Who Has Not Built a "crap" kit?

Yet another addition to the Future FAQ?

Yeah, long live the crappy kits! Who really needs Tamiya????!

The absolute worst kit I've ever attempted to build was Tamiya's 1/32 F-14.
That was in 1982 so it may have been improved since then. I ended up
smashing it against a wall before tossing it in the trash. I guess it was so bad
because I expected so much more from it. Give me my Monogram "crap" any
day of the week.
Ray

T.R.Bridges

After 20+ years out of the model building game I stopped on my way home from work and purchased an 1/48 A-10 by Monogram. This is my 8 year old step sons favorite plane. Little did I know that the we could have that much fun and recieve compliments from friends and neighbors, but I guess it doesn't count because it is a "crap" model.

Oh well, us in the "Unwashed Masses" are usually having more fun anyway.

And to Thunderbolt,
remember "A poor mechanic blames his tools"

Terry.

Now Starfix really does make crap. :(

I've built a number of Monogram kits and enjoyed every one. I'm working on a 1/72 scale F-4J right now and it's going smoothly except for a fair number of ejector pin marks in awkward places.

I just read a review of the reissued Monogram F6F and I'm dying to get my hands on one. The folding wings really look cool! The kit also presents an opportunity to go nuts with detailing if I want to start learning how to incorporate resin after market parts.

Regards,

-Drew

I've built I've-forgotten-how-many Monogram kits, have at least 15 unstarted kits, and, additionally, my son's first kit was a Monogram Snap-Tite. They may be older by design, but they were state of the art when I began building. Most of all, they were fun!!! The day that I can't have a little fun, I'll drop the hobby like a hot rock and find something else to do. As long as there's a Monogram kit out there unbuilt, that day is a long time coming. - Ed

I've built ton's of crappy kit's over the year's and each one has been a learning experience. I think the worst "crappy" kit that I've built is the Airfix 1/24th Mustang. I could go and rant about what was wrong with this kit but I wont it was just an overall bad experience for me and I'll never build another Airfix kit again. People have gotton way to spoiled with Tamiya and Hasegawa kit's and it seem's that everyone is now comparing other kit's to them and that's wrong. I like challenges and the older kit's do just that for me.

Steve

I have an F-101 just waitin for me...:)

can't be crap if it's a century though :)

My first airplane kit in over 20 years was a Hobby Craft Me-109 kit and it was the worst kit I have EVER built..

Go ahead and whine all you want! It still doesn't change the fact that Monogram = crap.

Darren

Darren

What do you base that on? You stated in another post that you never buy a RM kit. If you haven't tried their latest releases how can you call them crap. Go out and buy the Monogram 1/48 scale F-86D kit and look at it. It is on par with Hasagawa and Tamiya. RM releases kits of a subject aircraft that no other manufacturer has. It is years later when another company will release a kit of that subject. Look at the F-8E that Monogram released in the late 80's. It wasn't untill this year that Hasagawa released the F-8E. I have built two of the Monogram F-8E kits and IMO they were very good kits. It was a little changeling, but that is why I buy model kits. I also have the Hasagawa F-8E and it is very good. But for the price, you still can't beat Revell/Monogram.

Monogram's He 111 is pretty nice, just needs a crew.

QUOTE: Originally posted by darrenbb Go ahead and whine all you want! It still doesn't change the fact that Monogram = crap. Darren

Darren,
That's just your opinion and you know what they say about that:
"Opinions are like a**holes, everyone has one, just some of them stink"..

I remember building the Monogram 1/72 Do-17Z in junior highschool. It wasn't my first kit but it seemed so much better the the Airfix and FROG models I had built up till then. Aurora kits, now those were bad and hey, remember those old Lindberg 1/72 kits........

Hmmmm...didn't realize this was another Monogram-bashing topic.
Those who look down on that great company obviously haven't seen the above-mentioned He-111 or the magnificent Catalina kits in 1/48. Absolutely world class.

The only kit I've built in recent memory that was "crap" was an ancient 1/48 Otaki Mitsubishi Raiden (Jack). The windscreens where hazily translucent, fit everywhere was atrocious, and let's not even get into the heavy, heavy, HEAVY rivet detail. But ya know what? That stinker in the box turned out to be one of my favorite aircraft models on the shelf. I'm no modeling magician, but I just put everything I knew about modeling to full use, and came out with something that was personally very pleasing.
But there certainly were some harsh words aimed Otaki's way during that build!

[b][darrenbb/b] Apparently you haven't seen the R-M F-15E Strike Eagle. That is an excellent kit and in fact why Black Box made a detail set for the cockpit is beyond me, the kit doesn't need it!! It's that good. Monogram for what it is has had a very good range of kits in 1/72nd and 48th. Old and new, their bomber series though getting long on the tooth are very good and have not except for the B-25 have been matched. You see some clamoring for a Tamiya B-17, why though it may be nice and yes I would probably get it but the Monogram B-17 is an excellent kit on it's own. And at 15-20 dollars a bargain. The Tam kit I'm sure will be at least 80.00 if not more. If you don't like Monogram thats fine but there not crap they are challenging and thats what this hobby is all about.

