Best Plastic Model Aircraft Kit Manufacturer

TAMIYA.

Newtothis

I have a simple motto:  Spend on Tamiya, save on gap filler.

 

Seriously though, any kit that gives me a heap of fun is a good kit.  And for me that has meant very many different brands over the years :) .

 

go try their 1/48 Sea Harrier... Not exactly gap free or "shake n bake"... But it is quite affordable.

I have a simple motto:  Spend on Tamiya, save on gap filler.

Seriously though, any kit that gives me a heap of fun is a good kit.  And for me that has meant very many different brands over the years :) .

I hear ya. I don't care for this sort of question either as it is quite ambiguous. Subject matter and scales complicate it immensely. Certain subject areas are only covered by one manufacturer in a given scale. It's much better to ask about a particular subject in scale x to get a realistic less subjective answer.

Not yet built an Ed, but the Rodens were nice, for sure. I'm not much for this type of discussion, just threw in an opinion.

Because.... my favorite WW1 model ever was the Revell 1/28 DR.1, cast in red plastic. First biplane model I ever built!

GMorrison

Wingnut Wings are the best WW1 kits.

 

unless one does not build in 1/32... For 1/48 or 1/72 look at Eduard or Roden for nice WWI aircraft. 

Wingnut Wings are the best WW1 kits.

After being out of the hobby for awhile I have been pleasantly surprised to see the hobby explode with a lot of wonderful kits.

I mostly build World War 2. I like 1/32nd in general BUT since my son a few years ago got me to get into it again I have learned to appreciate 1/72 and 1/48 as well.

The companies are producing really nice kits on subjects I would dream about,i.e. 1/32 JU-88, 1/32 HE-111, etc.

The quality has vastly improved with better fitting parts, more detailed easy to follow instructions, acryllic paints that are easy to work with and spot on accurate.

Enamel paints were such a pain to use with all the chemicals and smell and bio-medical  hazards.

Anyway I don't believe there is any one top company although I will say TAMIYA is producing some museam grade 1/32 scale kits. Once again, Revell Germany, Italeri, now AIRFIX, just about all of them are starting to crank out very well impressive kits.

You have to do your research, get on this forum and find out from others what their opinions are and make a judgement for yourself.

We appear to be ina new Golden Age as there are SO many kits to choose from in all scales and all levels of procing.

THat's a good thing to me

Agree on your points about Revell but i just tried to build the simple P-40b and it was total crap. Nothing fit, parts warped. Took it back and luckily got a refund.

I like models whose parts fit. I'm not in to filling and sanding to make someting look good. I believe model companies should make a product that fits so to me Tamiya has always been the best. I have built soe well fitting models from "lesser" companies but Tamiya has always been th most consistent. 

Unless you don't mind or prefer online purchasing I have to disagree about it being no better time to be a builder. All the good hobby shops are gone in my area. Very discouraging.

Classic air frames uses to do that They specialized in rare subjects in low production aircraft, They went out of business a few years ago, but their kits are still valuably. I payed 60 dollars for 1 of their kits and payed 50 for the other one that I wanted if you can find em buy em , their value will just keep going up,

All my models gone? Oh well start over.

I have rethought my own original response from a couple of years ago. I sort of answered from the perspective of "best kits for my collection"

I think if a person asks this question, and hasn't started buying models, books and paint yet,,,,,,,,that the answer is Wingnut Wings. If the two models in the current FSM add include the decals as they show in the ads, and if that is their normal way of selling the kits,,,,,,,you don't need any books for markings schemes, or aftermarket decals. You just get paints to match your schemes and awayyyyy you go.

We took an inventory for our insurance,,,,and Anne asked me how I would replace all these unobtainable models and books and decal sheets. I told her that I wouldn't, I would just start buying Wingnuts and get right back into modeling again that quick if we had a loss.

Rex

Its impossible, a lot of times its hit and miss from brand to brand. I still like many of the older 1/48 Revell and Monogram kits. The current Revell kits are good. The big deal these days is that the molds are cut be machine and the designing is done inside a computer, using some kind of CAD (computer aided drafting). The computer ray traces the whole thing and spots fit problems. This is something that would have taken months for people to do looking at blue prints in the past. The whole thing boils down to how complex the manufacturer wants the kit to be, and how well accurate the design is put in to the CAD program.  

