Dragon Metal Content - Planes vs Tanks

Philip · Post by **Philip** » Sat May 19, 2007 9:43 pm

It is interesting to note that Dragon's 1/72 planes are very high in metal content, while the tanks are almost plastic. I have looked at Dragon's plane prices and they are generally from $19.99 - $25.00. Here is my question: If Dragon can produce a 1/72 plane high in metal content, and sell it for ca. $22.00. Why can't Dragon produce their tanks in the same manner, and sell them for a similar price? Why can't they simply go back to the metal content of their first Tiger I? Is it a detail problem? A production problem? Why aren't the planes mainly plastic? Interesting.

Tshintl · Post by **Tshintl** » Sat May 19, 2007 11:52 pm

I can't answer about the planes, but 1/72 Dragon Armor tanks are the same as Dragon 1/72 plastic kits, just prebuilt and prepainted. The 1/72 plastic kit market is huge compared to the diecast tank market. Many modelers complained almost nonstop when Dragon included diecast hulls with their model kits so they went back to all plastic to make modelers happy again (they are by far the larger of the two markets so their opinions won out). Since they're one in the same, Dragon Armor tanks had to go to all plastic as well.

ChairmanMilo · Post by **ChairmanMilo** » Sun May 20, 2007 2:33 am

Are all of the new models all-plastic? I have quite a few of them, and the Challenger 2 seem to be the only one with any heft. Imagine my surprise when I bought my first "diecast metal" Dragon miniatures - a Ferdinand, a Leopard 2A4, and a Maus - and they were lighter than one piece of tissue paper!

Not that I mind - they look great. I'm not that much of a metal fanatic. It's just that I wish they wouldn't advertise that they use metal in their construction. The only metal content in the Maus consisted of the two screws holding it to the base

What Tshintl said is absolutely correct. While Dragon does make a fortune off of its Dragon Armor lineup, their bread & butter consists of the plastic model market. Modellers can be a wee bit fussy about their kits.

Wieslaw · Post by **Wieslaw** » Sun May 20, 2007 12:01 pm

I suppose it's easier to produce a metal plane with more flat surfaces and a little plastic details than the smaller metal tank with a lot of small parts...