Are "DML" and "Shanghai Dragon" the same brand ?

[IS...@cuvmc.ais.columbia.edu]

After browsing through some web pages of vendors that sell model kits,
I discovered that the stock numbers of some kits made by "DML" and
sold by one vendor turn out to be the same stock numbers as kits of
the same thing made by "Shanghai Dragon" and sold by another vendor.

In fact, some vendors even list certain kits under the single heading
of "DML/Dragon" (implying that the kits are known as either DML or
Dragon).

Can anyone confirm (or refute) this? Has anyone bought a model of the
same thing, one packaged as DML and one packaged as Shanghai Dragon,
and either found them to be exactly the same, or to be different?

..

[Crapologist]

Actually, they're quite different "brand names." However, they are basically
the same manufacturer. DML usually puts out the newer stuff with Shanghai
Dragon issuing the older molds. DML also owns the Trimaster molds.
hth

Keeper (of too much crap)

[Dave Williams]

<IS...@CUVMC.AIS.COLUMBIA.EDU> wrote in message
news:010520.0659...@cuvmc.ais.columbia.edu...

DML (Dragon Models Limited) is based in Hong Kong and Shanghai Dragon is
based in Shanghai, China. Not sure of the exact link between them, but many
Shanghai Dragon kits are reissues or modification of DML kits. Usually DML
releases a kit first and then the molds are transfered or sold to Shanghai
Dragon for the reissue. If Shanghai Dragon does a straight reboxing of a
DML kit, it will have the same kit number and box art as the original DML
kit with the only visual difference being that it says "Shanghai Dragon" on
the box. Usually the Shanghai Dragon reissues are cheaper than the original
DML boxings. For example, the DML and Shanghai Dragon ZSU-23-4V1 both use
the same kit number (3521) and are the same kit.

Sometimes Shanghai Dragon modifies a kit slightly and in this case, the kit
number and box art will be different. For example, the Shanghai Dragon
Brummbar has a different number than the DML Brummbar. It is basically the
same kit, but the Shanghai release uses a different Panzer IV lower hull
part than in the DML original. Another example is that Shanghai Dragon did
a USMC M1A1 which is the DML M1A1 with a couple of new parts.

Finally, sometimes the Hong Kong kits are labeled "Dragon" instead of "DML".
The listing of "DML/Dragon" usually referes to the HK based kits, which is
separate from "Shanghai Dragon". The kits are all essentially the same in
quality, just the Shanghai kits are cheaper, probably because of cheaper
production costs on mainland China.

Dave

[Mike]

Basically yes, two different divisions of the same company.

--
Mike Dougherty
Toronto, Canada

[AMPSOne]

Dragon Models Limited is the name of the parent company in Hong Kong. They are
marketed worldwide as Dragon but for some reason (probably an existing
copyright) they are only DML in the US.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

[Joe Jefferson]

Although one of the two hobby shops I frequent seems to have little
trouble getting either one. Even kits I thought were long OOP show up
there from time to time. For example, I bought a Dragon (not DML) 1/72
He162A-2 there just yesterday.

--

Joe of Castle Jefferson
http://www.primenet.com/~jjstrshp/
Site updated October 1st, 1999.

"Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the
poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the
hand of the wicked." - Psalm 82:3-4.

[AMPSOne]

Joe,

Roger that. The few review samples I receive from DML are always in the Dragon
boxes.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

[Lafimprov]

Dragon Models Limited had to enter the US retail market as DML because there
was already another US company using the Dragon trademark, a cottage producer
of fantasy gaming figures. It is long gone now, so DML kits are now arriving as
Dragon. Shanghai Dragon is their mainland subsidiary, reissuing and often
improving the original kit (for instance, they added the mobile launch pad to
the V2 rocket when the original Dragon kit just had the test stand, and they
include improved hull parts on the various Panzer IV and Sherman kits).
Gerald Owens

[Ives100]

That is correct. IIRC, the Dragon Models name used to be used by Paul Fisher.
Fisher put out some excellent resin submarine kits, along with his main line of
beautiful resin cars. I believe he sold the Dragon name to DML so that it is
now used in US kits. He operates under Fisher Models.
Tom Dougherty (Ive...@aol.com)

[Rick Chin]

HI there,
DML was found by a Hong Kong about 1985? by a real estate Tycoon call Freddie
Leung who is the owner of all the Universal Hobby in Hong Kong. Rumor had it that
he is the god-son of Mr. Hasegawa.
He is also the guy behind the wholesales Marco Polo (U.S.) and Mikerian (Canada).

DML was based in Hong Kong and most of the models were based on the old Gunze
Sanzgo. (sorry about the spelling as well as the grammar). and of course the
Trimasters. They do a lots of new models in the orient which are very good. The
price was good at the time as production cost was low in HK at that time. The cost
of real estates went very high in the last 15 years as well as labor cost which
changed to "protect" the workers before the British gave HK back to China.
The production was moved into China/Shanghai for Economical reason and that is
why DMS has the same kit numbers but cost about half of the DML.
There is no connection between Dragon Models and Dragon Models limited as far as
I know.
Then again, what do I know? I was not there.

My 2 (3 in Cad fund) worth.

Uncle Rick