A Nieuport of any variant with the WnW touch would be nice. I’d also like to see them try their hands at a SPAD. I’d like to see anyone do a decent He-115, in any scale.
all companies have a fair share of good N bad kits. older tamiya kits can be a mess. specially the sea harrier. my stash is mainly tamiya and hasegawa. mix with few eduard and academy kits.
only downside of tamiya and hasegawa is the prices they charge at times. it’s ridiculous what hasegawa wants for their 1/48 F-104G CCV.
Hi thats a good question, I guess if it’s 1/32 then my money is with Trumpeter Ive made the mig 23 and it’s flawless, the fit is what people expect from Tamiya and I’ve made their Mig 29k which is equally impressive. also I’ve made Revells Eurofighter which is a pain in the arse but builds into a better model than Trumpeters (shape wise around the aft end) which probably fits brilliantly. Also Tamiyas 1/32 F-16CJ was again flawless. I think its hard to say who is the better kit producer rather who makes the best kit of a given aircraft that might be an easier way to look at it. If its variety in 1/32nd then Trumpeter without a doubt. as I’ve got Trumpeters 1/32 Mig 21MF and F-14D to build and it looks like theyre giong to do all the american aircraft I wouldnt be surprised if they start releasing 1/32 Phantoms soon and I’ve read that Trumpeter has made a better kit than Tamiya’s Tomcat… I’ve made Hobbyboss’s 1/48 N/AW-A-10 and it was fantastic though I think theyre part of trumpeter. All I can finish with is that trumpeter do get alot of criticism online but my experience has been only positive, except the 1/32 SU-27B, good kit but the shape is way off but expensive corrections are out there. As for Hobbyboss I think theyre the future of 1/48 scale aircraft as theyre bringing out new toolings almost monthly and I’m hoping for a new mig 25 and jaguar and I would bet if anybody’s going to be making them it’s going to be Hobbyboss.Hope this was helpful. If you have any questions on any aircraft I’ve mentioned that I’ve made just ask.
I’ve always been pleased with Tamiya and Hasegawa, and the defunct Accurate Miniatures.
Right now I am working on Tamiya’s new 1/32 P-51D, and it has made me a believer! Superb engineering and accuracy- but only for advanced modelers, with a lot of patience and experience.
You pays your money and you takes your chance, I guess.
Accurate Miniatures as a company may be defunct but there models still live on. Looked at the parts of the Italeri Avenger and on the back side of one of the parts has the Accurate Miniatures stamping on it.
And I also took a look at the Hobbyboss Wildcat sprue and it too looks very nice.
As Tamiya in general are really good kits there are others that are just as good if not better.
Did I mention how the Italeri TBF Avenger is an amazing model, just say’n.
i hate how hasegawa smashes all the sprues into one bag.
IMHO Tamiya is the best because their kits fit properly. I’m not of the filing and sanding set at all. Kits should be made to fit, not have canyon like gaps in places. My two cents.
two things come into mind when asked best. either fit or detail.
when it comes to fit hands down tamiya and hasegawa.
when it comes to detail well, all companies have good N bad.
just because it’s well detailed doesn’t mean it’s accurate.
And when it comes to low-price and general accuracy, It’s Monogram/Revell…
Wingnut Wings has both of those, and I’ve yet to find a dud in the lot when considering those factors. Plus, their decals are better than most aftermarket ones, their instructions are worth saving as valuable references, they come with enough PE to beef 'em up even more, and they offer free shipping.
I read somewhere that there was one manufactuer who included in their kits both aftermarket resin products and also photoeteched products. Does anyone know who does this?
Are you referring to Czech Models?
Several companies have kit issues in which they include PE and reson. Sometime out of neccesity (short run kits) sometimes to make and existing kit better (like Eduard has done with several Academy kits)
It depends on a specific model. For example the Tamiya A10 kit in 1/48th scale has a lot of draw backs, I think that the Revell A-10 is better. I like to read the product reviews of people who have actually built a particular kit, not just a in the box review, to find out what I am buying. Also I am willing to put up with some fit problems in an older kit to be able to buy more kits at lower prices. There are lots of great companies out there to choose from. I love Tamiya, Roden, Eduard, Revell, Academy, they all make great kits. I like hearing about new kits, but I don’t feel driven to just buy the latest kit. Occasionally I will rebuild a kit in my collection that I built years ago to add a better example to my collection. Then I give my old model to one of the kids at church and encourage him to build one himself.
Keith
Personally, I like Trumpeter and Revell, in my opinion they are the best due to the subjects they cover as they make everything I like. I would say Tamiyas F-16CJ (1/32) is superb, but Trumpeters Mig 23 is every bit as good. I have no experience with earlier Trumpeter kits so far every trumpeter Kit I have made has been Excellent, and as good as Tamiya for fit and detail. The Revell kits are also great as they are usually a blank canvas for so much extra detail, for scratch building. I guess if you like 1/32 Migs, and Sukhois then Trumpeter, if you like Western European aircraft then Revell, I do not build WW2 so I cannot comment but I have to say that for what I like (cold war soviet jets) those are the best to me.
