Hi could you please tell me which make is considered to be the best and is there a big difference between the two ?
Thank you
Welcome to the forums, bluenose.
THis question comes up every once in a while. There will be about 30 responses to this, but to save you the time the answer is this:
It depends.
Each manufacturer has their winners and losers. Is there a specific kit you are asking about (scale, airplane, etc,)?
Hope this helps.
…I agree, especially nowadays when you can’t be for sure if the company releasing the kit actually researced and tooled the mold…if I am not mistaken these two companies actually have released each others’ products under their own brand…
Wow, what a great question! I mean that sincerely; this one should elicit some really fiercely held and defended opinions. Kind of like asking someone about his favorite football or baseball team, or like asking, “President Bush–doing a good job, or bad?”
I have a nostalgic regard for Revell, and for Monogram kits, for that matter, over Tamiya, but that is heavily influenced by my history. When I was a kid, let’s say, until I graduated from high school in 1982, and built airplane models, they were all either Monogram 1/48th, or Revell 1/72 and 1/32.
Fast forward to 2002, and I’m rediscovering scale modelling, having been a toy soldier maker and painter in the intervening 20 years (still do make them, btw). I learned that there has been an explosion of kits on the market, many more manufacturers, and in mixed media. For 1/32 scale, Revell kits now seem to be collector’s items, bought to have but not to build. I’ve seen posts in various forums that indicate that no one really would consider building them, except for nostalgic enjoyment.
Same can probably be said for Revell’s 1/72 scale kits, too, that they’ve been overtaken by time and the proliferation of newer and better-detailed kits. But they’re still an enjoyable build, I think.
As for Monogram vs. Tamiya, again, I would say that many consider Tamiya better kits, but for me, I like building the old Monogram kits, because I remember them, and I think that they were pretty good kits, for their time. And then, they give an opportunity to superdetail. Back in the day, we did that without the benefit of after-market accessories, too. (10 miles, uphill, in the snow…).
I’m currently buying up copies of those kits, on eBay and at shows, because I want to build them again, but knowing now what I didn’t then, about painting, for example, and detailing. My latest purchase was a Monogram P-40N. Now, back then, I didn’t even know that they made one. I only knew the P-40B with Flying Tiger markings. And though the canopy is thick, and the kit has that same generic pilot figure (goggles down, reaching across with one hand to fasten his chinstrap and holding the stick with the other), I’m looking forward to building it and taking myself back to 1971, when I didn’t have to worry about jobs, or mortgage or truck payments, and on a Saturday afternoon, I was transported to angels 11 over Burma or Kunming.
I don’t know if my answer helps, but it’s been fun thinking about it. I’m curious to see what others say.
Again, great question!
Brad
You guys type faster than I do! 
To further illustrate, on my bench, I have
2 P-47D kits (1 razorback, 1 bubbletop)
3 or 4 TBF-1 kits
2 P-40B kits (and the P-40N on the way, pending PayPal)
3 TBD-1 kits
2 Me-109E kits
1 Ju-87D kit
2 Fw-190A kits
all from Monogram, in 1/48th
I also have 7 or 8 Lindberg F11C Goshawks, and 6 or 7 Aurora F4B-4s, an Aurora SBC-2 kit (which really is awful, but I see it as an opportunity) Just so you know I’m not nuts (or maybe to prove it) I also have 4 F4b-4s and 2 Goshawks from Classic Airframes. I’m building them up into a flight deck display on the Saratoga.
I also have a couple Hawker Furies, a Gloster Gladiator and Bristol Bulldog, from Ideal/Life-Like/Lindberg.
Haven’t thought about Tamiya at all; they don’t even make most of them, if any.
PS–I did build a number of Tamiya armor kits back then, and I did think that they were relative well-detailed, and turned out nice models. The figures, especially, were well done, better than Monogram’s.
Looking to build planes and ships
Well the last time i made a model plane was about 15 to 20 years ago. But last weekend out of the blue i got the urge to buy a Revell Spitfire, found it really relaxing so i’m going to take it up.
