Haven't built a plastic scale model in ages. What are the popular brands nowadays?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Haven't built a plastic scale model in ages. What are the popular brands nowadays? (Page 1 of 2)

Posted: 10/4/2015 12:08:25 AM EDT

Last one I built was in HS, it was an F14. Use to build all types of mil jets. Now I've got helicopters, tanks, star wars and Battlestar Galactica vehicles on the brain.

The brands I remember was Revell, Testors, etc... What kits have more detailed plastic parts and require a medium-high skill to build?

Posted: 10/4/2015 12:11:31 AM EDT

[#1]

Monogram I believe is the brand I built mostly as a kid, along with Testors.

Posted: 10/4/2015 12:12:56 AM EDT

[#2]

Tamiya kits are good, expensive though.

Posted: 10/4/2015 12:14:39 AM EDT

[#3]

Quote History

Quoted:
Tamiya kits are good, expensive though.

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Japanese is bestest.

Posted: 10/4/2015 12:16:00 AM EDT

[#4]

Hasegawa makes the most detailed accurate kits ever made. They are bit pricey though, but worth it, IMO.

Posted: 10/4/2015 12:16:23 AM EDT

[#5]

Dragon is what you seek.

Posted: 10/4/2015 12:18:21 AM EDT

[#6]

if I can jump in on this question in addition to starting with a good quality kit, what tools, paints, etc do I need?

Been itching to build a model lately.

Posted: 10/4/2015 12:18:29 AM EDT

[#7]

Tamiya, Dragon/DML, Hasegawa, Eduard.

Posted: 10/4/2015 12:19:11 AM EDT

[#8]

The late nights I spent building a nice Revell B-52. Airbrushed and all. Then the joy of destroying it with Estes rocket motors crumbled up and lit with my Dad's lighter.

. I wish I had my old plastic models. I was good at them. Even mixed paint. Fun stuff!

Posted: 10/4/2015 12:19:20 AM EDT

[#9]

Depends on what you want to build
WWI aircraft: Wingnut Wings, Roden
Armor: Tamiya Dragon Academy
Aircraft: Eduard, Tamiya, Trumpeter, Accurate Miniatures (if you can find them)

Posted: 10/4/2015 12:20:21 AM EDT

[#10]

Squadron

Sprue Brothers

Posted: 10/4/2015 12:26:27 AM EDT

[#11]

Do kids even build them any more?

Posted: 10/4/2015 12:33:05 AM EDT

[#12]

Quote History

Quoted:
Depends on what you want to build
WWI aircraft: Wingnut Wings, Roden
Armor: Tamiya Dragon Academy
Aircraft: Eduard, Tamiya, Trumpeter, Accurate Miniatures (if you can find them)

View Quote

Accurate Miniatures kits are plentiful on the used kit market, I see them at contests and swap meets all the time.

If you plan on buying online I suggest this site.

http://www.spruebrothers.com/

I've known the owner for years, decent prices and fast service.

If you haven't built a kit in years I suggest looking at some of the builds and reviews online, plus join the forums for the type of model you want to do.

I'm "known" on some of those sites because I've been doing it for years.

PM me if you need any help on things. My main focus the past few years has been Bf 109 types, before that Battle of Britain fighters (Spits and Hurri's)

http://www.arcair.com/Gal10/9501-9600/gal9518-Bf-109-Flynn/00.shtm

http://www.arcair.com/Gal11/10801-10900/gal10855-Bf-109-Flynn/00.shtm

Couple of projects I did a few years ago. I sort of lost interest for the past couple years and burned out on 109's, trying a Tamiya Spitfire Mk I 1/48th to see if I can get back at it

Posted: 10/4/2015 12:33:21 AM EDT

[#13]

I'm thinking the car models. I still have some of mine from 30 -35 years ago. I even have some kits from then, not built. The Lee Majors Stunt Guy Chevy truck is one of them. I think a Yarburough Chevelle. Not sure but red number 11 car. Cannonball Run movie car? Me and my buddies used to build them. None of my sons really got into them.

Posted: 10/4/2015 12:36:51 AM EDT

[#14]

Quote History

Quoted:
Do kids even build them any more?

