I’m relatively new to modeling, having built a few revell models including an F-15E. I have a Hasegawa A-7E and F-22A waiting to be built, but I dont think im quite ready to build them yet, because those are two of my favorite planes and want them to come out perfect. With that said, I need some help picking a model or two that arent to incredibly hard to build (low amounts of filler and sanding needed), yet still being detailed. I prefer mostly modern aircraft, 1/48 if possible, and that just plain look cool. With that said, if you have a model in mind that youve built that I could build, that would be fantastic- pictures if you have them.
First off, if you wanna hold off til you can build perfectly…you’ll never build em!!! The A-7 builds up fairly easily. I did one a long time ago, got another stashed, along with a few other A-7s (I [ht] A-7s!!!). You can always get another one…or eleven! later too. Revell of Germany has reboxed that kit for a bit less$$$.
A few GREAT kits, that are priced right are Revells F-84, F-86 Sabre Dog, and F-104(Hasegawa molds, Bavarian mkngs, probably the easiest of the 3). I’ve done all three, and they were nothing but joy to build. Excelent fit, good level of detail and no issues! All can be had for under $20 (104’s probably closer to $25). I’m not much of a “modern” guy, so I don’t really pay attention to what’s avaliable. Most of what I see has a price tag that I refuse to pay.
Thanks alot for the suggestions, the F-104 got overlooked when I was searching… but I really like the look and that price isnt too bad either. I might just go with one of those, and I meant perfect as in more of just really really close to perfect.
You could try Revell’s EA-6A Intruder. I don’t think I used any filler on that bird and didn’t require much sanding. It’s a fairly “low parts count” build, as well, so it goes together pretty quickly. Detail is great and it really looks the part.
I think the hardest part was making sure the ordinance was facing straight ahead, instead of askew, which tends to happen with under-wing armament
-Fred
Fred- great job on the A-6, it looks great… and a possible build for me also
You being a jet guy doesn’t allow me to help ya much… However, I can can tip you in a couple directions you may find interesting… Or not… But for specific kits, the other guys have the knowledge there, I haven’t built a post-KoreanWar-era jet since the 80s. lol… The real ones were always around since as far back as I can remember, being an Air Force Brat, then dealing with those fine lads from “across the street” from Ft Bragg, at Pope AFB, while on Active Duty…
Being that you are a new guy, don’t wait for “perfect”, as Fermis already pointed out… To get even “Good”, you’re gonna build some models that you will be rather disappointed with each time… But take heart… All of us did that, and the best kit-build we ever did is the NEXT one…
Whether or not you need filler will vary from kit to another, and sometimes, the exact same kit another modeler buys halfway around the world will require copious amounts of filling, sanding, shaving, carving, and whatnot, simply because of the fact that not every kit comes from the manufacturer in the best shape…
Now and then, you will get what I call a “Monday” kit… That’s a kit that has suffered from short-shots (not enough plastic went into the mold to form the part(s) completely), along with maybe warped, crushed, and scratched parts, missing parts, and scratched/cracked clear ones, bad decal sheets, instructions with missing pages, etc., and it’s because the first kit was not inspected well due to a “Monday hangover” on the QC inspector’s part while the second kit is flawless… It happens with every manufacturer, and it happens often enough to be aggravating, especially if you dropped a LOT of money on one…
What you need to develop is your own particular set of skills… The only way to do so is to build kits, and to build them often… Starting with the less difficult, “Skill Level 2” is what I recommend, ages 10 & up, with around 25-50 parts in the kit… “Details” that are included will not make you a better modeler, it’s what you can do with the detail parts that will… What I mean is, while that cockpit may be the “busiest” one you’ve ever seen, with dials and gauges so precisely molded on the panel that you can actually read them, if you can’t paint those details accurately and neatly, don’t have the proper brushes and paints, then you wasted your money and time… And a bad 'pit an be partially hidden under a “closed” canopy, judges will still spot it and dock you accordingly if you’re building with competion in mind, be it now or later…
If you’re building strictly for pleasure, then don’t sweat it as much… But still, sweat it some… After all, if you have no intent on improving with each build, increasing your skill-level, then you don’t need help from anyone here… But, I don’t see you doing THAT, either…
That said, here comes the “helpful” (maybe) part… You’ve picked 1/48th as your preferred scale, and it’s a good one… Big enough to make the deatail parts esay to see and handle, not so big as to require more details than can be inexpensively included in a kit…
Any of the Revell/Monogram (aka "Revellogram) 1/48 modern jet kits can be built into stunning models by the advanced modeler, and really good ones by intermediates and good ones by beginners… They’re both easy to build AND inexpensive (which is what you want right now, unless money is no object for you), in the 14.00 to 25.00 dollar range, and although SOME filler and sanding is usually necessary, this is a vital skill you have to develop anyway, unless you plan on chucking every kit you ever buy if the fit isnt “perfect” (and it NEVER is).
