Snap Together Models

It’s all relevant.  I am working on a Snap-Tite kit with my grandson, a Bandai 1/144 X-Wing and Y-Wing fighter.  Everything was/is glued together.

Your friend, Toshi 

I find it both fun and challenging to make a inexpensive kit better. Money can be an issue for everyone and hobbies are suppose to be fun and stress relieving. I have several snap kits I plan on building and put my time and effort into building something unique. Thumbs up for snap kits.

Here is a snap-together F-4 Phantom that I built with my 3 yr. old grandson.  It was great and a really fun experience.  If you’re interested, I have a WIP (Work in Project) on the Phantom build in the Aircraft section.  Feel free to check it out and welcome to FSM Forums!

Your friend’s, Ezra and Toshi

Tanker - Builder

Well;

    I have found that many are a good basis for superdetailing. Such as the Ford Raptor Kit. It is all in what you want and what you want to do with it .

   Many times I won't spend the amount for a glue together if I am going to build a damaged or heavily modified vehicle,plane or ship.

 Now there some.( Airfixe's little Volkswagen sedan For instance ) that are just plain fun to do . A mindless build to keep the hands occupied.

 

I do the same.  I recently built Airfix's Bugatti Veyron sports car.  I added some panels to close up gaps in the interior, and covered most interior surfaces with masking tape to look like uphostery.  And I painted all visible surfaces.  Results look very nice.

For what audience?

For capable modelers who are able to shave a tab here or open a slot there just a little bit more?  Dandy! As said before, Snap models are sometimes the only kit available.

However, for a young person working on their own, a Snap model that is not properly engineered (and many many are NOT well-engineered), Snap models can be incredibly frustrating.  Dandy if there is an adult nearby with a few tools, but they can be spitrit breakers for young people.

For young people, a clunky old kit from Frog or Aurora (maybe some old Lindberg) with a tube of glue can be the best path to success for the first model.

Rick

Tanker - Builder

SameOlGee;

 Would you check the forums and post there? I think you are missing a lot of input posting here . T.B.

SameOlGee;

 Would you check the forums and post there? I think you are missing a lot of input posting here . T.B.

Hi;

      Well, I got into "Snappers" after My son picked up Revells Snap-Tite Ford Stepside Pick-Up. Never could find another. Years later they came out with the same truck in a Glue Model.I recognised the molds as they had closed the gates for tabs and pins from the Snapper.They never changed the seat though ( Go Figure)

 Grabbed it toot-sweet!

 I have all the Monogram 1/32 offerings of Big-Rigs and they are what prompted me to do a Maersk " Box " ship for a model railroad layout. In 1/87 she was almost seven foot long .

    That is one Big model. I like the new ones and also buy them for parts. Cheaper than Glues and a little more surgery, but they work great . I think " Snappers " are a boon to the hobby and they are just getting better !

Snap kits have a reputation in the US that is hard to shake.  People unfamiliar with the good modern kits still think in terms of the junkie 1970s stuff.  Bandai leads the charge in 21st century snap fit tech, and judging by their Star Wars kits, are hard to beat.  They compare very well to Fine Molds' equivalent glue together kits and utterly torpedo and sink the old MPC/AMT-ERTL ones.  Other companies are starting to revisit snap fit kits as well: I believe Meng has a 1/48 P-51D Mustang which is quite respectable.

That being said, I don't snap fit my snap fit kits, I glue them.  I also ream out the sockets so that the locator pins move freely about.  Sometimes I'll over-ream the sockets to get a better fit.  As others have said, they are models kits just the same as the glue together variety, well at least in the 21st century.  

Tojo72

I noticed this is your 2nd post in the intro section,try out the various different topics for your discussions.

stikpusher

 

 

SameOlGee

How do you serious modeler's feel about reissues of iconic snap-together models? Or snap-together models in general?  

 

 

 

 

Snap together models in general? Bring ‘em on. Bandai is doing some incredible stuff with snap together kits today.  Classic iconic kits? Hell yes! Bring back those old Aurora pre historic dinosaur and cave man kits. Those were pure fun as a kid, and I can only imagine how I could paint them now...

 

Couldn't agree more with Stik.  Especially the Bandai kits.  I have lots of the Star Wars kits from them and they are amazing!

Well;

    I have found that many are a good basis for superdetailing. Such as the Ford Raptor Kit. It is all in what you want and what you want to do with it .

   Many times I won't spend the amount for a glue together if I am going to build a damaged or heavily modified vehicle,plane or ship.

 Now there some.( Airfixe's little Volkswagen sedan For instance ) that are just plain fun to do . A mindless build to keep the hands occupied.

     What's the consensus on the "Snap together" type ship kits from Meng (ie: HMS Rodney). and Fujimi's "NEXT" series (ie:Next 004 DD Kagero)?  They look to be really nice. 

In the case of Fujimi the reviews seem to suggest they're are equal in Historical  Accuracy to the regular kit but molded parts look crisper and the extra engineering for glue-less assembly makes for a better fit on the parts.

     I admit the Meng kits can look a bit toy-like but I can overlook that on the Full-Hull  kits that i intend to paint. Mengs Pre-colored plastic kits seem like a good way for a young/new Warship Modeler to get intrested too.

      Fujimi's latest  "NEXT" kits impress me.  I am planning on picking up their Shinano NEXT kit. It is a Snap-Together design.   I got interested after a discussion with Gene1 about the USS "Archer-fish" sinking the Shinano.

   Nino

Welcom to the forum.

I noticed this is your 2nd post in the intro section,try out the various different topics for your discussions.

Welcome to the Forums! Glad to have you with us.

 "A model is a model". I've built the snap togethers and had some work out OK and some end up as spare parts. It's all up to the builder. With a little work, they can turn out to be a show winner. 

Jim  

SameOlGee

How do you serious modeler's feel about reissues of iconic snap-together models? Or snap-together models in general?  

 

Snap together models in general? Bring ‘em on. Bandai is doing some incredible stuff with snap together kits today.  Classic iconic kits? Hell yes! Bring back those old Aurora pre historic dinosaur and cave man kits. Those were pure fun as a kid, and I can only imagine how I could paint them now...

Sometimes it's your only option for the subject you want to build.  Also, the price is usually right.  Usually leads to new scratchbuilding and kitbashing attempts.  So win win either way.

Have Fun

P.S.   Nice fire engine!

I don't mind them - particularly if the subject is right.  I did this revell kit of a Mack fire pumper a few years back

A model is a model. Any kit can be a basis for whatever the builder chooses to add.

I have actually built a number of modern-era (but not super-recent) 'snap' vehicles lately, and been delighted and surprised at some of the features and overall quality. Sometimes the ingenuity shown in snap-fit kits in getting everything to fit together is amazing.

(On the other hand, they tend to leave out details and things like aerials and intake scoops as a concession to ease-of-build. But those are usually relatively easy to scratch, if the modeler cares to.)

Hi, 

I'm probably not really a serious modeler,  but I think snap together models are fine.   I have had some snap together car models that look just as good as non-snap together kits.

PF

I usually cut away the snap-together tabs, pins, etc., and glue them together.  Haven't built many except an Enterprise (NCC-1701) a few years ago.

Welcome to the Forums!