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I doubt KIDS build them anymore. More a hobby for old farts like me. But back in the day there was a wall full of models to be built. I can still smell the glue...

Posted: 10/4/2015 12:37:46 AM EDT

[#15]

Quote History

Quoted:
if I can jump in on this question in addition to starting with a good quality kit, what tools, paints, etc do I need?

Been itching to build a model lately.

View Quote

That all depends on how much you want to spend.

Most beginners start with entry level kits and basic tools, hobby knives, sprue cutters and basic files and hobby grade sanding paper.

As you build your skill level you'll want to try more involved projects.

I've 1/2 dozen different type "pro" level airbrushes and a full work bench (with a computer setup dedicated to researching my projects) in a spare bedroom.

Posted: 10/4/2015 12:41:19 AM EDT

[#16]

Quote History

Quoted:

I doubt KIDS build them anymore. More a hobby for old farts like me. But back in the day there was a wall full of models to be built. I can still smell the glue...

View Quote View All Quotes

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Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Do kids even build them any more?

I doubt KIDS build them anymore. More a hobby for old farts like me. But back in the day there was a wall full of models to be built. I can still smell the glue...

I see some younger adults getting interested in the hobby. There are several guys in my local club in their 20's and 30's.....about the same age I got into doing them as a "serious" model builder

Posted: 10/4/2015 12:49:47 AM EDT

[#17]

That's good. After the static stuff got boring I went RC. I could probably retire now if I had not.

Posted: 10/4/2015 12:50:40 AM EDT

[#18]

I recently got back into it also, what I can recommend.
Moebius makes great battlestar gallactica models, I'm in the process of making a centurion now. Revell makes great star trek models. Tamiya is what you want to get
for acrylic paints and thin glue.
Most people now airbrush their models instead of hand paint. Also most kits now have light sets and extra panel decals for mil jet cockpit
detail.

Posted: 10/4/2015 12:59:18 AM EDT

[#19]

I can't post pics so here are some go to's. if you like the cars/trucks.
https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xlt1/v/t1.0-9/12096337_951986144869242_5013913202066216372_n.jpg?oh=77a3ecac1ffc3e53789abf961b944d61&oe=56866119
57 Bel Air 4x4
https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/v/t1.0-9/s720x720/12036399_951986488202541_7616928872515636893_n.jpg?oh=126a48be31be35c738bf25a441e718d2&oe=568C1AD7
For Damascus knifemaker here on the ARF I give you the AMC Matador stock car.
https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-0/p180x540/12105771_951987874869069_3044128350959282403_n.jpg?oh=6daa4c98db67713dce8f12f111f7e600&oe=5684DFDF
A couple of Blazers. One for S.C.O.R.E. class 4 hand built rolbar from the sprue material. The other, street is neat! Fuel injected.
https://fbcdn-photos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xtp1/v/t1.0-0/p180x540/11219016_951988124869044_3195130151580998752_n.jpg?oh=f7a260e5433ec684ec22cc4a2ddb0a70&oe=56850BF5&__gda__=1453093218_2a367c3c1c8dbff04c6e66e80be3c179
How about a Chevy LUV with a blown 409?

Posted: 10/4/2015 1:53:45 AM EDT

[#20]

I build mostly aircraft and manufactures I prefer are from:

Tamiya
Hasegawa
Eduard
Hobby Boss
Trumpeter
Meng
Newer Revell

I've heard that the newer Airfix kits are pretty nice. Testors and Monogram have generally fallen to the wayside. There's number of online forums and just about every kit made has a at least one review that you can search on Google for.

A couple of my planes from last winter.

Tamiya FW-190D9

Tamiya FW-190F8

Tamiya P-51D

I really enjoy Tamiya models, they can be expensive if you don't where to look. I buy 99% of my kits on eBay, the other 1% come from Squardon or Spruebrothers. I rarely spend more than 20 bucks for a Tamiya 1/48 scale WWII fighter. Auctions come around frequently and a Simple search like 1/48 Tamiya then selecting "ending soonest" provides great results. Good luck!

