Well this video went a bit nuts over the weekend - many thanks for all the likes and comments! I've added the full lists inside the video description plus all the links to the videos I've done on them. Happy to hear your thoughts on which of the Top Ten I should revisit (I also was able to snag a second 1/48 Bandai X-Wing since publishing this!) - I'm definitely doing the Savoia S.21 from Porco Rosso, but tempted to try another very shortly! Cheers, Chris
Those 1:32 scale Tamiya aircraft kits are beasts. Making the cockpit and engine for the Corsair took forever, but the pieces always fit together perfectly. I'll never buy another Revell kit though. Their quality has dropped drastically over the years. Warped and broken parts, awful quality plastic, bad instructions, etc. Couldn't even finish a 1:48 AH1 Huey it was so awfully engineered.
Thanks for showing this.. I built planes 50 yrs ago, starting to build more now, 65yrs old now. Glad to know about quality in the different manufacturers i.e. , Revell , Tamiya Great info
@@steveokon5431 no problem! It's difficult to find an enjoyable airplane kit these days. Ironically, the last plane I actually had fun building was the Revell 1:48 B25 Mitchell. Then the dark times began...
At the age of 55 I've just completed my first go at an Airfix model kit: 1:72 Supermarine Spitfire Mkia. Skill level 1 but boy am I pleased with myself.
That’s great! I’m 20 and just grabbed the Airfix model Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat 1:72. It’s taken a couple of weeks to get the proper materials but I’m super excited to get it going 👍 I love how nice the pieces are molded
The engineering, fit, and finish of the Bandai Star Wars kits is so ridiculously satisfying to assemble. I love how these kits come together and all without glue. They are simply brilliant!
How can anyone ‘dislike’ a video like this? Total A-Holes, in my opinion. I am so pleased your ‘best’ kit is the Spitfire. I am 67 years old and I grew up with ‘Airfix’ and ‘Revell’. My best were the large scale Spitfire, 1/72 Avro Lancaster and B17. I didn’t paint them to the outstanding quality of your kits but I still remember the satisfaction of hanging the finished ones up in my bedroom around 1964. I would love to see your attempt at a Mk9 Spitfire with D-Day markings..........only because I had the honour of actually flying in one for around thirty minutes from Biggin Hill on May 1st this year. Probably the second best experience of my life. (Can’t go into my first.....!) Ace video mate.
Thanks Clive. I just happen to have a Spitfire IX with beer barrels somewhere in that big stash cabinet! Its about the only Allied plane I want to do in D-day markings...except maybe a C-47? And you have my sincere jealousy at managing a ride in a Spit!!!!
You just nailed it, brother ! If model companies listened to you, then they would sell 10x more models. Kits have to be well engineered with perfect fit, so that moms would allow dads to buy them. Me and my 9 year old son want more Bandai snap kits !!!
Just returned to Modeling - started in the 1970's with Airfix of all Military types - a lot has changed; just got the Tamiya Matilda II 1/35 -looking forward to doing two of them, an Aussie one and the standard Brit desert one.
That was cool to watch, thank you for presenting your pigs and favourites! Since i am not an expert for aircraft models this is valuable information :) Thanks again and i appreciate the shout out mate.
Nice list. I am just about finished with the Premium Hobbies F-14A "VF-142 Ghostriders" 1/72. My father was chief safety inspector for the F-14 throughout it's entirety. The plane has a lot of meaning to my family.
