Ok, fellas…I’m sure this has been discussed before, so I’ll make this quick. There’s a 1/48 F4U-1D in my near future and I want to know which kit to aim for. I think I’ve narrowed it down to either the Tamiya (with moto tug) or the Academy offering. Oh, yeah, I don’t want the “Bird Cage”. Question is for all of you…Which kit is best?
I haven’t seen the Academy kit, but I have the Tamiya one, and it looks to be really nice and very detailed. I’ve heard great things about the fit, etc. And based on my experience with Academy and Tamiya kits I have built, the Tamiya kits are generally more detailed and fit better- but cost more- which may be a consideration.
I’d say if the cost isn’t an issue, Tamiya is almost always a winner.
Tamiya! hands down and working on the bench!! i have seen the Acadamy, does not come close as far as detail and fit. I have built the Tamiya kit also and have several more to do. I can give you some tips on what too lookout for when your ready to build yours.
Drew
Tamiya hands down! Excellent detail, near perfect fit (except for the outer wing panels when building it with them extended), etc. etc.
Just my [2c]
That’s one of the tips I have. Glue the upper wing panels together before gluing them to the respective lower halves. Guaranteed a good fit. Just install the spar first to the inner upper half.
Okay, that’s a pretty convincing concensus! [8D] And as for the tips, of course I’d love to hear what you all have for me.
Oh, by the way, this is in regards to the price issue…
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0095p?FVPROFIL=++&FVSEARCH=F4U1D&FVPROFIL=++
I’ve seen most of the 1/48 Corsairs out there at one time or another. There have been a lot of them. The Academy kit is a re-release of the Hobbycraft kit. Here is a review: http://www.fortunecity.com/meltingpot/portland/971/Reviews/usaaf/f4u-1d_48.htm
The Tamiya kit is a newer mold and much more detailed. It’s one of the few F4U-1s that I’ve seen in any scale that got the cockpit right. The whole -1 series did not have a cockpit floor. The -4 had a cockpit floor and most F4U-1 kits have a -4 floor.
Anyway, Tamiya is the only one of the few that show the linkages and other stuff visible in the -1 because of the lack of floor in the cockpit.
Tamiya also includes a lower window, which you can paint over or leave there depending on which side of the great lower window debate you fall on.
Here is the article I found from a Vought engineer who was involved in the redesign and elimination of the lower window: www.sikorskyarchives.com/newsindex/News%20March%2001%20Corsair.pdf
Bill