Posted: 10/4/2015 3:08:43 AM EDT

[#21]

Quote History

Quoted:
I build mostly aircraft and manufactures I prefer are from:

Tamiya
Hasegawa
Eduard
Hobby Boss
Trumpeter
Meng
Newer Revell

I've heard that the newer Airfix kits are pretty nice. Testors and Monogram have generally fallen to the wayside. There's number of online forums and just about every kit made has a at least one review that you can search on Google for.

A couple of my planes from last winter.

Tamiya FW-190D9
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/IMG_12313.JPG
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/IMG_12325.JPG

Tamiya FW-190F8
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/IMG_09604.JPG
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/190F8.jpg
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/FullSizeRender_1_1.jpg

Tamiya P-51D
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/IMG_11504.JPG
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/IMG_11515.JPG
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/IMG_11473.JPG

I really enjoy Tamiya models, they can be expensive if you don't where to look. I buy 99% of my kits on eBay, the other 1% come from Squardon or Spruebrothers. I rarely spend more than 20 bucks for a Tamiya 1/48 scale WWII fighter. Auctions come around frequently and a Simple search like 1/48 Tamiya then selecting "ending soonest" provides great results. Good luck!

View Quote

Very nice! Thanks for sharing the pics!
I've got over a hundred kits bought on Ebay waiting for me to find time to get to them.
Lots of sailing ships from Heller, some WW2 armor but mostly 1/48 ww2 and 1950's aircraft. I have a few modern ones like a hasegawa Israeli F-16.
1/48 is definitely my favorite scale for aircraft since you get a lot of detail and they're not too hard to find places to display them.
I've even got a 1/48 B-58 Hustler that will be my next project.
I'm working on a war of 1812 schooner at the moment.

Posted: 10/4/2015 3:37:26 AM EDT

[#22]

AFV club is also pretty popular for armor.
Meng
Takom

Posted: 10/4/2015 3:57:19 AM EDT

[#23]

I used to do Airfix for planes and Jo-Hann & AMT for cars quite some time ago.

I found two NIB planes in the basement, an Aurora P-38, West Hempstead, NY, copyright 1956

And a Revell B-29, copyright 1954, both 98 cents but the B-29 was marked down to 49 cents, Venice California.

Petty crude by today's standards and these are not the re-issued ones.

Guns, cars, house and family prevent me from making some old car models I still have, unopened.

Posted: 10/4/2015 4:02:26 AM EDT

[#24]

Quote History

Quoted:

I doubt KIDS build them anymore. More a hobby for old farts like me. But back in the day there was a wall full of models to be built. I can still smell the glue...

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Do kids even build them any more?

I doubt KIDS build them anymore. More a hobby for old farts like me. But back in the day there was a wall full of models to be built. I can still smell the glue...

The first model kit I ever bought was a Monogram 1/48 Douglas SBD kit that I bought for less than $2.

Posted: 10/4/2015 5:02:30 AM EDT

[#25]

Quote History

Quoted:
AFV club is also pretty popular for armor.
Meng
Takom

View Quote

Meng is going to end up costing me quite a few pennies; I just bought their M3A3 Bradley w/BUSK III armor.

THAT is one nice kit!

Trumpeter, damn them, has already cost me a lot what with their excellent line of Russian armor. I seem to be hell bent on buying
everything they got.

Posted: 10/4/2015 5:56:54 AM EDT

[#26]

Quote History

Quoted:
I used to do Airfix for planes and Jo-Hann & AMT for cars quite some time ago.

I found two NIB planes in the basement, an Aurora P-38, West Hempstead, NY, copyright 1956

And a Revell B-29, copyright 1954, both 98 cents but the B-29 was marked down to 49 cents, Venice California.

Petty crude by today's standards and these are not the re-issued ones.

Guns, cars, house and family prevent me from making some old car models I still have, unopened.

View Quote

Those 2 kits might be worth about $1000

Look here
http://www.oldmodelkits.com/aurora.html

Posted: 10/4/2015 8:13:40 AM EDT

[#27]

http://forum.largescalemodeller.com/
The work that these people into their models is amazing.
A lot of talent.

Posted: 10/4/2015 8:16:44 AM EDT

[#28]

Quote History

Quoted:
Do kids even build them any more?