Went to a store today and noticed that the Tamiya models where about £20 to £30 and the Revell ones about £ 10 to £15 (They were the same size in terms of scale) So thats why i’m asking
Looking to build planes and ships
I think it is safe to say that most of us grow up with the Revell/Monogram kits. They’re easy to find, relatively inexpensive and cover most popular builds. However once one starts honing modeling skills I really think the extra money put into kits like Tamiya, Hasegawa and Accurate Miniatures will jade a builder to those old kits. Who wants to deal with re-scribing raised panel lines when one could have nice recessed lines, etc. That being said, I myself was a Tamiagawaminiature snob for some time. But now I can find some Tamiya kits boring as they’re too shake-and-bake and go together with no real skill needed (Betty, P-51). I’ve managed to pick up a few kits from e-bay for builds like A-6s and EA-6B, Voodoo, P-61, etc. that can’t be found in quarter scale anywhere else (Where I will deal with re-scribing panel lines). And the extra care needed to pull of these kits can re-energize the skills and passion for this hobby that drives my wife crazy. It’s one thing to say “I built it” and quite another to say “I made it!”
Not to add fuel to the fire but I think it’s safe to say that most modelers like the detail and engineering behind the more expensive Japanese kits that don’t really need the benefit of after-market extras (Think AM B-25, Avenger and Dauntless), but when a competition style build is needed, the time and effort put into making the kit it nullifies whose name is stamped on the box. If you’re enjoying the experience putting a kit together then that’s what matters. No modeler will ever hold it against you if you want to build Snap-tite for crying out loud, just so long as you’re keeping your LHS in business.
Just one little adendum, since this topic should spawn a fantastic discussion: I felt I’d throw in my 2-cents as to some popular builds and who I feel make the best kit, your results may vary:
P-51: I like the Accurate Miniatures here, although they only go the B-version
FW-190: Eduard, easily! Anyone who hasn’t built their new Wurger is really missing out!
A-10: I like the old Monogram kit. I have a lot of fond memories of that build.
Stuka: Hasegawa. Enough said.
F-14: Hasegawa again
F-16: I love the new Tamiya block-50
A-6: Revell, and not just because it’s the only one. It’s a good build alone or spectacular with after market parts.
Dauntless/Avenger: Accurate Miniatures. WWII naval aircraft lovers will agree with me. There are no better kits than these two to model those old war-horses.
Like many here, I was an avid modeller back when I was young (late 60’s-70’s) and have somewhat recently returned to the hobby. MUCH has changed! In some ways, I am still astounded…
This post is about everything EXCEPT 1/32 models…
Anyway, way back when, I was always partial to Monogram over Revell as I never completely cared for the overall fit and mouldings of Revell models. Monogram was usually pretty decent but not always completely detailed. Nor was Revell, for that matter, but super detail is more a recent thing.
My favorite aircraft models were almost always Hasegawa as they always seemed the best made and had the best fit and detail.
Tamiya, on the other hand, made great 1/35 armor kits. I don’t recall ever building a bad Tamiya armor kit. Great detail and fit.
So, for me, aircraft were almost always Hasegawa followed by Monogram. Armor kits were almost always Tamiya. Having built over 3,000 kits over the years, I can’t say I never ventured into other manufacturers, but those were my favorites.
Now, when it comes to 1/32…back then, that seemed to be a rather new scale. It was rare to come across a 1/32 kit that was actually very good. There were always fit problems, regardless of manufacturer. Detail was lacking where it should have been very obvious too. It was like the manufacturers were testing the waters for 1/32 kits and didn’t put a lot of effort into the toolings. Dunno.
Nowadays, things are much different. Monogram is Revell and Revell is Monogram - yet they are releasing kits that are/were obviously tooled by Tamiya or Hasegawa. I recently built a Monogram Pro-modeller 1/32 BF-109G tropical that was a really nice kit (but looked, felt and built like a Hasegawa kit - I suspect it was). Yet I am currently building a 1/32 Hasegawa P-51D that, honestly, sucks.
I have a $100+ Tamiya 1/32 A6M5 Zero sitting here in the box that has more parts than my computer. It looks awesome. Haven’t built it yet - but I am really hoping Tamiya’s quality in armor from back when has translated to their aircraft of the here and now. Likewise, I recently picked up the new Hasegawa 1/32 KI-61 Hien that I most certainly hope is at least 10 times better than the P-51D I am working on! And I am now awaiting delivery of a Special Hobby 1/32 P-39D. I never heard of Special Hobby before - but all the reveiws of this kit makes it seem fantastic.
We shall see.