@tennexican - touche.

@stikpusher - My "cup of tea" isn't so much the type of plane, such as "big bombers."  I'm looking to build models of the more notable aircraft, in order of debut, throughout the progression of aviation.  For example: I'm starting w/ the Wright Flyer - 1st in recorded flight; followed by the Fokker E. III - the next in aviation progression as the aircraft known to be the 1st monoplane "fighter plane" w/ mounted weapons.

The aircraft I chose will be either the 1st of their kind (Messerschmitt ME262 - 1st jet fighter) or the most notable (TBF Avenger - the most notable torpedo bomber.)  I'm looking to build them all and want the most consistent model manufacturer.

Such as in all other manufacturing, a specific company must specialize/be known for their quality and accuracy in aircraft models.  i.e. Where shoes manufacturing represents model manufacturing, Nike is known overall as among the best in athletic shoes.  Dr. Martins is known as among the best for casual/dress.

I'm not an aircraft specialist, but I'll take the liberty of suggesting one company that surely belongs on any list of high-quality manufacturers: Wingnut Wings. I have its SE5A in my stash, waiting for me to work up the nerve to tackle it. It's one of the best kits I've seen in 58 years of modeling - and I have the impression that the company has gotten even better in the several years since that one was released. Very highly recommended.

Again I will say what I did when this thread was new- pick your subject and scale first, then go from there. Just off the top of my head, I might suggest the new Airfix 1/24 Typhoon or Mosquito for levels of detail and such. Perhaps a Revell Germany Arado float plane in 1/32 is your cup of tea. Maybe you like big bombers and an HK 1/32 B-17 is what you need. Like fast movers, Trumpeter , Academy, & Tamiya make a whole bunch of those in 1/32.

Michael, I'd love to advise you, but I don't know what to say.  I've been building models as a hobby since 1949 and a business since 1967.  Most of my subjects have been aircraft, but I've also built just about any other subject you care to name.  The majority have been kits...or at least kit-based, with the rest being scratchbuilt or major conversions.  In all that time, I don't know if I've ever seen or heard of a manufacturer that would match or come close to your requirements on a consistent basis.  Wingnut, maybe, if you want to build 1/32 scale WW-I biplanes, but keep in mind that I've never seen the kits and can only go on what others say.

Keep in mind that the physical limitations of injections molding...as well as the economics involved with each kit...prohibits any company from producing the level of quality you require with every release.  Also, be aware that every manufacturer...whether intentionally or simply because they're human...is going to produce kits that range from so-so to absolute dogs.

Finally, there's the human factor related to the modeler who's building the kit.  His..or her...level of skill, inherent talent, patience, etc.  The truth is this: We derive enjoyment as well as the constant improvement of our skills by making each subsequent model better.  If each kit we tackle is produced to the level you have requested, we are not modelbuilders, we're collectors.

In the beginning of this reply, I said that I didn't know how to advise you.  I still don't.  The best I can say is read reviews and construction articles available for the kits you're interested in, acquire the best one...in your opinion...and then build it to the level you want.  Will most of them meet your criteria before you start construction?  Probably not.  But they will when you're finished with them.  And that's what really matters.  Isn't it?

Ok, so I'm jumping back onto my bike, now years later.  I use to be heavily into automotive models looking for the most difficult skill level that I could find for any specific car model I wanted to build.  Now, having settled down w/ family and solid career I'm looking to get back into it as a hobby.  Flight has always been a fascination of mine so that's my focus.  I'm putting a spin on it this time by looking to build at least one aircraft that represents each era through the evolution of flight - in the order in which they took flight, at that.  Rather than telling what I DO want it may be easier to explain what I want to avoid.

1. Must not be mindless assembly.  The more parts the better.  My ideal way would be an exact scale of every part as if building the scale model by replicating the real process of aircraft production.
2. Don't want to be left cussing out a brand because a part just doesn't fit right.  I'm capable of altering w/ hand tools but I'm not expecting, nor do I have resources, to re-cast/re-form anything.
3. Can't be cheesy quality once completed.  I don't want gaps, say, because the tail, for example, ends up a little smaller than the slot on the fuselage which would leave even the slightest gap.  On a real aircraft the parts are virtually seamless for purposes of aerodynamics.  While I'm not flying these models, I am looking for the "exact replica" quality.

