Academy or Hobbycraft for a P 35 ?

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

I want to build a P 35 in 1/48 and have determined that my choices are Academy or Hobbycraft. Which one is better and why. Price really does not matter. Thanks.

2

This one’s a pretty easy choice… they’re both the same kit…

Fade to Black…

3

Well if you DO decide on the Hobbycraft kit, watch out for the engine mounting locator on the front of the fuselage. If you use it, the engine will reside noticeably off center. Don’t ask how I know [D)]. Other than that, the landing gear farings will need slight choppin’ off the tops to fit correctly.

4

Wow that was fast ! Thanks guys.

By the way modelnerd what did you use for the silver finish on your p 35? I looked at your website and it looks real good.

5

Thank you kindly.

Actually, I sprayed that one with ModelMaster Chrome Silver. However, if you’ve seen my more recent P-51B postings, I have since decided that I prefer Floquil Old Silver, and a soft buffing wheel after it’s dry. The results are pretty amazing. I have yet to try Alclad, but I am told it works very well, to.

6

I just got some testors metalizers and was considering them for this and a p 36 I have (Academy kit, humm…is it the same kit as hobbycraft as well?) Some people like the metalizers some say they are hard to keep from peeling so I guess Ill find out.

7

If it’s a “buffing” metalizer, then yes, watch out. It acts like a fine powder, and is a genuine pain in the rear. Most non-buffing silver paints (those not specifically purposed to be buffed) can be buffed. I admit, I am beaming with pride that my P-51 looks like it’s made from aluminum, rather than plastic. This is exactly the look I was going after. However, once buffed, it is more seceptible to fingerprints and tape lines. I have read that you don’t have these problems with Alclad. The reasons I haven’t tried the Alclad yet, is that I don’t know if it can be buffed to my satisfaction, and it also takes a somewhat strict and specific surface prep. I think it’s expensive, too, and I’m cheap!

8

The Academy P36 is also a reboxed HobbyCraft kit.

Regards, Rick

9

Thanks, I thought that might be the case.

10

Both kits share a significant error that I never worked up the initiative to try and correct. So, my Hobbycraft P-35A still waits forelornly in the to-be-finished-someday pile. Hobbycraft tooled the fuselage spine to almost be flat on the top. On the real P-35, the spine almost comes to a sharp point, a razorback rather than a turtleback.

Here’s ModelNerd’s nicely done Academy P-35:

Here’s a real P-35A preserved in the Swedish Air Force Museum:

See the difference in the profile of the raised deck behind the canopy?