A lot of limited-run kits do this (Pacific Coast Models, AZModel, Czech Model, etc). So does Eduard - their ProfiPack editions routinely include color photo etch, canopy masks and some toss in resin (wheels with the Hellcat, rocket pods with the MiG-21). Various limited editions go even further with full on resin cockpits, wheels, engine nozzles, gear bays etc.
Ok, so I’m jumping back onto my bike, now years later. I use to be heavily into automotive models looking for the most difficult skill level that I could find for any specific car model I wanted to build. Now, having settled down w/ family and solid career I’m looking to get back into it as a hobby. Flight has always been a fascination of mine so that’s my focus. I’m putting a spin on it this time by looking to build at least one aircraft that represents each era through the evolution of flight - in the order in which they took flight, at that. Rather than telling what I DO want it may be easier to explain what I want to avoid.
- Must not be mindless assembly. The more parts the better. My ideal way would be an exact scale of every part as if building the scale model by replicating the real process of aircraft production.
- Don’t want to be left cussing out a brand because a part just doesn’t fit right. I’m capable of altering w/ hand tools but I’m not expecting, nor do I have resources, to re-cast/re-form anything.
- Can’t be cheesy quality once completed. I don’t want gaps, say, because the tail, for example, ends up a little smaller than the slot on the fuselage which would leave even the slightest gap. On a real aircraft the parts are virtually seamless for purposes of aerodynamics. While I’m not flying these models, I am looking for the “exact replica” quality.
As a pilot I can and will be picky. I know the details of several aircraft from personal hands on/eyes on experience. Like a person who never forgets a face; I never forget a plane. As long as I can’t spot a discrepancy/inaccuracy than I’m fine - what I can’t see won’t hurt me.
Almost all my model experience has been with Revell. I felt unchallenged on a good portion of the skill 2 (obviously easier) and 3 cars I built. I wasn’t pleased w/ the quality of detail back then - 15-20yrs ago. The motors may have 5-10 parts and the rest was a mold. I had some die-cast replicas of cars too, which had working parts that moved and looked very much like the real deal. Although I know it’s harder to replicate detail accuracy w/ plastic over metal I’m hoping there’s a brand known for coming close.
While no company may meet all of the above I’m looking for any brand that comes the closest to all 3 for aircraft. Please advise.
Michael, I’d love to advise you, but I don’t know what to say. I’ve been building models as a hobby since 1949 and a business since 1967. Most of my subjects have been aircraft, but I’ve also built just about any other subject you care to name. The majority have been kits…or at least kit-based, with the rest being scratchbuilt or major conversions. In all that time, I don’t know if I’ve ever seen or heard of a manufacturer that would match or come close to your requirements on a consistent basis. Wingnut, maybe, if you want to build 1/32 scale WW-I biplanes, but keep in mind that I’ve never seen the kits and can only go on what others say.
Keep in mind that the physical limitations of injections molding…as well as the economics involved with each kit…prohibits any company from producing the level of quality you require with every release. Also, be aware that every manufacturer…whether intentionally or simply because they’re human…is going to produce kits that range from so-so to absolute dogs.
Finally, there’s the human factor related to the modeler who’s building the kit. His…or her…level of skill, inherent talent, patience, etc. The truth is this: We derive enjoyment as well as the constant improvement of our skills by making each subsequent model better. If each kit we tackle is produced to the level you have requested, we are not modelbuilders, we’re collectors.
In the beginning of this reply, I said that I didn’t know how to advise you. I still don’t. The best I can say is read reviews and construction articles available for the kits you’re interested in, acquire the best one…in your opinion…and then build it to the level you want. Will most of them meet your criteria before you start construction? Probably not. But they will when you’re finished with them. And that’s what really matters. Isn’t it?
Again I will say what I did when this thread was new- pick your subject and scale first, then go from there. Just off the top of my head, I might suggest the new Airfix 1/24 Typhoon or Mosquito for levels of detail and such. Perhaps a Revell Germany Arado float plane in 1/32 is your cup of tea. Maybe you like big bombers and an HK 1/32 B-17 is what you need. Like fast movers, Trumpeter , Academy, & Tamiya make a whole bunch of those in 1/32.
I’m not an aircraft specialist, but I’ll take the liberty of suggesting one company that surely belongs on any list of high-quality manufacturers: Wingnut Wings. I have its SE5A in my stash, waiting for me to work up the nerve to tackle it. It’s one of the best kits I’ve seen in 58 years of modeling - and I have the impression that the company has gotten even better in the several years since that one was released. Very highly recommended.