Small Scale Military Headquarters

Hi all, I'm new to collecting die cast tanks but have researched the different makes and wanted to collect a particular set.

I looked at Fov 1/32 scale and Dragon 1/72 scale and decided to buy one of each to get a feel for the series. I really want to collect WW2 but opted for a Bradley Dragon 1/72 scale and the Abrahams 1/32 FOV. Now I realise that there is a difference in terms of price, the dragon cost me £9 where as the Fov cost £25 almost 3x as much. Here are my findings.

Size...
FOV - It is bigger (obviously) a good thing in terms of detail but less so for collecting as I don't have too much shelf space.
Dragon - small but a good size. Cannot see the detail as well as on Dragon but still nice.
Draw

Detail...
FOV - Superb detail, could not ask for more. The hatches open, tracks move and turret turns etc. The painting/weathering is top notch.
Dragon - Hmmm it is so so. The tracks do not move, the turret looks too thin and is bent, but it does look reasonable.
FOV wins

Build...
FOV - What can I say, it feels heavy and all bits move smoothly. A die-cast for sure.
Dragon - Well a massive dissapointment and something that has put me off collecting them. I removed the Bradley from it's case and the side fell off. Not only that but surely it cannot be classed as die-cast. Quite frankly it has way more plastic content and feels light as can be. The build is terrible.
FOV wins

Accessories
FOV - comes with a base and added extras such as a solider/guns and other army / model bits.
Dragon - Comes with a full case. Handy.
FOV wins but well done to Dragon for a decent case A close call.


Price / Value.
FOV - The term "you get what you pay for" springs to mind. A great model at a reasonable price considering the additional extras you get and the quality of the build.
Dragon - Seems cheaply made but is cheapish. More quantity than quality.
FOV wins

Collectability.
FOV - There is a good range of tanks and vehicles out there and they are very collectable. The diorama's are splendid and you can pick one up reasonably cheaply if you check out ebay.
Dragon - Over 160 including special models. There are a lot of repeats with differing paint jobs but they are very collectable especially at the pricepoint. There is also a cheaper/smaller can-do range.
Dragon wins

Overall..
Well I am being totally honest when I say that I was unbiased with regards to Forces of Valor and Dragon.

They both excited me for different reasons. FoV has lived up to it's name and the model that I bought was pure quality, I have no reason to expect further investments to differ and look forward to purchasing WW2 FOV figures starting with the T34 Eastern front 1/32.

With dragon, I really wanted to like them but the models are poorly made, I have since bought another Dragon as they are so cheap to see if it was a one off but the T34 model was also made mostly of plastic. I heard that there are varying degrees of metal/plastic in Dragon models but .....
I loved the idea of being able to collect a large detailed die cast series of tanks but Dragon have dissapointed me. Although I may still buy the odd Dragon when my wallet is close to empty it will be FOV that I invest in purely due to the superb quality/weathering/build and extras that a FOV model gives.

Please let me know your thoughts as I am a newby as it were, thanks.[/b]

Welcome to the world of collecting! I must say that it is difficult to compare 1/32 to 1/72, esp. FOV to Dragon. You would have to compare FOV's 1/72 to Dragon. You will have varying opinions. I really love the Dragon tanks, even with all the plastic. I must disagree on the detail. I am pretty pleased with the crispness of most of my Dragon models. . . I have about 40! I have never had anything fall off, but don't have the Bradley. You are correct in the "lightness" of some of the Dragon models, esp. the T-34. I also have 2 of the FOV 1/32 tanks, and love them. If you haven't already, check out Admiral Toys for their upcoming 1/72 release, PZIII, whichi is supposed to be 90% metal. This is a great hobby and a great forum, you will get a lot of good info. Also, check out Mikestanks.com. Happy collecting!

In a way you're kinda compairing apples to oranges. I would think the biggest factor infront of you is do you prefer 1/32 or 1/72.

Mind you that FoV makes a 1/72 which (I feel) is great for the money.

If you like 1/32, you should check out 21st Century as they do pretty good work too. Myself, I prefer FoV 1/32...I have some glass cabinets from Ikea that they look great in. However you go....enjoy, and welcome.

