Pup7309 Posted November 21, 2021 Share Posted November 21, 2021 Hi just curious if anyone has built both kits? I I’m building Meng Dr1 and heard Roden ok. Are there any pros and cons you found, and should I just stick with the Meng. Just to mention I would be buying various adds that go with Roden kit- cowl being the main one. thanks ! :D BiggTim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RLWP Posted November 21, 2021 Share Posted November 21, 2021 I have built the Roden kit twice, it’s a perfectly good kit If for some bizarre reason I built another DR.I I would build the Meng one because of its WNW heritage. Especially as it doesn’t have a WNW pricetag. Richard BiggTim, Martinnfb and LSP_K2 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thierry laurent Posted November 21, 2021 Share Posted November 21, 2021 I do not see any advantage in the Roden kit in comparison with the Meng one. Accuracy: no, detail: no, buildability: no, strength: no, decals quality: no. So... Darren Howie, Gazzas, BiggTim and 3 others 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vince14 Posted November 21, 2021 Share Posted November 21, 2021 (edited) Straight out of the box, the Roden kit is fine but the Meng is better. You can make a good model from the Roden kit, and if you use Aviattic enhancements it'll be a lot better https://www.aviattic.co.uk/132-accessories.html. The key weakness of the Roden kit is the crappy decals. If money is no object, go for the Meng over the Roden. Edited November 21, 2021 by vince14 KiwiZac, BiggTim and Martinnfb 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petrov27 Posted November 21, 2021 Share Posted November 21, 2021 Definitely the Meng kills the Roden on fine details, better pit, etc. but the Roden still is decent and I suppose if you can find it dirt cheap it would be a way to go if price is the concern. The only "major" issue with the Roden IIRC is that the horizontal tail has this strange depressed area in the middle of it that you would need to fill. I have the Roden about 1/2 done - really need to get back on it - it is a good simple kit I feel. Aviattic has some nice improvement parts as noted - the cowl is very nice and improves the "face" of the DrI which is important IMHO. BiggTim and Martinnfb 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thierry laurent Posted November 21, 2021 Share Posted November 21, 2021 As you need other decals (the quality of the kit ones is terrible) and possibly the Aviattic sets, the price is not that relevant either. Martinnfb and BiggTim 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzas Posted November 21, 2021 Share Posted November 21, 2021 15 hours ago, Pup7309 said: Hi just curious if anyone has built both kits? I I’m building Meng Dr1 and heard Roden ok. Are there any pros and cons you found, and should I just stick with the Meng. Just to mention I would be buying various adds that go with Roden kit- cowl being the main one. thanks ! Save your money mate... Avoid Roden unless they offer something that isn't offered by anybody else. Martinnfb and BiggTim 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vince14 Posted November 21, 2021 Share Posted November 21, 2021 I don't know why people are so down on Roden (apart from the decals which can have a tendancy to shatter upon contact with water). Are they as good as Tamiya or WNW? No, but they are all perfectly buildable with the simple application of some basic modelling skills, and if you throw in a few aftermarket goodies you'll end up with a very respectable result. I'm willing to bet that most people on this forum wouldn't be able to tell a built Roden Dr.I from a built Meng Dr.I if you placed them side-by-side. BiggTim, eoyguy, coogrfan and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petrov27 Posted November 21, 2021 Share Posted November 21, 2021 I like Roden and own many of their kits, have built a couple and yes they are not that bad and I dont think deserve the level of negative press they seem to get. But Pup asked for opinions, and again mine is the MENG is quite a bit better "out of the box." LSP_K2, BiggTim and Dave Wilson 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thierry laurent Posted November 22, 2021 Share Posted November 22, 2021 8 hours ago, vince14 said: I don't know why people are so down on Roden (apart from the decals which can have a tendancy to shatter upon contact with water). Are they as good as Tamiya or WNW? No, but they are all perfectly buildable with the simple application of some basic modelling skills, and if you throw in a few aftermarket goodies you'll end up with a very respectable result. I'm willing to bet that most people on this forum wouldn't be able to tell a built Roden Dr.I from a built Meng Dr.I if you placed them side-by-side. It is first a matter of evaluation point. Roden kits are not 'bad' as such. However, from a comparison standpoint with the Meng kit, there is no doubt the Roden Dr.I has no advantage. If you build both OOTB and know a little bit the Dr.I you will see easily the difference even if both are triplanes! BiggTim and LSP_K2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radub Posted November 22, 2021 Share Posted November 22, 2021 I have the Meng kit with the Richthofen bust and the Roden kit with every aftermarket resin, photo etch and decal product issued by Aviattic plus more from Eduard and Master machine guns. I intend to build both. The Roden kit will be the “regular” Dr.I and the Meng kit will be the “Voss” early version. In my own personal opinion, Roden wings are better because the Meng wings, with all their snazzy and snooty airs of “superior pedigree”, are bent like bananas. I know that they can be “fixed” with hot water and that Meng may be able to send me a replacement, but there should be no need for that. Radu BiggTim and Martinnfb 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thierry laurent Posted November 22, 2021 Share Posted November 22, 2021 It looks many kits had such a problem but not all of them. The three wings of my kit are straigth as a rule. It is a pity they did not better control the quality of the output. LSP_K2 and BiggTim 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pup7309 Posted November 22, 2021 Author Share Posted November 22, 2021 Thanks for your input. Out of curiosity if motivated I might support Aviattic and do a Roden after doing a Mengnut or two. Only one way to find out! BiggTim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
europapete Posted November 22, 2021 Share Posted November 22, 2021 Aviattic do decal specically for the Meng kit, and photo etch. BiggTim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_K2 Posted November 22, 2021 Share Posted November 22, 2021 I'll probably go Meng 1:24 Dr.I, when I actually get around to snatching the kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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