Been at work modeling Italeri’s f-15E Strike Eagle in 1/48 scale and I must
say that this is no doubt the Frankenstein of all models I’ve ever attempted to
build…I know there are a bunch of guys who might swear by Italeri kits however
my experiences with them have been disappointing. To say that there are fit problems
with this kit would actually be a compliment to the people involved in designing it. I’ve
already gone through two coarse files trying to make up for all of the overlapping sections
of the model and the crappy fit areas…Last night I nearly ruined my sense of smell on super
glue fumes in a attempt to fill crevases in the kits structure…
However, as I now have the main pieces of the fuselage together I am newly optimistic that I
might be able to make a decent kit of this after all…
Is there any hope for using Italeri kits in the future…I’m turned off by them for now…I think this
will be my last one…I know a lot of you guys take a sense of pride utilizing your abilities
to take poorly designed kits and turn them into masterpieces, however I think there’s a line for me.
I do expect a certain degree of quality, fit, and detail found in kits like tamiya and hasegawa. It is fun
however to experient with new stuff.
I’ll post pics of the finished bird soon so you all can cast your verdict but for now i’d recommed anyone
to stay away from itelari unless you’re ready to be pieced off…
Take care guys and thanks for reading…just want to avoid any headaches for you in the future.
tankbuster, I have found that you cannot judge a kit by the manufacturer. I usually judge a kit individually, and from what I learn here, and my LHS. I have found in the past that every manufacturer has its fair share of crappy kits, along with there fair share of really good, and yet even average kit. I have done several Italeri kits that were very nice kits. I have also done a few tamiya kits that were garbage.
Hey, mate…
Jim’s right - it’s probably not fair to condemn ALL Italeri kits because of you’re bad experience with this kit…I’ve built many Italeri kits, and have found that generally, they’re pretty decent kits, and some of them were very good, indeed.
Inspect each kit very carefully before you buy it - that’ll help a little.
Cheers
Is it too late to trash it and build a Revellogram one? I am working on one and it is going together pretty well. Sorry the Italeri one is a dog, but even Tamiya and Hasegawa have put some out. For the most part, I think Italeri has decent kits.
Jim’s advice and comments are exactly right. I agree, but I’ll add one more thing. Most of your peers who have built the same kit or ones like it know exactly what you are dealing with. I would look at th eissues as challenges and let your modeling skills turn a sows ear into a silk purse, you will have a greater sense of pride and accomplishment in your work.
Inspecting kits before purchase is a great idea, but how do you inspect them when they are shrink wrapped from the factory? Do you seriously expect the LHS operator to let every or even many customers unseal 2 or 3 or 4 kits to inspect them and then walk out with one or none?
What are you planning to look for in your “inspection”? Fit problems can only be determined if you remove the pieces from the sprues and dry fit them. That is not feasible at all.
The only viable alternative that I can see is to ask fellow modelers face to face or on this forum for their opinions on past builds.
I agree with whats being said about certain kits being bad instead of Italeri’s entire stock. I built the Me-110G-4 nightfighter in 1/72, and it had a couple BIG mistakes.
1-canopy that would work for any version but the G-4
2-wing drop tanks and mountings completely out of proportion
3-1/4" gap between the top of the wing and where it mates to the fuselage
4-a couple parts (ex:pilot’s armor plating) molded to thick for scale,sanding wasn’t enough to modify sufficiently, and what I did fill/sand was out of proportion and was left as is(it shows!)
The Fw-190D-9 and F-14A Tomcat Plus in 1/48 I have from Italeri look alright in the box so far. The Focke Wulf is even constructed the same exact way the ProModeler Fw-190G-2/G-3 goes together.Thats my[2c]
Most Italeri kits are of average or better quality. I’ve built several of their 1/72 kits which are decent builds. Never tried the 1/48 F-15, but I suspect it’s a rebox of some other older kit.
I agree, you can´t judge only by the manufacturer. Once upon a time I automaticly grabbed the hasegawa kit of the plane I wanted, but not all of their kits are good. It is true however, that Italeri has a lot of mediocre kits.
I was in my LHS long ago, scouting for a 1/72 A-10 and asked if hasegawa made one. “why do you want the hasegawa for, it´s not the best A-10 kit” I asked him witch one it was who was the best? “Italeri”, he said(it´s the same mold as Revell´s A-10. That kit is one of the best I have!! (I changed it the next day to the revell because of the decals)
You can always ask about a kit here on this forum before you plunk down your cash also. Chances are someone herer has built the kit at one time or another.
Thanks everyone for your suggestions and encouragement.
I will continue to build this one and be patient with the problems. I guess the main reasone I wrote about this one is so that others would have the “heads up” before buying some Italeri kits especially this one…
revellogram? huh. I have no faith in revellogram wahtsoever. I much prefer revello’germany. Lame joke. Serioulsy I really like revell of germany, but dislike monogram.
inpw1… Most Tamiya kits now-days are Italeri kits… Thats why they are crap!
I am a Hasegawa man. And all I can say is when they make a crap kit… Its a really good crap kit![:)]
ps… I wouldnt ask your hobby store guy for advice with what kit is best… He will tell you whatever manufacturer that he has an agreement with, or whatever he wants to clear… God… If I listned to my guy, he would have me buying all my kits from his stash from when he went on a buying trip to the Philipines?
A man that speaks from my own heart…I have to agree that a bad hasegawa
is an Itelari on a good day. I know there’s always that diamond in the rough
but honestly, if you know you’re putting out crap kits what are you trying to
say…maybe we won’t notice…or that’s why they invented it? It’s all about knowing the
products…I agree, but some manufacturers put more effort into getting you a quality product
and a model with good detail, fit, accruacy, and design.
Thanks Tank… Look I understand everyone has their own preferences with what manufacturers they like. And I respect that… I can only speak of my own experience… Its not like I have never built an Italeri kit. In fact I have built a couple. And I have found them all to be rough, soft and with funky detailing… Now I could understand getting one or two bad kits… But I have had a bad one every time I have bought Italeri… Thats not a great %… Hasegawa, I have had one, maybe two that I wasnt happy with…
Italeri just doesn’t stack up…and it’s no surprise they are a part of the testors/model master/pro scale
model lines. I wouldn’t go and call tamiya crap…I’m curious to know which tamiya kits you’ve built
that weren’t up to standard.