Howdy Y'all
I've had a busy weekend with the kid's cross country meet. Luckily it's in the same town as my closest LHS (90 miles).
@David-Trumpeter BMP-1, didn't see that coming, you don't hear many people singing its praises. Thanks for letting us know about it, I haven't seen the kit myself.
Bandia 1/144 U-Wing, thanks-I'm going to buy one. I think it comes with a Striker and Imperial tank if I remember correctly.
@Robin-O.K....good luck with the stash...
@Israel-Yet another Tamiya kit. The Komatsu was my first attempt at the salt weathering technique (o.k. I also used sugar). I had fun with the weathering.
Take care,
Don "Lakota"

I am surprised that no one has mentioned the Trumpeter KV1 - this is superbly accurate, has the simplicity and engineering of a Tamiya kit abd gives you both rubber band and sagged link and length tracks. At the time it wa released it was half the price of Tamiya/DML/AFV etc kit so also offered Value for money.

Al

For me it's the new Tamiya 1/35 Valentine. The fit and detail are top-notch and the link and length tracks are a breeze to build! It's a gem of a kit and doesn't really need any aftermarket detail. I did put an AM barrel on it, but only because it screwed up the kit one!! Definitely a fine little kit as are all the newer Tamiya kits!!

Howdy Y'all
The feedback to my question has been great. Thank you for the great input.
@Gary-Thanks Gary, your comments are always appreciated in the forums. I have this kit in my stash along with some "AM stuff". Good to know I won't really need to worry about the AM. Did you build the figures?
@Eoin-I've heard good stuff about the AFV Club 1/48 Tiger kits. I've got a couple in the stash including the Sturmtiger which needs some work with the zimmerit.
@Stephan-Interesting choice, another Tamiya kit gets the nod.
@Ian-Tiger Models Nagmochon-tell us more, that's a different looking machine. No one else has recommended a Tiger Models kit but they look like quality models.
@Jon-Takom Maus, another Takom kit gets the nod. That must be huge kit. I've often pondered the "WHIF 46" possibilities with the Maus.
Take care,
Don "Lakota"

That will be AFV club's ypr 765 pri.
and Meng's D9r bulldozer. They both don't need any aftermarker

I agree with Ian, this is a surprisingly good, almost Tamiya-like kit. The fit and details are good, apart for some accuracy issues and the rather thick slat armor, it's an excellent OOB kit.
Here's my effort:
https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/245406&page=2

I suppose you are refering to military models.

I'm pretty satisfy with my M2 Bradley in 1:72 by Dragon.

No extra parts.

Excellent quantifier….

Most fun... Any Tamiya kit. Simple, relatively accurate kits.
Most Accurate... None, all have errors. But I know there is only so much the Mfg's can do to make a kit cost effective. So I don't worry too much about accuracy.
Easiest to assemble - See most fun....

The kit I enjoyed the most though was the RYE Field Tiger 1 Eastern Front, RM-5003. It was fun to do an interior. It was fun to find a subject and try to replicate it. It was a PITA to put some of it together and paint. It sure Looks good on display though.

I also enjoy any kit my kids want to build, no matter the accuracy, PITA factor, etc. To me its quality time that I will never get back as they get older.

Howdy Y'all
I know this tread is a few months old so forgive me.
David-I'm getting the U-Wing from Bandai for Fathers' Day! How did that happen?
Stephen-I've kept my Italeri Sherman instead of selling it on eBay. I've tried to buy the Airfix M3 Lee without any luck. I'll keep looking.
Thanks everyone for the great list of kits to keep my eyes open in case I'm able to pick one up.
Take care,
Don "Lakota"

Tamiya Leopard 2A6,just fell together

One of the best kits for me is Dragon Flak 36 with crew.
Fit is perfect, for example balancer pistons moves freely and lot of extras included.
Takom T 55 AM is excelent as well as Tiger Model AMX 10RCR.
All new Tamiya kits.

Since this thread is back... I loved the Tasca Sherman I did. I'm thinking that any Tasca/Asuka model would probably be appropriate here!

For me, the easiest kits put together were the Tamiya M4A3 Sherman, Merkava 1 and the Type 97 Shinhoto Chi-ha

Gosh, hard to pick one. Frankly most modern Tamiya kits could be in the running-->

Best value OOB has to be Trumpeter's KV-2 (KV-1 basically same kit...)

Otherwise my top 3 would be Tasca Sherman Jumbo (it's pretty perfect with an awesome OOB .50 cal), the Takom T-55 AMV (just a joy to build, and so many options for finishing!), and the Tiger Model's AMX-30B Brenus.

The AMX comes with a metal barrel with molded-on styrene dust cover, great tracks, a metal coax-gun, appropriate PE for the basic bits, nice decals, and really great engineering and fit. They even give you color-coded stickers to put on the sprues so it is easy to find the one you are looking for!

So, if you make me pick one, I chose the Tiger Model AMX-30 as just a tour de force OOB!

Takom Merkava Mkl Hybrid - all you need including turret ball & Chain armor...

Mine did the same thing after about 2 years. It is an excellent kit other then that.

As an inveterate non-finisher (I get up to the painting stage or the installation of something very small and fiddly and end up boxing the kit to go work on something else), the Tamiya 1/35 Dragon Wagon has to be my favorite. All that incredible Tamiya engineering made this as close to a box-shaker as any model ever, and I was actually inspired to paint and weather it instead of freezing up. It's just that good. I have some Tamiya 1/12 motorcycles too that are up on my shelf, but another forum for those. The Dragon Wagon was in line with my skills (no tiny vinyl brake lines to dissolve in my glue - looking at you Hobby Boss HET) and gorgeous to look at on the shelf.

Dragon Pz.III F. Undocumented camo.

The new Tamiya Sherman east 8.
All round any Tamiya product.

Tom

Easiest? Tamiya Valentine.....built in about 6 hours over 2 days including replacement tracks and drive sprockets (early set from Bronco)
Best OOB? Tasca Shermans, Takom St Chamond, Takom Chieftains. Oh, and the Meng M3A3 Bradley with full interior

I have both the Takom Merkava Mk 1 and Mk 1 Hbrid, and haven’t started either one, but some basic dry fits, and the absolutely spectacular molded-in detail make me think these are going to be hard to beat as ‘the best’ OOTB models out there. I really want to start these, but with well over half a dozen models started and not yet finished, I just CAN’T let myself start another one (or two)!! 🤪

Been modeling for over 45 years, and for the life of me, I don't remember the last time I did an OOTB build...

Takom Maus V2... The ENTIRE KIT is so well engineered that IF you pre-paint & DON'T mask the mating surfaces... it WON'T fit.

The Suspension is so well engineered you can assemble without glue... & gently run it up and down the carpet like you were 6

Like John vettejack, I've never managed to do OOB, in my case I SNAFU'd the Barrel by attempting to sand it in a battery-power lathe, so replaced it with a Alu after-market.

Dragon Panther F
Meng GAZ Tiger
Tamyia Stug III B

Still with dozens of kits in stash, so that might change

Great thread ! Thanks Don ! I notice a common thread here, Tamiya. I like to build a Tamiya kit after a long, parts filled build. It's kinda like a "palette cleanser" before I start another high part count build. The Stug III's being my favorites from them.
I'm really liking Tiger Model's Nagmachon so far. Great fit, some interior detail. It's prompted me into buying a couple of more of their kits.
But I always tell folks that my fave is Dragons Pz.III J,#6463. While it's been awhile since I built it the kit stands out in my aged mind.