Kit Quality

[Terry McGrady]

I can tell that the first two kits I built was the Matchbox Hawker Fury and Boeing P12, and I´m quite convinced that they are the reason why I´m still in this hobby 30 years later. Wonderful kits, both of them.

I agree and also would add Seafox , Siskin ,Walrus and Wellesley to name but a few .Great little kits . Suitable for the novice and the More experienced modeller to detail as desired.

, Fortunately I have a few of these which i picked up dirt cheap over the years .

Like all manufacturers there are some good kits and bad kits in the Matchbox range. Often they were and still are the only options on the Market.

Edited February 14, 2008 by Terry McGrady

[Osher]

Firstly, DML kits are better known over this side of the Pond as Dragon, hope this helps someone

As for the best kits, well, it's down to a few variables: accuracy; ease of build; fit; details; option; value for money (not price, as this shouldn't be a factor); media (IM, resin, vacform, metal, mixed, wood, paper, et al) and relevence (you can have the best kit in the world, but if it's a 1/12 B-36, and you can't fit in your home, and don't like pusher prop bombers, it's not a good kit!)

However, in general, the Japanese kits of Japanese aircraft are said to be the best. The reason is that Tamiya and Hasagawa generally are reckoned to produce the best contempory kits, and they tend to produce their best for the Japanese market, where the standards tend to be higher. By such a measure, the 1/32 Tamiya Zero could well stand in for the best kit ever.

However, what's best for a newbie? Airfix kits can be hit and miss, and I have a personal hatred of the 1/72 MiG-15 due to the terrible moulding. However, they are cheap and cheerful, generally of a reasonable quality, and, whilst they often require filler, it's a good way to learn this essential skill.

As a kid I loved Matchbox. They fitted well, looked nice, and had great subjects. I recall buying a Matchbox Privateer at WHSmith Brent Cross, top floor, by the internal stairs in about, oh, 1980 or so. For so long I wanted it...I don't recall though what happened to it though. Bought one on ebay recently. Have been told it's hard to build though. Recall buying the Wellsley (spelling?) at the toy shop (forgot the name, part of a chain) in Swiss Cottage, near the Swiss Cottage pub. Hmmm, think I built it. Bought a couple recently, so I can finally build this fantastic pioneering aircraft (why don't Revell re-issue these kits?). The thing is, nice kits, and as a kid, preferred them to Airfix (sorry Mr.Mock!).

For cheaper, contempory kits, Italeri can be good, and cheap, but very hit and miss, same for Academy, but usually better. One thing: if you see some cheap 1/72 Tamiya, of less common subjects, e.g. Kfir C-2, it's actually Italeri reboxed. It's possible to find the same kit re-boxed, normally cheaper than the original.

[bentwaters81tfw]

Oh Rats, the dreaded Privateer. I started mine years ago, but the thought of white paint put me off. Tried acrylics 'cos I hate white enamel gloss.

Left it all patchy. Fortunately, it's still in small sub assembles, and I can strip it, now I've discoverd Halford white primer.

Perhaps I'll have another go.

Never had a problem with Matchbox, a little Tipp-ex in the panel lines sorts out most of the problems. Incidentally ASDA sell their own brand like the old stuff, not the watered down 'modern' Tipp-ex.

Yes the Japanese make excellent stuff, but how many of us would have started if Tamiya was all we could get.

Two bob for an Airfix Mk IX Spitfire, and a nice kit when you're 9. The Lysander was 'asymetrical'? to say the least.

We learnt, and it didn't cost the earth.

I have some Japanese monsters in my stash (1/32) but I'm frightened to start them, 'cos there's so much stuff, and I don't do competition standard. I tend to get bored too, and not finish stuff for ages (years).

Much prefer a cheap Chinese knock-off, keep the canopy and the hatches closed, and FINISH it.

You can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear, but it gives the dog something to chew on!

Edited February 18, 2008 by bentwaters81tfw

[Cornish]

I think some of the prior posts sum it, it's all about expectations and while undoubtable some of the higher end manufacturers with new toolings have a clear lead over some of the older offerings, the one good thing that I see is that we have a choice and value represnted in our choice of kits.

Personally, after a 17 year layoff and just coming back to the hobby as an adult, I think (and my partner surprisngly) that it's great that Hornby have brought Airfix back to the market and although some of the kits are showing their age, they can still be great fun to put together and represent good value. It's also good to see new things happening such as the new Nimrod and planned TSR2 and Mosquito. To illustrate the point, it was Airfix that just got be back into the hobby at Christmas, after seeing the Money Program on TV and seeing they are making a comeback, I was inspired to "have a go again", the result, a £2.99 Mk1 Spitfire for Christmas. One week, a 50p brush, some glue and £5 worth of Humbrol paint and look what happend:

And to all that; I actually had a lot of fun building this straight from the box and I think it's actually quite a nice representation, even if the tooling was first used in 1980. As it is, this is the first kit I ever made when I was 7 and guess it would be a great starting point for any 7 year old today, who does not need 15 parts in a cockpit alone. Furthermore it's got me back in the hobby and that's what I think it's about.

At the end of the day, it also encorages competition and better productions, take the new Revell Lancaster as an example and the price that it comes in at. Funnily enough, for my birthday, my partner wanted to buy me a "big project" and it arrived in the form of an Airfix Lancaster B.1. Now having read a few magazines since Christmas, I know the Revell is flavour of the month and probably the "better" kit, but she bought the Airfix one to support a British manufacturer making a comeback, I'm glad she did, I would guess the new Revell tooling is great, but the Airfix one ain't that bad and I am glad to support them in their comeback. Let's face it - who else offers a Anson or 1/72 Gloster Gladiator?

I think it's all about expectations and value.

My next project is a quick and fun to build Airfix 109, not because it's the best tooling, but because it will be a fun quick build of a nice model for a good price and it will give me a break in-between a larger more detailed project like the Revell Hurricane I am finishing up now.

Keep having fun.

[thx6667]

I think "the best kits" are the ones you enjoy the most.

[bexwh773]

Who makes the best kits? Periklis, of course!

No body makes em like our Periklis thats for sure Dave

Ive watched Big Bird build a Hasegawa Tonka, Im building a Hasegawa "jet" I cant say exactly what yet as Im doing as a Whiffer, but lets just say as far as Im concerned, they make modern jet kits and I have 2 more in my stash, one of which will be another Whiffy and the other is a Harrier GR 3 to which I aint looking forwards to building but I will never buy another one unless its to butcher and its dirt cheap, as in less than £3.00

Bexy

[AnonymousER99]

I think "the best kits" are the ones you enjoy the most.

Here Here!!! Nothing else left to add!!

[Jazzy Jase]

I think "the best kits" are the ones you enjoy the most.

Absolutely. Having fun is what it's all about, which is what I was trying to say in my original post:

"Now I don't mind a bit of filling and sanding, but this kit would take a lot and isn't my idea of fun."

So I don't mind spending a bit extra on a well fitting kit if it means I gain more enjoyment.

I've now got both the Tamiya and Airfix Spitfire Mk1's, so I shall build them both!

[Leigh]

Apart from the obvious, for ease of build and value for money I love Arii, Hobbycraft, and Academy 48th stuff. They may not be the most detailed or possibly accurate, but they seem to go together beautifully with usually none of the dreaded putty,sand, repeat. That to me makes a great model.