Trumpeter....

[BarryW]

Since getting back into the hobby I have built kits from a few companies in my preferred scale, 1:32.

The Tammy Mustang, ZM Skyraider, Hassy Kittyhawk, Revell Arado AR196....

All of these have proved to be excellent kits.

I am now working on my first Trumpeter kit, their 1/32 Dauntless being built as the Army Banshee. I am now at the main painting stage having made, for me, quick progress thanks to plenty of time over a long bank holiday weekend and my lady being away! Another week or so and it will be finished.

I have to say that I am now a big Trumpy fan.

This kit, though fairly complex in the build with a lot of detail being packed away inside the fuselage, has just fallen together. Yes there is a little flash to trim but I have had the most trouble free build of any kit and I include the renown Tammy Mustang in that, by a mile. The engineering is simply superb. My only complaint is that the colour call-outs are not good in the instructions but that is a minor problem calling just for a spot of extra on-line research. This kit, I have to say IS better than the Tammy Mustang overall.

I have read an awful lot of criticism of Trumpy kits on-line with claims of them being over-engineered with a lot of detail hidden away and I accept that, but better too much detail than too little and it does offer options to those whom want something a little different.

Are Trumpy perhaps the most under-rated manufacturer as a result and Tammy the most over-rated?

What do others think?

Yes, no doubt that they, like all companies, have some poor kits in their catalogue, but their best are well up there with the very best available. I am looking forward to the other two Trumpies in my stash and apparently they will soon be releasing a 32 scale P60 Black Widow, this really is one to look forward to....

John - your 32 scale aircraft stock seems a bit thin to me!!!! Any chance of stocking Trumpeter?

[Guest]

I agree with you Barry. I built last the Wellington Trumpeter 1/48 & it went together very well. One or two minor items but perfection must be difficult at the prices we pay for complex models. I was well satisfied with the build of the Wellington.

Yep I enjoyed putting together the inside that was a real joy. Although the interior is all but hidden I thought that the interior was well worth the pleasure it gave. Detail well I chickened out on 32 bomb bay doors & put on the 2 panels representing them in a closed position.

Not tried a Tamiya yet but so far I thought the Trumpeter out of the 9 models I have built so far to be the best.

Mostly so far Airfix & Revell. These varied greatly. Suspect the difficult ones are those with history not on their side.

Also built an Academy model. A little F4 Wildcat 1/72. This went together superbly. Very little adjustment filling etc. Only cost about £6. Great value.

Laurie

[Vaughan]

Barry

I tend to agree with you having just built the Mig3 which was a joy with no fit issues and very little filler just a smear here and there. I have also built the Bearcat by Trumpeter and can't say that I had any real issues there. I, like Laurie haven't made any Tamiya kits they're a little pricey in 32nd scale. Revell are producing some good kits now with the likes of the Arado and the Heinkel. I will definitely be buying more kits from Trumpeter.

Vaughan

[Guest]

Hi Barry i know what you mean, i have to say i was more than impressed with the first Trumpeter kit i built, they are impressive and well worth the money, i cant comment on Trumpeter aircraft kits as i build mostly armour kits.

But if the armour kits are anything to go by, then the aircraft kits must be of the same quality, but saying that, you can come across different fit issues and quality in all kits.

But i have to say i am looking at buying a few more Trumpeter kits in the near future, mainly because of the build quality, price and the varied subjects that are available to the modeller that Trumpeter make available......they seem to be pushing the boat out for the modeller.

Tom

[stona]

Trumpeter have,in the past,been slated more for accuracy issues than the engineering of their kits. This has in many cases been justified. Having said that I agree that some of their large scale kits,particularly the newer ones,are right up there with the best on all counts. For example their 1/32 scale Me 262 is the only one worth considering.

There is a distinctly unpleasant,anti Chinese,or even racist undertone to some of the comments I've seen posted about Trumpeter (elsewhere I hasten to add) which I find objectionable.

I would describe Trumpeter as a bit hit and miss. When they are good they are very good but when they fail they do that badly too.

I don't think that Tamiya's large scale "uber" kits are over rated,they are setting the standard,but others are not always far behind.

There is a trend towards providing a lot of detail that will ultimately not be seen given the way most of us pose our kits. Take a look at one of Zoukei-Mura's offerings to see this in an extreme. These manufacturers are building for the Asian market too and those modellers like to show everything opened up in what,to most of us,would seem an unrealistic manner.

Personally I will avoid the Trumpeter kits that are just too innaccurate for my relatively relaxed standards but happily build those that I find adequate or better.

The kits are,as the posts above testify,nice to build.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

I have made the Trumpeter Sukhoi SU-27B and Mig-29M Trumpeter Kits both 1/32. The MIG had a bad wing joint, but in the main if I had the space I would build more.

My one big bug bear with them on the above two kits is the printing of their decals; when the likes of Revell etc. can make a 1/72 kit with perfectly legible decals no matter how small, and Trumpeter only draw a thick black line for the script, that really annoys my on an expensive kit.

Cheers Derek

[John]

John - your 32 scale aircraft stock seems a bit thin to me!!!! Any chance of stocking Trumpeter?

I can usually get anything you want within a few days

[Guest]

I have got a bit of a thing for trumpeter kits, especially their railway kits and big artillery pieces, i do agree that they do have inaccuracies in their kits the fw190 dora for example .... however unless that it is something which glaringly obvious then to be honest i don't really care too much. The kits have a great deal of detail and usually go together just as well as tamiya and the larger aircraft kits have nicely detailed engines which just scream out to be super detailed, their decals can leave a lot to be desired however they do make very nice armour kits though.

scott

[BarryW]

Many Trumpy kits do have accuracy issues, but not all. Their 32 scale Wildcat, when originally released, did have big problems but it was withdrawn and a whole new set of moulds were done correcting these issues and its now the best Wildcat in any scale. I suspect that there isn't a kit manufacturer, even Tamiya and Hasegawa who have no accuracy issues among their kit range.

Personally if a model looks right then I agree with Scott, that's good enough. I see no point in rivet counting.

[stona]

Personally if a model looks right then I agree with Scott, that's good enough. I see no point in rivet counting.

I agree Barry.

Unfortunately some of their kits just don't look right.

I built their Bf 109 F kit as an F (the kit is closer to an early G) and didn't mind sorting out the various air scoops,wheel wells etc. I didn't bother with the instrument panel as it's not too visible. I didn't,stupidly,fix the rudder which is badly the wrong shape. Now,sat next to other more accurate Bf 109 models it just looks wrong.

Others of their kits are right up there with the best of them.

Cheers

Steve

[BarryW]

Well I was hoping to finish this weekend but that will not happen now.

Just tried to start decaling and they just fall apart to the touch. These decals are totally useless, the worse I have ever tried to use, in fact unusable.

I can rescue some using Microscale film (I hope) but I am left without a full set of the national insignia because the first item splintered into a dozen pieces and is not recoverable.

I have tried all sorts of internet searches but have not found any. Does anyone have any suggestions or ideas where I can source them? I have tried 4 on-line sources, eModels, Wonderland Models, Model Hobbies, eBay, as well as John's shop of course without luck.....

Many thanks

[michaelm]

Hannants - Plastic model kits and accessories

This any help Barry. M

[michaelm]

P.s it is a link to a specific page not just the Hannants site.

[BarryW]

Thank you Michael for your help but none are the right style. The ones needed are the stars in blue, white surround with the white 'wings'.