kits to avoid?

Pharaoh,

The Revell-Monogram kits tend to be well researched and have good detail. Their fit usually isn't the best, but overall I like their subject choices. Their 32nd scale helos are a bit on the old side (for example, it takes a resin cockpit set to make their AH-1G into a top-notch kit). MRC and Academy are both much better as far as detail goes. Engraved panel lines where they should be, raised rivets where appropriate. Very nice detail overall. Of course, any kit can be spiced up with aftermarket additions, but overall those kits build up nicely.

Of course, I'm talking specifically for 32nd and 35th Scales. There seems to be a bit more choice in 48th. I just built the Academy 48th scale Apache. Not bad, but not great. The older Monogram kits are really good and well researched though. Cool kits too...

Soley my opinions here, but I've always liked the Hasagawa/Minicraft kits, for detailing and decal accuracy, as well as Monogram.

Older Revell kits had a problem with flash (excess plastic on the tree's) and in some cases they were molded way too thin.

I swore off Airfix kits years ago because of the flash, poor fitting pieces and clear pieces that looked like magnifying glass with the spru attachments WAY too big, making it near impossible to make a clean cut! Grrrrr

AMT kits are alright I guess, better now than in years past. Italeri kits are okay too, except the ones I've done need more exterior detailing. Same with Panda kits.

I'd recommend a Monogram kit. For a beginner, it probably would require a lot less builder experience for good results..... of course, this is my opinion.

"Upon initial contact, you have received Information Foxtrot"

Stay away from the kits molded in Eastern Europe!
I do not mean to offend anyone, but the kits I have purchased from the Czech Republic and the Ukraine are. . .a little rough to say the least.
That said, I really do appreciate the fact that the companies in these regions produce the kits that others do not, just be ready to use scads of sandpaper and files to get pieces to fit. AND BE PATIENT with them.

Don

I'll go with the above statement on Eastern European kits, none of them are for beginers, but they can be real diamonds in the rough if you keep your wits about you and don't rush things with them.

I swore off AMT kits after TRYING to get their 1/48 Bell 222 together. Top call thet kit a nightmare is flattery. I don't have an accurate, publishable adjective to trully put that kit into proper perspective. }:-(

Monogram's 1/48 Hind D is a good starting point for esentations of that helcopter. There's lots of aftermarket goodies for it to update it to current variants and the fit is generally good.

Fondiere is real rough especially with the cost - I ended up tossing thier dragonfly. Now that I've learned from this experience, I just might try it again.