What is the best model kit ever?

Man that is a tough one. If I had to narrow it down to one. I would have to pick a kit that is difficult to get. As it came out in the mid 80's as far as I can tell.

 It is a Hasagawa 1/32 OA-4 M Skyhawk High Grade Series No 6. Kit #ch006:4800.

Reason being is. It comes with white metal landing gear with separate pieces for the brake pads, rubber wheels and photo etch. Albeit the etch is thin aluminum. ( I think). Complete with a labeled cut out section on the instrution sheet for the seat harnesses. And all buckles needed for the office.   

You actually have to cut the nose off the fusalage halves to put the blister nose on, plus part of the tail and fusalage to get the avionics hump. So there is a little bit of everything going on in this kit.

The detail on this kit is very good for it's age. I know the made other kits in the High Grade Series, but being a jet junkie this was the only one in the only jet in the series I believe.

They are hard to find. If you can get your hands on one they are a blast to build and they look great when done.  

Bgrigg wrote:

A lot of people think the answer is difficult, or impossible to answer given that not everyone sees the same things in the same way. They're wrong! The best model kit ever is the next one you want, and don't yet have.

best answer i have seen so far EVER.

Wulf wrote:

Anything OTHER than Revell!! (gee Wulf, tell us how you really feel about Revell)

I can assure you that I never expected to see a Revell kit in any favorite category!!!

These are poorly engineered model kits, unless someone else show me a good one.

Since I'm new to modelling I haven't come across so many kits yet.

Hasegawa makes nice models, they have a Zero here in Japan with lots of metal parts. It was quite expensive too, ~$60. Hasegawa is Japanese quality, not like the Tamiya crap.

Homer wrote:

Hasegawa makes nice models, they have a Zero here in Japan with lots of metal parts. It was quite expensive too, ~$60. Hasegawa is Japanese quality, not like the Tamiya crap.

Hi, Lars!  
Yes, Hasegawa makes nice models, but the kit you're talking about sounds like the Tamiya kit, a company that you apparently think is crap (an opinion I completely disagree with). To my knowledge, Hasegawa makes no Zero kit in the $60-dollar range (Tamiya does), and the 1/32 Tamiya Zero comes with loads of "metal parts."

The 1/32 Tamiya Zero is so good, in fact, that some may consider it to be the "best kit ever."

Are you sure you don't have your companies mixed up?

By the way, those of you who dislike Revell should try building the 1/48 Rafale, or any number of their more recent releases. Excellent stuff.

Oh, and the best kits? The free ones, of course!

I'm waiting to receive my first aircraft model, it is the Academy 1/32 F/A-18 Hornet and I will be able to compare with what I call my best kit ever which is the Atomic city 1/12 Mercury spacecraft kit.  That kit is awesome, outstanding details, decals are sharp, all parts fits perfectly and the result is a huge 6" wide by 24" high model.  I enjoyed that model a lot and I recommand this kit to each of you, no matter if you usually build aircraft or armour or cars! You can see some pictures of it on the space forum.

I like what I have read so far about all those models you like or dislike, it is so subjective, that anyone can argue on each post but it will make a good "I gotta have this one" list at the end.

Thanks all!

J-Hulk wrote:

Homer wrote: Hasegawa makes nice models, they have a Zero here in Japan with lots of metal parts. It was quite expensive too, ~$60. Hasegawa is Japanese quality, not like the Tamiya crap. Hi, Lars!   Yes, Hasegawa makes nice models, but the kit you're talking about sounds like the Tamiya kit, a company that you apparently think is crap (an opinion I completely disagree with). To my knowledge, Hasegawa makes no Zero kit in the $60-dollar range (Tamiya does), and the 1/32 Tamiya Zero comes with loads of "metal parts." The 1/32 Tamiya Zero is so good, in fact, that some may consider it to be the "best kit ever." Are you sure you don't have your companies mixed up? By the way, those of you who dislike Revell should try building the 1/48 Rafale, or any number of their more recent releases. Excellent stuff. Oh, and the best kits? The free ones, of course!

The slightly crappier zero Tamiya made 1/48 was from 1973.  And they still builds to be a nice A6M2 with two really nice figures.  Their 1/32 zero is something i'd drool on if I hadn't pulled myself out of the 1/32 aircraft catergory and getting those 1/32 F-14A and F-15C ready for sale soon.

All I know about the best kit is that I haven't built it. 

