Academy models.

[Augustus]

Do they have a bad reputation, or have I just got a lemon?

The first two kits I did were Tamiya. I bought these because I'd read they have a good fit and thought that would be good to start on. It seemed true. Apart from a couple of minor fixes they went together well.

My third kit is a Academy kit, their 35(t), and it's a kin pig. I have had issues with the majority of the parts.

So are Academy bad? I hope not as I have one of their Tigers to do. Is it just this model, or a bad batch? Or just my kit?

Which ever, it's giving me the right raving hump.

[d6mst0]

I have assembled two Academy ships in the 1/350th scale and both of them were very nice kits. All the parts went together just fine. There was some flash but really nothing that a little scraping couldn't fix.

How old is the 35(t)? All of the old Tamiya kits I put together were complete pigs, but with a little bending, swearing, scrapping, more swearing they all turned out rather nicely.

[chalkyw]

Do they have a bad reputation, or have I just got a lemon?

The first two kits I did were Tamiya. I bought these because I'd read they have a good fit and thought that would be good to start on. It seemed true. Apart from a couple of minor fixes they went together well.

My third kit is a Academy kit, their 35(t), and it's a kin pig. I have had issues with the majority of the parts.

So are Academy bad? I hope not as I have one of their Tigers to do. Is it just this model, or a bad batch? Or just my kit?

Which ever, it's giving me the right raving hump.

Hi Augustus,

I've not built an Academy model yet but I know the first dio I posted here was done using an AFV Club Valentine tank and I found that was a real pain compared to all the Tamiya I'd built before. I don't think these kits are flawed but rather having started on Tamiya you get used to it all being easy. The Valentine seemed like it didn't fit together properly but actually it did, you just had to get it right yourself and not rely on the parts to slot in place like they do with Tamiya. I'm guessing that the Academy kit is a step up from what you've been used to and it just needs a bit more thought and planning to get it right. Keep at it and hopefully it'll come together and I reackon you'll be better for it at the end

[Dropis258]

Hi
I've just finished my first Academy kit and it fell together with hard!y any fit issues , I've only built Airfix,Revell or ilterria so far .
Stick at it and you'll find it will get less stressful.

[wookiee76]

Academy are generally good builds, I'm not a fan of their armour as i prefer a more conplex build, some of their planes however are best options, a lot of eduard ltd edition stuff is academy base kits.

[Stokesy44]

I'm building a Tiger 1 from Academy, 1994 moulds plus more modern parts. It lacks the engineering precision of a Tamiya and is way off the detail of a Dragon. It asks more of the modeller but its coming together. My real gripe is the lack of location holes or marks for certain parts. For example the inner section of the mantlet has no location marks or pins, you just have to stick it on the reverse of the outer piece and dead reckon that its level. The shapes are different so you cant even line it up edge to edge. Something you would never see on a Tamiya or Dragon Kitty. I'm having to use reference material for locations which is interesting but not usually needed with the better kits.

Mind you, it was only £35 so you pays the money and you takes your choice. Its all good and the Kitty is coming on nicely.

[gazmat]

Had no problems with their kits to be honest, all aircraft I have built have been a pleasure.

[MarkVerploeg]

Academy is a nice brand
They have some very good kits and ofcourse some noy so nice ones
So it is wise to check some reviews
And like Wookie says Eduard uses a bunch of A ademy kits for their Limited edition kits
I have a bunch of those and as far as i know the F-15 ,Flanker and Fulcrum kits are all Academy reboxes with Eduard goodies

But keep in mind that you get what you pay for
Academy isn't the top of the line brand in the modelling world
They offer cheaper kits and that means a little bit less detail and ease when you build it
But they still are pretty nicr kits and you can add a lot of upgrades to them if you want a super detailed build
But some are good
I have the now pretty old M-10 Duckbill tank destroyer and that is one of their better kits
It has nice details and a full interior and engine
And it is a pretty cheap kit too

[Kevthemodeller]

All of the old Tamiya kits I put together were complete pigs, but with a little bending, swearing, scrapping, more swearing they all turned out rather nicely.

Odd I built many Tamiya 70's kits, all went together very well, none as I remember had issues of note.

[chief5437]

I've done a few academy kits and they've been fine, that's not to say they haven't done some pigs though. You'll find a pig in every brands catalogue somewhere!

I must say that most of the old Tamiya I've built have been brilliant (for their age). Apart from their sea harrier, don't go there, just..... Don't, lol!

[d6mst0]

I should have say that the two older Tamiya tank kits were pigs. Both had a lot of flash and joining the fenders, lower hull and upper hull required quite a bit of putty work to close the gaps and made the seams look even.

I would still purchase another one (and I have) as they are nice looking when finished and the price is right.

Marcus

[Augustus]

What I mean is that most parts, long enough to see this, seem slightly warped/twisted in the horizontal plane. If that makes sense. That's why I wondered if it was a common theme with Academy, or just my kit.

But don't worry, I have no intention of letting it beat me.

[digger303]

Your comments made me go check a couple of academy kits I have. The m3 Stuart and the m4a3 Sherman calliope.
Apart from some warping in the m3 tub and lack of a positive gluing point for the the hull and deck on the sherman. They seemed ok. The detail isn't cutting edge,but you get a representative presentation of the real thing. Welds (M4A3) in trenches detract a little and you get what you pay for mostly.

[ForTheWatch]

If Tamiya or Dragon offers armor you want, I dont think there is a reason to go with Academie but thats just me. However their planes and some ships are OK and worth a shot because there Tamiya and Dragon cant offer a lot.