Hey,
I’ve been thinking about buying a 1/48 Panavia Tornado for some time, (I even made a music vid about it)
But I don’t know which one would be best?
Should I go for the Italeri or the Hobbyboss one? or are there any others (1/48)?
Anybody got some insight on these models? (like build one or have one in the stash?)
I’m especially interested on info about the Hobbyboss one.
With regards, Ninetalis.
I have the Italeri kit in the stash, opened but not built. Good details on the sprue, lots of reviews available online as well.
Well I have some nice reviews on the Italeri kit but can’t find too many about the hobbyboss kit ,
But I don’t want to hear ‘lots ‘o’ reviews online’ and all that, whenever I ask about a kit or model (this is the second time now), it is because I want to hear what other modelers think of it,
not the guys who review all the kits because I have NEVER seen a review that says, not recommended or any of that.
And 30 modelers can tell alot more about a kit/model rather than 1 guy who does 'em all.
I just want to see the hobbyboss and Italeri kit against one another.
Btw, this forum is really going to hell if you guys aren’t going to stop posting ‘use the search function’ or ‘lots ‘o’ reviews online’, really, people ask you because they want you to pass your knowledge to them or others.
(this isn’t pointed to you Vancecrozier, I just want to say to people that if they have nothing to say except for use google or such, then don’t post at all!)
With regards, Ninetalis.
I don’t have either Ninetalis but I will tell you it probably would be a good idea to avoid the Airfix kit - it will take a great deal of work to make into a good model. Not bad if you’re like Hans and like doing a bunch of work but it was more than I want to tackle.
1/48 Tornado kits (to the best of my knowledge): ESCI, Italeri, Airfix/Heller, and Hobbyboss. I have the Italeri and Airfix/Heller kit in my stash. Both look good on the sprues and have their pros and cons. A/H Pros- better armament, cockpit detailing, Cons- softer detailing; Italeri- Pro’s- better external detailing, Cons- weaker cockpit detailing and armament. As far as the other two kits go, the ESCI kit is old, being the first 1/48 Tornado kit released back in the day. Unless you find one for a steal, pick one of the others. The new Hobbyboss kit is top of the line state of the art and benefits from the 20 years or so improvement in model technologies since the European kits were released. It offers far more build options such as positioning of various surfaces, a larger armament stores selection, and better detailing all around… but at 2-3 times the price of the A/H and Italeri kits. Depending upon which sub variant of Tornado you want to build: ADV, GR1 etc., ECR, etc. your choice may be made for you as to which kit.
No problem Ninetalis, I just threw the “online reviews” comment out there because until I start building stuff I can’t speak to anything but what it looks like in-box. And the Italeri does look good in the box. I can snap a few pictures if that helps. (It’s near the top of the stash right now! [;)])
Thanks SP- soft is the term I was looking for on the detailing on the Airfix/Heller kit. And interesting, I wasn’t sure if the Italeri kit was a reboxing of the Airfix/Heller one as well.
Anytime Gamera. The Airfix/Heller kit is definitely different all the way thru from the Italeri kit.
Thanks for the heads up Gamera, but I never buy airfix unless I’m completly sure that it is a new ‘design-top-of-the-line’ kit and there is no (better) alternative.
Wow Stik, you really got some info for me right there, nice to hear that there are various others out there,
But I don’t think I will take another kit than the Italeri or Hobbyboss kit, I do know about the price difference, but maybe it might just be worth it
Vance, okay, I’m glad you didn’t take it as offensive towards you, you posted more than just ‘go online’ so I don’t really mind. But it reminded me about what would be come if I didn’t write what I wrote.
Some pictures are allways welcome, but I would really like to see a pic from the ‘front’ (nose) up close and where the wings got into the fuselage (I would like to see the detail there).
It would be very appreciated.
With regards, Ninetalis.
Kind of surprised that that’s all that’s out there - the Tornado’s kind of a big deal. Unfortunately, haven’t built modern aircraft regularly in about 20 years so I’m out of touch as far as the good ones. Though - if it were me and I were hunting a Tornado, I’d do a GR.1 in a heartbeat.
On the topic of British kits, you seen the CADs for the forthcoming Kitty Hawk 1/48 Sepecat Jaguar? I’ll be reviewing it when the time comes, but it definitely looks pretty slick even as a CAD image.
What?! A new jaguar?! woohoow!
