I know this is somewhat in-depth but I was wondering if I could get a list of aircraft models to look for at the Nationals when I am there?
I build 1/48 and my son likes 1/72 so I was wondering if you more experienced modelers could give me a general rundown of the best kit offerings for the most common WWII and more modern fighter aircraft including:
P-38
P-40
P-47
P-51
A-4
A-6
A-7
F-4
F-5
F-14
F-15C
F-16
F-18
F-22
SU-27
Mig 29
Panavia Tornado
Thanks guys
Mike
Well, I think Hasegawa is the obvious choice for F-4 in 1/48. These kits have been around a while under many guises, but they still hold up well. I don’t have details on these, but there are finally reportedly good F-5 and T-38 kits on the market in 1/48. Been waiting long for those, but forgot the maker. Anybody? AMTech has a series of 1/48 P-40s. I built the E and it was a re-jiggering of the AMT kit. It was simple, but the fit was good and the parts were adequately formed and reasonably fine. Canopy fit well. I especially liked the decals that AMTech had drafted for their release of the kit, both in quality, thinness, opaqueness and register, but especially the subjects. So in a rare move for me, I actually used one of the two kit schemes. (I couldn’t resist a tail painted with a young boy in overalls peeing on the Rising Sun.) Since then, they have released other P-40 variants. The best P-51s (I don’t build in 1/72 very often, so my recommendations are all 1/48), I think, depend on which version you want. The early Allison-engined A-36 and P-51A, as well as the early British Mustangs, were best done by Accurate Miniatures, but I don’t know if they are currently in production. I haven’t built the new Japanese major makers – Hasegawa and Tamiya – and their B and D Mustangs, but a lot of guys on this site have built some real beauties out of them. Both Hobbycraft and Hasegawa have released the range of A-4s in both scales. I’ve only seen a Hasegawa 1/48 version, and it seems adequate to make a nice model, but I haven’t done more than dry-fitting so far on the F model, which was also released under the aegis of Monogram in Blue Angels livery. I had few complaints about the Hasegawa P-47D-25 I recently built, but the newer, and more expensive, Tamiya kits are said to be degrees better than Hasegawas, and the Tamiya Razorbacks I’ve see on this site are beautiful. I’ll let other people take over. I’m sure we have people who know a lot more than I do about what’s new out there. But, in the end, experience, skill and what you want to put into a model really determines what you get out of it. And, even more importantly, if it’s not enjoyable, when it’s a chore to press on and finish a build because you’ve invested so much time and money in it, the best kit in the whole hobby is a pile of junk to me.[2c]
I can help you out on most of the modern aircraft,but it all boils down to how much your willing to spend.I try to go with Hasegawa or Tamiya whenever possible.But alot of times the prices on those kits can be pretty steep as I am sure you know.And also comes down to which a/c variants.I know that the A-6E Intruder was released in 1/48 scale by Airfix and Revell/Monogram.But in my humble opinion the Revell kit is the only one worth spending money on.The F-22 would be 1/48 scale Italeri,and the only 1/48 scale SU-27 that I know of is from Academy.
BTW I have built the Hasagawa 1/48 A-7E and it almost FELL together… great build.
1/48 F-14 kit from Acadamy is a good kit for the money.nice detail/not too expensive.
1/48 F-16 Hasagawa ( F-16CJ has parts to build Pratt/Whitney AND GE motored Vipers)
1/48 F-18 Hasagawa I built this one a while back… had some fit probs when gluing intakes on… left a huge step near rear of A/C in front of horizontal stab.I may be mistaken but I think that has been corrected. Hope this helps.[8D]
I have both Hasegawas and Hobbycrafts 1/48 A-4’s and must say that the Hasegawa kit is the better of the two. I built the Hobbycraft Canada A-4 and lets just say if filling and sanding is your thing then it is the kit for you. Mine has more putty and filler in it than the walls of my house. The link below is a pic of the offending Scooter
http://www.armorama.com/modules/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=11255&password=&sort=8&cat=500&page=1
As for the A-6. I am presently working on Italeri’s 1/72 A-6E Intruder and can’t really complain about it at the moment. Very minimal filling and when filling is needed Elmers glue did the trick without the need for sanding.
