Hi gang!
I was looking through my Squadron mailer last night and thought the 1/144 offerings by Minicraft looked interesting. However, I don’t want to buy them if they’re bummers. I can’t find any reviews on the web about them. Has anyone had any experience with their B-25H/J or their P-51D?
Thanks for the help!
Eric
I"ve built a few of them, and for what you pay, they’re okay, I guess. The panel lines are countersunk, but are about 1/8 scale. They look like they were done with a backhoe! Detail is non-existent, gun barrels (on the bombers) are 'way too big. The P-47 has a big concave place in its belly that had to be puttied. They are what you’d call, “stand-off scale,” I think.
On the other hand, there is a P-51D made by Dragon and marketed under another name that I can’t recall that is just EXQUISITE!!. I’ve built 72’d and even 48th scale kits that were worse! For about $14.00 you get two full kits and enough decals to make 5 different planes. It even comes with a choice of Dallas or Inglewood canopies! Unfortunately, that’s the only WWII bird they make. There is also a line by Sweet (sweetaviationmodels.com) that is supposed to be pretty good, but I haven’t seen them.
Bottom line is that the minicraft 144th scale warbirds are pretty much toys unless you want to put a lot of work into them.
Wess
Wess,
Thanks for the info! I hope the name of the manufacturer comes to you in a dream tonight because I’d LOVE to get my hands on that P-51 kit! I tried doing a Google search for Dragon P-51s and all it turned up were the little die cast planes. I’m hoping to find the actual plastic kits.
Thank you for the info otherwise. I think, unless I’m up for a real rebuilding challenge, I’m going to pass on the Minicraft 1/144th kits for now.
Thanks again!
Eric
Well, it was even more implausible than the name coming to me in a dream; I found the bloody kit in my model room!
The brand name is Platz. The box says the kit is made in Japan. The URL on the instructions is www.platz-hobby.com.
How 'bout dat?
Wess
I believe the P-51D kit that Wess was referring to is also marketed under the Tasca Models label. I found it on the Great Models website (at least it meets the description) and now I’m thinking to get it. It contains two model kits and decals for several Blue-Nose Mustangs. It will set you back $12.70 plus shipping, but may very well be worth it.
As for the Minicraft kits, I’ve found them to be a bit disappointing straight out of the box. The panel lines are big enough to plant crops in, there is not even a hint of cockpit detail and the canopies are incredibly thick.
Even so, with a little work you can use them to turn out some pretty decent little desk-sitters. I am currently working on backdating a a P-51D into a P-51C and so far I’m very pleased with the results.
My dad built a few of the airliners and he had a time with them, a few of the parts broke when being cut off, decals were not to good. But they look ok when done.
These kits were also built under Revell back in the 80’s. There was the Spitfire, P51, P40, P47, P38, ME109, and FW190. They also sold the B17, B24, B29, B25, ME111, ME110 and B26 which I believe are now under Minicraft.
Revell Germany also sold an Avenger, Hurricane, Stuka, and Corsair that were much more detailed. I havn’t seen the last two kits since the early 90’s.
IMO, they are not bad kits for 1/144.
Scott