A few questions about Kitty Hawk models

Thank you guys! I just got back to the SU-34 yeasterday afterwaiting for my Alclad II Lacquers to arrive for the engines. Had some fit issues on the engines, but nothing that wasn't easily fixed with a little sanding. Also received some of the AKAN "Laqcuer based acyllics" in the mail the other day. Caveman, it sounds like were using the water based formula of AKAN paints? I haven't tried any of the Lacquer based ones I received yet, but I was going to see how they do with Mr. Color Leveling Thinner. Will definitely try a small amount first to see how it works. 

Kitty Hawk kits are actually great kits.A little work at times is needed .Thats modeling.Its a Revell kit or Kitty Hawk kit.The choice is clear.Even the new airfix Hellcat in 1/24 th scale kit requires work.

I have had mixed results with Kittyhawk kits.  In the end, when I put the extra effort in I find that I had more fun testing myself and getting a good result than building a "fall together" kit.  All I can suggest is take your time and fight through it and thing should work out.

Akan paints are great for specific airframes.  I like the ranges that they offer and have had decent results using them.  I will warn you that in my experience using anything but distilled water for thinner will cause you headaches.  I have tried Tamiya, Testors and Valeijo thinners and all turned Akan paint into a gelatinous blob that needed to be dredged out of the airbrush.  The plus side...........water is cheap.  The downside is the paint will need to be wiped off the nozzle more often then you are probably used to.  Not a problem, just something to keep in mind.

Have fun.

Tim

I do tend to be leary of some of the guys that say specific brands are junk as well. Some of them have, in my opinion, just been spoiled by some brands like Tamiya and Hase which just seem to fall together most of the time with little or no need for filler and sanding, though it is nice to hear people's feedback on kits and get an idea of what the build will entai.  

A lot of the time I tend to trust my reseach more than color callouts as well, but I like to sometimes know which brand they are calling out so I can compare what I have available locally to what they recommend, and then if I find something incorrect, or another company that is a more accurate shade, I at least have a point of reference to start with. I find it helps me to figure out exactly what I'm looking to use myself. Ya know, one companies Air Superiorty Blue may be quite different from another's offering of the same name, so just a good starting point in my mind a lot of the time. I too tend to choose kits based more on subject vs brand, but having heard as much bad as I have about some Kitty Hawk kits, I tend to be somewhat careful who's offerings I choose at the same time. I'm not afraid to break out the sanding sticks and filler though! I just like to know ahead of time if something is expected to present a challenge when it comes to assembly. Thanks guys!

Answer to first. I make it a practice to never pay attention to paint call outs in kits. The real world information is out there, either in other forum discussions or real world history conversation. Taken with the usual grain of salt, but I also find that if it seems as though if no one knows the answer to what color the nose wheel well doors interior color was on the bomber variant of the SU-34, you can be safe from comment making it up.

Answer to second. You've received some great info.

Answer to third. I tend to choose models by subject rather than manufacturer or ease of build. I'm not currently building much aircraft, but a look at my older collection of such reveals kits from High Planes, ICM, Azur, Eastern Express, Mach II (don't reccomend) in addition to the Monogram, Revell, Tamiya, Hasegawa etc. stuff.

I have built only one Kitty Hawk kit, their Flying Flapjack. It was a fairly good kit- good detail and fairly good fit. I was quite satisfied with it.

So the AKAN paints look like the way to go. Found exactly what I need there. Any suggestions on the best thing to thin their acrylics with? I didn't see a proprietary thinner offered by them. I could ha e missed it though, as I'm browsing at work. 

Thank you! I will check those paints out when I get off work! Been trying to find somethkng local, bit no luck, and my online searches haven't turned up too much. Will check out the MRP and AKAN stuff though! Just been curious about Kitty Hawk because their website domain appears to. E for sale, and their FB page doesn't work for me. I'll try an email and see what happens. 

I can't answer all your questions. But the paint....Akan has the colors you need. So does MRP paints. Both have a great selection of Russian and former Soviet colors. According to Scalemates Kittyhawk has a bunch of new releases coming or scheduled to come in the next year