Why aren't there more see-through kits?

So, I was at the LHS with a cupon, looking for a nice kit. There’s all the usual, but I happen to find a 1/72 see-through model of the Bell X-1. Totally awesome! It looks like a good kit, and the interior detail is quite nice. I’m going to enjoy building this kit…

…so it got me thinking. Why aren’t there more see-though kits? I looked through Squadron, and there was a nice Me-262, but that was about it. How cool would it be to have a see-through B-17, F-4, F-18, or P-47? I’d love to have a row of a/c on my shelf that look real from one side, and see-through from the other. How come there’s not a small company that builds clear halves to popular kits, allowing modelers to make any aircraft they want to be see-though? And why stop at aircraft? What about ships and tanks (although, there is a see-through U-boat, isn’t there?)

Also, if anyone knows of a source for see-through kits, please, let me know.

Joshua

ProModeler put out a B-17 which is loong OOP but, you might find one on ebay[;)] A see thru A-3D & RA-5C would be kewl[swg]

I think Revell has (or has issued one in the past) a see-through P-51 in 1/48 or 1/32, can’t remember which. As Ed said, there is a see-through version of Monograms old 1/48 B-17, but they go serious bucks these days on ebay (saw one go or $250+ once). I can’t believe R/M won’t reissue it sometime in the future with the clear fuselage half, though, given the obvious demand.

With all the interior sets for the B-17 now-a-days… It’s a shame ta have to close up the fuselage on 'em[:(]

Tamiya also has several see-trough models like there Mig-15. But I don’t know if they are still in production.

They’ve covered the old see through Monogram B-17 and the Monogram 1/32 Phantom Mustang that was reissued around 2000. There was a small Japanese company’s version of the see through Mustang in 1/72 scale. The original Hawk issue of the Testors V-1 Buzz Bomb came with a clear upper fuselage for see through action as well.

The main problem is dealing with knock out marks and glue marks on the interior surfaces when using clear styrene parts.

Having see through kits would drive the price up considerably. Who could afford to buy them? For armour, there are a few kits out there that have full interiors, and for all that there aren’t, there’s a ludicrously expensive AM set for it.

Well, there is clear resin & Thermaform to which a “talented” modeler could make their own clear fuselage[:D] I’ve thought about it but, I don’t have the skills to do something like that[:(]

FSM has done several pieces on “cutaways”, which are close to the same thing. With all the aftermarket clear plastic I would think the making of “see through” panels would be somewhat easy to construct.

Don

Not really, Tamiya’s original M113 kit was designed to have a removable roof to display the interior. They reissued the kit with a slight modification and new parts to update it cosmetically to look like an M113A3. They could easily update the interior and mold the roof in clear plastic.

That’s right Don, I have at least one issue in my FSM pile with the cut-a-way…(F-104 iirc) still, that is alot of work & taskes a steady hand to cut out those panels[B)]

Bottom line, it comes out to customer demand - if the major companies don’t think they can make a lot of $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ with a kit, they aren’t going to issue it. Why do you think Revell, for instance, is still cranking out that goadawful box scale Arizona, despite the complaints and pleas from those of us who care at least a little about accuracy? Because it sells. They’re going to leave the “niche” products to the aftermarket guys.

I have noticed that in my favored 1/700 ship scale, some aftermarket clear acrylic flight decks are coming out for those who want to superdetail the hanger decks. Would I do that? Heck, no! … but I would admire the work of anyone who took the time to do so.

only prob I see w/a clear flightdeck is… How’d the pilots see it?![:o)] then of course, finding interior detail photos of the Hangar deck would be difficult if not impossible for “certain CVAs & CVNs”

I’m afraid I missed your point. Not all kits are designed with an interior in mind. You’re telling me its NOT more expensive to produce full interior kits?

More research

Lesser error tolerances, thus more precise moulds.

Larger parts count

I’d say that fairly nicely adds up to a more expensive kit.

Yeah, there have been a few kits out there, and at the time they were released, they were in fact much more expensive than the run of the mill kits available with no interiors.

Most modellers just don’t particullary like them or think they are toy like from my experience. Hasegawa had 3 or 4 see thru Japanese fighters a few years back. I recently just finsihed one, but used it as a ‘faster’ and ‘cheaper’ way to create a cutaway. As even with the higher price, its cheaper than buying after market engines, etc…

I hear you about the CVN hangar decks, Hippy Ed. I did decide to open one hangar door on my CVN-65 Enterprise, but at 1/720 scale, and figuring it’s going to be almost impossible to see in there anyway unless you shine a Kleig light inside, I’m just planning to fill it up with airplanes and maybe a few painted black doors and such. I’ll leave the superdetailing to the more anal retentive types. [;)]

Now CVN-65 is one of those “classified” ships due to the Nuclear Powerplant. There are some nice CVN-65 builds on
http://www.carrierbuilders.net/forum/index.php?sid=95a79dfe323b00222b213d07cb323b09 I don’t think a 1/720th is worth trying to detail the hangar deck on[B)] Now a 1/350 maybe[tup]

I was just looking at a copy of Historic Aviation and there’s a 1/32 P-51D Clear fuselage w/ a motorized propeller $49.95 (item#96959C) www,hisoricaviation.com

I was at the local Hobby Lobby yesterday to pick up some paint and saw one on the shelf. It has retractable gear, drops bombs and a motorized propeller.

Thanks Bill, I read that part after I posted[:O] That is an interesting concept… I wonder if that was my good buddy Glenn who put that into the works??? Back when I was 11-12yrs. old we took models & converted them over to r/c & dropped cherry bombs from them[:D]

The original issue of the 1/24th scale Huey by Monogram was a see-though