Well I’m tired of getting BURNT buying these this is my 3rd try and all have raised panel lines is there a way to tell or a kit number when the kit’s stopped having raised panel lines. I read all about how great these kits are and spending 30 bucks on a F-14 with raised panel lines is my last straw with them until i can tell what i’m buying.
I would rather have a $13.00 F-14 Academy kit myself. Maybe I’m missing the hype on these kits.
It depends on the Kit, older kits tend to have the raised panel lines, newer kits no. Their new tool kits do not have the raised panel lines. Also some times the manufacturer is re-poping some else’s kits.
You can always ask on the forum if any one has built a specific kit, and ask for feed back.
Some of the other sites also have reviews of kits on line, HyperScale, Aircraft resource center, modeling madness are some that come to mind.
Unfortunately, they way they re-issue older kits with new markings and a premium price tag, sometimes it’s difficult to tell it it’s a new kit or a reboxed older kit until someone lifts the lid on the box.
I’m not sure exactly when Hasegawa switched from raised to recessed panel lines, but the voice in the back of my head is trying to tell me that the Grumman F11F Tiger kit was one of their last “original” kits with raised panel lines (early-mid 80’s?)
There are two main F-14 lines, one originating in the late 70’s with raised panel lines and including weps in the box and then there’s the newer series with recessed panels and a good number more parts (but lacking weps) from about '86-'87. At one time, the earlier kits were considerably cheaper than the later editions, but this isn’t always a reliable guide. You cannot rely on the kit numbers as a guide either, as some older kits often go into hibernation and are re-released some time later with new kit numbers for exactly the same contents.
i use internet to avoid surprises, search the specific kit that i want to buy and search till i don’t fing good pics or good reviews that sure spells “the kit have engraved panels”.
Theres have a bastard way if you don’t want to rescribe panels, afte all main paint is done, sand very carefull with extra fine sandpaper on panel lines and the plastic itself will draw the panel lines… but it’s very hard to use.
How are you getting “burnt” just because a kit has raised panel lines? I would take raised panel lines over inaccurate shapes any day. Just because a kit has raised panel lines does not mean it is a bad kit.
[dto:] Raised panel lines doesn’t always = burned. Although I prefer engraved as well, I’ve got a small pile of older Airfix & Heller kits that are really decent little kits for 1/72, were bought at a good price… that happen to have raised lines.
That being said, I do prefer to know which I’m getting before I hand over the money, often if you run a google search on a certain kit you’ll find a few reviews that can help.
I have noticed that Squadron’s catalog and web site usually specify in the kit description whether it has raised or engraved panel lines.
Real airplanes don’t have recessed panel lines. But seriously, I’d add cybermodeler to the list of review sites. That’s a good way to go.
Well, real airplanes fly too, anyway i guess my point is i was expecting one thing and got another and seems to happen often with Hasegawa and me.I know form reading around that it’s taboo to talk bad about them I did a search for that kit and found 2 reviews and both said recessed. anyway i’m not here to start a argument just wondered if there was a simple way to tell the newer kits apart from others they make.
I don’t always mind raised panels i’m working on a Has F-102A now so don’t get me wrong.
Oh I know what you mean fishinman, I’ll take them either way depending on the subject. In Hasegawa’s case, I suppose the fact that they’ve been producing good kits for decades just leads to them re-releasing older kits, with no mention of the raised/recessed on the box. All you can do is ask around or watch for release notes from FSM and others.
It’s not taboo. Ask here with the kit # and I’m sure someone will be able to tell you if the kit has raised or recessed panel lines.