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Doubt it.

I had planes, ships and tanks.

Posted: 10/4/2015 8:26:49 AM EDT

[#29]

Quote History

Quoted:

if I can jump in on this question in addition to starting with a good quality kit, what tools, paints, etc do I need?

Been itching to build a model lately.

View Quote

Tamiya LACQUER spray paints and "fine" primer

Testors/Model Master/Tamiya bottle paints

I use Testors brushes but they get tossed frequently and replaced

I use Harbor Freight super glue to tack parts together then reinforce with Testors brush-on liquid glue

Squadron "green" putty is the best stuff out there

I also have a Tamiya painter's turntable for when I spray paint

Also get a good pair of tweezers, a box of toothpicks, some fine sandpapers and a #10 X-Acto with replaceable blades

Posted: 10/4/2015 8:27:39 AM EDT

[#30]

I like Tamiya and Hasegawa for WWII aircraft

Dragon and Tamiya for AFV's

Posted: 10/4/2015 8:29:19 AM EDT

[#31]

Quote History

Quoted:
Tamiya kits are good, expensive though.

View Quote

Posted: 10/4/2015 8:30:23 AM EDT

[#32]

Quote History

Quoted:
I build mostly aircraft and manufactures I prefer are from:

Tamiya
Hasegawa
Eduard
Hobby Boss
Trumpeter
Meng
Newer Revell

I've heard that the newer Airfix kits are pretty nice. Testors and Monogram have generally fallen to the wayside. There's number of online forums and just about every kit made has a at least one review that you can search on Google for.

A couple of my planes from last winter.

Tamiya FW-190D9
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/IMG_12313.JPG
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/IMG_12325.JPG

Tamiya FW-190F8
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/IMG_09604.JPG
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/190F8.jpg
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/FullSizeRender_1_1.jpg

Tamiya P-51D
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/IMG_11504.JPG
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/IMG_11515.JPG
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/IMG_11473.JPG

I really enjoy Tamiya models, they can be expensive if you don't where to look. I buy 99% of my kits on eBay, the other 1% come from Squardon or Spruebrothers. I rarely spend more than 20 bucks for a Tamiya 1/48 scale WWII fighter. Auctions come around frequently and a Simple search like 1/48 Tamiya then selecting "ending soonest" provides great results. Good luck!

View Quote

Nice.

Posted: 10/4/2015 8:34:04 AM EDT

[#33]

Hasegawa, Tamiya, Fine Molds, Fujimi, Revell of Germany, Eduard, Great Wall and the new Airfix

Italeri, some Heller, Hobby Boss, Trumpeter and Huma are ok too

Stay away from Mastercraft and Starfix

I still have like 820+ unbuild kits in stock.

Posted: 10/4/2015 8:35:18 AM EDT

[#34]

Revell 1/48 P-47N with many alterations. It's older but accurate and if you take the time to pre-fit properly and want to add aftermarket detail parts you can make a really good kit.

Posted: 10/4/2015 8:55:15 AM EDT

[#35]

Quote History

Quoted:

Japanese is bestest.

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Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Tamiya kits are good, expensive though.

Japanese is bestest.

THis

Posted: 10/4/2015 8:56:19 AM EDT

[#36]

All the brands listed are excellent..................also, if you want some sci-fi type kits like powered armor battle suits, Maschinen Krieger kits by Wave and Hasegawa are what you seek

Posted: 10/4/2015 9:43:01 AM EDT

[#37]

Quote History

Quoted:
I build mostly aircraft and manufactures I prefer are from:

Tamiya
Hasegawa
Eduard
Hobby Boss
Trumpeter
Meng
Newer Revell

I've heard that the newer Airfix kits are pretty nice. Testors and Monogram have generally fallen to the wayside. There's number of online forums and just about every kit made has a at least one review that you can search on Google for.

A couple of my planes from last winter.

