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For you, which is your favorite kit-making brand?

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  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, May 18, 2003 10:40 PM
Monogram did two 1/48 A-26 Invader versions in the mid-90's. The 1/48 scale A-20 Havocs were done by AMT shortly after and are currently OOP. In 1/72, Airfix and Revell did the A-20B/C versions in the 60's and Matchbox did an A-20G/J. I think there was an old FROG kit as well.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Mexico
Posted by mandrake on Sunday, May 18, 2003 10:39 PM

Bu! that's bad, i saw the box of an A-20 a few years a go, but was so damaged that i dont remember if it was that of a 1/48 or 1/72, neither if it was revell or monogram, would be great to at least see an A-20 in 1/48. Monogram makes good models, i defenetly would like to see new planes, like the A-20 in 1/48 or stuff like that!

Thank you Woody my best regards!
Reymundo C.
Thanks! My Best Regards Hector Reymundo
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Third rock from the sun.
Posted by Woody on Sunday, May 18, 2003 9:21 PM
I'm 95% sure that there is no such thing as a Monogram 1/48 A-20. Revell issued an A-20 and P-70 in 1/72. I would like to know if you find out different. I have referred to two different collector books and they make no mention of said kit.Sad [:(]

" I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way." --John Paul Jones
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Mexico
Posted by mandrake on Sunday, May 18, 2003 8:01 PM

Well Berny13 is just right, Whoever releases a model of a 1/48 aircraft that no one else has released!!!!, i love Monogram but when i have the money i'd get a Tamiya or a Hasegawa kit. By the way does any one out there has ever seen a Monogram A-20 HAVOC in 1/48??? does this thing really exists???

My best regards
Reymundo C.
Thanks! My Best Regards Hector Reymundo
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Third rock from the sun.
Posted by Woody on Sunday, May 18, 2003 7:11 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by mdchadbourne
when I build a kit I like to have to do a bit of work.
Doesn't that require skill or something?Tongue [:P]

" I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way." --John Paul Jones
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, May 18, 2003 2:32 PM
It has to be Monogram for me. Actually living in the UK, most of these come under the Revell Germany banner, but the cost is good, the detail is, in most case is more than adequate and for me these are the two things that make the kit building experiance. With these "Tamigawa" kits I don't find any enjoyment in the build because its all been done by the moldmakers on your behalf. Maybe I'm just being an oldy, but when I build a kit I like to have to do a bit of work.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, May 18, 2003 12:42 PM
Impossible to name a favorite! I do 1/72 airplanes almost exclusively. Not everybody make everything so you've got to go to several sources. Trumpeter just did a kit that was at the top of my list from almost the beginning - 1/72 Tu95 "Bear". For B-17's, B-24's and B-29's Academy makes the best ones and they were nice enough to cover several versions of each. Tamiya's WW2 fighters are very nice. Airfix did a couple as well, their B-26 Marauder ain't bad. But then again, all the manufacturers I mentioned have done some stinkers too, especially in their early days. I guess to know which kits are good or bad you can ask here and you'll get so many different answers that you'll be more confused than before you ask!Dead [xx(]
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, May 18, 2003 12:30 PM
I don't know about favorite kit maker. Just started on Academy's FA-18, wow what a kit. And Tamiya always seems to put out a good product. Very consistant in quality. But Trumpeter is definitly moving up the ranks. They have thier faults, castings abit thick looking, detail, fit could be better, but as one who does almost strickly 1/32 aircraft I like Trumpeters subject matter. Both what is out now and future releases.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, May 18, 2003 8:33 AM
I was with Hasegawa...more recently Trumpeter seems to come up with impressive stuffs in impressive scales....
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, May 17, 2003 9:48 PM
My first plastic kit was a Hawk kit ,1/72 scale,of a late model spitfire,the kit was very basic,gear moulded into the wimg ,no cockpit detail,and if I remember right I paid .25C US for it. It wasnt much,but for me,it was a fine work of art in its gloss,blue camo. As far as favorite maker? I can't say,as all of the kits have gevien me some form of satisfaction. I'd have to say, my favorite kit maker is, the one I'm working on now.
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Third rock from the sun.
Posted by Woody on Saturday, May 17, 2003 9:14 PM
Sinjin, you are so right. It is much better not to be locked into a name brand.Big Smile [:D]

" I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way." --John Paul Jones
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, May 17, 2003 8:19 PM
Don't have a favorite kit-brand as long as a company is producing the model I like I will buy it. So if it is from Revell it's ok if it's from Heller it's fine too.
Form me comes first the model and then the brand
  • Member since
    February 2003
Posted by NEPTUN on Saturday, May 17, 2003 4:43 PM
hi everybody

For me the best in 1/48 scale -my favorite- in wwii subjects is
Accurate miniatures in same scale but in wwi is Eduard and in
jets also in the same scale is Hasegawa and the new Revell Monogram
[Rafale,F-15 ].
The mig 15 from Trumpeter is excellent , i think we have here
the new power in jets

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by Faris on Saturday, May 17, 2003 2:34 AM
As far as fit and finish, it is hard to believe any are better than Tamiya. Hasegawa and Accurate Miniatures excellent. For the money you cannot beat Monogram/Revell. Trumpeter has come along incredibly, but depending on the subject, sometimes you work with what you got. For instance, my favorite plane is a totally mediocre kit in 1/48. The SAAB Viggen reissued under the Airfix name was a scary kit put out by ESCI. They cleaned it up, but as far as fit and detail......
The only time you have too much fuel is when you are on fire.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, May 14, 2003 10:46 AM
I think the answer to this question depends largely on what scale you are building in. I build only 1/72 scale World War Two aircraft. I see a lot of folks prefer Monogram but they don't offer many new kits in 1/72 WW2 worth mentioning. Tamiya's Bf 109, Mosquito, Fw 190 and Seiran are excellent examples of what can be done in 1/72 scale. Revell's He 177, Bv 222 and others to come are fantastic kits of aircraft I doubted would ever be tackled by a quality manufacturer. And then there are some companies whose kits, while not oustanding, are of such obscure nature that I am very thankful they were produced. A good example of this in 1/72 scale is Mach 2's recent and upcoming releases!

