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Dioramas
Do you love dioramas & vignettes? We sure do.
Battlegategames items arrived - pictures
Jay_Antony
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Auckland, New Zealand
Joined: March 18, 2015
KitMaker: 73 posts
Armorama: 63 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 15, 2017 - 04:30 PM UTC
Received my Battlegategames.com order a few days ago. As I have posted elsewhere, ordering didn't go smoothly:

- placed order for items which were all listed as in-stock
- didn't get any confirmation email from them, waited 11 days and asked for status update and they said some items were not in stock (!?), and explained that 'in stock' doesn't actually mean 'in stock'
- anyway, they shipped about 3 weeks after I ordered, then took a month to get from Hong Kong to NZ which is fairly slow.

So got the order:

- excellently packaged - all items separately bagged inside a metal tin
- order was missing an item - a metal palette. Disappointingly there has been no explanation of why they just left an item out, they haven't refunded the cost to my paypal account (negligible amount but that's not the point), but I did find a random item in the package which I hadn't ordered (a grandfather clock).

Impressions of items are:
- badly under-scale to point most are useless (and yes - I did order these in 1/35 scale)
- resin items are badly cast with a lot of imperfections, random blobs, soft detail etc
- one item looks to have been printed on a low res 3D printer, its warped, doesn't have the detail from picture, and has a big flaw
- items don't have the detail shown in the CAD pictures

Frankly, am struggling to see much positive for me to praise. I know some people will think I am being harsh here but am tired of seeing forgiving reviews and feedback on model items and shops. I think Battlegategames has come up with some great ideas in terms of the variety and originality of their offerings, and I really hope they can lift their game in terms of service and quality as I like the ideas they have. To be fair, the items are fairly cheap - but I think my US$37 order was pretty much a write-off as can really only use one of the items - rest are too flawed.

Anyway, some pictures. Here's the trash bins - images from the site and then pictures posed with a 1/35 Evolution figure for scale - you'll see they are very undersized, detail is soft, doesn't look like the CADs, and casting is pretty bad. Apologies for poor picture quality.










Jay_Antony
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Auckland, New Zealand
Joined: March 18, 2015
KitMaker: 73 posts
Armorama: 63 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 15, 2017 - 04:31 PM UTC
Here’s the wheelie-bin – undersized, lots of casting issues, handles particularly weak, and perhaps was mastered on a low-res 3D printer as it is covered in what could be printer lines / striations












Jay_Antony
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Auckland, New Zealand
Joined: March 18, 2015
KitMaker: 73 posts
Armorama: 63 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 15, 2017 - 04:32 PM UTC
Here’s some radiators – again, think they are a little low, some casting issues but not too bad, but definitely missing the detail from the CADs






Jay_Antony
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Auckland, New Zealand
Joined: March 18, 2015
KitMaker: 73 posts
Armorama: 63 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 15, 2017 - 04:32 PM UTC
Here’s the desk – badly printed, warped, very soft detail, missing features from the CAD, undersized, and no idea why middle shelf is bent like that (it isn’t broken – just seems to have been printed like that) – and was supposed to be a drawer not a shelf in the picture.






Pave-Hawk
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Western Australia, Australia
Joined: May 05, 2006
KitMaker: 900 posts
Armorama: 510 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 15, 2017 - 04:57 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Here’s the wheelie-bin – undersized, lots of casting issues, handles particularly weak, and perhaps was mastered on a low-res 3D printer as it is covered in what could be printer lines / striations




Yep, those definitely look like typical z-axis layer lines.

All those parts look pretty sub par, and it's rather poor form that they didn't take the time to clean up the printed item from its raw form.
obg153
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Texas, United States
Joined: April 07, 2009
KitMaker: 1,063 posts
Armorama: 1,049 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 15, 2017 - 06:19 PM UTC
Really appreciate your pics & info on this. It's a shame your order practically amounted to zilch. The items all do look under-scaled, misshaped and pretty much poor overall quality. They do have a lot of interesting items, but until the quality improves, I'm gonna pass. Thanks again, Jay!
C_JACQUEMONT
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Loire-Atlantique, France
Joined: October 09, 2004
KitMaker: 2,433 posts
Armorama: 2,325 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 15, 2017 - 07:04 PM UTC
I had my doubts because they only show CAD renderings...

