I found the following kits at attractive prices, but am not sure how good they are. Has anyone built them? How would you rate them? And how would you compare the similar kits from Academy and Italeri (i.e.: F-14A, F-15s)? What about the multiple versions from the same manufacturer (i.e.: F-15s, F-16s, F4Us, P-47s, Spitfires, F-18s)? Any notable differences in quality? Academy: AC 1622 1/48 MIRAGE IIIC FIGHTER (FA016) AC 1659 1/48 F-14A TOMCAT AC 1685 1/48 F-15C/D EAGLE AC 2117 1/48 F-15E STRIKE EAGLE WITH WEAPONS AC 12204 1/48 F-16C Fighting Falcon ‘Flying Razorbacks’ AC 1688 1/48 F-16A/C FIGHTING FALCON AC 2124 1/48 F4U-4B CORSAIR AC 2147 1/48 F4U-1D CORSAIR AC 2155 1/48 P-47N THUNDERBOLT AC 2159 1/48 P-47D THUNDERBOLT AC 2157 1/48 SPITFIRE MK. XIV C AC 2161 1/48 SPITFIRE MK. XIV E AC 2182 1/48 P-40C TOMAHAWK Italeri: IT 837 1/48 F-14A TOMCAT PLUS IT 2617 1/48 F-15A/C Eagle IT 2631 1/48 F-15 E Strike Eagle IT 2611 1/48 F/A-18 E Super Hornet IT 2619 1/48 F/A 18 F Super Hornet IT 850 1/48 F-22 Raptor IT 2629 1/48 Combat Aircraft Support Group (pilots, crew, and equipment) Revell: RE 04530 1/48 Messerschmitt Bf110 G-2/R3 RE 04580 1/48 Sopwith Camel
I am working on an Academy P-47D right now. Not bad and the fit is good so far. detail is also good.
I would build any of these kits from Academy or Italeri (just finished the Mirage 2000C).
All in all, I think these all decent kits - except maybe the F22 raptor, which I here is befret of fit problems.
Whoa! Thats quite a list, let me work through the ones I know. Academy: F-15E-builds up nicely-decals are terrible. F-4U-1D Corsair-nice kit, Tamiya has better detail though. P-47N/D Good kits, no problems. Italieri: F-14A-I’m building one now, it lacks cockpit detail but with the canopy shut it looks pretty good. F/A-18F-Its OK, Hasegawa kit is better. F-22-Avoid this one-its terrible. Well, thats my two cents worth, hope its useful to you. Darren.
Damn new forum software… this is the second time typing this… grrr…
Academy 1/48 MIRAGE III - The old Fujimi kit - run screaming in any direction other than toward the kit… well, it’s not that bad… ain’t that great either…
Academy 1/48 F-14A TOMCAT - Not bad, not great. The Monogram kit was undoubtedly utilized during the engineering of this kit and it has inherited some fit problems. Nevertheless, as far as 48th Tomcats go, this is the best bang for the buck…
Academy 1/48 F-15s - Again, not bad but not the greatest. If it weren’t for the newer Revellogram F-15s, I’d say that this was the best bang for the buck for 48th Eagles.
Academy 1/48 F-16s - Same as the twin tail jets, although I’d pass it over for a Hasegagme kit
Academy 1/48 F4U Corsairs - I get confused with these sometimes. Back when Academy was still in cahoots with Minicraft they released a Corsair kit that was fairly nice. It was the best 48th Corsair at the time. After the split, another was released (I think it was the F4U-4B) and it was garbage.
Academy 1/48 P-47s - There’s more appealing alternatives out there, but these are good, solid kits.
Academy 1/48 Spitfires - No worries unless you’re a rivet counter.
Academy 1/48 P-40C - The Hobbycraft kit. It’s not a bad build and goes together with few real problems. But if you want accuracy you may be a bit put off by it. As a model, I’d recommend it. As a replica, I wouldn’t. I’m still waiting for Tamiya to bring out some Tomahawks in 48th and I wish AMtech hadn’t cancelled theirs…
The Italeri kits… I have relatively little experience with most of these you’ve listed and have only seen the F-14 and F-22. I personally do not care for these two kits and have not been impressed with most of the other Italeri 48th jets I’ve seen. Alotta their kits look decent in the box and then, according to most folks I’ve talked to and reviews I’ve come across, turn nightmarish during the build. I suppose it’s a matter of personal preference and one’s relative experience…
Revell 1/48 Bf 110 (Me 110) - Originally boxed under the ProModeler label… excellent kit.
Revell 1/48 Sopwith Camel - This is a rebox of the old Monogram kit which was a re-tooled Aurora kit. All in all, not the best but not bad. A fun little kit to build.
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Thanks for everyone’s responses so far, esp. Steve’s point-for-point response! Steve, I understand your frustration. That’s why I type my posts with Word before pasting them on the forum. It catches many of my typos too : ) OK, so Raptor is definitely off my list, and maybe all the Italeri jets! How’s their ground crew set though? Everyone else, please keep your comments coming.
Forgot about the ground crew set… I’m not sure but I think that may be the old ESCI set, based on the box art. It’s been a long time since I held one of those in my hands and I don’t recall how it looked, good or bad. I do remember the figures looking a bit funky though.
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Thanks, Steve! Define funky please?
Hi Steve! Just wondering what exactly is wrong with the Academy Mirage III kit. Any specifics? Thanks!
I’ve built the Academy 1/48 Spitfire Mk14e and it is a fine kit. Cockpit details are good (close to Tamiya Spit), and the fitting is good, although one Spitfire expert in another forum question its shape and size accuracy. Other than that, I think you will enjoy it. The Fujimi 1/48 Mirage III date back in the mid-late 70’s. Therefore, unless Academy does some improvements on it, you will expect raise panel lines, fitting problems and very simple cockpit.
Thanks, Anthony.