Did I answer your question? Uhh…well…probably not! LOL! [:D]
-Ro
Tamiya is most often considerd the best model maker. Both in 1/72 and 1/48 scale. They have loads of good kits and just some bad kits (their A-10 is considerd a bad one)
Revell is really a mixed bag, their newer kits are good but they also re-release a lot of old kits. Some kits are very good, some are very bad (old Frog kits)
Generally, Tamiya kits are understood to be what you’d call “industry standard”…they spend an enormous amount of time and expense engineering the parts and cutting the dies - and the overall shape, fit, and detail is considered to be, on average, about as good as it gets.
You really have to try hard to mess up a Tamiya kit.
Revell, over the years, have made some great kits - but simply not up to the same level of quality as Tamiya kits.
Lately, Revell AG (the German branch of Revell) have made some stunning kits…many of them in 1/144…and they’re worth far more than the retail price, in my opinion. Their 737-800, the Puma, and any number of other kits made by Revell AG, are well worth the money.
I guess you just have to have a really good look at the sprues in the box to see if you think it’s the real deal - but in general, if there’s a kit of a particular subject that Tamiya sells, it’ll be a nice kit.
Also grew up in the 60’s and 70’s building Revell and Monogram kits. I think I built all of the Revell 1/32 WWII fighters - lately have been buying a few on E-bay just for nostalgic reasons. Saturday afternoons, a good baseball game on TV, building models, no worries about bills, kids, health problems … . . . ahhh, the “good 'ole days” . . .
Back to topic,
Generally speaking, the Revell kits are cheaper, and the Tamiya fit better and have more detail. From 6 feet away on a shelf, I don’t think there’s much difference in the appearance of the finished product - at least not between my 1/48 Zero’s by both comapnies.
I’d agree and say both are generally good and Tamiya is pretty much always great. My choices come down to subject matter because I generally build 1/72 cargo and civilian stuff, with a few bombers in that scale thrown in and Tamiya is absent from that equation. They make darn fine tanks though.
To further cloud the issue [:D] - Now that we have Revell/Monogram and Revell-Germany, it depends on which Revell kit you get. My daughter and I built the oldddddddddd Revell/Monogram Titanic kit several years ago, and those who have built it know about all the little “fit issues” that prevent you from just slapping it together into a great kit. That is how it goes with most of the older Revell kits.
On the other hand I picked up a Revell-Germany 1/72 Fokker D VII last year and was very pleasantly surprised. Even though it was a biplane kit, the thing practically fell together on its own and the only real issue I has was whether or not to tackle the lozenge camouflage (I didn’t). I currently have two Revell-Germany 1/144 aircraft in my to-do pile and just with dry fitting I can tell that the fit is going to be great. It’s nice to have a kit where you can concentrate on painting and making it look nice as opposed to sweating and swearing just to get the darn thing together.
Tamiya 1/48 aircraft are fantastic,they practically fall together,The Corsair,both P-47’s,Mustang,FW-190.Me-109 all without hitch and made into enjoyable builds.I can’t recommend them enough,only Hasegawa comes close in my opinion.
Definantly Tamiya! I’ve built many of thier kits…hmmm…but I’ve built many Revell also with great results…uhmm…okay…Revell is best! OH wait! Have you ever built any of Tamiya’s 32nd scale aircraf? Awsome! Okay…it’s definantly Tamiya! Ahhh…but some of Acadamy’s 32 scale is also awsome! Alright…Acadamy! But then…Hasagawa has some beautiful kits out there …AAAUUUGGGHHH!!!
That about sums it up. It depends on the kit…
it isn’t always who is better . sometimes it is more of a who makes the kit you want thing.
for example revell in 1/72nd scale is the only one that puts out the fw200 and fw290 both are monsterous 4 eng bombers, they are the only game in town for those planes (also note they are fantastic) both run between 25-40 bucks .
Bluenose;
It depends on which kit your building, both companies have made great kits Tamiya is now doing great kits in todays standards but Monogram/Revell still produce kits that no one has taken the chance on like the Century Series Fighters in 1/48 scale, but the Tamiya A-10A comes second to the Revellograms A-10A ( but this kit is now out done by Hobby Boss ) but all in all it depends on what subject your doing and how well detailed you want it to be
And does anyone remember the horrible, horrible pilot figure that Revell (the original Revell, USA) used to have with its 1/32 scale kits? The same figure for every nation’s fighters, a seated figure that consisted of separately-cast front and back pieces?
If my memory is correct, when Revell issued its 1/48 B-25 Doolittle Raider in the mid-70’s, that kit featured 3 of the same pilot figure, just scaled down? But what did we know, it was the 70’s?
Ah, nostalgia…