…not airliners. Anybody know why they are so unpopular? They are what we see at a the airports and what we can fly ourselves. There are only a few kits available in 1/48 and a few more in 1/72 with lousy detail. Hey, maybe they aren’t complex enough to win contests or challenge the expert but aren’t there a least a few of us that would like to build a classic general aviation plane like a Beech Baron, or a Cessna 310 or an Ercoupe ??? Talk about a short modelling career…for what’s avilable you can build 'em all within a couple of years !!! Anybody see any future here? What’s everybody got against gloss enamel?
I know what you mean. I learned to fly in the Cessna 180. Since then I have flown the Cessna 182 and 185, as well as the Beech Baron. I have seen only one kit of the Cessna 180. From what I have heard about it, it is nothing but a toy. I would love to see a 1/48 scale of the 180, 182 or 185.
welcome to the forum Jake! i completely argree with you i love civil planes and i would love to buil some high detail models of cessnas and ultrlights but i geuss more people like aircraf that has stuff to do with war! even tough i love warbirdsi wouldnt mind seeing a few good civilian plane models out there!
Typically, military aircraft are the fastest, most powerful, high performance aircraft of their time . In addition they represent significant times in history. These aircraft and the people who built, maintained and flew them shaped the world we live in today. As far as why there aren’t more civilian kits. I don’t know why, but I would guess the reasons I listed above are at least part of the reason military aircraft are more popular. just my $.02
Probably for the same reason you don’t see many kits dealing with the timeless Ford Escort, or the Geo Metro. As was pointed out above, I think part of the allure of the warbirds and other military aircraft is just that - we’re modeling a subject we’ll likely never fly, or even have a chance to ride in. It’s elusive, and somewhat mysterious. We spend hours and hours studying details and looking for that one elusive photo of that certain detail we just have to learn more about - and then of course we strive to super detail that into our new kit.
I’m all for a decent Cessna 152, 172, 182, Piper Arrow or Katana. These are the bread and butter for many flight schools here in the US anyway, and while the Minicraft Cessna 150 I picked up a few days ago had a prommising box, the contents were far from decent.
A real shame. Throw my vote in the hat for more GA!
There was a 1/20 scale Cessna 150 at one point in time. It is OOP now but you may be able to get one on EBay or a hobby dealer that handles old kits. I would love to see high quality general aviation kits!
Hey All,
I also would like to see more GA aircraft. It is claimed they are not popular but
of the ones that have been produced and are now OOP when you see them on E-
pay they seem to bring prices well above what they would if they were still Produ-
ced IE. The Very old Nichimo 172 skyhawk in 1/20th(I think the scale is right, large
anyway) usually brings 1-200 dollars, The old Monogram C-180s bring 20-50
and there is some guy that must have a stash of the old LS Bede-5 kits that he sells
for a 18+ start bid and they always seem to sell…
In the new FSM kit survey I wrote in, in 1/24th for a J-3 and any Cessna or Piper
GA. I choose the J-3 as it would be easy to bash into an L-4 and would probably
sell more #s and as a smaller A/C it would be less costly to produce. Hope you
guys agree with my thinking and add it to your votes!!!
Good Hunting,
G.W.
I work at a FBO at our local airport, I live airport life every day , I also fly these type of aircraft on a almost daily basis , cessnas , pipers, beechcraft , I personally would like to see models of GA aircraft , especially twins , like the piper cheyenne, aerostar , seneca, , cessna 340 , conquest , 402, etc, and beechcraft Baron 58, Duke etc,
how about a nice rockwell turbo commander in 1/48th scale , not to mention biz jets ,
from gulfstream , cessna , canadair , lear besides the 35 kit from hasegawa , british aerospace hawker 800 would be nice , I can go on and on this type of aviation has been overlooked in the modeling community for far to long in my opinion !!
While not a justify it, I think the models companies do not produce civilian a/c for finanicial reasons. They spend “Y” amount to produce a kit and must sell “X” amount to break even. They must feel that the expense is not justified. I think they are wrong, but that’s just my 2cents worth.
