I keep hearing disparaging comments about Minichamps Armor which I find unfounded; as they have been made by manufacturers who could not even hope to produce an equivalent product with operating metal tracks and accurate suspension. Minchamps produced the best Diecast Metal Armor made to date, far superior in quality to FOV IMO. I have collections of both and the Minichamps quality exceeds Polystone/mixed material models. The camouflage patterns and colors on my Minichamps Kingtiger and Sd.Kfz 251 are works of art. The Sd. Kfz 251 has opening doors and engine access hatchs. The fact that they were mass produced does not detract from their quality as some contend. A 100 piece production run or a 10,000 piece production run makes no difference to the inherant quality of a finished model; but only serves to increase its price because ecconomies of scale can not be taken advantage of in the small 100 piece runs. The manufacturers risk is decreased and the collectors cost is increased as a result.
Until polystone or mixed media Armor can be produced with accurate functional running gear and articulated metal tracks at a reasonable price, Minichamps Armor will remain superior and serve as a standard of quality to be aspired to, not disparaged as a mass market toy.
Eagle Design with their Panzer II with metal tracks and wheels is following the path cut by Minichamps with their Armor and I hope they are as sucessful in 1/30 scale armor as Minichamps has been in 1/35 scale. I would really like to see the quality of Minichamps armor brought to 1/30 scale and Eagle Design is moving in this direction. I look forward to their up coming Panzer III and hopefully a Panzer IV in the near future.
Until polystone or mixed media Armor can be produced with accurate functional running gear and articulated metal tracks at a reasonable price, Minichamps Armor will remain superior and serve as a standard of quality to be aspired to, not disparaged as a mass market toy.
Eagle Design with their Panzer II with metal tracks and wheels is following the path cut by Minichamps with their Armor and I hope they are as sucessful in 1/30 scale armor as Minichamps has been in 1/35 scale. I would really like to see the quality of Minichamps armor brought to 1/30 scale and Eagle Design is moving in this direction. I look forward to their up coming Panzer III and hopefully a Panzer IV in the near future.