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**Guest** · 17 March 2010, 16:17

Not as easy as it might at first sound. Revell do some great kits but to be honest, their best that i have had, the 1:48 Mk IX spitfire was not made by them, it was a re-boxed Hasagawa. I have no doubt that other suppliers do the same, I know Airfix do. That said, I think an honest answer would be Tamiya for just about anything. I don't always agree that they are the best kit (the 1:48 Sea Harrier is testament to that) but generally, a Tamiya kit will go together fairly well and, although maybe not as detailed as some, produce a good build. It does annoy me though that their tanks still have the hull pierced for the battery and motor fittings for the remote control versions. Having said that, you can get third party detailing for just about every Tamiya kit so, with added expense, you can take a Tamiya as far as you want.

What I don't understand is their pricing system.. I was looking at a Japanese Battleship at the Peterborough show and it was £135. After the kind stall holder showed me to a chair he explained that it came with metal gun barrels and, possibly a bit of photo etch but he wasn't sure. In the same scale, and possibly a tad older but using plastic gun barrels was a kit of King George V battleship at £46. Now I know in armour and larger scale aircraft, metal gun barrels do look nice but at 1:350? (I think) I don't know if they were worth part of the £90 extra.

Highly detailed kits that give a really good build but need more work as more parts, generally, and more detail than Tamiya has to be the later Eduard. I have heard that some of the early Eduard kits were dogs to say the least. Dragon do really nice surface detail and from what I gather are possibly closer to Tamiya than Tamiya would like in some respects.

To sum up. If I didn't have any resources to see what kit was best, I would play safe and get Tamiya.

**Ian M** · 17 March 2010, 16:50

I think I would have to agree with Graham on the tamiya. They build well and give a good result OOB. And yes there are loads of aftermarket goodies for tamiya. Some of their kits have been called inacurate or missing vital detail. Not being a rivit counter, that dont bother me that much.

Only done One Dragon kit thus far, but the detail it great, that was my Sherman; Clive. I have The premium line Ferdinand added to the stash last week. The detail in that is very good to, so maybe a few more will follow.

Difficult to name a difinitive favourite. Depends what the subject is.

**stona** · 17 March 2010, 17:15

Very much depends on subject. Agree about Tamiya though I seem to be building a lot of Hasegawa recently! I'm with IanM on the detail thing. I'm only approximating the real thing so if a models tail is 0.15mm too short I couldn't care less. I don't mind working at a kit but I don't want it to be so bad (Revell 1/32 Seafire?) that it makes me want to give up and take up needle work!!!

Steve

**Guest** · 17 March 2010, 17:22

Originally posted by \

I don't mind working at a kit but I don't want it to be so bad (Revell 1/32 Seafire?) that it makes me want to give up and take up needle work!!!Steve

I have that kit partially built, and its shockingly bad =\

But my favourite stuff is from Acadamy or Hobbyboss actually!

Mike

**Guest** · 17 March 2010, 19:46

My answer is Tamiya then Italeri then revell, i have never had any problems with any of these at all.

scott

**Guest** · 17 March 2010, 19:48

P.s Although i have a trumpeter kit that looks outstanding... will tell you more once i've built it.

scott

**AlanG** · 17 March 2010, 20:46

My fave kit is the 1/48 Tamiya FW190 A8/R2. Although i have to say the Revell Lanc (new mould) and 1/72 Tamiya Mosquito Mk.IV are close seconds

This could all change thought when i finally build my 1/32 Revell Tornado GR1

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