VonkeyVong Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 Out of the available plastic kits which is the best starting point? Its worth being mindful that my modelling time is limited so I do a bare minimum of detailing and scratch building. Matt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roo Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 The airfix one is nice enough, even though it dates from the 70's. I've never built the Revell version, but if it is newer it might be better? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Mc Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 It's not newer and it's not particularly better - but it's OK. As is often the case with space models, both the Airfix and Revell kits were released before the Space Shuttle started flying into space. Revell originally released their's as "Enterprise" - complete with tail fairing and long "spike" on the nose, as fitted during some of the glide test flights. I have heard that the Airfix kit is the best in 1/144, but it's not perfect. I've never built it. I have built the Revell kit (way back in 1980/81) and, more recently, the Minicraft kit. The Minicraft kit is probably the LEAST accurate - but it can still be made up to a reasonable represenatation of the real thing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mekon Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 It would certainly be worth you picking up the SIM on the Space Shuttles. Mikes book details the best kit or combination of kits to build an accurate stack. Cheers, Ken http://www.spaceinminiature.com/books/sim3.html 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetboy Posted November 28, 2014 Share Posted November 28, 2014 hi matt, its a tough one this...go for it,anyone of the kits ,seemingly they are all wrong,some have decals where tiles are wrong,windows are wrong, its all a load of man-vegetables, if we were all doing museum quality masterpieces and getting paid for it,,well,i might pick one to start with.but as its fun,how much do you want to spend,how many years have you got to build it..... just get one you like,they all look like shuttles,paint it white,paint the tank brown/ochre ask some one what it is...its a shuttle? some of the older ones have better payloads,to show...ive got them all,wont build them yet,because i have,nt found a pic of one i like yet.lol i think what im trying to say is,you build what you like,i liked them all until i asked someone...lol hope that helps don ps if your really really really desperate to know the diffferences,pm me and tell me which kit,and i,ll try and tell you?lol 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Mc Posted November 28, 2014 Share Posted November 28, 2014 The OP seems to want the "best" 1/144 kit. I would suggest that the best is actually the Airfix one - but it still needs correcting. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VonkeyVong Posted November 29, 2014 Author Share Posted November 29, 2014 Thanks for all the replies, I suppose if they are all inaccurate which is par for the course with a 1/144 model of such a complex aircraft, my question should have been which kit best captures the essence of the Space Shuttle? I have not built any space vehicles in the past but have looked at the kits from time to time. With Airfix offering their Saturn 1B and Saturn 5 kits at good prices I have bit the bullet and bought three kits, I will not build them oob but I will not put to much effort into correcting them, I will basically just tidy them up and replace anything which looks crazy. Matt. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetboy Posted November 30, 2014 Share Posted November 30, 2014 Thanks for all the replies, I suppose if they are all inaccurate which is par for the course with a 1/144 model of such a complex aircraft, my question should have been which kit best captures the essence of the Space Shuttle? I have not built any space vehicles in the past but have looked at the kits from time to time. With Airfix offering their Saturn 1B and Saturn 5 kits at good prices I have bit the bullet and bought three kits, I will not build them oob but I will not put to much effort into correcting them, I will basically just tidy them up and replace anything which looks crazy. Matt. hi,matt thats exactly how they should be built,i,ll be watching for tips. cheers don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Mc Posted November 30, 2014 Share Posted November 30, 2014 The newer issues (2011) of the Airfix Saturns are a big improvement on the original 1970/71 issues. The upper section of each rocket (the 1st stage, LM fairing, Command/Service Module and Escape Tower) have all been redone to give a proper shape to the whole thing. The panelling on the Service Module is also now correct. The only aspect of the top stage they didn't really address is the fact that the Command Module under the Boost Protection Cover (BPC) is dimensionally way too small and is best left out of the assembly altogether. There are still issues with the 1st and 2nd stages and the engine bells which, to be completely accurate, would need to be addressed. However, to the average person most of these details (cable trunking, pipes etc) are not that noticeable. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VonkeyVong Posted December 2, 2014 Author Share Posted December 2, 2014 Looks like I will probably go with the Revell kit as there are tile decals currently available for it, just dont fancy the idea of trying to paint them on in such a small scale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Mc Posted December 2, 2014 Share Posted December 2, 2014 Who currently produces Shuttle tile decals. I used the Cutting Edge set (alas now defunct) on my Shuttle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanali Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 Who currently produces Shuttle tile decals. I used the Cutting Edge set (alas now defunct) on my Shuttle. There is a guy on the ARC forums who is looking to produce some for the Airfix version http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=278002&st=0Although he appears to have hit a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Mc Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 Those tiles are extremely complex. No wonder he's struggling. I have to say that the application of the tile decals to my Shuttle was the most difficult decalling job I've ever undertaken. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VonkeyVong Posted December 10, 2014 Author Share Posted December 10, 2014 Airfix Shuttle and boosters obtained from fellow BM'er 'cmatthewbacon' plus decals and motor nozzles on the way from RealSpace Models. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tkladiva Posted February 1, 2015 Share Posted February 1, 2015 The Revell kit is the best one. I have checked all 3 available 1/144 kits when decided on which one we will base our new NW131 Shuttle detail set, which should be available in march. Tom Kladiva New Ware 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Mc Posted February 1, 2015 Share Posted February 1, 2015 Interesting. I also found that Warbird Decals produce a 1/144 set of decals for the Revell kit. I've now bought both a Revell Orbiter kit and a set of the Warbird decals - which look good. My plan is to depict an Orbiter in space deploying or working on the Hubble Space Telescope. Now - who does a 1/144 HST? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caerbannog Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 The Revell kit is the best one. I have checked all 3 available 1/144 kits when decided on which one we will base our new NW131 Shuttle detail set, which should be available in march. Tom Kladiva New Ware Hi Tom, what exactly make the Revell kit better? AFAIR the Revel kit has no real u/c bays and simplified nozzles. So it looks a bit more simple from the box. But maybe the over al dimensions and shape is closer to the real thing? Up to now I only read that the Airfix kit is superior (but I have no idea on what exactly this was based). However the same was said about the Monogram 1:72 Shuttle but Keith McNeill found out when doing his awesome tile decals that the pictures of the Space Shuttle he used matched the Revell kit very well, while he had to tweak them to make them fit the Monogram kit. Rene Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanali Posted February 13, 2015 Share Posted February 13, 2015 There's a comparison here:- http://www.spaceinminiature.com/ref/sts/sts_table.html From all I've ever read, the Airfix one is better, but not by much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanali Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 Bit of progress on the Shuttle Tile decals mentioned earlier http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?s=5fd529c2f7ff355813159f523f91801a&showtopic=278002&st=40 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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