I usually don’t build 1/72 scale A/C, but the size of the 1/72 A-6 is about the same size as the 1/48 A-4. So it is a good cross over A/C if you are only used to 1/48 scale A/C. Like I am.
Wish I could comment more on the others on your list, but they are on my to do list as well.
Hope this helps
Paul
for the P-47 go for the Tamiya kits in 1/48 scale. They are a bit expensive but they are excellent kits. I’ve heard good things about Hasegawas A4 series. Tamiyas P51’s are very nice as well.
They’re the only ones I can help with…
Hope it helps
The Hasegawa 1/48th F-4 family, A-4E/F/M, and A-7 are all great kits. I added aftermarket seats to all of them, except for the A-4M which I have not built yet,and was very happy with the results. I picked up the 1/48th Monogram/Revell A-6 last year but I have yet to build it. The detail looks nice but it does have raised panel lines. You can pick up the after market cockpit from Verlinden(?) for around $35.00 and crank out a gorgeous model. So where and when are the Nationals?
this is my general order of preference for manufacturers.
I’ve ranked them as in quality of their kits (i.e., fit, accuracy, etc.) Should be able to find most, if not all, of what you are looking for given that listing.
Mike
on the 1/72 side, would reccomend the following kits of WW II aircraft (sorry, don’t build kerosene burners) for your son.
P-38
F/G/H Airfix has the only version of this model and it isn’t too bad
J/K/L Hasagawa has a good kit of this and so is the old Revell kit
M The Revell kit has the parts to convert to the M - not a bad kit
P-39 Academy has the best version currently on the market - with a little trimming and sanding you can build just about any version - The old Revell kit has the most accurate outline but takes a lot of work to bring it up to current standards - raised lines, rivets and see thru wheel wells.
P-40
A/B/C Academy has the only currently available kit on the market but takes some work to bring it up to standard
E Hasagawa is my reccomendation here
N Hasagawa again
P-47
D I like the Hasagawa D’s - three kits, Razorback (up to -25), early Bubble canopy (-25 thru -20) and late Bubble canopy (-30 and up)
M Revell of Germany has a kit but I haven’t built one
N The only kit of this I have built is the old Heller kit and I wouldn’t recommend it
P-51
A/A-36 I have a couple of MPM kits of these but haven’t built them yet - look good in the box but reviews I’ve read indicate I’ve got some work ahead of me. As far as I know, the only kits of these aircraft currently on the market are from eastern Europe.
B/C Both are the same aircraft, just built at different location. Revell of Germany has a good kit and if you can find one the old Monogram kit isn’t bad
D/K Only difference between models is the prop - You really can’t go far wrong with either the Tamiya or the Hasagawa offerings
P-61
A/B For years the only kit on the market was the Airfix (they don’t say but think it’s supposed to be an A) and it’s really showing its age. With a lot of work you can get a fair model from it. Dragon offers kits for both A & B. I have each in my stash but after building Dragon’s Ta152C & H kits have kind of kept away from the P-61s. They look great in the box but a whole bunch of problems with fit when you start assembly. Plus the reviews of the P-61 kits indicate the forward portion of the fuselage is 1/8" short between the wing leading edge and the rear of the canopy.
Ya gotta understand that I’m not a shake and bake modeler - always felt that if I really wanted a model of a particular plane, then I should be willing to have do what ever it takes to get it built (at least once). And if it only has five rivets in a panel and not the seven the 1 to 1 aircraft had, I don’t give a rat’s a… I’ve tried to list only those kits I have had some experience with but I don’t think your boy will have very much problems with them.
Hope this helps
Hi Mike,
Right now I’m working on Academy’s Mig 29 UB. Not a bad kit (my friend bought one that was attrocious)the parts fit is ok, the overall quality is good, but I’m leaning more to Trumpeter than Academy for quality (I just finished Trumpeter’s Mig 19 in NMF) ,still not a bad Mig, I’ll post some pics when done.
Regards
Manny Prego
Revell Germany produce excellent 1/72 models of the Panavia Tornado, P-47D bubbletop, and P-51 razorback. Their decals are also better than Tamiya. Italeri has just produced a 1/72 P-47 N, which is receiving generally good reviews, and has excellent decals.
Chris.
I’m building the Hasagawa 1/48 A-4C right now and it seems to be a very good kit-typical for Hasagawa. The Italeri 1/48 F-22 has fit problems with intakes and forward and aft fuselage halves.
