this has probably been asked a thousand times on here which company to go with.ive always built armour so i know which company to use and not to . but when it comes to aircraft kits im a newbie so here's the question which kit company to go for i will be going for 1/48 scale not that i'm loaded but the money isnt an problem so could you plane'es please tell me all you know many thanks
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I only build 1:48th aircraft and for my 10p worth Tamiya and Eduard tend to be the best for me, Tamiya always make for a nice clean build with very few issues to sort out. Eduard are also a nice clean build but some of the extras they put in there boxes make them a great kit, things like PE, resin and masks. Recently I have been making a few other copany kits and was really suprised at the quality of some which are regarded as cheap , Zvezda was a nice suprise with a LA-5 I just built it went together well and offered a couple of different build options. Arfix seem to be hit and miss from what I read of peoples posts, I built an old Hurricane which was terrible then I built the new Seafire which was brilliant .
I've got a few Dragon kits to build but as with the Revell ones in my stash I cant comment as I have tried either make yet. My friend grabed me a few Smer kits whilst in Poland and they dont look too bad if a little basic.
At the end of the day there is so much after market items that you could improve any kit dependant on what you wish to invest in and ultimatly get out of the build.
I'm sure there will be lots of other opinions and makers I have missed but I'm sure everyone else will help you decide which to go for
Adrian -
We my take on this is forget going for a special make and go after the aircraft that you want.
Once you have chosen your victim, sorry, subject, Google it. e.g. "Spitfire Mk IXe 1/48 " I find it a lot easier to search in pictures, as thats the way my mind works....
WWW.modellingmadness.com is a good place to start looking as well. MOST of the review/preview are good and honest and paid out of the reviewers own pocket. Any issues are pointed out, and are for me quite a make or break thing.
People are much better at telling what kits are utter poo, and to stay well clear of, just as exceptionally good kits will also hit the headlines.
I have built Italeri's new tool Hurricane and loved it, with no real issue. A couple of others on here have problems with it.. I have built a 40 year old Airfix kit and it went like a dream and a 'newer' one that was a pain all the way.
Very recently Barry, has had big time greif with a 1/32 Revell set that others have praised.
If its in a kit, you want it, and its the only option, you will get it what ever the brand on the box. The fun is getting them built.
Ian MComment
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I agree with Ian.....go for the type of aircraft, not neccessarily the make of the kit and at a price to suit your pocket....
Personally, the quality of the kit isn't paramount to me, I just enjoy the build and if it's a sow's ear, who cares? We are all modellers are we not? So does it matter if we have to fight it and put things right - Who wants a straight forward, shake the box and it's done sort of build anyway? To me getting over errors / poor quality is all part of the game and gives greater satisfaction at the end.....
So for me it would be the aircraft you fancy making not the make of kit.
RonComment
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Its all well and good going for the type of aircraft you want and saying you can correct any faults/issues, but the question was which company and as we all know there are lots to choose from, stick in Spitfire and you'll find 10 plus different kits. Its not always enjoyable to work harder on a kit to put it right, sometimes I'm sure we all would like just a straight forward pleasent build without the pulling out of hair. The company is also important as the the depth of detail they put into the kit a £5 Smer kit may be the correct model you wish to build but the Eduard one will offer you more though at a cost.
AdrianComment
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thanks for your reply's lads i will look at Google the kit that i want first...i do like a in-depth kit don't like the shake and bake kits so adding optional extras is an option for me
once again thanks ladsComment
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I suppose that whatever you choose there will be little bits on the model that you don't agree with, but there are some very nice 1/48 kits out there for aircraft. Hasegawa are very good as is Tamiya and Eduard which have already been mentioned. However Hobbyboss and Trumpeter as well as Dragon equally make very good 1/48 scale aircraft. As already pointed out have a look for type then go and look for the kit. You will find a massive amount out thereComment
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Like the others I don't really think you can pick one company. As far as mainstream manufacturers go then newer kits will invariably fit better than older molds. Be aware that many "new" releases are old kits,often reboxed under another brand. That's where a google or a question on a forum like this can save you a lot of pain.
If you decide to build limited run kits by a company like Pacific Coast Models it will often result in a superb and accurate model,but you will have to put some work in. Incidentally my limited experience of Eduard is similar,I don't find them to be kits that fall together either.
Cheers
SteveComment
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I build exclusively in 1/48.And like the others I don't go for a particular manufacturer.They all have their good and bad kits.I will want to build a certain aircraft after reading a book or magazine article about it.Then I look round to see what's available.I use the modelling madness review site and Google to research the particular kit I fancy.Im not a big fan of Airfix.Although I built a lot of them when I was young,these days I feel about them the same way Barry W does about Revell.But I will build one if no one else does the aircraft I'm after.The only modern Airfix kit Ive built is the Spitfire mk12 and I must say its quite good.Comment
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A lot of the Eduard stuff is Other manufactures plastic, with goodies from Eduard. Their new stuff is also their plastic as well. Their new Spitfire IX in 1/48 looks bloody good and has more detail than some 1/32 scale sets. They are also doing loads of resin and brass for those that really want to give it bling.
Ian MComment
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Academy - I've never been dissapointed, always a good balance between cost and detail.Comment
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thank you buddy you have all been great help as always the lads never let you downComment
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