Joe
  • Member since
    April 2003
Posted by Butch8274 on Tuesday, May 13, 2003 11:17 AM
Like many of the above, I have a soft spot in my heart for Monogram kits. (I just can't bring myself to call them Revell/Monogram) I started with the old (read 1954 or so) Revell kits and quickly moved up to Monogram when the 1/72 Buff came out. Now that I can afford the "Tamigawa" kits, I do confess to building them with a lot of enjoyment, but I always look for the latest Monogram kit.

Best Regards,

Butch
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 13, 2003 7:32 AM
My favorite brands are Hasagawa and Revell/Monogram in all scales and Testors in 1/72 scale
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, May 12, 2003 6:04 PM
Monogram; maybe doesn't have the same level of detail than Tamiya, Hasegawa or Accurate but my interest in modelling began with Monogram kits.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, May 12, 2003 4:25 PM
Got to be AIRFIX circa 1965 - 80, ( i like em old ) no faceless box art. To be honest perfect fit and detail = ZZZZzzzzzzzz for me, dont see much Monogram in the UK unfortunately but old Revell is cool.

-TO CONFUSED TO BE CLEVER-
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, May 12, 2003 3:53 PM
Count me as a Tamiya lover!
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: United Kingdom / Belgium
Posted by djmodels1999 on Monday, May 12, 2003 1:39 AM
In terms of quality, I'd have to say Hasegawa, but I'm more interested in off the track subjects, and Sword, Mach 2 and William Bros ' catalogues, to name but a few, are way more interesting...
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: NE Georgia
Posted by Keyworth on Sunday, May 11, 2003 11:16 PM
Like quite a few others posted here, I started out with the old Monogram, Revell and Hawk kits. I've built something from just about everyone that's produced a/c and armor in the last 25+ years, but I keep coming back to Monogram for something basic that can be built quickly. It's also the brand that got my kids interested in the hobby-they could afford them, where they couldn't afford some of the others. - Ed
"There's no problem that can't be solved with a suitable application of high explosives"
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Sunny Florida
Posted by renarts on Sunday, May 11, 2003 9:47 PM
Tamiya

Mike
Mike "Imagination is the dye that colors our lives" Marcus Aurellius A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!"
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Panama City, Florida, Hurricane Alley
Posted by berny13 on Sunday, May 11, 2003 8:18 PM
Whoever releases a model of a 1/48 aircraft that no one else has released. There is still gaps in my collection and if a kit manufacturer releases an acft that will fill that gap, I will more than likely get it. I just hope it will be Monogram/Revell, Hasagawa, or Tamiya. Cool [8D]

Berny

 Phormer Phantom Phixer

On the bench

TF-102A Delta Dagger, 32nd FIS, 54-1370, 1/48 scale. Monogram Pro Modeler with C&H conversion.  

Revell F-4E Phantom II 33rd TFW, 58th TFS, 69-260, 1/32 scale. 

Tamiya F-4D Phantom II, 13th TFS, 66-8711, 1/32 scale.  F-4 Phantom Group Build. 

 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Third rock from the sun.
Posted by Woody on Sunday, May 11, 2003 8:08 PM
What a diabolical question. I'll bet most of us will come up with a half dozen favorites. well, let me give it a whirl. I build experimental A/C for the most part so that is what fuels my search. I like Pavla, MPM, Special Hobbies, and as of a week ago add Sword to the list. Now that might be the end of my answer, but I'm a kit collector! My choice for vintage plastic is Monogram, Aurora, Hawk, and Airfix (with special interest in the Craft Master line). Oh heck I like em all even that bottom feeder LindbergCool [8D]Big Smile [:D]

" I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way." --John Paul Jones
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: UK
Posted by gregers on Saturday, May 10, 2003 10:15 AM
Heres one that has me scraching my head as they all have there merits. for ease of build its got to be hasegawa for sheer hard work getting them to look accurate matchbox because you need an awful lot of filler in those panel trenches (oops)lines.BUT my vote will go to any manufacturer who is first to produce a 1/24 scale dehaviland chipmunk
Why torture yourself when life will do it for you?
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Fall River, MA
Posted by klem on Saturday, May 10, 2003 12:55 AM
Hasegawa, Tamiya, Monogram. In that order.
"We the unwilling, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible, for the ungrateful. We've been doing so much for so long with so little we are now capable of doing anything with nothing." Unknown
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Lewisburg , Tenn
Posted by fuzzy on Friday, May 9, 2003 10:56 PM
Started with Monogram a long time ago. Time sure does
fly, seems like it was just yesterday. Academy, Tamiya,
Accurate Miniatures and all the others. The quality is so
good now that it depends on the subject. Gaining ground
fast for me is Eduard. Those P-39's look great !
fuzzy
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Charlotte, NC
Posted by armorman on Friday, May 9, 2003 9:47 PM
hmm... started with Monogram and will die by Monogram. Love the new Trumpeter and of course Tamiya. Monogram has a place in my heart. I'll always put more effort into one than some others but if I want a kit, i can always find it.
Next Up: 1/35 Tamiya Merkava 1/48 Tamiya King Tiger 1/35 Dragon M1A1 AIM
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