Advice: Eduard 1/48 Spitfire MK I Dual set or Tamiya 1/48 Spitfire MK I ??

mic53mlb

Looking for some friendly advice here, I/ve never built/purchased either Eduard's Spitfire MKI 1/48 or Tamiya's 1/48 Spitfire MKI. I just watched Finescale's New Product Run Down and Eduard just released a dual 1/48 Spitfire MKI set and was very interested. I know Eduard makes a great kit, the kit they reviewed looked nice, but if the Tamiya is a better kit out of the box than the Eduard ( meaning I don't have to buy PE and detail sets) then I'll hold out for the Tamiya. Please me know what yuou guys think, thanks.

 

I've built both the 1/48 Tamiya Mk I and the 1/48 Eduard Mk IXc. I'm thinking that the Eduard Mk I would be similar to the Mk IXc. They are both great kits and you really can't go wrong with either. I'd say the Tamiya kit is a little more builder friendly than the Eduard kit. And the Tamiya decals are a little thicker than Eduard. Eduard probably has a much broader range of schemes, so that may be a consideration as well. 

Hoss WA

 

 

mic53mlb

Looking for some friendly advice here, I/ve never built/purchased either Eduard's Spitfire MKI 1/48 or Tamiya's 1/48 Spitfire MKI. I just watched Finescale's New Product Run Down and Eduard just released a dual 1/48 Spitfire MKI set and was very interested. I know Eduard makes a great kit, the kit they reviewed looked nice, but if the Tamiya is a better kit out of the box than the Eduard ( meaning I don't have to buy PE and detail sets) then I'll hold out for the Tamiya. Please me know what yuou guys think, thanks.

 

 

 

 

I've built both the 1/48 Tamiya Mk I and the 1/48 Eduard Mk IXc. I'm thinking that the Eduard Mk I would be similar to the Mk IXc. They are both great kits and you really can't go wrong with either. I'd say the Tamiya kit is a little more builder friendly than the Eduard kit. And the Tamiya decals are a little thicker than Eduard. Eduard probably has a much broader range of schemes, so that may be a consideration as well. 

 

Agreed 100%.  The Tamiya is definitely the "easier" build but that's not to say the Eduard is hard.  Just different approaches.  I personally prefer the Eduard offering's surface detail and their decals are fantastic.  But otherwise, just close your eyes and point. :)

You guys have really helped, unfortunately my kit source is sold out of both ( possibly holiday shopping),  but I still want to hear more input from everyone so keep the info coming. Thanks !!

Hoss WA

 

 

mic53mlb

Looking for some friendly advice here, I/ve never built/purchased either Eduard's Spitfire MKI 1/48 or Tamiya's 1/48 Spitfire MKI. I just watched Finescale's New Product Run Down and Eduard just released a dual 1/48 Spitfire MKI set and was very interested. I know Eduard makes a great kit, the kit they reviewed looked nice, but if the Tamiya is a better kit out of the box than the Eduard ( meaning I don't have to buy PE and detail sets) then I'll hold out for the Tamiya. Please me know what yuou guys think, thanks.

 

 

 

 

I've built both the 1/48 Tamiya Mk I and the 1/48 Eduard Mk IXc. I'm thinking that the Eduard Mk I would be similar to the Mk IXc. They are both great kits and you really can't go wrong with either. I'd say the Tamiya kit is a little more builder friendly than the Eduard kit. And the Tamiya decals are a little thicker than Eduard. Eduard probably has a much broader range of schemes, so that may be a consideration as well. 

 

 

Agreed 100%.  The Tamiya is definitely the "easier" build but that's not to say the Eduard is hard.  Just different approaches.  I personally prefer the Eduard offering's surface detail and their decals are fantastic.  But otherwise, just close your eyes and point. :)

[/quote]

DiscoStu

 

 

Hoss WA

 

 

mic53mlb

Looking for some friendly advice here, I/ve never built/purchased either Eduard's Spitfire MKI 1/48 or Tamiya's 1/48 Spitfire MKI. I just watched Finescale's New Product Run Down and Eduard just released a dual 1/48 Spitfire MKI set and was very interested. I know Eduard makes a great kit, the kit they reviewed looked nice, but if the Tamiya is a better kit out of the box than the Eduard ( meaning I don't have to buy PE and detail sets) then I'll hold out for the Tamiya. Please me know what yuou guys think, thanks.

 

 

 

 

I've built both the 1/48 Tamiya Mk I and the 1/48 Eduard Mk IXc. I'm thinking that the Eduard Mk I would be similar to the Mk IXc. They are both great kits and you really can't go wrong with either. I'd say the Tamiya kit is a little more builder friendly than the Eduard kit. And the Tamiya decals are a little thicker than Eduard. Eduard probably has a much broader range of schemes, so that may be a consideration as well. 

 

 

 

 

 

Agreed 100%.  The Tamiya is definitely the "easier" build but that's not to say the Eduard is hard.  Just different approaches.  I personally prefer the Eduard offering's surface detail and their decals are fantastic.  But otherwise, just close your eyes and point. :)

 

 

DiscoStu

 

 

Hoss WA

 

 

mic53mlb

Looking for some friendly advice here, I/ve never built/purchased either Eduard's Spitfire MKI 1/48 or Tamiya's 1/48 Spitfire MKI. I just watched Finescale's New Product Run Down and Eduard just released a dual 1/48 Spitfire MKI set and was very interested. I know Eduard makes a great kit, the kit they reviewed looked nice, but if the Tamiya is a better kit out of the box than the Eduard ( meaning I don't have to buy PE and detail sets) then I'll hold out for the Tamiya. Please me know what yuou guys think, thanks.