Fly Navy, Smile your on Candid Camera!
t

QUOTE: Originally posted by T.R.Bridges What I'm getting at here is this. It's a hobby folks. When we sit down to our work benches or tables, we're not performing brain surgery...

TR,

Perhaps you should consider that you are only ONE of (at the time of this writing) 16,648 users registered on this site. We ALL build for our OWN reasons.

Some build for casual enjoyment, some for less than casual enjoyment and some folks are DOWNRIGHT SERIOUS about what they consider to be MORE than just a hobby.

There are some damned talented builders out there who are akin to the likes of Michelangelo or Robert Taylor or Jeremy Brett. One of them, a guy whose models have graced the cover of FSM more than once, is a member of my club. This fella and those mentioned above each have excelled and/or continue to excel in their chosen art, and that's just what modeling has been elevated to in this day and age. ART.

Not everyone has to approach the hobby as an art form, but those who choose to do so have just as much right to do so as you have to continue to build your "crap kits", as you put it.

QUOTE: Originally posted by T.R.Bridges Even if you get paid to build models, you are still supposed to enjoy what you are doing.

BULL. Says who? I am a professional builder; that is, I get paid for building models. I ain't a big shot, I ain't a "name" in the modeling community, but I have built professionally and been paid to do it for quite some time. I have built stuff for people that I had absolutely NO interest in. Why? Because when you choose to build professionally, it usually becomes a JOB. Not every one likes their job, even if they "like their job". I had to build a buncha seaplanes for a guy about a year and a half ago. They weren't the greatest kits and I found the subject matter to be VERY boring. But I built them. You know why? Because I was getting a good dollar to build the stupid things, that's why.

QUOTE: Originally posted by T.R.Bridges Maybe Mr. Thunderbolt2 should think about that next time sits down to his project.

Perhaps you should think before you open your mouth and rudely bash someone for simply voicing their opinion. You have a right to your opinion, I grant you that. But you have no justification in insulting someone for expressing THEIR opinion as T-Bolt has. 'Cuz if you do, you're gonna get it back tenfold.

QUOTE: Originally posted by T.R.Bridges When I get home tonight, I am going to continue working on my many crap kits.

And having written what I just did, I don't look down upon you if you like to build "crap" kits just for the fun of it, nor for expressing your opinion. Part of me still shares a similar desire for simple enjoyment of what I have made a passionate hobby. Matter of fact, I see that you are a veteran. Whether or not you have been in combat, you deserve my thanks for having served, and for that I extend just such a sentiment.

But I do look down on you for being obstinate, narrow minded and discourteous in what you have written. T-Bolt deserves some apologistic recompense from your quarter.

And for those of you who are inclined to tell me to "calm down", save it. Also, if this post is edited in any way, shape or form I am finished with this forum. I'm getting weary of the height to which the PC BS has been taken. I ain't one for mouthing off and cursing left and right, but there is sometimes a place for it. And this was such a case. Just be thankful that I didn't express my TRUE sentiments.

Don't like my view? TOO BAD.


Fade to Black...

maybe some of you need to work in a room w/ more ventilation ! :-)

i build what i like, and make my purchase decision based on my desire and the health of my wallet. i read reviews in FSM, get online check for the buzz, read more reviews, ask around the hobbyshop and make a choice.

some of the kits turn out to be disappointing or frustrating (but the worst i have ever encountered was an AMT car kit - and that is a bit off of this conversation's track). for my skill level (medium at best), better fitting kits are more satisfying. i don't mind an occasional 'challenge', but i don't want the kit to fight me on every step. perhaps it is due to my weak skills or inexperience, but this moves from 'challenging' to 'frustrating' somewhat quickly. if i wanted to be thwarted at every turn, i'd go to work! unlike you, blackwolf, no one is paying me to build anything. i have to do it for fun! :-) maybe i could get people to watch me like a pay-per-view. a comedy of errors. but i would like (and expect!) the majority of the parts to actual mate up.

i think that in a mostly capitalist world, the continued existence of the various model companies shows that they must all be filling some role and serving a purpose. can anyone really believe that they could stay in business if all their stuff was 'crap' ? they have all made some stinkers over the years. and in the cases where it is 'the only game in town' (say the 1/24 Airfix Mustang until recently), it will still sell on its merits. one of those merits is: it may be the only kit of that subject in that scale.

the hobby (or business) of building plastic models spans a vast variety of participants from first time children and bumble-fingered adults to artists producing amazingly detailed replicas. some of the stuff i have seen online is so 'beyond' the kit that it amazes me the kit maker is even mentioned. my buddy and i joke that by the time they have removed and replaced all the detail w/ scratchbuilt parts and corrected all the kit's errors there is no "kit" left !

there is room for all of us. and all of our opinions.
if we were all in agreement on everything, there would not be much to discuss here. it would be like some radio show where everyone calls in to agree w/ the host.

