Question about 1/72 scale navy planes

All of the airplanes you mentioned are avaliable in both 1/72 and 1/48. Hasegawa has several different Wildcat and Dauntlesses in 1/72. They're not too bad but if you are looking for detail you might want to get some aftermarket items for them. Hasegawa also does a couple different Zero variants and the Kate in that scale. As for the Val and the Devestator, the only ones I know of in 1/72 are from Airfix. I don't know if they are still currently in production but even if they're not those shouldn't be too hard to find. 1/48 scale offers some better and more readily avaliable kits with better detail. Tamiya does the F4F Wildcat, and Accurate Miniatures has several excellent kits of the Dauntless. Revell/Monogram just re-released the Devestator and incuded a book with it. As for the Zero, Kate, and Val, Hasegawa does all three in 1/48 and they're good kits. I personally would go with 1/48. I hope this helps some.

Thanks for the reply. I've been away from modelling for a while but have always had this project in the back of my head.

>>and Accurate Miniatures has several excellent kits of the Dauntless<<

I haven't heard of Accurate miniatures before.. How are they?

Revell's Devastator. Is that the same one from 15-20 years ago?
thanks

Jon

I'm also into 1/72 naval planes. The Hasegawa Wildcat is fantastic. Great fit, sharp engraved details. Their Dauntless is probably the best in 1/72 but definitely needs aftermarket detail. Hasegawa does make a zero and kate but your best bet for a val is fujimi. It's a nice kit. I got an MPC devastator and for MPC in 1/72 and it's not bad (i got it off ebay). A little work and it looks good. If you're looking for a buffalo and avenger, hasegawa's (1/72) are fantastic as well.

plum1030, Thanks for the info too! Sounds like the 1/72 scale devastator will be the hardest to find. I'm off to search ebay! I'd love to build a small section of deck to display them.
Thanks again

buckaroo

As noted above, all three of the aircraft, as well as F4U are available in 1/72 scale, not only from Hasegawa, but from Revell, Monogram, Academey, and even the lowly Airfix. And there are more aftermarket "products" (resin cockpit/wheel wells, decals and photoetch) for them than you will care to count.

While they are all available from your LHS, you can also find them on EBay, but shop carefully. You need to check the postage addon as well as the bid price. I have had good luck buying those kits in "lots," which consolidates shipping and lowers the unit cost.

Hope this helps.

Buckaroo
If you focus only on 1/72, Hasegawa produce the F-4F, Dauntless Zero and Kate. I've built the Hasegawa F-4F and Kate and they are very good. The Kate you will find will be either a re-tool or rebox version of Hasegawa made in early 80's and yet it still good. Acedemy also make 1/72 F-4f but is little bit inferior. Airfix, Revell and Frog all made F-4F but they are all o-l-d kits. As for the Dauntless, Hasegwa makes several versions(including Battle of Midway and Coral Sea). It's the best in the market although it may need some additonnal aftermarket accessory kits. As for the Val, Fujimi has the best one(as plum1030 mentioned), don't ever think of trying the o-l-d o-l-d Airfix one(if you could even find it). As for the Devastator, Airfix one(may re boxed as MPC) is the only one you've got. It's a fair kit but you may need a little bit of extra work to detail it. From the combination of planes you want I assume you are building planes of early Pacific war, therefore theZero I think you want is Type 21 or 22; Hasegawa will satisfy you.

Anthony, Thanks for the suggestions. I do want to build these six planes as part of a display that will be around a 1/350 scale Yorktown (CV-5) carrier. sounds like that pesky Devastator will be the hardest to find. Didn't see anything like it on Ebay. you don't know if there is a modeller's version of Ebay anywhere?

Thanks again

Jon

QUOTE: Originally posted by Buckaroo sounds like that pesky Devastator will be the hardest to find. Didn't see anything like it on Ebay. you don't know if there is a modeller's version of Ebay anywhere? Thanks again Jon

Just be patient and do weekly searches and it will show up on ebay. Alternate modelers auctions don't seem have nearly the volume of ebay.

check about space available before going for a complete collection. Alternatevely you can have 1/72 mainly and have a few 1/48 for your favourites.