyone's got some definitive info that can be backed up by a bit of evidence. Having seen Duxford's one, I quite fancy adding it to the stash Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andygif290368 Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 (edited) http://www.cybermodeler.com/hobby/kits/dml/kit_dml_3555.shtml Hmm at last my googling has born fruit, someone has at least managed to take pictures of sprues. The actual review is not much on detail. Edited June 9, 2015 by andygif290368 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viper-30 Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 (edited) Edited June 9, 2015 by Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted June 9, 2015 Author Share Posted June 9, 2015 Let's see if these two pics help us to judge? mantlet looks too big More digging required. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted June 9, 2015 Author Share Posted June 9, 2015 Turret looks too tall too? Bit bulbous maybe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shar2 Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 The turret does look wrong. The top particularly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted June 9, 2015 Author Share Posted June 9, 2015 Trouble with photos is you can get funny effects, distortion from the lens, yada-yada, but there does seem to be something weird going on with the turret particularly. The turret doesn't look so high on this pic, or as bulbous - mainly because it's the Amusing Hobby one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panzer Vor!!! Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 What wrong with it??? Its not German Its not Yellow Its not aTiger /Panther Running for cover 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted June 9, 2015 Author Share Posted June 9, 2015 Some chap has built one and seems to like it. Here's a carousel of the pics he's taken that should give us a good overall idea Clicky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted June 9, 2015 Author Share Posted June 9, 2015 The transition from cylindrical to sloped sections on the turret front is both too smooth, and starts too high up, and I think that big flat plate on the top looks too long. I can't seem to find any pics of a mantlet bag like that, which is taut, and makes the mantlet look larger than it possibly is. It could also be larger than it should be. The bustle looks a bit iffy too, with another soft transition under the vertical bit. The Amusing Hobby one is looking better and better by comparison Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted June 9, 2015 Author Share Posted June 9, 2015 The ironwork basket on the bustle is too thick, but that might just be limitations of injection moulding. The big cupola on the rear of the turret might be too high, with too much in the vertical plane at the bottom. That might be easy to correct with some sandpaper on the bottom (of the cupola)... or not. Glacis plate angles look to be off too. I'd heard that already though, so I'm just confirming it for myself really. I'll be holding out for the Amusing Hobby one, I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shar2 Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 Yeah, the Amusing Hobby definitely looks much closer. I think that's the one to get too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeR Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 (edited) I'm hardly an expert on post WW2 British AFV's, but that turret really doesn't look right to me, compared with the real thing. It's definitely a too bulbous and the bustle does look wrong as well. My 2p, Mike. Edited June 9, 2015 by MikeR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andygif290368 Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 The amusing hobby model is supposed to be the mk1 though so it will look different to the dragon one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 Iffy shape and dodgy DS-100.....Nice one Dragon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shar2 Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 MkII 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt182 Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 There is a few photos of a built example over on Armorama. I can't comment on accuracy but this phot really caught my eye Moulded on tools on the fender and solid lumps of plastic for grab handles. All the detail looks kind of soft too. Seems like Dragon are taking a step backwards with every new release, except with the price! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 Welcome to the world we've been enjoying in Braille for so long: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andygif290368 Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 Someone in the UK(probably?) has 6 for sale on eBay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted June 12, 2015 Author Share Posted June 12, 2015 I'm going to wait for the two to be out, and go with the one I think looks best Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 What are the kit bashing possibilities (other than expensive).....I understand the two kits are of different variants, but presumably some cross-kitting might be advantageous? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishbed Posted June 15, 2015 Share Posted June 15, 2015 Someone somewhere posted a side-by-side photo of the dragon and AA turret. Lots of differences. Buggered if I can find where I saw it now. I'll post if I re-discover the link Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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