soul68
I guess another way to look at my question is, in the last 25 years which brands have gotten better, which worse, and are there any newer brands that have come along that people really like.
Okay, my attempt to answer your actual questions before the thread gets Revellotaged...
Which brands have gotten better?
All of them, except for the ones that don't exist anymore. Just like your average car of 2012 is better than your average car of the mid to late 80s, same goes for model kits. The newest kits from Tamiya (really anything in the last ten years, but especially the last few - the Fi 156 Storch, 1/32 Spitfires, 1/32 P-51) are absolute marvels. They can get spendy, but geez, they're amazing.
Revell seems to have gone on a breather from new kits...placing themselves largely in stasis by re-popping old kits with new decals (current efforts in this vein include the P-47 Razorback, OS2U Kingfisher, B-24J Lib, etc). These kits were state of the art in their day, but that day was often as not 30-40 years ago. They can still be made well, and they are cheap. Newer kits - Revell Germany's Ju-88 and Ar 196, Revell's new PV-1 Ventura - are superb kits at great prices.
Which have gotten worse?
Again, none, really. But beware some dated kits. Lindberg, especially, just doesn't hold up to even where the 40-year old Revell kits stand.
Also watch out for repops...Revell's not the only brand that does this, and Eduard and Italeri can be pretty egregious. Hasegawa, too, shows no qualms at re-releasing 70s-era molds and charging not too far off what they charge for their newer molds. Reviews are your friend in cases like this.
Newer brands that people really like...
I've got a ton that I've discovered since coming back almost two years ago:
- Wingnut Wings. 1/32 WWI kits from New Zealand. Started by Peter Jackson. Great fit, great detail, the best decals I've ever used, period. Amazing instruction manuals. Buy direct from their site with free shipping worldwide.
- Eduard. From the Czech Republic. Their older kits are generally solid-if-not-great, but their newer offerings, particularly their 1:48 Hellcat and MIG-21, look phenomenal. They've got an interesting setup where they'll offer a kit in three levels - a bare plastic "weekend" option, a "profi-pack" with canopy masks, photo-etch, and really amazing decals, and either a Royal Class or Dual Combo that includes two kits, more decal options, etc. I've got their Hellcat Mk.I/II dual combo...two full Hellcats with masks, color PE, and excellent Fleet Air Arm markings. Snagged it for like $35.
- Great Wall Hobby. Relatively new on the scene, and they seem to have their sights aimed at kits Monogram made once upon a time. Their new TBD Devastator is really something. But they're pricey.
- Cyber-Hobby/Dragon. I know Dragon's been around, but their new mold aircraft these past few years have been phenomenal (and German). Bf 110s in 1/48 and 1/32, excellent new 1/32 109, etc.
- Trumpeter/Hobby Boss. Chinese kits. They tend to be bipolar, so read reviews first. But their good kits are great. And they make a ton of interesting subjects others have too long neglected.
- Zvezda. Russian. They made crap for a long time. Past few years, that's changing. Check out their 1/48 Bf 109F-2, Lavochkin La-5 and La-5FN, as well as their 1/350 HMS Dreadnought.
- Pacific Coast Models. Limited-run mishmash kits. Plastic from Sword. Color photo-etch from Eduard. Resin cockpits, tires, gear bays, exhausts, etc. Cartograf-printed decals. They've kitted several ignored subjects, almost exclusively in 1/32. Their focus has traditionally been Italian (Macchi C.202, Fiat G.55, etc) but they've been getting more into RAF territory lately, expanding from their Spitfire IX to two Hurricanes and the Griffon-engined/five-blade Spit XIV.