Hello to Everyone,
As you can see by my user name, I’m not a real big aircraft guy, although I do like aircraft. I’m hoping some of the guys and gals on here can help out with some information.
Mainly what are your opinions of Hasegawa kits? I was at the hobby shop the other day and saw some 1/32nd scale kits. Sorry, but I don’t have the kit numbers, but seems to me that there was an F-16 and F/A-18 may have also been an F-4 Phantom and F-15 as well.
Any opinions of their 1/48th scale kits?
I know some manufacturers are pretty consistent in their quality while some can be up and down.
Any and all information will be greatly appreciated. Thanks for taking time to look and or reply.
Regards,
Joe
Hasegawa kits are usually of very good quality, in my opinion they are at least as good as tamiya.
Just bought an Avenger dive bomber in 1/48 scale the detail is amazing, also have a part built F6F in 1/32 again can’t fault the kit, both Hasegawa kits, always thought they were great never looked at the jets but 2 different scales and excellent quality, so would assume the jets were as well.
Hope this may sway your descision
Nick
Overall Hasegawa has the finest kits.
In 1:48 scale they have maybe the largest selection. each kit has its pros and cons. The newer the kit you have less cons. from thier selection you can build (allmost?) every Bf-109, that ever existed.
In 1:32 the same goes here, I have a couple of thier spitfire’s (old mold) and besides the raised lines they build nicely OOB. I also have thier old FW-190 A[xx(], now there is a new tool and I think I’ll shove this old piece of junk to sit in my closet.
Maybe I’ll build it to my future son, to play with.
I have no idea what to do with it. BUT! the decals are very much usable.
The newer you get the best they are… , well, sometimes. I know about thier arado 234 blitz bomber to be very new and very annoying. if you want somthing in praticular read a review, works for me.
I’ll allow that while some of their older 1/32 kits were the best of their day, they aren’t up to current standards. But They seem to be releasing new ones to make up for it. Their new 1/32 Fw-190 blows away their old one. If you saw 1 1/32 F-15, it’s the Tamiya kit.
Their 1/48 kits are all exquisite. Most of those on the shelves now are up to modern standards. You really can’t go wrong.
[#ditto] You took the words right out of my mouth John. I have the old 1/32 F-16 and only because it has decals for a Danish version, its not up to modern standards. I haven’t tried any of the new 1/32 stuff, but I have biult a couple of Tamiyas and they are great.
In 1/48 however, Hasegawa is the best, well Tamiya is just as good, but Hasegawa have a bigger selection.
As far as Hasegawa’s kits goes I think they are the best THEY CAN BE COSTLY though so watch your pocket, pardon my pun.
Their Tomcat is by far the best in 1/48, No kit out there in that scale can hold a candle to their Tomcat. Same goes for the Phantoms and Hornets. Good Luck.
Their 1/72 kits are almost always the best ever, and they have 100’s or 1000’s
I would have to agree with what was said above that the newer kits are some of the best out there. Plus the selection is great as well.
I have recently picked up 3 of the newer Hasegawa kits. Two of the AV-8B Harriers( the Plus Version and Desert Harrier) and the new A-4M. All in 1/48. The detail is great.
The only real con I can find to these kits is the mold lines down the middle of the canopies to all three. Which can be easily fixed with a little patience on my part
Paul
[#ditto] to what the others said above. I would like to add more specifically (since you mentioned them) that the F-16 and F-18 came out as the original aircraft went through their testing. They are therefore modeled after pre-production airframes (possibly slightly adapted later?) which leads to inaccuracies when modeling in-service aircraft. As far as the F-16 goes, it’s the only one in 1/32, but I hear the new Academy one blows the F-18 out of the water. Stay away from the Revell kit!
Hasegawa don’t do any 1/32 Phantoms or F-15s so you probably saw Tamiya or Revell kits of those, with the former having the edge by a mile there.
The older 1/32 Hasegawa kits generally fit well, but mostly have raised detail (which I don’t think looks very good in this scale) and are not as accurate as their newer releases. Some of the older ones: F-5E (still the best around, reboxed by Revell), A-4 Skyhawk (same story but not reboxed), F-104 (better than Revell’s).
Their 1/48 range is excellent with recessed panel lines for the most part. I can highly recommend their F-4 and F-16 range to that scale.
Panther…sounds as if when you’re into wingy things…it’s jets so i’d have to bow [bow] to the experience of others…however, i’f you’ve a half a mind to experience Hasegawa’s 1/48 P-38’s…specifically the “H”…there’s fine dettailing and engraved panel lines but, the fit in several key areas leaves much to be desired…[banghead]
best 'o luck to ya…
I don’t have a lot of Hasegawa stuff in my collection, but this F-111G in my signature pic is theirs.
Its actually a fairly recent reissue of their 1/72 FB-111 kit from the late 80s early 90s time frame. It holds up well to todays standards and I built her straight from the box. No complaints at all.
Most of their kits are good, But they still release a bad kit once in a while… Stay away from their 1/72 P 51B/C and their P-38…Both kits are very poor.
Hasegawa’s 1/32 kits in general are old molds and reflect that state of the art. However, if you can get hold of the four Between the Wars American Biplanes (the monowing P-26, the P-12 and its navy equivalent, and I forget the type on the other one, but it was the best of the bunch) you will find beautiful kits, beautiful markings, and a standard of molding and detail that holds up very well by today’s standards. These kits are over 30 years old. Don’t know if they’re still in production.
I did not know Hasegawa had a 1:48 avenger. How is it and how does it compare to accurate? I thought accurate was the only game in town. I am praying Tamiya does an avenger and a dauntless and a B17!
BTW, Upnorth, that’s on beautiful F-111. I didn’t even know they made one. And I, too, was not aware of the 1/48 Avenger. AcMin’s TBF’s will make you forget about all the others, though. Not that there are many others.
The only difference is that Hasegawa has got a lot more goodies to choose from…[:D]
F-16 T4967834 08025 6 and T4967834 08026 3
F/A 18 T4967834 08023 2
No F4 nor F15 in my (2001) catalogue, but there is also A-4 E/F Skyhawk, F-86F-40 Sabre, F104G/S and F-5E Tiger II (used to be my favourite little jet for a long time)
Latest Hasegawa kits are excellent. Their plastic tends to be slightly brittle/hard compared with other manufacturers.
They don’t. They do have a very nice Avenger in 1/72 scale. In 1/48 they have a Dauntless, but no Avenger. kath either meant the Dauntless when he mentioned an Avenger, or he confused the AM kit with Hasegawa.
Regards, Rick