As a pilot I can and will be picky.  I know the details of several aircraft from personal hands on/eyes on experience.  Like a person who never forgets a face; I never forget a plane.  As long as I can't spot a discrepancy/inaccuracy than I'm fine - what I can't see won't hurt me.

Almost all my model experience has been with Revell.  I felt unchallenged on a good portion of the skill 2 (obviously easier) and 3 cars I built.  I wasn't pleased w/ the quality of detail back then - 15-20yrs ago.  The motors may have 5-10 parts and the rest was a mold.  I had some die-cast replicas of cars too, which had working parts that moved and looked very much like the real deal.  Although I know it's harder to replicate detail accuracy w/ plastic over metal I'm hoping there's a brand known for coming close.

While no company may meet all of the above I'm looking for any brand that comes the closest to all 3 for aircraft.  Please advise.

Dinky Dau

I read somewhere that there was one manufactuer who included in their kits both aftermarket resin products and also photoeteched products. Does anyone know who does this?

A lot of limited-run kits do this (Pacific Coast Models, AZModel, Czech Model, etc). So does Eduard - their ProfiPack editions routinely include color photo etch, canopy masks and some toss in resin (wheels with the Hellcat, rocket pods with the MiG-21). Various limited editions go even further with full on resin cockpits, wheels, engine nozzles, gear bays etc.

Personally, I like Trumpeter and Revell, in my opinion they are the best due to the subjects they cover as they make everything I like. I would say Tamiyas F-16CJ (1/32) is superb, but Trumpeters Mig 23 is every bit as good. I have no experience with earlier Trumpeter kits so far every trumpeter Kit I have made has been Excellent, and as good as Tamiya for fit and detail. The Revell kits are also great as they are usually a blank canvas for so much extra detail, for scratch building. I guess if you like 1/32 Migs, and Sukhois then Trumpeter, if you like Western European aircraft then Revell, I do not build WW2 so I cannot comment but I have to say that for what I like (cold war soviet jets) those are the best to me.

It depends on a specific model. For example the Tamiya A10 kit in 1/48th scale has a lot of draw backs, I think that the Revell A-10 is better. I like to read the product reviews of people who have actually built a particular kit, not just a in the box review, to find out what I am buying. Also I am willing to put up with some fit problems in an older kit to be able to buy more kits at  lower prices. There are lots of great companies out there to choose from. I love Tamiya, Roden, Eduard, Revell, Academy, they all make great kits.  I like hearing about new kits, but I don't feel driven to just buy the latest kit.  Occasionally I will rebuild a kit in my collection that I built years ago to add a better example to my collection. Then I give my old model to one of the kids at church and encourage him to build one himself.

Keith

Dinky Dau

I read somewhere that there was one manufactuer who included in their kits both aftermarket resin products and also photoeteched products. Does anyone know who does this?

Several companies have kit issues in which they include PE and reson. Sometime out of neccesity (short run kits) sometimes to make and existing kit better (like Eduard has done with several Academy kits)

Are you referring to Czech Models?

I read somewhere that there was one manufactuer who included in their kits both aftermarket resin products and also photoeteched products. Does anyone know who does this?

randypandy831

two things come into mind when asked best. either fit or detail. 

Wingnut Wings has both of those, and I've yet to find a dud in the lot when considering those factors. Plus, their decals are better than most aftermarket ones, their instructions are worth saving as valuable references, they come with enough PE to beef 'em up even more, and they offer free shipping.

And when it comes to low-price and general accuracy, It's Monogram/Revell.. 

two things come into mind when asked best. either fit or detail. 

when it comes to fit hands down tamiya and hasegawa. 

when it comes to detail well, all companies have good N bad. 

just because it's well detailed doesn't mean it's accurate. 

IMHO Tamiya is the best because their kits fit properly. I'm not of the filing and sanding set at all. Kits should be made to fit, not have canyon like gaps in places. My two cents.