Hi. All I have ever built is Testors, Revell and AMT. How does the quality of the Hasegawa and Tamiya kit compare the above mentioned? Meaning, are they worth the extra money that they cost?
Thanks.
John
A lot depends on the kit, some are better than others. Tamiya and Hasegawa usually have recessed panel lines and finer levels of detail. Personally I think that Hasegawa makes the best ME-109 on the market. In some of the older Tamiya kits the decals are so thick and heavy you need extra strength setting solution to make them conform. Are they worth the money? Sure, but $$$ will never replace the modeler’s skill and that is what turns a sows ear into a silk purse.
I have built a number of each of the brands you mentioned. The hasegawa and tamiya for me are worth the extra cost for sure now that I ahve started building how I have always wanted to. I am building a rather largse AMT kit right now and compared to the Tamiya kit of the same propotion, it is like comparing a Ford Pinto to a Rolls Royce.
Most of the newer toolings from Hasegawa & Tamiya are superior to the kits you mention, although some of the older Hasegawa kits are a little iffy. Testors kits are generally pretty poor, AMT only slightly better, but Revell/Monogram have some very good as well as pretty poor kits. Their F-86D Dog Sabre, for example, is as good as most Hasegawa or Tamiya kits.
I like Tamiya, 'cause they keep the thickness of the molds a lot closer to scale than some of the others you mentioned. Also, the lack of flash makes it all worth while to me. Not all of the flash mind you, just about 90% compared to a Testors, or a Revell/Monogram. Oh yeah, don’t forget Italeri/Testors in that group.
It depends. The Revell 1/32 scale F-14 vs. Tamiya’s F-14. Tamiya’s kit has it above the Revell’s with the exception of the cockpit. I mean you spend $100.00 on a kit and the cockpit panels are DECALS! I had replaced it with the Revell kits detailed panels (with a little work) and it made the kit better. On the other hand, all the Hasegawa kits that I have built or will build (I have in my to be built pile) are liked described by lizardging2. Detail, quality of parts, quantity of parts, and accuracy are what you pay for.
Yes, though I build the kits from the other manufacturers you mentioned, some with massive rework, some as is. This is a hobby so if your not in a competition, build it to what you feel it should be. You are the only person you really have to please.
Remember - having fun building should be the priority, Enjoy your kits.
For the most part yes. Tamiya seems to be the least troubled fit and finish is second to none. I think Dragon offers the most value for fit and finish and added goods. I haven’t built a Hasegawa kit, but they seem to have a favorable following. I’ve learned it usually doesn’t pay to try to save a few dollars by ordering an inferior manufacturers kit.
John,
If you want to make models that please you after they’re done, it’s far easier (when you’re relatively new to modelling) to start with a better quality of model. Tamiya and Hasegawa spend far more money and time cutting the dies for the injection molding process - the result is a better looking model and fewer fit problems - making it easier to build.
Once you get more experience and gain skills, it’ll be easier to make the more ordinary (or even awful) kits look as good as a Tamiya kit.
Ive only made 3 models since coming back to the hobby after a 5 year break but ive made models from revell amt and testors in the past,thats why most of the unbuilt kits in my cupboard are Tamiya Hasegawa and Acadamy although the Revell pro modeler ME 210 is a great kit and their 1/72 scale type7c U Boat was a must have.
On the other hand the Acadamy 1/32 scale Sopwith Camel which is one of my current projects is an absolutley shocking kit.
J.S.
Revell Germany is also worth a look, but watch out for reboxings of Dragon kits.
Some of these are good Me163, others Fw190D I found to be awful, but then I also didn’t overly enjoy Itealri’s rebox of the Dragon 262.
Having said that I;ve built Revell’s Ar555, excellent kit, 1/72 Fw190A8, again stunning little kit, and their He177, same as the previous two.
Academy are worth a look to, high quality kits, at a low price. Always good in my book
The Tamigawa kits are excellent, but then they should be at that price!!!
That’s my tuppence worth.[2c]
Karl
Here in the Philippines its more of Tamiya, Academy, Dragon, Hasegawa and Italeri that are available. Have seen some Revell and AMT models and funny thing is they are at least the same price or even more expensive than the others I mentioned (lucky us!). I find the Tamiya kits really good in almost all aspects. Academy looks like they were made from Tamiya tooling and reasonably priced although not as good as Tamiya. Dragon kits are also good and they release a lot of interesting kits not available from the others. If you want 1/35 armoured vehicles then it would have to be Tamiya, followed by Dragon then Academy. If you want 1/72 aircraft then I’d have to go with Italeri and Hasegawa.
I think that even though the quality of the kit is not good the fun part is to try to make it into a really good model. You’ll have a lot more satisfaction that way.