discussion Bad Kit or Bad Skills???

[Guest]

Hi Everyone

I picked modelling back up at Christmas last year, since then I have done about 5 or 6 1/24 scale cars. You can see the improvement in each one as I have developed.

I bought a 1/24 Toyota Corolla AE86 (for those that don't know, it is a mid 80's Corolla, popular in the drifting world).Judging by the kit, it too was from around 1986. I could not believe how difficult it was to assemble!!!!

The front suspension assembly (what there was of it) didn't go together, the interior side panels, exhaust, drive shaft etc didn't fit and neither did the window piece!!!

I have done one other Fujimi kit and it was more basic than Tamiya and much easier than this! Did I just get a bad kit or were kits like this 30 years ago??!???

 

[Guest]

tell me about it I started a academy tiger 3 yrs ago then give up on it until 4weeks ago got to the final stage only to be beaten by the tracks and internal panels being to high so top panel would not fit.....arghhhh, put it in draw (again).

jeff.

 

[Guest]

Until someone has attempted to build a Merlin Models kit they have not experienced what a bad kit is, just the thought of one brings on the tremors.

Malcolm

 

[Guest]

I'll keep away from Merlin! thanks!

 

[john i am]

I have found all brand of models have good and bad fits sometimes they go together sometimes they need some or a lot of patience a bad model will improve your skills and patience so stick with it and see it through I always treat myself after a bad build by doing something I know won't cause problems read reviews etc before buying anyways good look with the rest of it :goodluck:

 

[mossiepilot]

I feel for you Jim. I'm doing some old tool airfix aircraft and they are awful compaired to the new stuff. But I'm not going to give up on them, just get them done the best I can and move on to something better.

Tony.

 

[Guest]

Yes all kits Jim are subject to a few problems some more than others. The latest new models seem much better.

So far I have found Tamiya the best. But Revell & Airfix new kits seem much improved.

One of the difficulties is sometimes not lining things up. Not being quite accurate in our construction. This can lead to problems further down the line. I have built models where I have had problems & others building the same model have not have not had my problems & vice versa. Think in the end it is part of model making to be able to put things right when they go wrong & gaining the expertise to do so.

Laurie

 

[flyjoe180]

I enjoy an old tool kit, turning it into something half decent. I have re-learned many skills and honed new ones on these old kits. But I don't like buying a 'new' box to find an old kit inside, as Airfix have been guilty of doing. I have enjoyed building kits from the Italeri range, and have a few nice looking Revell, Academy and Tamiya kits in my collection. As John said, the best way is to look at the online reviews before charging out and paying for a kit.

 

[Guest]

Just to put Merlin kits in perspective they were one of the very earliest short run kits being released in the early eighties. I had a go at building their Scimitar and Skyrocket, at that time there was no alternatives other than vacuform or scratch building.The fuselage of the Scimitar was made up of four large sections in a very soft plastic each differing in size by anything up to 1cm also differing in shape and profile. The wings had no aerofoil section being just planks with square leading and trailing edge while each wing had a different shape and size in plan view,in fact no part came close to matching or fitting to it's neighbour and I haven't got to the smaller parts! it would have been easier to carve the model out of wood.I've built many kits since I attempted to build that Scimitar but it is the one kit that has always stuck in my memory,when someone mentions poorly fitting kits it's the one that always springs to mind. I know a number of very experienced modellers and to a man I can say they would agree with my view. One of them actually flew Scimitars and desperately wanted to model “his aircraft” but even with this added determination he failed in his attempt to complete the kit.(you will be glad to know he is now has both a CMR and Xtrapart Scimitars in his collection)If anyone wants to test their modelling metal and also extend their modelling skills they could do no better than having a go at a Merlin kit ,they do come up on E-bay quite often but all I will say is you have been warned. :smile:

Malcolm

 

[Guest]

But I don't like buying a 'new' box to find an old kit inside, as Airfix have been guilty of doing.

Yes that is very annoying Joe.

Unfortunately I have forgotten the name of the company but it is similar. They buy up job lots, end of the line & bits & pieces from all the manufacturers then re-package & sell them under their own name. Problem there is unless you can delve a bit you do not know what you are buying in quality & age.

Laurie

 

[Guest]

I don't think you can point a finger at Airfix in particular for reboxing kits,all manufacturers do it.Kits are produced in production runs which can vary from a few thousand to tens of thousands depending on their projected sales.Kits may go out of production for years or even decades.(I think the Airfix Banshee,an excellent kit was last produced in the early eighties but I could give examples from all the main stream manufactures).When a kit is reintroduced it will be packed in the packaging design that the company is using at the time of reintroduction.You mention Revell,Italeri and Tamiya they all have kits in their present ranges that date from the sixties/seventies but don't indicate their age.The Revel P-26 and Kaydet which have only recently been rereleased,I built in the early sixties.Italeri released the Horsa,Me321 and He111 in the seventies while the Tamiya Buffalo also dates from this period. I guess I am fortunate havin gbeen building models since the late fifties and therefore have a knowledge of which are old moulds and which are new.I agree with Laurie check reviews and if that fails,if you can look in the box.

My particular gripe is when amanufacture releases a short run kit as mainstream, Revell andItaleri are particularly bad having reboxed such MPM kits as theHudson,Havoc Wellington and Meteor. The review of the MPM Hudson byRev John McIllmurray in MAI is well worth a read if you want to hearhis view on the kit not exactly suitable for an average modeller but Revell have recently reboxed it as amainstream release.

Malcolm

 

[Guest]

Regret I forgotten where available but there was a web site which gave details on models. There date of origin & if they were an old repackaged model.

Can any member remember.

Also on this matter a good check is to find if any member has posted a build diary on a model. This gives a good idea. When posting a final photo reportage of a model it would be a great idea if the builder couldgive a short report on how the build went major problems etc.

Laurie

 

[Guest]

Kits should be marked with some form of date of manufacture I think. If this AE86 was my first model when I re-introduced myself to the hobby, I don't think I would have pursued it! (Well, I may have had another go..) to some people though, a bad experience first time round can be the end....

 

[BarryW]

I do sympathise with your problem. As someone said all kits have their issues, some being worse than others.....

This site is good for reviews: MODELING MADNESS: The Finest Review Site on the Web

This one is good for getting a lot of information on kits including if they are new tool Scalemates - Scale Modeling Community

 

[flyjoe180]

Regret I forgotten where available but there was a web site which gave details on models. There date of origin & if they were an old repackaged model.Can any member remember.

Also on this matter a good check is to find if any member has posted a build diary on a model. This gives a good idea. When posting a final photo reportage of a model it would be a great idea if the builder couldgive a short report on how the build went major problems etc.

Laurie

That would probably be this one Laurie, Scalemates. Put your make of model in the bottom search section, e.g. Ju52, and it comes up with a history of the kit from various manufacturers under the Products tab. Scalemates - Scale Modeling Community

Scalemates - Scale Modeling Community

 

[Alan 45]

how funny to find a topic about this , I have just finished a lynx helicopter and it was a nightmare to build , ok I botched the paint job but the kit just didn't fit an took a lot of filling , its difficult to judge a kit when the parts are so clean and it starts off fitting properly (in this case the cockpit) only to find that the body around it does not fit at all.

we know our hobby has its good and bad points with parts fitting together but when you have gaps of around 2mm in main areas like body or doors not fitting it can be very annoying