Best Brand For Auto Models?

There is no single manufacturer that is always number one. tamiya has been consistently improving their quality and detail for many years. revell vs amt are at similar levels, but they both intersperse their new releases and very old releases, making it a bit of a lottery as to whether you'll get a good or mediocre kit. fujimi have some unusual subjects, but often discard the interior and engine detail.

you'll have to find something you like and ask if it's any good.

I basically buy kits for the subject and worry about quality later.

Thanks for replying. I know in the plane and tank realm Tamiya is my favorite. Have never built or very much looked at auto kits up until now.  So not in the know.   

For muscle cars you won't find much other than from the US mfgs.  That leaves basically Revell, AMT and Lindberg.  Most Revell offerings are pretty good.  AMTs are usually okay.  Lindberg are spotty, some good some junk.  They don't make much in the muscle car genre anyway.  So you are pretty much stuck with the Revell and AMT.

What Octane says.  I look for subjects first.  You may have a choice of manufacturers, and if you do, pick the ones known for good kits like Tamiya and Revell.  They, too, though, can produce real stinkers sometimes.  I've found old JoHan kits to have some decent external details and sharp lines, but many of their kits are curbsides, especially the older ones. 

You can take a detail-free kit and scratch build a lot of good details yourself.  That's part of the fun, IMHO.  I'm currently working on an old Bobkit Renault R5 Turbo.  Pretty basic kit, but lots of opportunity to add details, which I am.  I hope to post some finished pictures of it soon. 

Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas

If you are looking for muscle car kits I think you'll be out of luck as far as Tamiya is concerned unless your idea of muscle is a turbo-charged engine of some sort. For American muscle go with Revell/Monogram or AMT. Check some of the other forums also for advice on quality/detail of a particular kit. Some of the newer kits from Revell/Mono are really nice. You should really check because like it's been stated some of the kits are re-releases of older kits,  while that makes some of us older modelers happy it might not be what you're looking for.

If you're used to Tamiya tank kits, you're going to be sorely disappointed in what's available in muscle cars, for the most part.

I usually model Armor myself, but since learning how to get a decent shiny finish, have been building some of my favorite muscle cars, and I can only tell you that for the majority of the kits, they're from the 70's and 80's moldings, and the lack of quality really shows.

It's true that many of the recent "new" moldings are definitely a step up, but be prepared to go the extra mile with some of these kits to get a decently finished model. You'll come to realize how spoiled we Armor modelers actually are.

Thanks to all for the info. Here is what I have seen. A Plymouth Super Bird which I think was Revell. A 67 GTO by MPC, and a  Revell Corvette Stingray which I know is more sports but I love them!  Am interested in a Plymouth Road Runner and finally a Dodge Super Bee. All I think are 1/25th. Thanks.

Best brand I ever built was from an Italian company called "Pocher", but unfortunately they have been out of business for about 40 years.

Zar

 Am interested in a Plymouth Road Runner and finally a Dodge Super Bee. All I think are 1/25th. Thanks.

Here's a WIP post that I did when I built two of them out of that kit. TONS of info and suggestions in it.

"Two Birds With One Stone"

No muscle cars but if you would like to try out old European sports cars, check out Fujimi. Truly outstanding kits. Especially their Enthusiast kits for incredible detail (including pistons)

As far as differences with what you usually build, all of your aircraft and tank skills will be a huge help. The biggest difference is the body paint and finish.Lay down a good initial paint job ( I use Dupont automotive lacquer) over fine primer and then sand it smooth, progressively going from 2000 grit to 12,000 grit for a perfect, mirror shine finish..