Dear All,
Can anyone provide advice regarding the best kits to purchase for the following aircraft in 1/48 scale-
B-24 Liberator
Avro Lancaster
PBY Catalina
Heinkel 111
Dornier DO17
Thanks
ozmod
B-24 Liberator:D and J Monogram
Avro Lancaster: Tamiya, Mk III and Mk I
PBY Catalina: Monogram Amphibian and seaplane
Heinkel 111: Monogram, 2 versions
Dornier DO17: HobbyCraft, 3 versions
B-24 Revell of Germany, Lancaster Tamyia( have not seen this kit for a long time), PBY Revell/Monogram, He-111 Revell/ Monogram, DO 17 ? I think R/M makes one but am not sure.
bigfoot got it right, but a word of warning on the Hobbycraft Do-17 kits… They are junk.
Regards, Rick
Well RIck, I would not go so far as to say they are junk - they just need a wee bit more attention than the others. Squadron makes sets of replacemnt canopies for the Hobby Craft 17 series that also include instructions for correcting the banana bow in the fuselage. They also have replacement wheels and with a little scratch work the interior can be made presentable. The B-24 and Lancaster are good old school kits, the PBY and 111 are newer technology. The PBY has some issues with the tail structure being correct and if you are compulsive on stuff like that there are correction sets availible.
Swanny, I still consider the Hobbycraft Do-17 Junk. You shouldn’t need instructions on how to correct a fuselage molded like a banana when you shell out $ for a kit. I really wish one of the better Companies would do a new tool of the Do-17 in either 1/48 or 1/72. It’s kind of amazing that such an important Luftwaffe aircraft has recieved so little attention.
Regards, Rick
Hi Ozmod,
Out of the kits you listed I would say the Revell/Monogram kits were the best for the Catalina, Liberator and HE 111.The Tamiya Lancaster is a bit dated now as far as lack of interior detail and overall finish and not worth the price compared to the others.
I’m no expert, but I believe the kits mentioned are the ONLY choices available in 1/48.
To reiterate:
B-24 Liberator: Monogram
Avro Lancaster: Tamiya
PBY Catalina: Monogram
Heinkel 111: Monogram
Dornier DO17: HobbyCraft
Those are the only injection-molded games in town, as far as I know.
I have the Hobby Craft Do-17Z, and I think it’s a fine kit. Everything fits great, and the detail is nice enough for me.
Thanks a lot to you all hopefully those kits aren’t too hard to find here in Australia, how about the best Flying Fortress kit in 1/48.
ozmod[:D]
Again, you’ve got a wide choice of 1! [;)] Monogram/Revell, and again, it’s an old kit, but there are plenty of AM goodies to be had, and even resin sets to back-date/forward date it to various other versions. I think they even did one with a transparent side if you’re into showing off your guts to the world.
Hey ozmod…
i just finished HE-111 here are pics…
http://zillasstuff.blogspot.com/
kit wasnt too bad. i added aftermarket details. wing fit was a bit rough but manageable.
good luck
CS
Two, actually. Both old, though!
The Monogram B-17G, and the Revell B-17F. The Monogram kit is, in my opinion, better by far than the old Revell offering.
And if I’m not mistaken, it’s the only one currently offered under the Revell/Monogram label.
Has not someone announced a new tool 1/48 B-17 in the last year or so? My mind is connecting Hasegawa or Trumpeter to it; or perhaps I’m just imagining things?
I agree whole heartedly but in 1/48 we have no other options. I would love to see one of the big boys do a respectable job on the 17 with a correct interior and correct landing gear for the early E/F. But even with all that the HC kit can be built and can be made to look respectable. Shortly I will be digging into a 17E and making all those corrections - lets see how it turns out. Modeling is fun, right?
Hope it works out well for you Swanny. I’m not saying it can’t be built & with effort it can look reasonably good. But it is a Dog of a kit.
Regards, Rick
Thanks again for the advice and nice pics carsanab on the HE-111 and the dog.
ozmod[tup]