Why aren't there more see-through kits?

Jabbe wrote:

So, I was at the LHS with a cupon, looking for a nice kit. There's all the usual, but I happen to find a 1/72 see-through model of the Bell X-1. Totally awesome! It looks like a good kit, and the interior detail is quite nice. I'm going to enjoy building this kit.... ....so it got me thinking. Why aren't there more see-though kits? I looked through Squadron, and there was a nice Me-262, but that was about it. How cool would it be to have a see-through B-17, F-4, F-18, or P-47? I'd love to have a row of a/c on my shelf that look real from one side, and see-through from the other. How come there's not a small company that builds clear halves to popular kits, allowing modelers to make any aircraft they want to be see-though? And why stop at aircraft? What about ships and tanks (although, there is a see-through U-boat, isn't there?) Also, if anyone knows of a source for see-through kits, please, let me know. Joshua

jeff wrote:

I think Revell has (or has issued one in the past) a see-through P-51 in 1/48 or 1/32, can't remember which.  As Ed said, there is a see-through version of Monograms old 1/48 B-17, but they go serious bucks these days on ebay (saw one go or $250+ once).  I can't believe R/M won't reissue it sometime in the future with the clear fuselage half, though, given the obvious demand.

They've covered the old see through Monogram B-17 and the Monogram 1/32 Phantom Mustang that was reissued around 2000. There was a small Japanese company's version of the see through Mustang in 1/72 scale. The original Hawk issue of the Testors V-1 Buzz Bomb came with a clear upper fuselage for see through action as well.

The main problem is dealing with knock out marks and glue marks on the interior surfaces when using clear styrene parts.

zokissima wrote:

Having see through kits would drive the price up considerably. Who could afford to buy them? For armour, there are a few kits out there that have full interiors, and for all that there aren't, there's a ludicrously expensive AM set for it.

dkmacin wrote:

FSM has done several pieces on "cutaways", which are close to the same thing. With all the aftermarket clear plastic I would think the making of "see through" panels would be somewhat easy to construct. Don

Bottom line, it comes out to customer demand - if the major companies don't think they can make a lot of $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ with a kit, they aren't going to issue it. Why do you think Revell, for instance, is still cranking out that goadawful box scale Arizona, despite the complaints and pleas from those of us who care at least a little about accuracy? Because it sells. They're going to leave the "niche" products to the aftermarket guys.

I have noticed that in my favored 1/700 ship scale, some aftermarket clear acrylic flight decks are coming out for those who want to superdetail the hanger decks. Would I do that? Heck, no! ... but I would admire the work of anyone who took the time to do so.

mfsob wrote:

Bottom line, it comes out to customer demand - if the major companies don't think they can make a lot of $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ with a kit, they aren't going to issue it. Why do you think Revell, for instance, is still cranking out that goadawful box scale Arizona, despite the complaints and pleas from those of us who care at least a little about accuracy? Because it sells. They're going to leave the "niche" products to the aftermarket guys. I have noticed that in my favored 1/700 ship scale, some aftermarket clear acrylic flight decks are coming out for those who want to superdetail the hanger decks. Would I do that? Heck, no! ... but I would admire the work of anyone who took the time to do so.

Rob Gronovius wrote:

zokissima wrote: Having see through kits would drive the price up considerably. Who could afford to buy them? For armour, there are a few kits out there that have full interiors, and for all that there aren't, there's a ludicrously expensive AM set for it. Not really, Tamiya's original M113 kit was designed to have a removable roof to display the interior. They reissued the kit with a slight modification and new parts to update it cosmetically to look like an M113A3. They could easily update the interior and mold the roof in clear plastic.

I'm afraid I missed your point. Not all kits are designed with an interior in mind. You're telling me its NOT more expensive to produce full interior kits?

More research

Lesser error tolerances, thus more precise moulds.

Larger parts count

I'd say that fairly nicely adds up to a more expensive kit.

Yeah, there have been a few kits out there, and at the time they were released, they were in fact much more expensive than the run of the mill kits available with no interiors.

mfsob wrote:

I hear you about the CVN hangar decks, Hippy Ed. I did decide to open one hangar door on my CVN-65 Enterprise, but at 1/720 scale, and figuring it's going to be almost impossible to see in there anyway unless you shine a Kleig light inside, I'm just planning to fill it up with airplanes and maybe a few painted black doors and such. I'll leave the superdetailing to the more anal retentive types.

Hippy-Ed wrote:

I was just looking at a copy of  Historic Aviation and there's a 1/32 P-51D Clear fuselage w/ a motorized propeller $49.95 (item#96959C)  www,hisoricaviation.com

I was at the local Hobby Lobby yesterday to pick up some paint and saw one on the shelf.  It has retractable gear, drops bombs and a motorized propeller. 

There's a steady trickle of 'see-through' kits. As well as the Revell (actually Monogram) 1/32 Phantom Mustang (re-released in Europe last year, and still pretty easy to find - I think my LHS has one) Tamiya did the 1/72 X-1 and see-through 1/48 Swordfish, Me.262 (with extra bits for you to see, compared to the standard kit) and MiG-15. The new-ish Trumpeter 1/32 Me.262 has see-through engine nacelles, and electronics bay  access hatches, as well as solid plastic ones.

Then, of course, there's the Airfix 1/144 SRN.4 hovercraft.

One problem with see-through kits is that using standard polystyrene cement fogs the clear plastic, and cleaning up seams is also difficult, especially if you have to use fliller. there are however, ways round this problem, using Future and gap-filling superglue.

Cheers,

Chris.