Hey guys, got another q for ya. Whats the quality in some of the monogram and revell kits out there? Specifically the large U.S. bomber series (b-17, b-29, and b-24) and the promodler series. Ive heard good things about the promodler series but timid to try anything with “revell” or “monogram” slapped on it again. Thanks for ur time and help
I have a pro modeler of the ta154a moskito and from what I have seen of it,it is good.I also know from putting together those big 48scale kits of Monogram that they were of good quaity and I enjoyed putting them together.But now revell has taken over the old mongram kits that you asked about will be scraped from the revell kits(no insides)So if you can get your hands on the older monogram kits,do so and enjoy putting them together.Digger[:)][C):-)][:)]
p.s.the old monogram kits will have the monogram incon on them.
I built 3 Monogram twins (B-25, A-26 and C-47) for a museum display. That the kits were promised and paid for was the only reason they saw the light of day. Very poor fit at every seam.
Are they still in business?? Here I thought Tamiya and Trumpeter took over!! Oh well…soon…very soon!!! [:D]
The reality of it is that while one day years ago, Revell and Monogram were the standard by which all others were judged. Today the Best are generally considered to be:
Tamiya
Hasewaga
and Trumpeter
Generally, (but not always) in that order.
I built the 1/72 B-36 Peacemaker years ago in Monogram boxing, I understand the more recent Revell Germany rebox has it pretty much unchanged.
I’d say it needs work because straight from the box is not an option with it. It does have a piece of plastic designed to be a supporting structure for the hefty wings, but its nowhere near strong enough for the job. If I had it to do again, I’d use that piece as a template and make a duplicate of it out of some sort of hardwood to do the job. The wings fell off of mine after a year or so due to their own weight.
It also has raised panel lines, and thats a lot of rescribing if you don’t like em raised.
The parts junctions are also huge, the fuselage is split vertically in two halves and requires several superglueing sessions and a lot of tape or rubber bands to get the job done right. getting the wings together is equally time consiming and troublesome.
If I had the chance to do a B-36 again, I’d probably be just as happy with the Hobbycraft/Academy 1/144 scale one.
From what I’ve seen these days, some of the best stuff that comes in Revell packaging is the stuff produced by Revell Germany on their own or the ProModeler series stuff.
if you are looking for kits to practice your skill on and not spend the big money revell/monogram are it. they have fit probs, no interior detail, and raised panel lines. where i live walmart is the only game in town.(for now) they sell revell/monogram. i am now putting together three revell/monogram kits, f4f, me109, and a p-40 (revell is it in 1/48 until the trumpeter kit is available). each has fit probs, raised panel lines, and no interior detail. the f4f only has the pilot, the p-40 had a pilot and the instument panel. with both putty was the tool of choice. the me109 had a cockpit but i chose to put pe in it also. the detail in the pit was not very good. my eldest son has the p-47 from revell and it seems to have good detail for the pit. the fit is still in question. the f4f i will have to either go aftermarket or try scratchbuilding the landing gear because the supplied is horrible.
just my experience with revell/monogram.
joe
Alot of their aircraft are older tools and a bit long in the tooth, but most of their auto kits are quite nice.
Lee
Am building Revell’s Apachi attack helicopter right now. Fit is so-so, instructions poor! Built the Revell/Germany S-100 attack boat 1/72 and that was wonderful. After Tamiya, anything else can be a let-down. Always loved the early Monogram Nay stuff.
I’m building the Revell (ex Monogram) B-25. I built this kit 22 yrs ago and I tell you, the new one is worth no more than $12. Twice as much flash, soft plastic, and it seems they shrunk the narcells to 3/4 scale of the wing. You will need the economy tube of Spot Glaze for this kit.
This is the thrird Revell (ex Monogram) kit I built this year. IMHO, they better not go up in price. The craftmanship is about half of what it use to be. But they are still great for a fast build and if you don’t want to mortgage the house.
Scott
Revell was the benchmark for quality when I was young but times have changed. Although I still like Revell-Germany-not the best but pretty good.
The best Revell has to offer these days are the 1:72 tanks… Other than that I wouldn’t touch 'em with a bargepole. The really, really good kits probably aren’t their own, just reboxes. I know their 1:48 F4 Phantom is actually the Hasegawa one. That one is worth handing over some sheckles…
Monogram has to me a better quaity on there kits then Revell.The fittigs were better along with detail and flash was rare.Revell on the other hand is production at any cost,this is what sadden me when Revell bought out Monogram.Monogram would manufacture the planes in 48 scale that others would not un till now.Digger[:)][C):-)][:)]
Looks like I’ll be one of the few who will stick up for Monogram and Revell. I’ve built many of their kits and have never had any problem that couldn’t be overcome with basic modeling skills. I agree with most of what everyone above had to say about Tamiya, Hasegawa and others being up there in quality but there is absolutely nothing wrong with a Monogram nor Revell kit. Yes there’s the “issue” of raised panel lines but it’s only a problem if you, the builder. don’t like it. If it’s not a major stumbling block for you then there is no problem. So it’s all a matter of perspective really. I’ve also built the B-36. I finished it about a month ago. Yes it is a big plane which makes for a big model. With big models you’re going to have long seams. That’s all there is to it. If you want a small model with small seams then build a small model. But if you’re going to build a 1/72 scale B-36 then you’re going to have to use techniques which are appropriate for such a situation. I built my first B-36 when I was 10 years old. I had it for 12 years and the wings never came off.
