I’m two kits into my “new” Aifix stash and results have been mixed. Thumbs up on P40A, Down on C-47. I have others in my stash - curious about the alternatives. Any advice on “keep” the Airfix, or “eBay” the Airfix appreciated.
1/72 HE-111: Alternative is the relatively newHasegawa 1/72 HE-111.
1/72 B-17G: Alternatives is the relatively new Revell Germany 1/72 B/17G
1/48 BF-109E: Alternative would be 90s era Tamiya 1/48 BF-109E
Thanks in advance
Eric
Can’t speak for the other 2 but i would deffinetly keep the 111. having built a hase kit and part way through the Airfix, i would take the slight fit issues of the latter anyday.
The 111 and 17 will be much better than their counterparts in my opinion. The 109 is a toss up. The Tamiya Kit goes together without any fuss but the Airfix kit requires some degree of modeling skill to make it look great. Personally, I’d go with the Tamiya Kit.
I believe there is two different C-47’s…old/new…???
HE-111…is nice, and I’d do it again before the Hasegawa. My only complaint is the panel lines, like most “new” Airfix kits, are a tad on the heavy side.
B-17…haven’t built it yet(Airfix). Looking at the parts, the first thing that jumps out at me is the engines…quite basic and just the “face” of the forward row of cylinders. I did the new Revell kit. Some of the details reminded me a lot of some of their old school stuff, not a deal breaker by any means. I did use resin engines on it and added a fair amount of interior detail. On the “bad” side…panel lines are even heavier than Airfix’s kit…made me think of a die-cast model. All of the clear parts on mine had weird “swirls” in the molding. Even without building Airfix’s offering yet…I think I’d pick Airfix over Revell.
109…counldn’t tell ya anything about Airfix’s kit. Tamiyas beats Hasegawas(which isn’t bad either), but I think Eduards beats Tamiyas.
Didn’t know Eduard made a BF-109E. Their G has been outclassed by the jaw-dropping new Tamiya 109G6. Eduard is a pretty good company and excels on good detail, but I’ve never built one with getting bit. Modelling Guru Paul Budzik recently did two extremely good video reviews on YT. One is of the brand new Airfix Spit XVI - which Budzik panned. He also did one on the Eduard Tempest - he finds it an acceptable kit but examines the many ways that keeps Eduard (or any of the Euro companies in my view) from matching Tamiya. And if anyone wants a Spit XVI - Tamiya has just released a 1/32 scale kit that is beyond good (or so I hear) and costs $150. Whoever suggested the Tamiya Bf-109E - I accept the findings. Thanks Eric