Kit quality!

I agree with you Yann, “…don't let the bad reputation of a manufacturer ruin your chance of having your favorite model on your shelf.”  But at the same time you still need to be aware of some stinkers out there.  That’s one of the great things about this forum… there are lots of knowledgeable people that can steer you away form some of the really bad stuff.   Like the He 115 I started and put off the side…for now.  I was just not up to the challenge.  This came right after a long time consuming build.   

When I was into wood working I looked at it like model building but I had to make the parts first then put it all together, making adjustments along the way.  I still kind of look at it that way.  But the model manufacturer has at least given me the basic shape of the part.  They just need to be refined to get them to fit together just right.  Its how much refining that has to be done is what is determined by the kit maker. Tamiya and Hasegawa needless to say need less refining than some of the others.  The ICM Yak 7DI took some work but I sure am glad I have that on my shelf.

 

Great job on the Sd. Kfz 10/4 btw.

Meh, I don't even bother with reputations and reviews. I'll read them to get an idea for the kit, and more often, just because I'm curious of the kit. But reviews and reputations will have little sway in terms of whether or not I'll actually buy something I want. You can always detail it yourself. For me, half the fun is the construction, so cleanup and things like that don't bother me too much.

Yeap! But I think it's important to know in advance the kind of work a kit will require.  No surprise!  If I know it's gonna be tough, it won't bother me much but if I have expectations about a kit, I will be mad.  I expect Tamiya kits to fit perfectly.  And I will plan some time to clean up Italeri parts.

I have noticed that most Hasegawa and Tamiya kits are usually a pretty good fit. I did have one Academy kit that was awful, I mean so bad I assulted it with bottle rockets but I am also building the 1/32 F-18 C and it impressed me so much I bought the D as well! I have only built one Italeri kit, and the detail just wasn't there, much like the one MiniCraft kit I built, it was just sad, the instructions had paint call outs, but no list was on the instruction sheet! I have a 1/48 BlackHawk that I will probably never build, or throw together and give to my nephew from them. The instructions on it are pretty bare as well. Sometimes reputation should be considered, which is why I like the reviews, but other times, it might just be a bad kit, or a bad part that is the cause of the problems.

Remember, most of the big names in modeling, Tamiya, Italeri, Revell, Monogram, Hasegawa have been around since the 1950s and 1960s. Many of them have merged (like Revell-Monogram) or taken over defunct manufacturer's molds (Monogram has Aurora; Revell has Renwal; Italeri has Peerless Max and Esci) and all of them have reissued kits from the good old days in current or vintage packaging.

While some kits are aimed at collectors or older builders who are feeling nostalgic, many newer modelers do not know the history of the kits and buy them expecting a new tool kit from the 21st century. Those folks may be disappointed with what they find.

The Flak kit you had is an old Esci kit from the 70s or early 80s. Not a bad kit in its day but not up to the current Dragon or Tristar releases.

Sometimes you're just screwed by limited selection.  I'd really like to build a an F7U Cutlass, but in my preferred scale of 1/48, the only kit avalable is the Hobbycraft which is a real dog of a kit according to most reviews.

Personally, I get irritated when a manufacturer makes a really egregious mistake like putting panel lines on the upper wing surface of the X-32.  The X-32's wing was cast in one piece yet Italeri or whoever went to the trouble of putting engraved panel lines on it,  Then there are the little details like cockpits that look nothing like the original.  I once built a kit where the kit showed a sidestick control while the plane actually had a conventional stick.  Pretty elementary pieces of info.

a different title (here)  but many of the same comments  and the same issues as the other currently very popular post about "shake and bake " models

Yann Solo wrote:

Yeap! But I think it's important to know in advance the kind of work a kit will require.  No surprise!  If I know it's gonna be tough, it won't bother me much but if I have expectations about a kit, I will be mad.  I expect Tamiya kits to fit perfectly.  And I will plan some time to clean up Italeri parts.

I agree. It's nice to have reviews to help prepare for problems or deficiancies. Helps when ordering upgrades.