Revell / Monogram & RoG opinions please

I really enjoyed the Stearman. I am really impressed by their new molding technology, which I first experienced on their recent midget race car kits.  The detail is as good as any resin casting. I look forward to building more of their kits in the future, but the Stearman is the only recent release I have done- sure loved it, though.  That engine is a little jewel.

Blueline,

I completely understand where you're coming from.  My wife stays at home to be with our two young daughters.  That being the case, I, too, have to watch my spending.  On the rare instances when I buy a kit or two, they're almost exclusively Revellogram kits.  For me, they just give me the biggest bang-to-buck ratio.

It is of my opinion that practically ALL of their kits are good kits.  Last year I finished their venerable 1/48 P-51B and was an absolute dream.  The fit was phenomenal and the build was extremely relaxing and enjoyable for me.

The last kit I finished was the old Pro Modeler 1/48 F-86D.  That kit was as close to "shake-n-bake" as I've ever seen.  In spite of my best efforts, I couldn't do anything wrong with that kit.  Ha-ha-ha!

I'm working on their 1/48 F-104 right now.  They just don't get much easier to build.  Yes it's an older kit and people often interchange the word "older" for the term "not as good as newer" but it would be a mistake to do so in this case.

All their kits will ever ask of you is just a modicum of TLC.  Yes you will have seams that you'll have to fill and sand, but if you have something like White Out and an emory board, that's all you'll ever need.  If you use just a thimble-full of care while working on them, a Revellogram kit will give you nothing but a good plane and some new modeling skills in the end.  Beware of those who denegrate the brand.

Eric

Their PV-1 kits are newer and a dream to build as well.

It also pays to do some research.  For example, some of their kits are reboxed Hasegawa kits.  You get the Hasegawa kit at the Monogram price.  You can't beat that!

Eric

definitely research a kit, you might get a good old fashioned Revell or Monogram kit in the RoG box, or the Hasegawa that Eric mentions. You also might get a brand new tool Revell kit in there.

Then, on the other hand, you might get an Italeri kit (some were good, some were not),,,,,,,,,,or in some cases, the  Matchbox kits (again, some were good, some were not equal to the competition)

There is a large group of people on here that know which kit is in which Revell box, and they will always step up and tell you if you ask.

It is hard to beat the "fun for the money" factor of Revell kits.

Rex

Their F-84E & F-84G are sweet kits. The PBY is an absolute gem. I really liked the He-111. Their Bf-110 family is excellent. The late model 109G is an under appreciated bird (older kit) that has held it's age well thru the years. The Su-25 is another of their early efforts in new tooling that really shines. Go have a look at the "Show your Revell Monogram Builds" thread that I started some time ago to see how the kits look and might catch your interest. As far as bang for the buck goes, it is hard to beat the RM kits. RoG is right up there as well. Some of their new kits are absolutely incredible deals- especially in 1/32.

I agree with stick, I built the F-84E when i was a teenager, it went together like a dream, even with limited skill. I can also personally vouch for the P-47D (older boxing) razorback, its a great kit. If you want something larger, their B-25's are great kits as well. And if you don't mind putting alittle work in, the TBD-1 is a WHOLE lot of kit for the money.

Check out the Monogram Mafia III group build in the Group  Build subjects.  Lotsa cool stuff there too.  I've got two P-47s I will start shortly.

I popped the top on an F-18E Super Hornet from Revell. I like what I see. And something else's about Revell/Monogram. You usually get what you see. If it's shown loaded on the box that's what you get. If they show a bare bird, that's what's in the box. You'll not see an R/M kit with the "Contents may differ from box illustrations." disclaimer..

Revell F-15E is nice too.

Gotta be careful of the Monogram Mafia group build,,,,,,,,,it looks like there are going to be 20 or more 1/48 Douglas Devastators in that build (shrug, that is the only "TBD" that I know of in the Monogram/Revell group of kits)

LOL! Well, as long as there are no Zeroes around those 20 TBDs should be safe ;-)

ajd3530

Haha as long as those 20 TBDs are armed with Mk. 13 torpedos, EVERYONE shoud be safe!!

Tell that to the Shoho

Blueline, while I enjoy building the Monogram kits, more options for the budget minded modeler can be the older tooled Tamiya Japanese birds (typically had for $13-$16) and the newer Eduard Weekend Edition kits-Eduard plastic with no PE or masks, and only one decal option. Typically, online vendors have different ones on sale each month. Take a look!

