Building Plastic Models

[Vipermann]

I've been looking to start building plastic models again, all WW2 aircraft to start with. I've been looking over different sites on the internet and saw quite a few nice kits but I'm not sure which kits/companies make the best ones.

Anyone have suggestions on companies/models they've built and can recommend?


Also I'm interested in using an airbrush on them as well but have no experience, which airbrushing kits do you experts recommend?

Thanks in advance.

[Karnak]

I'm not an expert by any means, but I'd recommend Tamiya and Hasegawa kits.

[hardcase2]

i just bought a Paasche 1/10 hp compressor and a 175 badger air brush. Some ppl swear by gravity feed, but this is a bottom feeder and has done well so far. Building my first kit in years, a Hurri II in Medeterranian colors.

good luck.

[Yeager]

Yup...

Tamyia makes the best mass produced model kits bar none.

Might I suggest the 1/32 scale Zero

[BNM]

This should be in the O-Club....

[Bodhi]

Hardcase,

I use both bottom fed and gravity feed.  Depends on what you are most comfortable with, alkthough I find gravity to be much more efficient and wastes a lot less paint.

[Vipermann]

anyone have a web sites they recommend for purchasing models?

Long night here staring at servers, need something else to look at.




BNM......thanks for your support

[NUKE]

Tamiya have been consistantly the best kits I have ever purchased.

[Exile]

I've been thinking the very same thing. From what I've seen and heard Hasegawa and Tamiya are the way to go.

http://www.modelwarehouse.biz/5/cat5.htm?976

http://www.modelwarehouse.biz/107/cat107.htm?976

http://www.hyperscale.com/

http://www.marcopoloimport.com/hapicat.htm

http://www.tamiyausa.com/product/plastic/148aircraftseries/index.html

btw ... best bet is to find a hobby shop near you and talk to someone there.

[Vipermann]

how about airfix? I found a site with models from them that are only $3 and $4. Are they any good or are they worth the price?

[NUKE]

Originally posted by Vipermann
how about airfix? I found a site with models from them that are only $3 and $4. Are they any good or are they worth the price?

3 or 4 dollars? They gonna be crap I promise.

Tamiya is best there is and worth the 20-30 bucks.

Monogram used to be good, Revelle suks, Testors paint suks

.....edit : I did buy an airfix once, if I remember, it was a styrene plastic molded thing and was very rough looking. Don't waste your money.

Monogram kits are good for money IMO

[GRUNHERZ]

Testors paint is just fine. In fact testors makes pretty much all the model paint these days except Tamiya, Humbrol and GunzeSangyo.

Revell/Monogram can suck but some of their newer kits, especially those from Revell Germany are very very very good and can be bought in Revel/Monogram boxings for very good prices. A good example are their Me410 and Rafale kits which go for appx $15 retail and are pretty much state of the art kits.

Generaly avoid Airfix kits because they just keep reissuing old 1960s models to stay in business. But you can buy their Spitfire Mk22/24 kit because it is a very good modern kit but kosts it at some $20.

Tamiya is your best best to get back into the hobby and build a good model right of the bat.  I would reccomend their 1/48 FW190A3 as a good begginers kit, it fits wonderfully and has few parts  all of which fit very well.

 
As for airbushes many people like the new Testor Aztec sts, I havent tried any yey but I hear they are good and easy to clean.

[gofaster]

I've had the best luck with Hasagawa and Tamiya, but these are high-end kits and cost a bit of change.  If you're just starting out and want to get some good kits on a budget (it sucks to ruin a $20 kit), take a look at the Revell/Monogram line and the Heller and Airfix lines.  All 3 companies have been around a long time and can put out some good stuff (stay away from the Snap-Tite and Skill Level 1 kits as these tend to be too easy to assemble and a bit short on detailing).

