I am a tread-head for the most part, with the occasional foray into cars, but lately I have had the itch to add a WWI German aircraft to the mix (haven’t built anything with wings in about 15 years). I am thinking about 1/32 scale. Possibly Battle Axe or Rodan.
What can you wingnuts tell me about these companies? I am also wanting to add aftermarket parts. While money is an object to a degree, I am willing (and able) to drop about $100-150 into this project.
Any and all input and advice will be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
I would not go near battle Axe. Any model released by Eduard as a new issue in the last 5 years is a safe bet, their earlier issues are more limited run in quality. Roden has been doing some nice stuff in 1/32 recently, go the the group build forum here and look at the WW I GB going on there, you will get a nice eye full on the topic.
Roden make the best kits in 1/32, and are a good value.
For what one gets, Battle Axe are way over priced. The best PE details available now are from Part Models of Poland. These are available from Roll Models.
I’m looking to try my hand in a WWI style Bi-plane bomber. when I look at the shops I use online there are like 4 or 5, most of them are over 70$ but a few are only like 20… are they any good, the cheaper ones?
There Rhoden I just checked, They have 71$ ones and 20$ ones… Am I getting what I’m paying for if I get the 20$ ones? there all the same scale.
It depends on how much work you want to put in, and how much you care about accuracy. If you want a model which isn’t too expensive, looks good, but won’t be especially accurate unless you put quite a bit of work and/ or aftermarket in, then the Airfix 1/72 Handley Page 0/400 or the Maquette (ex-FROG) Vickers Vimy will do the job. But you gotta be happy with individual struts and biplane rigging, otherwise it’s all a waste of time. To practice biplane bomber rigging, the Matchbox Handley Page Heyford (recently re-released by Revell Germany), while not WW1, is also worth thinking about. Plus, it has a nice, simple colour scheme (overall NIVO).
Failing that, some of the less expensive Roden bombers, such as the Gothas, are worth looking at. Wth these, however, you’ve gotta be confident with lozenge decals. Might be better to gain expereince with a few Roden single-engine German WW1 fighters first.
I think you may be mistaken here. No Roden WWI kit I am aware of is available for $20.00. The cheapest I have ever seen one is $40.00 (great deal at that price).
Revisit that site, and be sure to double check the scale… if they have Roden WWI kits in 1/32, then please report back immediately! [:D]
I think he is wanting 1/32 scale though… and none of these are in the correct scale.
In 1/32 scale the best kits are by Roden, though excellent results can be made of the Academy Sopwiths, and Nieuport with the addition of some scratch details and aftermarket sets.
I was answering Smeagol, who was asking about twin-engined bombers, and not about subjects in 1/32. I’m not aware of any IP WW1 twin-engined bombers in 1/32, but there is a reasonable selection in 1/72.
Well ultimatly, Im the least of the rivet counters here, I dont count them at all, I dont really care about accuracy. I just think they look cool so I want to build one.
As far as large butt decals, you can always cut them, or… OMG PAINT THE CAMO ON YOURSELF, hehehe
My parameters for this one is 1/32 scale, German, High on the detail scale (aftermarket photo etch and resin is good!). I want a really nice display piece to throw on my new shelf (my new shelf will be primarily 1/35 WWI Ground Vehicles), and I want a sharp looking center piece.
Having not built an Aircraft in over 15 years, and NEVER having built WWI, I trust those in this forum, and am looking for recommendations on what to build.
As I posted above, I believe you want a Roden kit then, and a Part PE detail set. Combined you will come in at around $75.00 or so. You can also get nice sets for the WWI kits from Tom’s Modelworks. If you wish to purchase the kit and detail set at the same time, then Squadron.com sells the Roden kits and Tom’s PE sets.
Ok, so I STILL haven’t picked up a stringbag, but i now have someone who wants me to build a couple for his office/speakeasy. Apparently his Great Great Uncle flew a Sopwith Camel with the 148th Aero Squadron, and he would like me to build his relatives plane as well as 4 Fokker DVIIs.
This was his last flight. He was shot down and KIA on September 20, 1918.
What I am asking for is recommendations on kits. Who makes the best Sopwith Camel, and who makes the best DVII?
I would prefer 1/32 scale, but if that isn’t possible, then 1/48 will work. Thanks in advance for any and all input. These will be my first WWI aircraft.
Don’t overlook the RoG kits, the large scale are 1/28 not 1/32 but if you are just building one or two that shouldn’t really matter.
I’ve built some of their 1/72 kits they are nice, and compare to the Roden and Eduard kits I have.
RoG offers a pretty nice selection in 1/28, 1/48 and 1/72. They are new kits, not repops of old Revell or Monogram kits. At this point they have covered most of the well known single engine aircraft.
The Eduard and Roden kits are the way to go. Another one that’s not all that bad, and affordable is the few kits from Academy. The Roden decales are a pain, and in some cases not correct. Not sure about the ones from Academy. So plan on aftermarket decales in many cases.