-H

Your comparing apples to warermelons here. 1/32 to 1/72. While I have found the FoV to be beautiful at first the little things, single axles that force both tracks to run together, little parts that tend to break off, beautiful accessories that just don't fit right- parts that require after purchase remodeling to work properly, and in most cases hatches that open but lead nowhere, way too shallow to put anything in. To me the FoV are a disappointment as big as their size. On the other hand, as static models to admire I think they are terrific. If you're no going to "live" with it all it has to do is to look good. Fov 1/32 models certainly do do that.
On the other hand the Dragon Armour series are 1/72 and in that class have fabulous detail. The Bradley is, to me, one of their worst endeavors and to my mind a poor choice for comparisons. The early models were more metal, either the entire hull or turret, had more heft, etc. Today these are basically just plastic models, though still beautifully detailed, and very much a promise unfulfilled. I prefer the WW2 ones, Panthers, Tigers and new Stugs as well as the Nashorn, et al (I never much cared for the KT and my prejudice continues) to the modern tanks. I too bought (a few) T-34(s) and while impressed with their looks was not impressed with them.
The Can Do are superb little tankses and their running gear alone make them worth the price of admission. Static tracks do not phase me as rolling ones tend to run off the road wheels. Have you run your Abrams across the rug at high speed and tried to turn? The Can Do Bradley is a superb model, as well as are most of the WW2 tanks, in particular the Tiger and Panther.
After all is said and done I think you have to decide on what scale you want, how much room and money you care to devote (FoV is also into repainting and reissuing as Dragon does) and how much handling yopu plan on doing. Both have their pluses and minuses as you so well reviewed.
And just by the way, FoV also puts out 1/72 scale tamks in direct competition with Dragon's. They aren't terribly well manufactured but have a lot going for them including crewmen and detail. I don't know about the tracks because, well, I never felt them of an adequate quality to buy....

I sort of have the same thing to say as everyone else. Are you trying to find the scale you want or the manufacturer to go with? Comparing 1/32 to 1/72 is sort of odd since they're different scales and as said above is like comparing two very unsimilar fruits.

A better comparison would be Forces of Valor 1/72 tanks compared to Dragon Armor 1/72 tanks which are both the same scale and makes more sense since they would have more in common. I'm almost exclusively a 1/72 diecast collector and love Dragon, but there are also other 1/72 manufacturers out there to mix in with.

I chose 1/72 because of the price, the detail, the amount you can fit in a small area and it seems to be an extremely growing scale for diecast tanks. Either way you go, as long as you're happy with what you buy, that's all the matters.

Thanks for all your comments guys. Of course I understand about not comparing like scales but I was undecided which to go for and thought the comparisons would give others a "heads up". I know FOV also do a 1/72 scale range but I heard that whilst they are heavier they are not so detailed although it is a close run thing.

The range of Dragon 1/72 also far outweighs FOV 1/72.

I guess the message is that you go for whatever YOU feel comfortable with. As I said I will collect both although concentrate more on FOV. Hell I may even collect some Corgi / 21st century. Tanks are Tanks hehe.

Mikes tanks is a great source of information, is there any other great die-cast sites or forums for tanks?

To me, comparing 1/72 to 1/32 for collecting purposes begs the question: What is your intended purpose for collecting one scale versus the other?? If your sole intent is wargaming, then I would say that 1/72 is far more practical. On the other hand, if you just want to admire your tanks, rotate the turret, elevate the gun, open and close hatches, and generally just observe your model in various poses, with or without figures and/or accesories, then I would have to say that for me at least 1/32 is the winner by far. As for storage, I don't see space requirements as a major impediment to collecting 1/32 vehicles and armor, but 1/18th is a horse of a different color in this regard.

Hey ltcbj, we must have bee writing the same thing at the same time. I read your post and was like, didn't I just say that? ahh...funny.

On the lines of what Ostketten asked...if you want to make a battle scene..go with Dragon. Just a skirmish?...FoV. Kirsk?...better go with Axis and Allies minis on that one. Unless of course you can spare $10,000 and your whole basement.



-H

I like the 144 Can-Do, WTM et al and 1/285 micro-armor for big battles....