Right now http://www.modelexpo-online.com has their Airfix and Heller kits on half-price sale.  I picked up a 1/48 Airfix F4U-1A Corsair and 1/48 Heller F4U-4 (AU-1 official designation) for less than $7 each.

I source most of my kits from http://www.modelexpo-online.com and if there's something I'm looking for that they don't have, then I go with http://www.ehobbies.com or http://www.internethobbies.com.  I've had good experiences with all 3 stores.

For 1/72 scale, Hasagawa is the king.  For value, the 1/72 Heller P-38J, P-40 and Me-109K kits are good, very detailed kits (considering the money) and most of the 1/72 Airfix line is good, though they do produce a couple of Skill Level 1 Spitfire and 109 kits that are ok, but their higher level kits are better for only a dollar or two more.

A couple of specific kits I like are:

Revell of Germany U-47 Gunther Prien (RG5060)
1/48 Airfix F4U-1A (No. AX5106)-This is the British version, without the birdcage canopy. You have the option of shortening the wings for the RAA version, or keeping the wings normal for the RNZAF version
1/72 Airfix P-51D (No. AX2098)
Heller Le Suroit Research Ship (HEL80615)-N-scale railroad figures really add some life to this kit
1/48 Heller Corsair AU-1 (HEL 80418)
1/72 Heller FW-190A8/F3 (HEL80235)
1/72 Heller Corsair F4U-1 (HEL80275)
1/72 Heller BF109K-4 (HEL80229)
1/72 Heller F6F-5 (HEL80272)
1/72 Heller P-38 (HEL80273) - molded in silvery plastic so its good for weathering and simulating battle damage if you want to experiment.  Heck, for that price get 2 and build one straight up and one battle-damaged
1/48 Revell/Monogram Tiger Shark P-40B (RM5209) - the tooth decals are a pain to do, but they look good with patience.
1/72 Revell/Mongram SR-71A Blackbird (RM5810)
1/48 Revel/Monogram FW190A8 (RM5943)

Really, any of the 1/48 Revell/Monogram kits are a good value, including the new re-releases with the old fifties-style boxes.

Avoid the Heller Dauntless kit - I had some bad wing warping with my sample and the details really weren't up to par.  Also avoid the Heller P-51 kit as it tends to lack details and the seams are way off.

That should get you started.

And if you want to do some quick car kits, the AMT/Ertl pre-painted kits (not the snap-together ones) are a lot of fun and look really good.

[gofaster]

Originally posted by NUKE
Monogram used to be good, Revelle suks, Testors paint suks

Revell and Monogram merged into 1 company.  They ditched the bad kits and kept the good ones.  Revell is actually split into two companies: in the US its Revell/Mongram and in Germany its still just Revell.  Revell of Germany now owns the molds for the 1/32 scale F4U-1 that I built as a kid during the days when "Baa Baa Black Sheep" was in its first season.

Testors acrylics are the best for brush work that I've found, so long as you prime the plastic kit with flat white Testor's spray paint first.  Tamiya paints have adherance problems, probably because they're intended to be airbrushed.

Acrylic = water-based, no fumes
Enamel = oil-based, slight fumes

I paint in flat colors and add gloss separately (Micro-scale water-soluable gloss - good stuff).

[-ammo-]

Tamiya and Hase are consistently better quality kits than other brands with a few exeptions.  For Buying kits, I suggest Ebay.  Just type in hasegawa or tamiya, and you will see MANY kites for sale. I suggest 1/48 or bigger scale.  The 1/32 zero that tamiya is a fine model with exceptional detail but is also $100 USD retail.

For a beginning kit, I would suggest the Hase 1/48 spit 5. Nice detail, simple kit, not terribly challenging.

If not ebay, then, http://www.squadron.com , http://www.hannants.co.uk/, http://www.hlj.com/ , for russian made models..http://www.hobbyterra.com/default.asp , http://www.militaryhobbies.com/directory.cfm?CategoryID=101, http://www.hometown-hobbies.com/home_page,