Since restarting I’ve built mostly Monogram, a Revell of Germany, a Tamiya and an Eduard; all in 1/48. How does Zvezda stack up?
Aircraft or Armour/soft skins kits?? I’m building both their 48 scale La-5f and yak 3 now. If thats what your interested in, I’ll give you the down low…
I’m thinking of their 1/48 La-5. Your input would be great.
Ohhh sweet looking kit. I’m building their la-5fn now which shares alot of parts from the straight -5. The surface detail is great. Panel lines and rivets are superb. The plastic is soft which makes for easy sanding, but be careful with too hot of a liquid cement and don’t ham fist parts together. Some areas of the kit are great and some are a bit of a let down, but all kits have these. I haven’t used their decals yet so I’m not sure how they are, but I do have some aftermarket ones standing by. I’d suggest glueing the 2 upper wing halves together first before glueing them to the bottom wing. Some of the engineering impresses me, and some of it leaves me shaking my head. But hey, these kits cost under 30 bucks, so the journey is well worth it.
Zvezda is a frequent reboxer (often of Italeri and some Dragon kits) along with a selection of their own kits. Some of their own earlier kits are crude, but more recent ones are better. Because of these factors, individual kit quality varies across the board.
Bottom line, when asking about a Zvezda kit, it is always better to ask about a specific model as opposed to asking about their “brand” quality in general.
I agree with all of the above, and just want to add that overall, their quality is improving.On their own original mold kits, the detail level and crispness has improved markedly.
Thanks all; that’s exactly the input I was looking for. I think I’ll put one on my next order.
Just got the kit today. Very impressed!
The La-5? Yes, sweet kit. I’m just finishing the cockpit painting on mine now. I bought the resin set from Vector and its a beauty. Not a total neccesity, but I got the set for a cheap price when Great Models was clearing out. You gonna start on it soon?
If you like 109’s then my input would be…GO FOR IT!!
I can’t help on airplane kits, but the latest ship kit I built from them was awesome. The molding quality was as good as the best resin stuff I have seen. So good that I did not use much of the brass detail in a detailing set I bought. The gun barrels were round! No need for turned brass. This was a new kit, and I don’t know if the technology they used on the Dreadnought will carry over to their other genre or not, but I was sure impressed with that kit.
i snagged their 48scale yak-3 awhile back and did test fitting of the fuselage and wings halves with zero problems.
I just buttoned up the cockpit and glued on the wings and cowling on that kit Randy. The fuselage halves fit good, and the cowling fit great (I’m not displaying the engine), but Zvezda has one big blunder on this kit: the wing to fuselage join sucks. It doesn’t fall on a natural panel line like the Eduard kit does. In fact, the natural panel line is scribed in the fuselage halves just mm above and parallel to the join line?? Why? And try to fill and sand that join line in that ackward space while not damaging all the fastener and rivet detail right there?? Still a nice kit, and I’ve built the Eduard as well, and I’ll say the only thing Zvezda offers here in the Yak 3 is better wheel weel detail, and the option for the engine, which is superb. If you dont’ want an open egine, the Eduard kit Trumps!
Not to hijack the thread or anything, but do you have build log of that kit going on anywhere Nathan? Would love to see it.
I’ve taken some pics Jester so I could. Now that I’m finished for the moment in Mustang’s gb I’ve been thinking about it. Watch the aircraft section.
Not sure when I’ll get started, but I sure am excited to see the engine put together! I’ve got a half dozen kits in the stash, and a KV-107 I’m converting into a CH-113 for Father’s day.