What's the difference between Eduard and Roden?

Scimitar · 24 February 2004, 01:50 PM

Hi gents,

For the modellers we are, there is no difference between Eduard and Roden: both are producing great WWI kits; the quality is always progressing, and both customer services are great: last year I've bought a 1/48 Hanriot HD1 (Eduard): the windshield was lacking. I've sent an email to Eduard: a replacement windshiel was received a week later. Now, I've just bought last week the 1/48 Gloster Gladiator MKI (Roden). One of the machineguns (part n°48) was incomplete. I've sent an email to Roden: the replacement part was received today!
In those two examples, the kits were not bought directly from Eduard and Roden; that was as you can read really not a problem.

So, you people working for Eduard an Roden: you're making a GREAT job!

Frequently we can see complaints, because that kit is not too... or is too much... etc; I think that when all is OK, it's also good to say that to the other modellers.

Greetings from a happy customer,

Daniel.

StephenLawson · 24 February 2004, 03:19 PM

Ditto!

Barker · 24 February 2004, 06:18 PM

In spades.

And best to both of you, Roden and Eduard for the future.

drIace · 24 February 2004, 06:29 PM

Make that a Triplicate Kudo for Roden and Eduard !!!!

WarrenD · 24 February 2004, 07:47 PM

Indeed! both are doing a great job. Now, . . . if only Eduard would scale down their 1/48th scale Nieuports to 1/72nd. I'd buy a dozen of each one. An important a/c used by so many nations, and so sadly neglected in 1/72nd.

In any event, please keep the great WWI kits coming, both of you.

Warren

NeilE · 24 February 2004, 10:20 PM

Well I'm going to jump into this thread boots, bayonets n all, cos there is no other way to do it....

So here goes......

Despite all the acritical backpatting going on here, there are significant differences between the two brands, Eduard and Roden.

Doing it in point form these are:

1) Eduard kits feature far better kit engineering than the average Roden kit. Yes, Roden set out to solve different construction problems with their parts breakdowns - ie multiple nose fuselages for different versions for example bu their kits also exhibit lots of fit difficulties and compromise the successful construction of the kit at times.

I can't think of a recent Eduard kit that this is the case in.

2) Eduard seem to working closer to a Tamiya philosophy of 'buildability' that just isnt there with the average Roden kit. A beginner could build one of the Eduard 1/48 Albatros D series fighters - Could a beginner successfully build the recent Roden Fokker D VII? - probably not I think.

3) Eduard decals are not crap. Roden's routinely are. I have many Roden kits in both 1/72 and 1/48 and in most of the decals are sub standard, and in the worst of them, they are unuseable. If this an oversight by Roden fair enough, but I suspect it isn't -given all the feedback they've had from reviews, ordinary modellers etc about this situation. Given this, is it likely they have known that these decals are crud and have released them anyway? Is that Eduard standard committment to quality? - simply the answer is no. (I actually think Roden should offer to replace now the decals for any modeller who want to for all their kits from the Fokker D-VIII and beyond - now that would be committment to quality!).

Despite what I have to say, I actually like these Roden kits. They take more work and are interesting subjects, but can we say they are the same level as Eduard

The answer has to be No.

All the Best

Neil

h34r:

Barker · 24 February 2004, 11:08 PM

Well said.

Me? I do not care about "buildability" but take the point.
Conversions, in kit?
Eduard is beginning to do that - we're in agreement to the extent they could do more where that specific is an issue - and with some kits, the Camel comes to mind - it very much is.
Eduard typically elects to roll out version kits as has been a complaint here in the past.

Decals?
You're on rock, there, mate.

As I understand it, convenience aside for the moment, Roden is square on that deal.
They make good their mistake and replace when and soon as possible.

My central comment pertains:
Love the work, guys, keep it up, both of you.

Both are light years past products as little as three years on.
Gotta love that.

Meantime?

I'd imagine they read every damn word in here and address these very things.
Alex has already given comment to the decal complaints and assured us they will rectify.
I'm biased as the kit I just finished was almost all after market cals except for six crosses.
But that's just me and not fair to the group.

I'm most grateful for the job they have done on that D.VII and Eduard will be very pressed to beat that 2+ years from now as they've claimed.

Beat what, one wonders.
We'll see.

Meantime?
Roden promises two SE5a's this year.
Eduard has made noises about that for four plus.

Both do good models.
It's a win, man.

25 February 2004, 12:29 AM

I'll have to agree that there are some differences, but bottom line eduard and roden put out the best kits for a really good price. Between both of them you have a great number of choices. Hopefully between them, they will fill the gaps in the current market, ie 1/72 nieports and a 1/48 fokker dr1. Cheers to both eduard and roden and their quality products