Armour quality and Franklin Mint?

flugwart · 10-08-2003, 08:52 AM

Hi all,

I've read that armour models aren't as good since franklin mint took over but they look alright to me in pics I've seen on the web. Does anyone have experience with these before and after the change? They're not cheap but are they still worth getting?

Doubt · 10-09-2003, 06:48 AM

Misaligned and damaged decals, rushed goods that dun meet the mark for quality control, ugly and misfitting packaging.

That's just about the only differences i can find in Franklin Mint planes from CDC Armour.

All these plus higher pricing, it doesn't take a genius to figure which one's better?

I'll go for good old CDC Armour planes that are still around but not much left.

flugwart · 10-09-2003, 08:25 AM

Thanks for the info Doubt!

I want to stick with 1:72 anyway as most of my collection is in that scale but I still can't decide if I should go for some Armour stuff as there are some aircraft which can't been gotten in 1:72 yet.

I haven't actually looked too closely at Armour stuff in the stores for this reason (well, that and the price) so I didn't know they used decals. Are all their markings done with decals or do they use pad printing for finer details?

Does the misfitting packaging result in damaged goods sometimes? Seems like mail-order might not be the way to go with these.

Doubt · 10-09-2003, 11:35 AM

Hi again

Well i'm not sure if it's pad printing or decals but one of the FM plane i bought, the F104 "Last Flight", it's details peeled off quite easily and i was kinda disgusted.

Being a CDC Armour fan, i am rather unhappy with what Fm has done after the take over. The ugly and mismatching package does not go to the extent of damaging the plane during mailing but you can see the "effort" by FM. I feel that CDC Armour takes pride and care when packaging these aircraft babies for collectors like us. Even the grey packaging looks more professional and nicer. As for FM, i feel otherwise.

Only in the 1:100 scale do i see a FM improvement. That's the use of solid metal material for the base. Other than that, they have dispensed with the plastic case that everyone likes.

If you are interested in CDC Armour, i do have some stocks of them. Email me at f14tomcatz@hotmail.com

flugwart · 10-11-2003, 09:45 AM

Thanks again Doubt.

If the details peeled off of your F-104, it sounds like they must be decals. Modern pad printing is so impressive, it's hard to remove the details even when you want to!

I guess I'd better figure out how much I'll be spending on Corgi and Dragon in the coming months before starting with another range, but I'll be in touch if I do decide to go for it.

ExCPAir · 10-13-2003, 08:06 AM

Regarding the removal of tampo printing. I had one idea passed on to me that works quite well. Try a product called "Never Dull". Just use a small portion of wadding in the can and apply in a circular motion over the printing. The printing is quickly removed with no apparent damage to the paint underneath ... at least so far.
Made by: The George Basch Co.
19 Hansa Ave., Freeport NY 11520

Quote:

Originally posted by flugwart
Thanks again Doubt.

If the details peeled off of your F-104, it sounds like they must be decals. Modern pad printing is so impressive, it's hard to remove the details even when you want to!

I guess I'd better figure out how much I'll be spending on Corgi and Dragon in the coming months before starting with another range, but I'll be in touch if I do decide to go for it.

flugwart · 10-14-2003, 08:35 AM

Thanks for the info ExCPAir. Have you tried it on any Dragon Models products yet? I was thinking of experimenting with putting a different tail number on one of the more plain looking F-16s they've done...

10-08-2003, 08:52 AM	#1
flugwart Junior Collector Join Date: Oct 2003 Age: 45 Posts: 16	Armour quality and Franklin Mint? Hi all, I've read that armour models aren't as good since franklin mint took over but they look alright to me in pics I've seen on the web. Does anyone have experience with these before and after the change? They're not cheap but are they still worth getting?

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10-09-2003, 06:48 AM	#2
Doubt Junior Collector Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 35	Misaligned and damaged decals, rushed goods that dun meet the mark for quality control, ugly and misfitting packaging. That's just about the only differences i can find in Franklin Mint planes from CDC Armour. All these plus higher pricing, it doesn't take a genius to figure which one's better? I'll go for good old CDC Armour planes that are still around but not much left.

10-09-2003, 08:25 AM	#3
flugwart Junior Collector Join Date: Oct 2003 Age: 45 Posts: 16	Thanks for the info Doubt! I want to stick with 1:72 anyway as most of my collection is in that scale but I still can't decide if I should go for some Armour stuff as there are some aircraft which can't been gotten in 1:72 yet. I haven't actually looked too closely at Armour stuff in the stores for this reason (well, that and the price) so I didn't know they used decals. Are all their markings done with decals or do they use pad printing for finer details? Does the misfitting packaging result in damaged goods sometimes? Seems like mail-order might not be the way to go with these.

10-09-2003, 11:35 AM	#4
Doubt Junior Collector Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 35	Hi again Well i'm not sure if it's pad printing or decals but one of the FM plane i bought, the F104 "Last Flight", it's details peeled off quite easily and i was kinda disgusted. Being a CDC Armour fan, i am rather unhappy with what Fm has done after the take over. The ugly and mismatching package does not go to the extent of damaging the plane during mailing but you can see the "effort" by FM. I feel that CDC Armour takes pride and care when packaging these aircraft babies for collectors like us. Even the grey packaging looks more professional and nicer. As for FM, i feel otherwise. Only in the 1:100 scale do i see a FM improvement. That's the use of solid metal material for the base. Other than that, they have dispensed with the plastic case that everyone likes. If you are interested in CDC Armour, i do have some stocks of them. Email me at f14tomcatz@hotmail.com

10-11-2003, 09:45 AM	#5
flugwart Junior Collector Join Date: Oct 2003 Age: 45 Posts: 16	Thanks again Doubt. If the details peeled off of your F-104, it sounds like they must be decals. Modern pad printing is so impressive, it's hard to remove the details even when you want to! I guess I'd better figure out how much I'll be spending on Corgi and Dragon in the coming months before starting with another range, but I'll be in touch if I do decide to go for it.

10-14-2003, 08:35 AM	#7
flugwart Junior Collector Join Date: Oct 2003 Age: 45 Posts: 16	Thanks for the info ExCPAir. Have you tried it on any Dragon Models products yet? I was thinking of experimenting with putting a different tail number on one of the more plain looking F-16s they've done...