Favorite All-Time Build

It's got to be the Messerschmitt Me-163 Komet... Have built it countless times in the past, be it the 1/72 Airfix or Heller kits, the 1/48 one from Italeri, the 1/32 from Hasegawa or the 1/100 from Tamiya... I now have the 1/72 kit from Academy to build.

Why? Don't know. Just like it a lot. Interesting aircraft. Interesting concept. Amazing stories attached to it. No pics unfortunately 'cause I'm talking about models I built 20 odd years ago and I did not take pics like I do nowadays... But when I get to complete the Academy kit, you'll know!

Call me crazy, but my favorite build is the one that I'm working on at the time. Every kit has its advantages and disadvanteages, so I just enjoy the challenges that come with each new subject.

demono69

I'm with demono...I can certainly recall some kits that went together more smoothly than others, or kits where I successfully tried some new technique, but the one I'm working on at any given time will always be my fave!

BUT, in the spirit of this topic, I'd choose the Tamiya 1/25 Tiger I. I had built it 25 years ago as a kid, and was just amazed at its size and what I thought at the time was incredible and accurate detail. It was just a honey to build, no fit problems, and I remember re-reading the huge instruction manual over and over.

Then, I built the same kit about 5 years ago when it was re-released here in Japan. I was aware of the myriad of accuracy issues, so part of the fun this time around was trying to fix all those problems! No PE or anything else available in 1/25, so I made do with what I could scratch together myself, which included completing the partial interior, with engine.

So, that Tiger I was a trip down memory lane plus a technique-building excercise all in one. And it was still a sweet build! Aside from all the accuracy issues, it's a great kit.

I still have the old Tiger I built all those years ago, and it's great fun to compare the two and see the progress!

Here's a coupla pix of the newer of the two:

Well, then, in the spirit of the topic, my favorite build is not yet completed. Actually, it's a tie. THe first would have to be the Trumpeter 1/32 A-10A N/AW. Beautiful kit, negligible fit problems, and overall a nice kit of a great aircraft. The other is the Hasegawa 1/48 F-14A "Wolf Pack". It is truly a challenge, but the F-14 has always been a favorite subject, plus I'm building it as one of the squadrons from my last deployment, the "Pukin' Dogs." It's great to be able to build a part of my history.

demono69

I agree 100% with the last 2 posts .... always the one that's occupying the center of the desk.

The one's that I seem to remember more are the ones that were the most difficult to build, and they're usually the ones that I'm most proud of.

It's usually whatever I've just finished!

Here are two of my favorites:



The green No. 6 car is Mike Hawthorne's D-type Jaguar, the one he won the 1955 Le Mans 24 hours with. It's a Fisher Model & Pattern cast-resin kit. It was featured in the August 2000 issue of Scale Auto Enthusiast.

The burgundy Jaguar Mk. II is from Tamiya's kit, and is the last thing I've finished lately. It'll be featured in a full how-to article in the December 2003 issue of FSM.

Matt Usher
Senior Editor, FineScale Modeler

Sweet, Matt!
Look at the shine on those babies!!
Excellent work.

I can see why you help run the 'zine, Matt! Great finish on a couple of classics! I'm definately looking forward to the Dec 2003 issue to see the details on the Jag.

demono69

Thanks, guys!

Glad you like them!

Matt Usher @ FSM

Like some of the others, my favorite is usually the one I have on the bench. Right now that's a B-17 in 1/72 that I'm converting to a YB-40.

If I have to name one it has to be the Echelon 1/32 Hunter. Probably the best vacform kit I've ever seen, with great white metal detail parts, fantastic kit to build. Given the choice of that kit or the Revell kit, I'd have a hard time deciding - I just love the challenge of a vacform and this is one of the best vacform kits ever made.

My favorite has to be the Hasegawa Bf 109 series. The E, F, G, & K series kits all fall together, and the LOOK like 109s! A close second is the Hasegawa A6M series (except the old type 52 w/ the raised lines). Both fun to build.

Wow, some real nice models on show in here! Well done, Brian, Matt and Pixilater! Superb!

Thank you for all of the comments. All I can say is WOW! to some of these models.
I AM IMPRESSED!

My best build was accurizing the old Tamiya 88 kit--lots of additions and no PE available yet! Photos to come soon, I hope!
Gip Winecoff

It's got to be all the ones I built some 35 odd years ago when I was in my teens. I do manly aircraft but if I spy a subject i did back then, be it monster, ship, car or space ship. I droole....

Other than what I am currently working on, I have to go with the nostalgia factor. The first models I ever built (actually just passed the parts) were when I was 5. My mom had two antique car models in the apartment (where they came from I have no idea as my parents did not model). She got them down and we put them together, together. Quality time and one of my earliest memories. (No jokes please about the cars being current types way back then)