It can easily be said that Revel and Monogram have given us kits that no other manufacturer has given us and vice versa. I still haven’t seen a 1/48 B-17, B-26, B-25, C-47, B-24, P-61 nor B-58 offered by Tamiya, Hasegawa nor Trumpeter. I think it would be neat if they came out with one but until then I will continue to buy these great Monogram and Revell kits over and over again with a smile on my face.
Every manufacturer has its fit and detail problems. It just seems to me that Monogram and Revell are being unfairly dumped on. The Pro-Modeler F-84 has more accurate shapes and dimensions that the Tamiya kit. I’m sure the Tamiya version is an absolute dream to build but I went with the Pro-Modeler because I wanted a more accurate final product.
Just my two cents.
Eric
Well, I’m not really “dumping” on them, just relating my particular experience with one of their big bomber kits.
Revell Monogram do have certain things going in their favour, one of those things is that from standpoints of affordability, popular subject matter and sheer longevity as a brand in the hobby; they are very accesible to many modelers from beginner all the way to master.
I remember when, if you wanted a 1/48 F-14 Tomcat, the Monogram kit was it, no one else made one at the time it was new. I remember when they released it in full colour VF-111 “Sundowners” markings. Man, did that thing stand out on my shelf! I’ve heard people dumping on that kit, and yes it’s easy to do with Hasegawa and Tamiya Tomcats prowling the hobby shop shelves with their sharp recessed panel lines and framing quality box artwork and price tags easily double the Monogram kit’s cost; but I have many happy memories of that Tomcat from Monogram.
The Memory that really sticks out is the cockpit. It was unbelievably detailed for a kit at the time, gorgeous relief detail on the consoles, beautiful multi piece ejection seats…
My very first kit was a Monogram SnapFast 1/72 F-4 Phantom that I built when I was seven years old (I hit 32 this coming August) I “flew” many missions in the living room with that Phantom and exucuted manuevers with it that would probably make a pilot of a real Phantom air sick 
Well, I brought her in for one too many hard landings when I was 10, but that was O.K. I’d built my first model and had a blast with it beyond the building of it.
I can’t fairly dump on them, but I concede that if you’ve got the money, you can do better. If you don’t. it’s good to know they’re there so you can still have access to the hobby.
everything is relative to the person and the situation. i am working on a difficult fitting p-40b, and a moderatly difficult f4f build. both are revell and niether has any interior detail. i am also working on a mess. 109g which has a decent fit and decent interior detail. my past experience with revell has been less than ideal. however my two boys are building revell kits, one a p-47 the other a f-15, both have decent interior detail and look like they are going together pretty well. if given a choice on mfg’s i would not choose revell kits. my feeling is that if i wanted to scratchbuild the parts i needed i would have bought a vacuform kit. again everything is relative you shop where you shop for your reasons, you buy what you buy for your reasons. i do feel the revell kits will serve the purpose intended, to work on my building skills and improvising techniques. i am learning with every kit, this is the reason i have bought these kits.
joe
Oh man that P-40 was a pain! I still have memories of that! LOL! It was one of the few models I ever got frustrated with (or should I say I didn’t have the patience nor the tallent to work on it successfully?) and I actually threw it away in frustration. I agree that they have put out some less than stellar kits but by and large they do have some good ones out there. It sounds like we’ve lived parallel lives. I remember my snap-tite F-4 AND I loved my VF-111 Sundowners Tomcat! The cockpit and pilot had great detail!
I was just thinking of something as I was reading all the responses. Isn’t it funny that we can use these kits which do need a little more filler and sanding than most to hone our skills? We then acquire these great modeling skills and what do we do? Plunk down the extra money to but a Tamiya kits which needs no filler and extra work? LOL! See what I’m mean? Why do we do it to ourselves? Why do we get the not so great kits and then “graduate” to the trouble-free kits? Shouldn’t we be doing it the other way around? I just thought it was interesting.
Take care,
Eric
now that you mention it, it is kind of backwards isnt it. i want to work on my skills so that i can build better kits. hadnt thought of it like that before.
joe
Maybe it’s our way of rewarding ourselves after putting up with the Monogram P-40s of the world. Ha-ha-ha!
true true
joe