Looks like we found the AEF Designs of the diorama world.

Thanks for the warning.

Cheers,

Christophe
Increment
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Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Joined: March 20, 2011
KitMaker: 128 posts
Armorama: 125 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 15, 2017 - 07:21 PM UTC
I got their Rolling Airframe Missile launcher. also under scale (based on photo references). rough print lines and missing loads of detail that was shown on 3D render.

was woefully dissapointed as it was useless even to try and work on. gave it to my youngest to up armour her Barrbie caravan.
Humdingah
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Colorado, United States
Joined: January 08, 2013
KitMaker: 9 posts
Armorama: 9 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 15, 2017 - 07:53 PM UTC
Those first trash cans might be decent in 1/48th but they certainly aren't 1/35th scale...unless they're 1/35th scale at Disney in 'The Land of the Little People'.

I had wondered about their quality as they seemingly churn out new offerings weekly but not having seen any actual items, since they always show the CADs, made me wonder. And now I know...

Sorry you were the Guinea pig but appreciate the time you took to let the rest of us what they were putting out.
ComaBlack
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Ontario, Canada
Joined: September 19, 2010
KitMaker: 194 posts
Armorama: 148 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 15, 2017 - 09:02 PM UTC
I have some of their small arms and was pretty happy on first inspection. Maybe time for a closer look and some photos....
WXerock
#450
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California, United States
Joined: July 19, 2015
KitMaker: 672 posts
Armorama: 668 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 15, 2017 - 10:42 PM UTC
Mario (Maki) did a review of some items early on. The quality was pretty poor. There were horrible print lines on everything. Too bad things haven't changed.

Regards,

Eric
Bizarre
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Akershus, Norway
Joined: July 20, 2010
KitMaker: 1,709 posts
Armorama: 1,581 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 15, 2017 - 10:51 PM UTC
that is horrible!
MikeyBugs95
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New York, United States
Joined: May 27, 2013
KitMaker: 2,210 posts
Armorama: 1,712 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 15, 2017 - 11:16 PM UTC
I was just going to order their RHIB and a few other cheap things recently. I think I might still pull the trigger on their RHIB just to get to see how it is but if this is any indication, I think I know the answer. I've always been a bit suspicious of them with their very high output speed.
ComaBlack
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Ontario, Canada
Joined: September 19, 2010
KitMaker: 194 posts
Armorama: 148 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 15, 2017 - 11:22 PM UTC
I have the updated AK-74s, SCAR-l, and Vintorez. No layer lines, but detail is pretty soft. The shape is excellent though and they scale out perfectly.
Vicious
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Queensland, Australia
Joined: September 04, 2015
KitMaker: 1,517 posts
Armorama: 1,109 posts
Posted: Sunday, April 16, 2017 - 02:18 AM UTC
1/35???!!...Really?...maybe for the Oompa-Loompa Army,i wonder how some people are just thinking about selling some products like this!...
Petition2God
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Colorado, United States
Joined: February 06, 2002
KitMaker: 1,526 posts
Armorama: 1,294 posts
Posted: Sunday, April 16, 2017 - 02:47 AM UTC
Thanks for warning us Jay. They look horrendous, and I'll never buy these.
Neo
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North Carolina, United States
Joined: January 20, 2005
KitMaker: 916 posts
Armorama: 758 posts
Posted: Sunday, April 16, 2017 - 04:59 AM UTC
Wow - that's poop.
Apparently "quality is NOT job one"...



