What’s the opinion on these kits? I have both (still in the box), along with the Hasegawa Razorback. Any drawbacks to the Tamiya kits? I know quite a few people who have these kits, but no one has built them yet. I can’t imagine anything other than minor issues, but, I’ve been known to be wrong before (just ask my family!!).
The Tamiya kit’s a superlative effort. The Hasegawa kits are good as well. I like them both, but the Tamiya kits get the edge. Any issues I have with them are minor ones. Get them both and have a blast. - Ed
The Tamiya 1/48 Thunderbolts are absolutely State-of-the-art kits. I have built 2 of the Razorbacks and one Bubbletop with no issues at all. I have seen some minor nits from some reviewers, but you can build fantastic models right out of the box without spending more for detail sets. About all I added were seatbelts cause I don’t care for the decals provided. The Hasegawa P-47’s are very good and I still have a couple on the shelf which I will build, but then it’s only Tamiya after that.
Rick
I have the Tamiya bubble top but havent started it yet, but the kit looks really good. I would like to get the razorback also and a Hasegawa just for fun. Hmmm maybe Ill just get the decals from an after market source and stick with Tamiya!
I’m currently working on Hasegawa’s Razorback. So far so good.
Trupr are you going to use stock decals or after market? Just curious.
when i got my tamiya '47s, i tossed my hasegawa ones in the trash! to me the differences are that significant-surface details, cockpit details (and size!) how the wings are joined to the fuselage- it’s superior design and engineering! unfortunately, toss the decals from both kits, tamiya’s are almost always far to thick, (keep the stencils though) and hasegawa’s white is not even close, so it ruins the decal.
Right now I’m working on the Tamiya Razorback. I have just finished the cockpit and engine. I would have to say this is one of the best kits ever produced (from what I’ve seen). Highly recommended. I’m going to use the Walker Mahurin “Spirit of Atlantic City NJ.” kit decals (Haven’t seen a model of this version yet). Does anybody know if these are available as aftermarket items. I only just read where he shot down Adolph Galland’s brother in August 1943, I didn’t know that.
Cheers…Snowy.
I’ve seen both and built the Academy’s P-47N that was a fairly good kit too but the Tamiya’s look a bit better then the Hasegawa’s but you gotta look at which one was released and Tamiya’s kits are getting better by day
r.beamont,
The next time you wanna toss a kit, GIVE IT TO ME!!![:)] I hate to see good plastic wasted. Or, better yet, donate it to a beginning modeler, or a Make-N-Take program.
I agree with you about the decals, though. Hasegawa’s and Tamiya’s decals aren’t the best (in my experience, anyway). I usually buy aftermarket decals for most of my kits.
next time i WILL give it or them to you! i guess i was caught up in the moment or something. if tamiya ever comes out with a spit 9, maybe i’ll send you my 5 or 6 hasegawa jobs that i love yet hate.
9x19mm, I reckon I’ll use the decals that came with the kit as I can’t afford to buy aftermarket ones. I’m going to do it up like the box art which is “Little Chief”, 61st FS,56th FG. This kit is one I found on eBay and it came with a resin cockpit. I finished painting and detailing it but I wound up using the kit’s seat as the resin one was damaged too far beyond repair. Made seatbelts using some strips of masking tape painted khaki with buckles made of styrene. They look pretty good! I love the detail of the side panels.
So I have the cockpit done, fuselage, wings and stabilizers glued up and am just now doing some fillling and sanding. The only thing that I wasn’t too thrilled with was the fit of the wings and fuselage. A little putty helped but it still could be better.
? for you all… What type of panel line scriber do you use? Is there more than one brand and who makes the best? I need to get one.
Tupr more then likely I would do that one also. I dont yet have that kit, but for the bubble top I intend to do the B version Maj. Gen William Kepner, 551st FTS, 495th FTG, Mount Farm Air Base Autumn 1944.
The biggest difference between the 2 companies buibbletops, is that Tamiyas is only the early version with no fillet and hasegawa has both version with and without. I might be wrong I don’r know. I have built the Hasegawa great kit. JOHN
Here’s my two cents: I just love the Tamiya versions! Eduard makes a nice etched detail set, even though it may be a little bit of overkill, seeing as the kit is so good in it’s own right. As far as the “Little Chief” version goes, Eagle Editions makes a very nice decal set that has four versions of the same aircraft. I bought the set, and they are top notch.
r.beamont: I agree with garydmason- if you don’t want the Hasegawa Jugs I’ll take 'em! (j/k[:D]) Tossing Hasegawa P-47s, geez they’re pretty good kits. Now the Tamiya kits do offer more detailing in some areas but the Hasegawa models are nothing to sneeze at. I’ve seen both the Razorback and Bubbletop Tamiyas and highly recommend both. If I had the money I would get one myself.
The Tamiya Bubbletop does not have the fin fillet, but from the way the kit is designed Tamiya obviously has the option of releasing the later version as a separate kit. For scribing panel lines I use a Starret die-makers scriber and I also use the one marketed by Bare-Metal. I think the scriber sold by Squadron is the same as the Bare- Metal tool.
Rick
rebel99- well, it’s too late. i already sneezed at them. sorry. get another job or sell your dog. GET the money. GET one yourself. it will be worth it. josephkukavica - i usually toss (i know, i know) tamiya’s kit decals, but in this case i kept the chief head because i also picked up eagle ed. little chief set and it is grand but in my set, the chief’s face was a little on the “white” side. and i do mean a paleface! trupr-good luck on the build-it’s a beautiful kit! i’m in the middle of the same one and am really enjoying myself. kit decals are fine. it’s just one of those things i get too anal about. go slow.
Just wondering if FSM did a review of either of these kits, Im missing a few from this year.
FSM April 2003 had a Workbench review of the Razorback kit.
Rick