If we are going to talk british kits here, trumpeter has released the supermarine attacker on 1/48, but now they have put a De Havilland Vampire between their new releases, Hell yeaaaah!
don’t really know any kits of the Vamp still in production.
So many brits, so little time, but really, I need to stock up on brits, I have count 'em in my stash recently and I only got 5 or so (out of me 120 or so boxes).
With regards, Ninetalis.
Hobbycraft did the Vampire series in 1/48, but they are pretty basic. I am sure that Trumpeter’s will be far superior.
I think that there is another Jaguar coming out. That one Doogs showed is a more current one than the versions that fought over Kuwait in 1991, or the Balkans in the mid and late 90s. I cant even tell if it is the French or British version as both are distinctly different in the nose area. But Airfix/Heller does do a very nice 91 Gulf War Jaguar in both the French and RAF versions.
I’m with you on the in box reviews ninetails. I like the ones that can be found on cybermodeler.com because I can get an idea of the parts break down from the pictures as well as seeing markings etc. However, they are useless in terms of giving you an idea of build-ability. And like you, I’ve never seen one that didn’t recommend the kit.
As for getting answers to questions like this here I can tell you that there doesn’t seem to be a lot of modern jet builders here. At least not ones who regularly post and give in depth responses. Fortunately, Stickpusher is the resident encyclopedia and if he has the info he will take the time to educate you.
I recently found that Aircraft Resource Center is usually going to have a WIP thread for a large number of the more modern jet kits. I don’t post there, but when looking for a build review their search usually turns one up. Yes, the “use search” responses can be aggravating. But unlike getting them with a question about a technique, (which anyone can answer) you can’t be too angry because members are not familiar with the subject your asking.
I built the Italeri kit about 5 years ago. I think the cockpit is a bit sparse so I closed it up.
(http://postimage.org/image/jqicxkjm7/)]
It seems to me the kit wasn’t a problem to build but I believe it was inaccurate, like vertical stab to small and radome wrong but I don’t know much about European fighters.
(http://postimage.org/image/ia6uffgpb/)]
Dean
Sorry, Im using a new image host and it doesn’t work very good.
I do know the hobbycraft kit, but I said in production for a reason stik,
Unless they’ve started producing their old kits again but I don’t think they do.
Prof death,I’m not angry with anybody because they don’t know the subject I want, and that is not what I said.
I’m angry with responses as ‘go search’ as if I haven’t tried or don’t want to.
(on another forum I have had the answer and I quote ‘sounds as I’m lazy, I don’t use google but I just ask because I’m to lazy to search’)
I like cybermodeler to and I know they have a review on the italeri kit, but I just want to hear from other people what they think or know, maybe they have build the model or have both the kits or anything.
Btw, not anyone can answer a technique too.
I’m just sick of hearing a short-*ss answer like go search, because if that is all you are able to say, you do not belong on a forum.
F-4phantom, Nice tornado! love the color!
what air force is that?
With regards, Ninetalis.
I wasn’t implying you’re angry, just making a general observation. I meant to add that I usually look at the in-box review and then hope I can find someone on the forum that can offer their impressions of the build itself. Having done so a number of times I’ve found it’s just easier to scour google for a build tread on whatever forum it may be. I completely understand not wanting to do that though. Nothing wrong with laziness.
And I do think most anyone can respond to a technique thread like painting or washes etc. I mean they may not be very good at it, or think they are…but most everyone has a method of achieving something. And if not they really don’t need to take the time to post “use search” followed by the actual number of responses they got when they searched it. That’s just asinine and not at all productive. And it’s no good for the life of the thread.
Hang around and you will notice that there are certain individuals guilty of these things. You’ll also notice some of these people are the same ones who will point out some inaccuracy with your build and make you feel like an idiot for it.
Aircraft Resource Center, Cybermodeler, Hyperscale, and Modeling Madness all have a good group of aircraft kit reviews on their sites. If none of those sites have a review of the kit I am looking for, then I do a web search, but usually if those site do not have it, chances are thin on finding a decent review. But thank you for the kind words on my knowledge and helpfulness here. I try to pass on whatever firsthand knowledge that I do have whenever I think it can be useful.
I have the Hobby Boss kit. It is still in the stash although I have opened the box already. It looks good judging from the parts on the sprues. Lots of details and judging from my experience with Hobby Boss the fit will be good. Get the Hobby Boss kit.