 

 

 

 

I've built both the 1/48 Tamiya Mk I and the 1/48 Eduard Mk IXc. I'm thinking that the Eduard Mk I would be similar to the Mk IXc. They are both great kits and you really can't go wrong with either. I'd say the Tamiya kit is a little more builder friendly than the Eduard kit. And the Tamiya decals are a little thicker than Eduard. Eduard probably has a much broader range of schemes, so that may be a consideration as well. 

 

 

 

 

 

Agreed 100%.  The Tamiya is definitely the "easier" build but that's not to say the Eduard is hard.  Just different approaches.  I personally prefer the Eduard offering's surface detail and their decals are fantastic.  But otherwise, just close your eyes and point. :)

 

 

I have a working knowledge on this topic (by no means an expert). Here's my take.

* The original Tamiya Mk. I  (circa 1993 ish) is still a great kit.  Cheap, well detailed and very easy to build. The cockpit could use some sprucing up with some PE.............however

*  The new tooled Tamiya Mk.I kit is pure heaven in styrene.  Along with their new P-38, possibly one of the best kits ever made.  Like most newly tooled Tamiya kits though, it's quite pricey. 

*  Airfix has a recently tooled Mk. I as well.  I recall the landing gear being weak and finnicky.  It was still a nice rendition though and reportedly more accurate than the old Tamiya kit in the shape of the wing.  

*  I have yet to build the new Eduard Mk.I but if it's anything like their Mk. IX, it will be fantastic.  You can't beat Eduard's surface detail and they rarely miss a rivet.  Another nice part about Eduard kits are the amount extras that come with them, canopy masks, PE, and sometimes even resin wheels.  Definitely the best bang for your buck.    

Most, if not all of these can be found on ebay.  I recently grabbed the Eduard kit off of there. 

I hope this helps. 

I figured if I spend the money for the Eduard dual kit I get two great Spitfires, one to make now and one for later. I was curious as I wanted to know if they were real Eduard kits and not reboxes/molds from other manufacturers. I'm looking on the internet, I want a new unopened kit and my two places I usually purchase from are out of stock.. we'll see what happens. lets keep this thread going

mic53mlb

I figured if I spend the money for the Eduard dual kit I get two great Spitfires, one to make now and one for later. I was curious as I wanted to know if they were real Eduard kits and not reboxes/molds from other manufacturers. I'm looking on the internet, I want a new unopened kit and my two places I usually purchase from are out of stock.. we'll see what happens. lets keep this thread going

 

The Eduard Mk. I is a brand new tooled kit.  Here's a review of it. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vngI6Jx_MxE&feature=emb_logo

I intend to give it a whirl soon. 

It might be worth checking out Jon Bius's website - although he mainly builds Sci-fi stuff now he was a prolific aircraft builder at one point, and is very knowledgeable about Spitfires - I think he's built pretty much every tooling going. His reviews are pretty good although you might have to search back through his history. He had some good advice for building the Eduard Spit, and some comparisons between the Airfix and Tamiya.

https://www.jonbius.com/category/aircraft/

Cheers!

I finished the new Tamiya Mk I a couple months ago.  It was the most fun and best result I enjoyed building so far.  The kit is just incredible.  I never tried an Eduard kit.  I do have their hellcat in the stash and looking forward to that one.  

The new Tamiya kit I have no experience with, but it looks great. However, in general, Tamiya kit decals are too thick for my liking, and they don't have seatbelts, usable masks (I find the masks that aren't pre-cut to be tedious, and Tamiya's always lift up for me, whereas Eduard masks and even Tamiya tape never do).

I have the Eduard boxing of The Few. Excellent kit. Some sink marks in the exhaust, which I've heard has been corrected on subsequent releases. The decals are infinitely better than Tamiya, and the detail is fantastic - the mix of raised and recessed riveting is something Tamiya never bothers with, and it really sets it apart. Much more complex construction, but totally worth it, IMO. Oh, and the PE details are also great, and included.

The older Tamiya Mk. I is one I have built, and I enjoyed the heck out of it, but the cockpit is the total wrong shape, like their older Mk.V kits. It should be an oval shape when viewed from the nose of the aircraft, but they have it flare out with the sides of the fuselage, which is completely not how the real ones look.

As for AIrfix...I've built their Mk.Vb. I believe it's the same family as their Mk.I. If so, run away. Run far away. It took hours to get my Airfix Mk.Vb to fit right. Nothing lined up correctly, parts interfered with each other, and it was a complex geometry problem to determine where I needed to sand pieces to get the whole thing to fit. I got it to look god in the end, but I hate that part of modeling, and the new Eduard kits just fit well.

Well, I know what I would do.. and this is not a recommendation for anybody who isn't at least as impulsive as me..

Buy both of them.

Cheers,  Mark

Thanks guys for all the advice and comments, if I have to choose I think I'm going for the Eduard set (if I can find it) but if I come into a big job ($$) I'd buy both because I've heard so many good things about the Tamiya kit. 

I've had good luck with Tamiya decals.  I use Walthers, or else Mr. Mark Softer.  But not all Tamiya decals are the same so make sure you need the stronger solution first.