You’ll need to know how to select and use several different grits, types (Dry, Wet or Dry, paper or film, boards, strips, files, belts, or drums), and brands of sanding stuff, become good with sand-scratch avoidance and repair, putty-types, along with selection, application, and thinning. You’ll want to eventually learn how to prime and paint, pre-shade (not really, IMHO) post-shade (really), drybrush, apply washes, “chip” paint, stains, mud, fluids, fading, airbrushing, brush-painting, the list goes on and on…
SO… In a nutshell… Go with the lower-end kits until you have a couple dozen or so under your belt, then compare your last build with your first one, looking for improvements you’ve made in your techniques and applications along the way… Don’t worry about things like super-details and Photo-etched, resin, and other types of after-market stuff… Start by learning that stretching some sprue to make an antenna, or cutting a piece of sheet styrene to make a FOD cover, or using a wood block to make some wheel-chocks, is a good way to pick up some quick & easy scratch-building skills. Stretched sprue is useful for brake and hydraulic lines, TER pins, anti-sway braces, along with making levers, switches, and breakers (oh my!), and canopy /gear door pushrods and cylinders, among other things…
Anything from Monogram or Revell will go a long way in helping develop these essential skills, and won’t hit you in the wallet… Frankly, any kits in that range will probably work well for you, even those in other scales… Not much changes between scales, as far as tools go, and techniques only change in the scope of “scale effect”… Even Snap-tite kits can be used to make a quality model, when it comes to honing finishing skills, and doing it with a minimal impact on the wallet…
Scale modeling, just as with anything else that requires constant practice and is made up of a set or sets of perishable skills, like shooting, archery, etc.(“use it or lose it”, in other words), is “Crawl, Walk, Run”… And Build, Build, Build!
[;)]
A few months ago I built an Academy F-22. If you want the perfect kit in terms of fit that would have to be it. I am guessing that is a little out of your price range for a practice kit.
Overall, I do agree with Hammer. The Revellogram stuff gets a put down a lot by some on here, but they are really pretty good kits. When you consider the price they become even better. Also, unlike some manufacturers, everything you need is in the box, none of this buying aftermarket weapons sets where 3/4 of the stuff in the box will clutter your spares inventory for eternity. (Anyone want a Hasegawa 1/48 towed target thingy? I seem to have 5 of them)
I hate sanding and filling as much as anyone, but it is a skill you need to develop. It’s the difference between the kit you show off to people and the one that sits on your shelf and bugs you until you try it again a few years later.
How about an F-16? After seeing a build of Hasegawa’s 1/48 F-16N Top Gun, I picked one up for an Out of Box Build. I’m not the worlds fastest builder, life seems to get in the way, but It was pretty good. I did have some issues with canopy/fuse and steps at the wing/fuse joins. Got the paint/ decals/weathering on recently and just need to get the wheels on and she’ll be done.
I’ve also got a couple of the Acadmey F-16’s in house, they look pretty good, but cockpit detail is decals. F-16C Flying Razorbacks edition has a GREAT set of decal options; the A/C edition has a nice red and white candy stripe tail.
Finally, I did the Tamiya YF-16 prototype as a Xmas build for my nephew - Raised panel lines but I got it for $ 15 or something at the Local Hobby Shop. Painted & decaled it with the decals from the Academey A/C.
There are some good deals on Revell F-101, 102, 106’s, (older kits with raised panel lines)but other reviews say that you need lots of putty. Also in the Century series is the Trumpeter F-100, (released in the last couple of years) with either NMF or Vietnam camo options in the box. Don’t forget the Hasegawa F-104 too, you’ll pay 50% more than the Revell, but might get a decal option you prefer (some pretty EU presentation birds).
So many choices Good luck and good building!
One other option I forgot. How about the Revell Germany Eurofighter in 1/48. Don’t have it (got the 1/72) but it’s gotten good reviews and is flying sorties over Libya right now.
Post a picture of it… If it’s what I think it is, I’ll take all five…[;)]
How about 1/144th–there are a lot of jet offerings (mostly by Dragon) in that scale, if you don’t mind fiddly bits.
I started with 1/48th–plenty of jets there too.