Tamiya FW-190D9
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/IMG_12313.JPG
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/IMG_12325.JPG

Tamiya FW-190F8
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/IMG_09604.JPG
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/190F8.jpg
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/FullSizeRender_1_1.jpg

Tamiya P-51D
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/IMG_11504.JPG
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/IMG_11515.JPG
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/IMG_11473.JPG

I really enjoy Tamiya models, they can be expensive if you don't where to look. I buy 99% of my kits on eBay, the other 1% come from Squardon or Spruebrothers. I rarely spend more than 20 bucks for a Tamiya 1/48 scale WWII fighter. Auctions come around frequently and a Simple search like 1/48 Tamiya then selecting "ending soonest" provides great results. Good luck!

View Quote

Very Nice.

Airfix has really upped their game since Hornby bought them out. The new 1/48th Spitfire Mk I/Vb series are excellent and the new 1/48th Hurricane Mk I is supposed to set new standards for the type. I don't have that yet, not in stock last time I looked and I missed getting one at the IPMS nats in July

Posted: 10/4/2015 12:20:43 PM EDT

[#38]

bump

Posted: 10/4/2015 12:41:43 PM EDT

[#39]

It really depends on what you want to build.

For example a lot of companies have Focke Wulf kits. But the best kits available right now are from Eduard. If you wanted to build a P-51 or P-47 you'd pick up the Tamiya kits. Spitfires you're go to kits are Airfix and Eduard.

Check out Kitmaker Network, Hyperscale, Perth Military Modeling, many great modeling websites out there.

Posted: 10/4/2015 12:42:54 PM EDT

[#40]

Quote History

Quoted:
THis

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Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:

Tamiya kits are good, expensive though.

Japanese is bestest.

THis

A lot of Tamiya kits are molded in the Phillipines now.

Posted: 10/4/2015 12:46:12 PM EDT

[#41]

My stash, well, part of it.

My display case

Posted: 10/4/2015 1:36:08 PM EDT

[#42]

Nice builds everyone

Here are mine
My display case from a jewelry store

1/32 Roland DVI by Wingnut Wings

Trumpeter TBM Avenger 1/32

trumpeter 1/32 Bearceat F-8 in NAS Akron colors

1/35 Tamiya M-50 Super Sherman

I also painted my flying helmet

Posted: 10/4/2015 5:08:10 PM EDT

[#43]

nice stuff, I buy kits on ebay, and about 5 facebook trading selling pages, 2 of them have auctions for kits.

miniart has some nice stuff now to.

Pegasus makes some scifi stuff too. among others.

a couple looking to get when I can get a good price.

Posted: 10/4/2015 5:31:18 PM EDT

[#44]

Quote History

Quoted:
My stash, well, part of it.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y157/ScottsGT/79820C78-9F05-4FD5-9838-CE17727A85D5_zpscpxixt7t.jpg

My display case
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y157/ScottsGT/DB492548-5A5A-43F4-9C06-62AE16ED84C8_zpsfirhdljh.jpg

View Quote

Where did you get that display case?

Posted: 10/4/2015 5:33:28 PM EDT

[#45]

Quoted:
Last one I built was in HS, it was an F14. Use to build all types of mil jets. Now I've got helicopters, tanks, star wars and Battlestar Galactica vehicles on the brain.

The brands I remember was Revell, Testors, etc... What kits have more detailed plastic parts and require a medium-high skill to build?

View Quote

If you are just gluing it together and aren't really a model builder, I wouldn't waste a lot of money on a decent kit. You are going to get more info on Google than you are here.

Posted: 10/4/2015 6:53:47 PM EDT

[#46]

Quote History

Quoted:
A lot of Tamiya kits are molded in the Phillipines now.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Tamiya kits are good, expensive though.

Japanese is bestest.

THis

A lot of Tamiya kits are molded in the Phillipines now.

Tamiya cuts the molds in Japan and produces a new release in Japan for 2 years. After 2 years a set of molds are transported to the Philippines and their produced there.

That's mainly due to production space at the Tamiya Japan plant

Posted: 10/4/2015 7:04:44 PM EDT

[#47]

Out of all the 1/72 scale kits I have made the Tamiya kits are the best for fit and engineering. (They almost build themselves) There are others that are good too and it depends on what plane you want to make. Sometimes you need to pick the best of the possibilities from a particular plane type. It may not be the best possible model but you can usually get aftermarket parts to make it better.