[:)]I recently found a few Academy models that I liked. The first one I picked up was the 1/72 OV-10D “Desert Storm”, I was kind of impressed when I opened the box. The panel lines were engraved, and looked good. I also liked the parts map and the overall appearance of quality.
A LHS had a sale on some models and I found a few others (P-47, and a few others). My question…any complaints out there? Any tips? They seem to be inexpensive, do they just look good to me, or did I find a good deal?
I’ve been working on the Monogram/Revell 1/48 F-16 ADF and haven’t had a chance to start on these. Thank you in advance for any help.[:D]
I would also be interested to hear other peoples; oppinions. I have an Academy F-15E that looks awsome in the box, but that is where it has remained for the past several years. I haven’t built one yet.
I really like academy models, in fact all my kits currently in the works or queued up are academy: 1/48 F-86F Sabre, 1/144 B-58 Hustler, 1/72 B-17G Flyingfortress… A couple of years ago, back in grade school, i wouldn’t think of buying anything other than hasegawa. now, i prefer academy because the parts go together well and, more importantly, it’s good value for money. But then again, this is just me. I suppose there are other better detailed kits out there, but they’re bound to be more expensive… [:)]
I love academy kits. The newer tools are crisply engraved and the fit is at least as good as any other. And the prices are very good. I have their 1/72 hellcat (better than Hasegawa’s old tooling) corsair, Avenger, A-10 (Seems based on Hasegawa’s but with nice engraved detail), Banshee and more. If hasegawa’s prices scare you or they only have older toolings then definitely buy academy. I just hope they keep it up.
I have several Academy kits waiting on the shelves, most of them haven’t even been opened.
Im working on the FW-190A8 in 1/72 scale and fit has been excellent! The cockpit lacked some detail on the instrument panel, but don’t most in 1/72 scale…Kit even came with a Kubelwagen, for $8 it was a good buy and prompted me to buy some of thier other offerings…
So far it sounds good! Man this sight is great, I’ve always loved the mag. now I have a great info source while I’m waiting for next months edition.[dinner] (I usually can’t wait to dig in)
Thanks for the great replies![bow][bow][bow] You guys rock!!!
I have a number of Academy kits that I’ve built with no complaints, both a/c and armor. I plan on building quite a few more! I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
I have nearly 10 waiting to be built
a friend has just completed the F86 and the decals are like selotape and will not respond to Microset or microsol
Kit = excellent
Decals = I have never seen something suck and blow at the same time before!
AJACKETSFAN hi[:)],
generally fit is ok, but a few things to beware of:
decals are notoriously thick[:(!][V] and may require a lot of microset and microsol (that’s what we call it here in UK, i think you hus call it solvaset or something? i’m not too sure)to get them to hug the kit surface, especially irregular ones
2.accuracy of decals: although this is a bit of tread head[:p] gripe, they get michael wittman’s tiger numerals wrong[:0]…very basic error for such a well known tank
their 1/35 tiger turret is symmetrical, when tiger turrets actually were not[:(!]; if they make this mistake with a tiger, then they may do something similar with aircraft…
i have built a 1/48 p-47 and had no complaints by the way, apart from the decals: great fit, lots of underwing ordnance etc, so i guess it just depends on the particulars of the kit.
i tend to stick to tamiya, hasegawa and accurate miniatures now though.
if it’s modern jets you do, then get ready for some fun with those decals!![:(!]
01-01-04
I love the Academy range! I have just finished the build of their 1/48 F-86, done as “Paper Tiger”. The kits are well detailed, engraved panel lines, accurate and unlike Hasegawa, the modren jets come with plenty of ordance.
If you grave more detail inside or out, there are plenty of aftermarket kits available and ppl usually get those even for Tamiya or Hasegawa.
You can’t beat the price for the superb quality.
My only complaint is that the decals on the Sabre were as thick as cardboard. I’ve thrown a ton of Microset and Microsol and they still just barely “sit down” into the model.
But, the solution to that is, again, aftermarket decal sets. There are plenty out there to chose from.
Note of caution tho’, DO NOT throw away the academy Sabre decals. Not all the aftermarket stuff has the wing/fuselage stripes and you’ll need the academy ones to use as a painting template.
So, yeah, I’d heartily recommend tyhe Academy line. I also have ( unbuilt) their Corsair F4U-1 Birdcage, F-15E Strike Eagle, P-38E and P-38M Nightfighter, F-14A Tomcat, Thunderbolt D and their Apache Longbow. They all look awesome.