There's a thread here where the member will make any 3D item you need. Looks much better than the stuff you got.
MrCompletely
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Saitama-ken, Japan / 日本
Joined: February 12, 2016
KitMaker: 128 posts
Armorama: 120 posts
Posted: Sunday, April 16, 2017 - 05:48 AM UTC
That is just horrendous. To me, it looks like these guys are just one ladder above the infamous Nigerian scammers. Possibly fly-by-nighters trying to make a quick buck before they disappear and resurface with a new identity. Foe some time now I've made it a personal rule to not buy anything till it's been reviewed on here or the 2 other sites I trust, and certainly not if they don't provide anything more than CAD pix. Sorry you had to take one for the team but hopefully everyone will avoid these cowboys from here on in.
knewton
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New Zealand
Joined: June 19, 2013
KitMaker: 1,217 posts
Armorama: 1,092 posts
Posted: Sunday, April 16, 2017 - 07:42 AM UTC
Mate, looks like you took one for the team, there. Thanks for the photos, I'll stay clear as a result.

Best regards,

Kylie
dogstar
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Canada
Joined: November 17, 2007
KitMaker: 109 posts
Armorama: 103 posts
Posted: Monday, April 17, 2017 - 09:45 AM UTC
Wow, what a waste.

Sorry you took one for the team but thank you for posting your experience and providing photos.
varanusk
Staff MemberManaging Editor
ARMORAMA
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Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain / España
Joined: July 04, 2013
KitMaker: 1,288 posts
Armorama: 942 posts
Posted: Monday, April 17, 2017 - 03:34 PM UTC
Thanks for the information, considering these are quite simple items, I have not much hopes on more complex models like the Flak or the Nebelwerfer...
shart1979
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United Kingdom
Joined: September 12, 2015
KitMaker: 19 posts
Armorama: 19 posts
Posted: Monday, April 17, 2017 - 04:51 PM UTC
I'm currently waiting on my order to arrive and this doesn't really fill me with any confidence.

I will say the ordering process was a little more straightforward as I ordered on the 29th March, received a notification to confirm and then I received my shipping notice a week later.

I've ordered a similar set of bins and street furniture so I'll share pics when they get here.
ivanhoe6
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Wisconsin, United States
Joined: April 05, 2007
KitMaker: 2,023 posts
Armorama: 1,234 posts
Posted: Monday, April 17, 2017 - 05:02 PM UTC
It's been about 6 weeks waiting for me. Didn't spend a lot, some radiators, much wanted beer kegs for a civy brewery dio and a figure. Even after reading about Jay's disappointments I would of gambled on the kegs. Maybe it will be in the mail today.....
dinovision79
Joined: August 27, 2007
KitMaker: 41 posts
Armorama: 37 posts
Posted: Monday, April 17, 2017 - 06:46 PM UTC
I had pretty much the same experience, waited about a month, items arrived in a small metal box. The 1:35 FN FAL's are correctly sized and usable, the Barrett MRAD is about 1cm longer, pianino, trashbins, armchair way too small, bookshelves wrapped (but easily fixed with hot air), a bit on the small size, eventhough size is relative here, yet, different form CAD drawings and no shelves One item, a table was missing and also got a standing clock case extra, the clock is missing, the chain is there. Go for it, if you like pig in a poke, otherwise a pity, I found their stuff mostly unsuable / rubble filler. It is very cheap, you get what you pay for...
ivanhoe6
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Wisconsin, United States
Joined: April 05, 2007
KitMaker: 2,023 posts
Armorama: 1,234 posts
Posted: Tuesday, April 18, 2017 - 12:09 AM UTC
Maybe sarcasm works..... The mailman just dropped off 2 metal tins filled with little bits of resin. The figure was of a post apocalypse female archer bust. The hood was very thin which kind of impressed me with the amount of detail behind the hood. Without going to their website I'm pretty sure there was a bow & arrows in the quiver, probably a pouch too seeing that there are some straps that just end. The baby carriage or pram was way too big. The radiators & fire hydrants were nice, maybe a bit small but usable. AND, what I really wanted the wooden beer kegs were small maybe 1/48th scale. I don't think that a '50's German brewery had 1/4 or 1/2 barrels. I guess that I could visit the model rail road world and go O scale on this project.
As Denes posted, "you get what you pay for"
Live & learn.....
Tom
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