I was wondering, what do you think is the best brand of 1/48 kits?
Like the most accurate?
To be quite honest, it varies from subject to subject. There are some Monogram kits out there from the 60’s that are more accurate than anything that has been made recently. So, there is no real hard and fast answer to your question. Crazy how that works, huh?
A very broad question. Best fit would be Tamiya, but after that it just depends on what you want to build and how well developed your skills are (and how much head-banging you can stand, ultimately!).
To me that would be Tamiya[2c]
I like the fit and all the extras you get with Eduard’s profipak series of WWI aircraft.
I’m a Tamiya and Accurate Minuratures fan. If the subject allows it, I’ll take Acc. Min. first.
Andy
it vary’s from subject to subject. My new fav. kit is Eduard’s FW 190.
Thad
Each kit is different. I’ve wrestled with Hasegawa kits and I’ve had Revelogram kits fall together. You would get a better answer by asking - what are the best kits you have built?
I will go with Accurate Miniatures first for anything that subject allows as well, but they do not have the selection that Tamiya or Hasegawa has. They are still top notch for what they offer in my opinion, and I have not been unhappy with anything I have bought with their name on it. My second choice would be Tamiya, but they have put out some real dogs in the past. They are usually pretty consistent though.
Honestly, besides the fact that I will buy any Acc Min kit offered sight unseen, I try to find as many reviews about the subject I want before I buy anything. It completely varies with each kit, and sometimes it could be companies that are not as well known like ICM. Also, alot of the time, you will find an incredible kit with horrible decals or vice versa.
You could let us know of some of the aircraft that you are interested in and then we could offer a better answer.
Truth to tell, I’m tired of “perfect” kits like Accurate’s, which indeed are excellent in that way. But what’s the fun in that? To me, the best brands are the ones that have the most interesting aircraft–spare me yet another P-51 or Spitfire–that are buildable with reasonable effort and are just a little challenging.
All depends on your modelling skills and what you’re looking for. For what I like to build I’d have to say Tamiya and Hasegawa are at the top of my list. Classic Airframes gets honorable mention because they tackle so many great aircraft that the others just won’t make. Trumpeter and Accurate Miniatures are good too.
Everyone’s enjoyment of the hobby is different, and fun is completely relative to the builder. I will build a kit that is a dog if it is the only thing avaiable in that scale/ subject or if I want the challenge, but the original poster asked which kits were the best and most accurate, so I gave an honest answer based on my opinion and what I enjoy with the hobby.
To me, the fun part is the final product. Whether I build a “perfect” kit or one that finishes with more putty than plastic, the ends justify the means. Everyone’s skill level is different, and everyone’s view of what is difficult is different. I like to grow on my skill and learn more with everything I build, and to imply that building these “perfect kits” requires no reasonable effort and no challenge could be viewed as an insult to many that have struggled with them and are proud of what they have made.[;)]
I like 'em all. It’s just fun to me. I’ve enjoyed a Tamiya kit just as much as a Revell kit, and an Accurate Miniatures one as much as an Airfix one.
Now, if I was cornered, I love what I have seen of the Eduard Weekend Editions. For my style, they represent great kits. They’ve go the low cost of a Revell-type offering, the engineering of Accumiyagawa, the part count is about right for me (50-60) and they’re great OOB or with tons of AM or scratchbuild. I guess they fit my style perfectly- low cost, non-frustrating fun.
But hey- give me that old Monogram 1/48 F4F that if I recall had no cockpit- just a pilot with a tab in his back to fit the slot in the rear bulkhead. I’ll build it, raised panel lines and all, because it’s fun.
Modeling makes me feel like a kid again!