Liam
Hey Ajacketsfan;
I’ve built a few Academy’s kits, I do 1/48 scale only and I really haven’t had any problems with the assembly of them they are almost the types all you do is through in the bottle of glue & paints shake the box and wella a nicely built kit with out to much problems, I’ve built their P-38’s, P-47’s, F-111’s, F-15’s, HH-60’s, and their newest additions with Hobbycraft the F-94’s, P-40’s, P-36’s, F7U-3M’s,
I like them but I also go with aftermarket decals with all my kits, I haven’t seen any good decals from kit companies for a while I tend to lean to Super Scale or Aero Masters (who are no longer in business) decals for the best results
I get the same decal problem too! And all this while, I thought there was something wrong with what i was doing… Some of their decals just like to come off the model. Very annoying.
Academy kits are fine. Just make sure you throw away the decals…
I’ve built some lovely Academy kits and they have been ruined by the decals they give you in the box. (take note if you’ve got the F-15E!) The kits are an OK price but by the time I’ve paid for the after-market decals, I might as well by the Hasagawa or Tamiya kit instead. 'Nuff said…
Hasegawa decals aren’t all that hot either! and Tamiya doesn’t have that wide a range of kits in the first place. I’ve started to only use aftermarket because most decals that come with kits seem to be sketchy. One of my LHS has a pile of decals for cheap because no one seems to buy them.
I’ve got a couple of their kits. I’m in work now on a F8F-1 Bearcat. Great kit! I wasn’t planning on using the kit decals anyway because it will be marked as a VF-15A aircraft ( the pre-July 1948 designation of VFA-192 ). Anyone need some RSVAF bars & stars? BTW I have been looking for a Detail & Scale or In Action or something on the Bearcat. All I found was a used In Action for nearly $45 w/ shipping! Can anyone reccomend a reference?
I just started painting and assembling Academy’s 1/32nd scale
F/A-18C Hornet! It is a great kit with LOTS of extras! The only aftermarket item that I added, was an ejection seat! I added an SJU-5/6 because the kit seat looks cheap and plain. While it is fairly accurate, the after market seat looks better! With care fully detail painting of the cockpit and using the kit 's instrument decals (2different types). I have a very nice looking cockpit! from what I’ve seen of the aftermarket Cockpit sets. The only real addition to the kit set is the Hell hole aft of the pilot, which is usually covered with a screen anyway. An item that I plan to add as a scratch built addition also. This kit comes with just about 2 of every weapon the F-18 can carry. Of course I haven’t figured out what to do with 4 drop tanks, as a real F-18 is only plumbed for 3! The kit decals are also spot on! Colors are in the correct shades and very extensive. There are 3 different aircraft possible and a seperate sheet for the weapons! My hat off to Academy for another GREAT model kit! Tamiya could learn a few things from Academy! I also have the MH-60K DAP and have built the MH-60G Pavehawk in 1/35th scale. [;)][8D][:D][:)][8]
Casisco, sounds to me like you’ve turned wrenches on the “Plastic Bug”! LOL Don’t forget-if you choose the Dragon scheme, both main landing gears are yellow! I really need to get my pics up of this bird for you guys out there. BTW, the a/c depicted is not in service with us anymore. It was sent back to the states to get modified & we doubt we’ll see it again. The new “Nuts” bird scheme looks more like “Puff the Magic Dragoon”!!!
That 1/32 Hornet looks like a great kit…I was in a hobby store just after it came out and the clerk was really pushing it. The store had a kit that was unwrapped and he was opening it to show everyone the contents. When I picked up the box I couldn’t believe how heavy it was. (That is relative to a kit without all the extras) It looks like a detail bonanza. It is really cool to be able to talk to someone that has been around the actual a/c…
By the way thanks for all the good advice. It looks like I’ll be picking up a bunch of aftermarket decals !!! I hope I can find some in the same markings for the F-86 (1/72) that I got I think it’s “El Diablo” it was a really cool looking set of markings. If anyone’s seen those let me know. Thanks again for the tremendous amount of replies !!![bow]
Mr Lodini , I am just an avid aircraft modeler and fanatic!
I have a varied military carreer having served in the USAF Reserve, Md ANG and 4 years in the Marines.
As retired Reserve Air Refueling Operator I have refueled more that a couple of Navy and Marin F-18s the last over the Balcans during the Kosovo mess.
I do know more aircraft trivia than most people but not as much as I’d like to know!
Drop me an email if you’d like to trade ‘Sea Stories’[:D] sometime![8D][:)][8][8)]