But of all the kits I have built, the best is problably Academy's Roman Trimene.  Simplistic, but my list of completed kits is rather short.....

Glamdring wrote:

All I know about the best kit is that I haven't built it.    But of all the kits I have built, the best is problably Academy's Roman Trimene.  Simplistic, but my list of completed kits is rather short.....

What is that?

Yann Solo wrote:

Glamdring wrote: All I know about the best kit is that I haven't built it.    But of all the kits I have built, the best is problably Academy's Roman Trimene.  Simplistic, but my list of completed kits is rather short..... What is that?

A Trimene is an ancient Roman warship.

J-Hulk wrote:

Homer wrote: Hasegawa makes nice models, they have a Zero here in Japan with lots of metal parts. It was quite expensive too, ~$60. Hasegawa is Japanese quality, not like the Tamiya crap. Hi, Lars!   Yes, Hasegawa makes nice models, but the kit you're talking about sounds like the Tamiya kit, a company that you apparently think is crap (an opinion I completely disagree with). To my knowledge, Hasegawa makes no Zero kit in the $60-dollar range (Tamiya does), and the 1/32 Tamiya Zero comes with loads of "metal parts." The 1/32 Tamiya Zero is so good, in fact, that some may consider it to be the "best kit ever." Are you sure you don't have your companies mixed up? By the way, those of you who dislike Revell should try building the 1/48 Rafale, or any number of their more recent releases. Excellent stuff. Oh, and the best kits? The free ones, of course!

J-Hulk; you're right, I have them mixed up. Sorry about that! I found it on Internet.

My bias towards Tamiya could be based on my childhood when Tamiya was most famous to me for their radiocontrolled cars. Those looked nice, but quality was aweful. I should give Tamiya another chance, the figures I built from them lately were quite nice.

for me the best kit has been the revell/monogram p-40b that i did for the hawk build.  not because it was the best engineered but because i took the kit and scratchbuilt an engine compartment and pit.  it was not the best built, it was not the best paint job.  but to me it was the best kit so far.  but i do have the 1/32 trump kit on the shelf waiting for me.

joe

Glamdring wrote:

Yann Solo wrote:  Glamdring wrote: All I know about the best kit is that I haven't built it.    But of all the kits I have built, the best is problably Academy's Roman Trimene.  Simplistic, but my list of completed kits is rather short..... What is that?   A Trimene is an ancient Roman warship.

Yes, Revell/Monogram is crap, but Revell of Germany makes some good stuff. Sure, it might be a bit soft on detail, but there are many detail and upgrade sets for these kits.

That Linberg Japanese Sub must rate up there...

Yann Solo

I'm waiting to receive my first aircraft model, it is the Academy 1/32 F/A-18 Hornet ..........

 That is a GREAT kit. I've done the "C" and "D", tons of parts, very tedious, lots of options, but an excellent kit!

Right now, my favorite kit has been Accurate Miniature TBF.

If I had to choose only one manufacturer for the rest of my building career, I'd go Revellogram all the way!!!

Two kits come to mind- for an aircraft it is Revell's 1/32 Hawker Hunter. An beautifully engineered, highly detailed, well fitting, big beauty of Fabulous 50's Aviation. For armor Tamiya's Cromwell/Centaur kits have to be the tank kit to build for ease of assembly, quality of detail, and just pure armor building pleasure.

Much like the age old question...which base/post/port is best?

The answer being the one you were at last and the one your going to.

I find myself taking almost this same mind set with kits. "man I loved that last kit , and I can't wait to finish this one so I can get to that  next kit which looks really cool."

Bottom line...for me it's a never ending search.

Anything I manage to finish.......

The best (price/fit/detail combination) kits I have ever build where the Tamiya 1/48 N1K1 Kyofu and the Academy 1/72 Me-163.

Anything by Wingnut Wings. I currently have two of their kits with a third one on the way and I'd have no regrets in replacing half of my existing stash with all of their releases.

Depends on your definition of "best", really.

IMO, in terms of accuracy to the subject, quality of the molds, quality of fit, and innovations that drive the hobby forward, I'd be highly tempted to call Tamiya's 1/32 Spitfire line (Mk. VIII and IX, so far...) the best kits ever. 

I've got $200 in birthday money that I'm terrified to take into the LHS with me. Sure, I need some more tape and a bottle of paint, but I know I'll walk out with the Mk. VIII...