Small Scale Military Headquarters

Hi, Which is better FOV or 21st century? land military.1/32 scale.
Can they be displayed together? I.m looking for the details on these models. I see some models are only made by one company and others by both. which would be the best pick?
Also do everyone keep the boxes< I just don't have the room anymore, and I'm collecting for my enjoyment, so does the boxes really have to be keeped. thanks, Bandit

FOV and 21st are compatible. In my opinion FOV is better detailed. 21st Century however is very reasonably priced. As far as the boxes go, that's really personal preference. If you're a serious collecter, the product will never be removed from the box. I used to keep the boxes but who has the room. The only boxes I now keep are for K&C because their value continues to rise.

FOV and 21st are compatible. In my opinion FOV is better detailed. 21st Century however is very reasonably priced. As far as the boxes go, that's really personal preference. If you're a serious collecter, the product will never be removed from the box. I used to keep the boxes but who has the room. The only boxes I now keep are for K&C because their value continues to rise.

It seems to depend on the model. I have both together, and I have to say my FOV Tiger I looks a little out of place amongst his 21st brethren, but my Prime Mover with the Flak gun in back looks really nice, as do my Schwimm- and Kubel- wagens. I think the FOV Jagdpanther is nicer than the 21st, but the price difference between 21st and FOV is ultimately what makes me go with 21st.

At any rate, if you want a particular vehicle you may have no choice which company to select - that's why I have an FOV Elefant - 21st may never get around to making one.

It really depends on the model. As a rule, FOV's vehicles are better. They are diecast and the Enthusiast versions come with weathering and lots of accessories. They look like professional models. With 21c, it depends on the model. Some of their newest pieces of 1:32 armor like the Panzer 38, Marders and Hetzer are nearly compatible to FOV. Other older pieces are not quite so much, like the Panzer IV, for example. One advantage that 21c vehicles have is lots of functionality and in some, detailed interiors. I would agree that both display well together.

This is a comparison at the 1/32d scale level.

FoVs vehicles are more highly and delicately (read fragile) detailed. The FoV chassis' & turrets are usually metal and are heavier and more solid feeling than the all-plastic or partly-plastic 21st C products. FoV has more loose pieces to get lost and break off.

The tracks/wheels on 21st C invariably roll more smoothly than the FoV. Most of the FoV have the tracks roll in unison while the 21st C have them rolling independently.

Quality control at 21stC is far and away better than FoV, but FoV has a lot more to be concerned about in terms of quality.

Overall the paint jobs on the FoV are better, better weathered and generally higher quality than 21stC's.

FoV tanks have turrets attached and effectively unremovable. Almost all 21stC tanks have removable turrets. (Only the Tiger and M-41 have screwed-on turrets.) Hatches on 21stC are deep and accommodating. Hatches on FoV are invariably too shallow and irredeemable.

I feel that FoV makes pretensions to be far more than they actually provide. I like their product and have several but even casual handling can result in damage. The "accessory" pieces don't always fit correctly or well and in general they provide a higher degree of frustration. They also come with at least one crewman/vehicle. 21stC seems to have dropped to none from as many as three.

You can use the older 21stC crew (the half figures) in the FoV hatches although you will have to rearrange their arms or they will look as if they are conjuring.

depending on the AFV

both companies have made sheitpies in the last few years and gold standards(21st's 38(t) line or their last 32x planes) or FOV's sdkfz.7/1, StuG III, or 8.8cm FlaK 36

For me I like 21st century more as they make more interesting items instead of just tigers & Sherman's & I hate the weathering in FOV stuff
I had all there early 1/32 stuff but sold it as they did not look right

What bothered/s me about FoV product are 1) quality control issues such as accessory pieces that do not fit well (or easily) onto the vehicle and 2) errors such as the Panther's upside down mantlet.

Also I have found damage such as the barrels of the 50 cals on the M-16 all bent out of shape sitting in the box on the store shelf. Wrong parts in the box. The advice I got from the company was to take it back.