Thanks for all of the input guys.
It looks like I at least have a good basis to look for kits now.
I knew that Tamiya and Hasegawa were generally reliable but there are exceptions as I have been told.
grenadierII,
The Nationals are in Phoenix, AZ from August 4-7th.
Are you attending?
Mike
I’m about 1/4 of the way into the Hasegawa A7e, and it’s great. I’ve only dry fit stuff on it for the most part, but they go together great. The only trouble I’m having so far is fitting the resin cockpit and intake into it, as all that fitting is requireing a good deal of alterations. Other than that it’s fantastic, great detail.
[#ditto], and the 1/48 Revell A-7E is a rebox of the Hasegawa kit with different decals. Highly recommended. By the way, Hasegawa have also done a D version in the past.
For Phantoms, it’s the same story: go for the Hasegawa kits or their Revell reboxings currently being released.
Hasegawa made the best F-16s, pretty much in every flavor (A,B,C,D,N, Plus versions, etc etc). Highly recommended but not always available. Get a couple if you see them in the shop!
I have an Academy Mig-29UB which looks really nice in the box. I believe it’s the newest offering and probably the best available. I have read mixed reviews though. Btw, they make a one-seater too.
I have built the Tamiya P-51D and it’s a sweet kit! One of the best kits I ever built. You can’t go wrong with that one, although there are good alternatives (HAsegawa, Accurate Miniatures) out there, that I haven’t tried myself.
Sorry, don’t have a lot of info for your son because I haven’t done a lot of kits in 1/72 in the last decade or so.
Hi Mike
For 1/72 scale I’d go with the following:
A-4,A-6,A-7 Fujimi’s although you can also find the A-6 and 7 reboxed by Italeri.
F-4 Hasegawa
F-5 ESCI
F-14/F-15C Hasegawa if money’s no object . Otherwise Academy makes excellent kits of both aircraft.
F-16 Hasegawa or Revell Germany
F-18/Su-27 Hasegawa
F-22/MiG-29 Italeri
Hope this helps you.
Regards
Bert
Hi Mike!
I do 1/72 only and at present mostly WW II, so for me:
P-38J/L Academy
P-40E/N/M Academy
P-47D Razorback Tamiya
P-47D Bubble Top Academy/Revell-Germany
P-47M Revell-Germany
P-47N Italeri
P-51A Italeri
P-51B/C Hasegawa/Revell-Germany/Academy
P-51D Tamiya
Hey Mad,I was kinda curious as to which cockpit and intake your using.Due to the fact that I plan on going the same route with mine.I bought a Blackbox cockpit w/ a Seamless Sucker intake.Was wondering what kinda probs you were encountering so that I won’t be blind when I start mine.[:)]
A couple of notes for you:
The P-38 F/G/H is a great kit by hasagawa in 1/48th scale. It is also packaged by Revel/Monogram and is a few $$ less in the R/M package. The same is true for the Hasagawa F-4 E, and the A-7E.
The Tamia and Hasagawa P-51s are both beautiful. The Tamia kit has the option for lowered flaps. The Hasagawa F-14 in both 1/72, and 1/48 scale are also fantastic, but expensive. The Tamia P47 is the nicest P-47 I’ve seen to date.
Good luck on your quest to gather the aformentioned kits. rangerj
I have the Aires cockpit, which is really excellent and beautiful. It’s finished at this point and ready to be placed into the plane. I too have the Seamless Suckers intake, and it looks great, though there were a couple of bubbles on the pegs that hold the gear bays in place.I cut the tabs off of the kit intake and glued them onto the Seamless one. It’s ready to go as well, though I think it’ll need a bit more trimming around the nose to fit with minimal gaps.
The problem is that the intake is a bit fiddly to place just right, and so is the cockpit. The underneath of the cockpit is shaped much differently than the kit, and interferes with the intake. I’m in the process of test fitting and taking off bits of each where I can. With the resin cockpit, you have to shave the sides of the fuselage down and fiddle with it some to fit just right. None of it is really hard, I just believe in taking my time and being careful. Between making the intake fit the fuselage, and the cockpit fit the fuselage, and making the cockpit fit the intake, it’s a bit of a bear.
Here are a couple of pics of the cockpit as it neared completion. It looks darker than it is really due to the lighting and whatnot.
