Kit Manufacturers Quality Control Or Lack Of It

[Pete J.]

On 3/4/2020 at 8:22 PM, SfanGoch said:

That is a bit of hyperbolic humor among armor modelers commenting on the mind-numbingly absurd number of sub-sub-sub variants of AFVs, especially German Tiger I tanks, released by kit makers; although,  those same manufacturers are doing their best to see this joke becomes reality.

 

On 3/4/2020 at 8:32 PM, CabDriver said:

Ahhh...I figured that might be a joke but it was close enough to what I’ve seen on someone of the armor modeller sites that I couldn’t tell if it was or wasn’t ?

 

On 3/4/2020 at 9:13 PM, alexis said:

Yes, German Armor can get that sub-type specific some times. Russian T-34 tamks are also molded in a large variety, depending on which factory made the turret, and which roadwheels were used. Note too, that even the American M-4 Sherman, comes in both Cast and Welded Hull versions, and were built with at least 4 types of main guns. (75 mm, 76mm, 105mm and the British 17 pounder)

The aircraft guys have a similar running joke about the BF-109.  Of course it doesn't help that the Germans produced a ton of variants and used them in about every theater of war.  Now, we are starting to see the war reparations versions.  These are the variants that were confiscated by the victors after the war.  Tamiya just came out with the Swiss version(no it is not full of holes!?).  When I last counted Tamiya currently has 5 versions in its current catalog in 1:48 scale alone.  Ever manufacturer has at least a couple.  You go into a hobby shop(yea there are a few left) and you can have a full shelf dedicated to the 109 all by itself. 

[TarheelRick]

On 3/1/2020 at 11:16 AM, VW93 said:

I need to vent!

Started a build on the AMT 40 Willys coupe from the last retro release. I've posted pics in my build thread of what I've encountered. 

Along with excessive flash on virtually every part (the chrome tree was OK ), I found that the tires fall off the rims, the rims fall off the axles and the axle does not even go into one rim.

Now I've discovered the rear window was molded in an oblong shape. Just glad it wasn't a windshield that would need to fit a frame such as in the AMT 34 Ford PU.

You have to wonder if the Chinese send a test shot to the states to be looked over or does R2 leave it to the Chinese?

I hope they really look over their newly tooled 67 Impala 4 door, 70 Camaro and Vega Pro Stock.
I realize the tooling for the Willys dates back to around 1963 but they shouldn't be selling kits without fixing the problems. 

Rant over

 

Since the pick-up window is rectangular in shape I would think the rectangle shape on the top of the sprue just might be the rear window for the pick-up.  I could be wrong, I have built three or four of these kits and have more in my stash, and do not remember any of them having the wrong rear window.

[1930fordpickup]

I talked to our programmer at work guy at work.  He worked at an injection shop before our shop.  He told me that plastic starts to flash around .003  of an inch ( the thickness of your hair).  So if the mold or the inserts have a gap as large as that we get flash on our parts.  

I have a 57 wagon from Revell that has flash and short shots in 2 different boxes. Of course I find that out after I find out about their troubles. Nothing that can not be worked around but these are new molds.