Grandad,
Your reasons are why I chose the J-3, I think it would sell and be profitable!
Dragonfly, I don’t know how good the 1/48th kits are as I build mostly 1/72nd but
both your requests are available. There is also that add thats always in the back
of FSM for that 1/24th Beaver!
IF they make it we will buy it!!!
Good Hunting,
G.W.
Well, I’ve got a Cessna 172 in stock. I got a try-out lesson from my wife a few years back, and because of that, want to build the specific plane I flew.
Got a Bell Jet Ranger as well. Nice model, and will turn out civil offcourse aas well.
Well, not popular: that’s a fact. No fancy camo-schemes. No high-tech shapes (okay some do, but still the look cute, instead of mean), no missiles and guns, and that makes it less interesting I guess.
Still, Revell just issued a 1:32 glider if I’m not mistaking. A few years back they issued a balloon, from Virgin if I’m correct. Now there;s a cessna 500 citation (i’l have to save some more to buy me a real one of those…), as well as a Learjet and Dassault Falcon. I know, these are only for the Donald Trump’s among us, but still, there is a little attention for this part of the market…
There the ADAC (road service) kit as well with one or three choppers…
how’s about the Revell A380, when that’s built it is massive and it’s just 1/144 scale, how’s about a seperate forum heading for all those who build civil aircraft, After the A380 I’m planning a 747-400 in virgin G-VFAB colours. Just my penny’s worth…
Well the discusion was about the smaller GA types, if you build airliners, then there are lots of kits you can choose from.
The smaller GA types are out there, but there are not that many, and the quality is often not that good. But if yodo some good rearch then there are a lot of GA aircraft that you can build.
My comments on wanting more civilian planes was not intended to detract from the importance of aviation history or the sacrifices of our veterans. I too am very intersted in several aircraft, B-17’s specifically,and the fates of such aircraft as “Wee Willie” and “Nine-O-Nine” and their crews. Also, my brother in law was a Huey door gunner, among other tasks, so I think any kind of Vietnam era modelling is terriffic.
The original comments were simply driven by the shortage of civilian kits and the frustration of pouring through endless lists of kits and finding so few as opposed to seeing certain aircraft issued in multiple scales and multiple issues by multiple manufacturers. I can understand less demand for the civilian planes but I can’t imagine how such over production and competion can result in adequate results for the manufacturers either.
I think up unti,very recent history, people did not often get 1:72 scale planes that were considered very large. I think for that reason popularity with civilian airliners were limited to 144or 200 scale. A good 1:72 scale airliner does sell as we see with Hellers 707 and with those firms like AIM who make civilian and ae only limited in my opinion by their poor distribution and communication.
If someone wanted to make a tonne of cash in modelling now a 1:72 injected airline would do very well. You might not sell an A310, A320 and A330 to the same person, but you would make a good deal of cash im certain.
As with the military glamour…well its understandable…i mean i wouldnt get a kit of a buick when i can get one of a F.1 racer…but demand is there and with good marketing money can always be made…but people buy alot of the 144 kits(just ask minicraft hobbies)…so where is the lack of interest??
A couple of years ago at the Chicago Hobby Show, I spoke to the new owners of Minicraft, they told me their line of 1/48 scale plane were their best sellers. They mentioned that they were looking into the possiblity of doing more up to date civil aircraft in this line. Might want to get on their web site and shoot them an idea. You never know, if enough people send emails, then maybe they would be more inclined to make a new model?
I would love to build a few Lancair or Cessna 172 , 182 but we can only hope.
As was pointed out above, I think part of the allure of the warbirds and other military aircraft is just that - we’re modeling a subject we’ll likely never fly, or even have a chance to ride in. It’s elusive, and somewhat mysterious. We spend hours and hours studying details and looking for that one elusive photo of that certain detail we just have to learn more about - and then of course we strive to super detail that into our new kit.