Im buying a kit for someone who doesnt normally build ww2 aircraft and i want to get something iconic for them. But at the same time i dont want to scare them off. So im tossing up a spitfire or a mustang.
What are your thoughts on each and which kits would you recommend in 72nd and 48 scale?
I’d recommend Tamiya’s P-51B for a few reasons.
The kit is extremely well engineered and goes together flawlessly. Didn’t need any putty on mine and didn’t even need to weld the wing-fuselage seam it was so tight.
It’s detailed without being a parts demon.
Not sure what this person builds normally, but the P-51B usually sported the very simple olive drab/neutral gray paint scheme, which is easier to reproduce than the Spitfire’s camo or a P-51D’s NMF.
They are both excellent choices. Spitfire kits are a little easier to build but harder to paint so it’s about a wash as to difficulty. For the Mustang D, Tamiya is my favorite in both scales. For the B version, I like Tamiya in 1/48 & Academy in 1/72. For Spitfires, both the Tamiya & Hasrgawa kits are excellent in 1/48. For 1/72. I like the ROG kit.
Regards, Rick
[dto:] The parts fit is great. In my opinion it is the best kit I’ve built of the Mustang.
Thanks guys, im not sure what they model either. its one of those secret Santa things and i haven’t been paired up yet. Just trying to get a kick start on things.
No Brainer, since you aren’t buying it for yourself, but an inexperienced aircraft modeler…
Monogram 1/48 P-51D. Large enough scale to have plenty of detail, parts-count is quite reasonable (enough to feel like you built it, not so many as to discourage building more WW2 A/C), can be painted with a rattle-can of Silver enemel, and can be had for about $12.00 vs $50.00… Overall, a good Skill-level 2 kit…
Aw c’mon… What’d ya expect me to say?
The Tamiya P-51B can be had for $20…it’s definitely not one of those Tamigawa kits priced into the WTF range…
And the Monogram “B” can be had for about 12.00 as well as a Monogram"D"… So… For 24.00 or so, you can get both…
now now boys, no fighting [:P]
As far as i know the person i get wont be an aircraft person at all. Quite possible cars or ships.
[I]Ohhhh… This is that Secret Santa Don’t Build What Ya Know thing of Smeagol’s… Why didn’t ya say so? I thought you were wanting a kit for someone you knew that was relatively new to modeling altogether…
That changes everything…
lol i didnt want to let it slip in case the person i get is reading this lol
P-51D mustang in 1/48th scale. tamiya or monogram both are easy builds and they can paint them with silver spray paint or buffing metallizer (alumminum plate) which is fairly easy to use
seems like everyones going for the stang
Sure does… so… How about a 1/48th Revell Spifire Mk II…
[6]
It’sa 2006 re-release of Revell’s 1977 kit… The new one is Doug Bader’s Spit…
Gotta love that kit HVH. IIRC, it’s the only kit in 48th of that mark.
And I agree with you about the Monogram Mustang. Very inexpensive and decent shape and simple detail. That kit is what started my love affair with the Mustang.
My choice of 72nd would be the Academy Africa P-51B. First kit I built after a long hiatus and it went together very well. And taught me that I can see as well as I used to.
The new retooled Revell P-51B/C kit# 5256 is a gem IMHO and for 12 bucks you cant go wrong at all. No trouble going together and next to none as far as putty goes. It even has recessed panel lines. I haven’t built a Tamiya P-51B yet but do have one on the shelf.
Heh, I was disappointed with it, Vetteman… But not for what you might think… It IS a gem of a kit… I ordered it from Model Expo, thinking it was a rebox of the original Monogram kit… Had no idea it was a brand-new kit… [t$t], lol…
Back to hunting for Jim Howard’s pony “AJ*A”, lol…
Yeah Hans I built one of the old Monogram CAF boxings of the P-51B, took lots of putty and cussing to get it right. Was even my first attempt at posing all the control surfaces. I still have it in the case but the decals are curling up, guess I will have to take them off and add new ones because theres no way I will toss it.
Revell 1/32 Spitfire
Odd, that happening… The old P-51B kit wasn’t bad-fitting at all for me (All mine were either “blue box” or “white box” kits though) and I built it several times over the years… You might have got a “Monday Kit”, or one that had been stored improperly for too long. Also, even though the “CAF” kits were “newer”, the molds weren’t…