The list price on the Hobby Boss 1/48 F-14A is $99.99. HobbyLinc has it on sale for $74.09 but still. Is it really worth it?
If you think it is worth it, then go for it… Hits at many related posts on what one is willing to pay for plastic. Personally, not me.
If you want it, it is worth it
Haven’t read any reviews or seen it myself personally, but IMO, HobbyBoss are pretty good value for money and they are really producing some very nice 1/48 modern jets.
I’m guessing this is no exception.
Personally, yes, very worth it. If i walked into my local hobby shop and saw it for USD74 , i’d buy it. I think here in hobby shops its around AUD110 or so.
If you do buy, please let us know how it looks on the inside.
Chris.
Not to me, but I prefer WW2 subjects & don’t have the room for modern 1/48… [2cnts]
[dto:]
And if I were inclined to go more modern, I’d go F-15 instead, and Revell’s got that excellent 1/48 F-15E for a quarter the price…
But if F-14s are your thing, probably I guess.
Yes and no…
It’s all in what you perceive it being worth.
Hands down, the Hasegawa F-14 kit in any form, it the best 1/48th Tomcat available.
Sprue Bros.com has a Hase F-14A for $58.49
I’d always go for the Hase kit over any other kit, especially if the price is lower.
I would buy it from an Asian source, like Luckymodel.com (no affliation, just a satfisfied customer). They list it in stock for $40 + $10 shipping to US. So if you are willing to wait an extra few days (usually gets here within 2 weeks via air at the lowest postage rate), that’s what I would do.
Anytime I need to buy expensive or a larger order of Tamiya, Hobbyboss, Trumpeter stuff, I check them first - they are in Hong Kong.
I just received my Hobbyboss F-14A last week. I spent around $74 on it, but initial impressions are nice. Not to dis the Hase kit, I’ve built many, but the HobbyBoss kit does appear worth the extra money. Here’s what it includes that the Hase kit doesnt: Two complete engines, optional open gun bay with a multi-piece gatling gun with Ammo drum instead of Hase’s poor molded-in offering, complete avionics bays, refuling probe, detailed radar, and most impressively a complete weapons package for an early F-14A plus some extra goodies for the spares stash. The cockpit is far superior in detail to what Hase offers. Again, not to dis the wonderful Hase kit, but the Hobbyboss Tomcat is a newly tooled and Hasegawa’s is starting to show its age. Going over the pieces about the only thing I don’t like is the chin pod is only applicable to very early F-14s. I’ll have to raid my spares box for an appropriate chin pod for the Tomcat I’m planning. I think the surface detail is better on the Hase kit as Trumpeter’s mad riveter has snuck his way onto the Hobbyboss kit. Of course the real test will be in the build. I have no idea how the fit will be. It did bump itself to the top of the list. Maybe I’ll do a WIP thread.
“Worth it” is too subjective. Going to be something different for everybody.
I got one of the HB kits a couple of months ago and have started some dry fitting and planning. First impression is that it’s very similar to the Hasegawa kit. Both good products in my opinion. I’d have to give a slight edge to the HB kit for the engines and weapons included.
But my favorite is still the venerable Revell/Monogram kit. Especially the new modified releases of the -B & -D with the full weapons loadouts. More work than the higher-priced kits, but can still be built into some very impressive models.
Mark
Per the description,
it appears it may be worth it IF the builder normally spends as much or more than kit price on aftermarket parts for a kit.
Otherwise, a less expensive kit is the better choice.
Here in Manila it cost about USD 41.00. Why is it that expensive on your place? You can check Hong Kong prices at HobbyEasy and Lucky Model. I’m sure it is more expensive than other because of the number of partsbut not that expensive.
I’ve decided im not going to get it. I’m just going to wait till the price drops a little.
I broke down and ordered it from Luckeymodel,total cost was $52.09 not bad
When you get it, let us know how it looks and tell us how long it took to ship from HK.
Here’s how I see it.
The Revell kit goes for about $25.00 It is pretty good, and looks like an F-14. It won’t be winning any contests without a lot of work.
The Hasegawa is about $55.00 and is pretty much the kit to have.
the Hobby Boss is $75.00 or so. So it has to be $25.00 better than the Hasegawa, which is pretty good.
Personally, I am content to build the Revell kit, it looks fine on my shelf.
Remember, too, that the Hasegawa kit comes with a sub standard cockpit and no weapons. Most people that I know buy an AM cockpit and AM weapons. You might be lucky enough to have some spare weapons laying around, though.
Now an AM resin 'pit goes for $20-$30 and if you buy the Hasegawa weapons set to arm it you have to buy two sets…one set for the AIM-9s and AIM-7s, and one set for the AIM-54s. At about $20 per set you’re looking at an extra $40. And with the $30 AM 'pit your $55 kit just went up to $120.
I’ve heard that the HB cockpit is quite nicer that the Hase one and the HB kit comes with the weapons.