At Midway, not many were dropped. Most were shot down still outside  effective range. Those that were dropped, often were dropped at or outside the parameters of an effective engagement envelope, under very unfavorable conditions. Much like many Sidewinders were fired in Vietnam, with really no chance of hitting. And the early war Mk.XIII's were pretty much a bad batch. At least on the Tulagi Raid and second day of Coral Sea against Shokaku. But 7 hits on Shoho on the first day of Coral Sea showed that the TBD/Mk. XIII combo was not the ineffective system popularly believed today, and could be quite deadly and effective. One would be hard pressed to come up with a better example of a co ordinated air attack on a Japanese carrier in WWII. The Yorktown and Lexington air groups on May 7th 1942 really did an outstanding job that day.

I've done many RoG kits. Best bang for the buck for sure. A few recent 1:72 excellent kits I had a great time with:

Lancaster Mk.I/III

MiG 21F-13 Fishbed

Tornado GR.1 RAF

Mirage 2000C (Tigermeet)

I have done the 1/32 Arado 196 from ROG which is an excellent kit. I also have their Uhu and late 109 and are very well done. The Revell F15E is an excellent kit but if you can get a Pro Modeler you will be better off cause it brings a ton of weapons, something that the current re-issue does not provide. Any of the Century Series Jets are great. Others are the F-9 Panther, F86-D (SUPER sweet), F-84G, and the old re-boxed F-4 Phantom. All excellent kits.

You're right Plastic...the F-101 was excellent for the Century series (only one I've seen in RoG though).

Take a look at the F-105s, both the single seat and dual seat kits. They really build up nicely and look great when done.

I bought a lot of Monogram and Revell off ebay.  After a long layoff measured in decades I resumed the hobby.  Some of the kits are not as good as I remember them but the odd one was the Me BF110 in 1/72.  Really a fine fitting model and recommended.  The worst so far has been a Ju 87 in 1/48 that had a fit so bad the aircraft suffered a fatal spin into a circular file.   The models mentioned are the older ones with the 60's copyright.  The newer Revell-Monogram I haven't assembled yet but I've got them piled up.  I would recommend staying away from the Monogram models not made in the USA.  The Ju 87 was German made I think.  My experience with Revell back in the 60s not good.

I'm surprised you didn't like Revell back in the sixties.

My first model was a Revell 1/72 F4U,,,,,and it hooked me completely. One of my absolute favorite things to do in the late sixties and early seventies was to buy Revell Single Fighters, the Dueling Fighters, and MPC profile series fighters. (MPC kits were US boxed Airfix models)

I got the Dueling boxes to save 10 cents on the pair, got the single fighters for any that weren't in the Duelings, and the MPC boxes provided 3 markings options for each kit. Before I turned 18 I had a couple hundred "6 inch fighters" built, painted and decaled with different markings on each.

I still have one of the built ones,,,,,,and a couple of the Revell singles (60 cents, right in the part number)

I do not know why, but, I had a real thing for the Revell Tempest V kit,,,,,anytime I had haying money and didn't see anything new on the drugstore shelf, I would buy another Tempest.

I have moved on in regards to my subject matter, but, whenever a Revell or Monogram kit fits into my collection, it doesn't bother me a bit,,,,,,,,,,,it just fills me with nostalgia. (I will also use Matchbox, Airfix, Heller and Hawk, etc. if I need to)

Rex

My first upon returning to the hobby after 20 plus years was a Revell 1/48 scale P-47 Thunderbolt Razorback. That was definitely a fun, relaxing build. Everything fit well with no problems. That kit I gave to my bro-in-law for his computer room.

The P-47 Thunderbolt was my first ever for I had never done one in my youth years. Shocking, I know. LOL!

I have to agree with the Revell P-47 razorback as I am just completing my build in 1/48 now. It has gone together with almost no fuss and the fit is really quite good, even with the mods I've made. I have really fallen in love with this build. I can't say the same for the Revell 1/48 F4U-4 as it was a fit and construction nightmare and I'm not planning on trying that one again anytime soon.

I'll be finishing up the DO-335 from the Duel series for that group build.  It has gone together pretty well except for a nasty gap at the wing roots.  Since I had the box out the Razorback is next on the list along with the Bubbletop for the MM III group build.  Post some pics Brandon if you haven't already!

Never thought I would see a HE-111 in 1/32 scale. Haven't built mine yet but it sure looks good in the box...