OK, I am building almost exclusively WW2 1/32 scale aircraft (though I do have one tank in my stash) but I have built, many moons ago, a lot of other subjects. What models have you built or want to build that you would say we should all build before we die and why?
Here is my list:
1/ The Tamiya 1/32 Spitfire, Zero, Mustang and Corsair plus all forthcoming Tamiya 1/32 scale releases. Why?: Because these kits are 'the state of the art' and each one is the best of its subject in any scale, great engineering, fit and detail - not perfect but no kit is.
2/ The Airfix 1/72 Short Sunderland. Why? I remember when my grand-dad bought me this kit when I was a child. This is one beautiful aircraft with its white sides and underside and I loved the slate grey/green camo. Yes, I know Italiari have brought out a new tool version but for me if I wanted to build another Sunderland it would have to be the original - mind you if HK Models brought out a 1/32 version......I would just have to buy my own hanger......
3/ The Revell Golden Hind. Why? - Yes, as a child I did build a lot of sailing ships and this was my favourite. Perhaps because, being a small ship, it was a larger scale or perhaps because Sir Frances Drake was one of my boy-hood heroes. I still remember this kit fondly.
4/ The Revell HMS Victory. Why? - Well I have to include Nelson's flagship on my list..... I did prefer the Revell range of sailing ships to the Airfix range and I found the Revell Victory far superior to the Airfix one despite being unable to depict it will a full broadside of cannon sprouting from the sides.
5/ The Tamiya '88 Flak' 1/35. Why? - This model has just so many diorama possibilities and this was the centrepiece for my first and only diorama. I still have some figures in my 'spares box' from that diorama in which I also used a set of German machine gunners as part of a defensive position.
6/ The Tamiya King Tiger 1/35. Why? - To me this tank represents better than any German armour of WW2, overengineered slow and unreliable but with a massive gun and creating an awsome presence on the battlefield.
7/ A Chieftain Tank 1/35 - any manufacturer. Why? I drove one of these beast at Bovington when I was age 15. Not long and not far but it was an experience I will never forget and certainly cannot forget the rather 'laid back' driving position... I have built the old Tammy one in the past.
8/ The Hasegawa Ki84 Hayate 'Frank' 1/32. Why? Well it is not the best detailed kit I have built but it was one of the most enjoyable. I cannot pin down exactly why but it was just such a satisfying build.
9/ The Trumpeter Dauntless 1/32. Why? I built this as the USAAF Banshee version. A complex kit I just remember how the fuselage halves fitted together so perfectly and easily despite the mass of internal 'gubbins' sandwiched between them. There was just so much glued to each fuse half but it all interlocked and went together faultlessly. I was astonished at the fit with even the seams requiring only the briefest of rub downs to get a perfect join. The only fault I could find with the kit was the terrible decals, something the aftermarket can solve.
10/ the forthcoming Airfix 1/24 Typhoon. I built a lot of the 1/24 Airfix kits 'back in the day' and loved them, the Spitfire, bf109, Hurricane, Stuka, Mustang and FW190. This example looks like it will top them all, from what was on show at Telford. I will not be able to resist this one.
Here is my list:
1/ The Tamiya 1/32 Spitfire, Zero, Mustang and Corsair plus all forthcoming Tamiya 1/32 scale releases. Why?: Because these kits are 'the state of the art' and each one is the best of its subject in any scale, great engineering, fit and detail - not perfect but no kit is.
2/ The Airfix 1/72 Short Sunderland. Why? I remember when my grand-dad bought me this kit when I was a child. This is one beautiful aircraft with its white sides and underside and I loved the slate grey/green camo. Yes, I know Italiari have brought out a new tool version but for me if I wanted to build another Sunderland it would have to be the original - mind you if HK Models brought out a 1/32 version......I would just have to buy my own hanger......
3/ The Revell Golden Hind. Why? - Yes, as a child I did build a lot of sailing ships and this was my favourite. Perhaps because, being a small ship, it was a larger scale or perhaps because Sir Frances Drake was one of my boy-hood heroes. I still remember this kit fondly.
4/ The Revell HMS Victory. Why? - Well I have to include Nelson's flagship on my list..... I did prefer the Revell range of sailing ships to the Airfix range and I found the Revell Victory far superior to the Airfix one despite being unable to depict it will a full broadside of cannon sprouting from the sides.
5/ The Tamiya '88 Flak' 1/35. Why? - This model has just so many diorama possibilities and this was the centrepiece for my first and only diorama. I still have some figures in my 'spares box' from that diorama in which I also used a set of German machine gunners as part of a defensive position.
6/ The Tamiya King Tiger 1/35. Why? - To me this tank represents better than any German armour of WW2, overengineered slow and unreliable but with a massive gun and creating an awsome presence on the battlefield.
7/ A Chieftain Tank 1/35 - any manufacturer. Why? I drove one of these beast at Bovington when I was age 15. Not long and not far but it was an experience I will never forget and certainly cannot forget the rather 'laid back' driving position... I have built the old Tammy one in the past.
8/ The Hasegawa Ki84 Hayate 'Frank' 1/32. Why? Well it is not the best detailed kit I have built but it was one of the most enjoyable. I cannot pin down exactly why but it was just such a satisfying build.
9/ The Trumpeter Dauntless 1/32. Why? I built this as the USAAF Banshee version. A complex kit I just remember how the fuselage halves fitted together so perfectly and easily despite the mass of internal 'gubbins' sandwiched between them. There was just so much glued to each fuse half but it all interlocked and went together faultlessly. I was astonished at the fit with even the seams requiring only the briefest of rub downs to get a perfect join. The only fault I could find with the kit was the terrible decals, something the aftermarket can solve.
10/ the forthcoming Airfix 1/24 Typhoon. I built a lot of the 1/24 Airfix kits 'back in the day' and loved them, the Spitfire, bf109, Hurricane, Stuka, Mustang and FW190. This example looks like it will top them all, from what was on show at Telford. I will not be able to resist this one.
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