- keep gluing pieces together until there is only one piece left.
then paint it.

Quote: Originally posted by Blackwolfscd

Perhaps you should think before you open your mouth and rudely bash someone for simply voicing their opinion. You have a right to your opinion, I grant you that. But you have no justification in insulting someone for expressing THEIR opinion as T-Bolt has. 'Cuz if you do, you're gonna get it back tenfold.


Blackwolf,

I didn't hear any bashing in TR's post. T-bolt had an opinion and TR had a different one. And he stated it. There was no insult, no bash. Offering up a different opinion is not an insult, it is how things get accomplished. The only one who needs to appologize is you, for your threat, "you're gonna get it back tenfold." What was the point of that?

However, TR's response ( in the "Monogram
= Crap?" post) to T-bolts post was innapropriate, there is no need to reduce a disagreement to a personal level. If that, Blackwolf, is what you are taking exception to, then I agree that he is out of line. However, you only quote this topic in your response.

I just build, that's all.

TR made comments about typing and grammer in his opening sentence, and an elitist comment also. None of that helps Tbolt who says he is returning to the hobby. He needs information about modeling, not typing lessons, which we all could use from time to time.

Thanks Wayne,

I hadn't read the original thread ( Monogram=Crap? ) which started this controversary. You are correct. I only took exception to Blackwolf because TR's topic for this thread was appropriate and not at all mean-spirited. Thanks for the clarification.

I should have made mention of the original thread, I neglected to do so and that was my mistake.

But I retract none of what I wrote. And I'm not going to explain any further, 'cuz it's rather plain and obvious as to the intent of what was written by TR.



Fade to Black...

I think I was misunderstood. I've liked most of the Monogram A/C that I have built. The only "crappy" one was the 1/72 P-40.

Well Im building a 'crap' kit at the moment, and loving it. It is the Supermodel MB 339 A. It was reboxed in New Zealand with a set of decals for an RNZAF version, they are the only good parts of the kit! Nothing fits, the panel lines are not only raised but thick and uneven, the kit is actually for the wrong Mk, it should be a C/D version which has a completely different shaped nose and tail!

BUT with a lot of patience I have rescribed the panel lines, fixed the fit problems with lots of putty, reshaped the nose with milliput and added the antenna fairings to the leading and trailing edge of the tail. I even found a Hawk T MK1 detail set that has PE cockpit details that are pretty close to the Macchi, I found a couple of Mk 10 seats and super detailed these (I used to work on the real things) so with a lot of work it will (hopefully) end up as a very nice little replica of our jet trainer, and it must be the crappiest kit around!

Just because a kit doesn't fall together as you take the parts off the sprues, does not mean you can't enjoy the challenge of putting it together, you just need to think through the problems and invent solutions, and that can be more satisfying than making a kit that goes together perfectly.

Blackwolf:
I'm going to have to along with mwilliams on this, I don't think
TR's response was inappropriate either. I do not know these feller's personally but I believe their response was appropriate.
I have noticed and read most of your posts and you are very helpful. You've gone out of your way to help almost everyone in this forum.
I think for some reason your feathers or coat was a little ruffled.
It's just a hobby, I love it and passionate about it myself. Let's
have fun.

Fly Navy, USN-R (Ret)

Hi it's me again T-Bolt well sorry about topic I wrote. As you look at the og post I put up it was ( monogram = crap (?). I didn't say they where, I was asking for opinions. I'm not a pro or anything..... I'm trying to get info here and make a few friends willing to help me out. In fact my first kit was a monogram A-10 thunderbolt. But whatever

Sorry T-Bolt

P.S. I have alot of "crapy" kits

Hey thunderbolt,

I Did not notice the ? at the end of Monogram=crap, sorry for
jumping on the bandwagon.

I loved the A-10. Sure their not Tamiya, just as Chevy isn't Ferrari, But i'd take a free vette anyday of the week.

Terry.

If you build for fun, art or profession - the fact of the matter is that you build for your own reasons.

Accuracy and engineering have their place in this industry. Professionals and artists alike appreciate the finer details and excellent quality of Tamiya and Hasegawa. The investment in a high quality kit pays for itself in the end results. These folks don't want to see raised panel lines and mismatched cockpit details.

Likewise, entry-level modelers don't want to pay out $40 for a specific BF-109 variant with the proper tropical filter. A $12 P-51D Mustang with nifty decals is all that is needed for a father to sit down on Saturday morning with his 12 year old son and share the fun of the hobby.

Consider the factor of supply and demand as well. You don't often find good hobby shops in Podunk, Oklahoma. And Wal-Mart is not likely to be carrying Hasegawa kits any time soon. Some times you make do with what you have access to.

Personally, I'm glad that both high quality and "crappy" kits are available. It is essential to the survival of the industry.