One of my favorite kits was the old Airfix 1/72 SPAD XIII, which I built when I was five... my first kit. I slopped Testors 'Competition Orange' all over it, painted the pilot brown overall, and loved it fiercely until I started building other kits, typically small, cheap kits packaged in blister-packs hanging near the cash registers of most hobby stores. I wasn't rich, and my parents could easily see how an impressionable young boy might become obsessed with this pastime, to the complete dereliction of anything else. Nine years in I was 14, and my next most favorite kit was the old Airfix 1/72 Fokker Dr.I, blister-packed, of course, and hanging from a disused wall of cheaper kits, including the old Heller Cadet series of 1/100 jet planes from the 'sixties. Do you see what I'm getting at? It's not what's in the box what counts, or what you paid for it (every kit you've mentioned, good or bad, is light-years beyond what I ever could have afforded in those first nine years. I yearned for the old Entex 1/350 Titanic, but I wasn't able to buy it until 1989), or how much some God-knows-which UA-cam so-called 'Influencer' insists you MUST have it... it's what you put into the hobby, what comes from your heart and soul, not your wallet-pocket. Phrases like 'I couldn't get into it' and 'I'm just not going to say any more' are not terribly helpful; any functional adult so traumatized over a model kit might consider some other hobby. Did you think this was going to be a kind hobby? If you let it, it will spend all your money regardless of your station; it will turn at least one room of your house into a toxic waste dump; it is, for the most part, a solitary pursuit, and most girls still 'just don't get' what drives young boys and some old men to construct these funny little replicas of real-life objects. I am less a young boy today than an old man, as are you. Have you discovered, as have I, that we're just not as dextrous, not as eager, not as clear-sighted, as we were decades ago? Frankly, I look at the hundreds of kits I've built over my life and wonder, 'Where did that kid have the stamina, the TIME, to build all these?' And then I remember how many sunny days I spent indoors to build those things. This is not a kind hobby. I currently own a good hundred kits. In boxes. Some partially built, others still in plastic bags. Some are decades old. I plot, scheme, to finish some of them, but somehow never have the time, or the stamina, or something. I have re-built several beloved old kits, bringing them to new standards of displayability. My favorite kits? ALL OF THEM. I have ten vintage Revell car kits from the old days. I have several vintage Airfix ships, including the Vasa, the Victory, the Bismarck, and the E-Boat. I have twelve Gundam kits, which do not require paint or cement, but guys our age do need to do a little research to know what we're building. I do mean to build them. All of them. Someday. P.S. Many UA-camrs develop scripts for their videos, especially if they feel they have something to say about their chosen subject. You might consider a script. Keep posting.
Hi mate. Great video. Just found your channel. You got my sub. I am 59 years old. I used to build model kits many years ago. Probably haven't built one for over 30 years. Spent 23 years as an Armourer in the RAF. Because of lockdown, I had a lot of time on my hands. So I decided to start modelling again. Tamiya have always been my go to kit manufacturer. I build many of their armour back in the day. So far, I have completed 3 kits in the last 6 months or so. The 1st 2, I had in my stash in the loft. Tamiya 1/35 Humvee Weapons Carrier and Tamiya 1/12 Yamaha YZF R1 Taira Racing. Then I bought the Tamiya 1/350 HMS Prince of Wales battleship. Completed it with Eduards Cranes & Railings Photo Etch set and a wooden deck set. Now I am building a Tamiya 1/32 F4-J Phantom marines. Oh boy, that is a great kit. Not far off completing it. Will be going back to armour for my next build. I have got Meng's 1/35 Merkava Mk4M with the reactive armour package to do. Anyway, I have put pictures on my page on Scalemates. Will be checking out more of your content for sure.
Thanks for the comment Andrew - you'll love that Meng Merkava, I did the Mk III but sold it off to someone else to paint it, was a fun, if a little complicated build. Cheers, Chris
I've just started my very first kit! Bandai X-Wing 1:72. I absolutely love building it. Looking forward to trying to paint and weather it next. Will definitely keep an eye out for the Millennium Falcon by Bandai now! Thank you for the inspiration.
Enjoy that kit its fantastic and welcome to the hobby! I'll have another Bandai Millennium Falcon video up soon on how to paint and weather the Falcon...cheers Chris
41 here and been building since age 6. One thing I've really noticed is how much the cost of this hobby has risen. Not just the kits, you'd expect those to increase given the complexity and detail that goes into them today, but it's the consumables that have spiralled ridiculously. It's quiet easy to blow 50 bucks and not cart many items home for the inventory. Great video, keep up the good work.
I can remember paying 13 cents for the little Testors glass bottle paints when I was a young kid. This weekend I needed just a bit of gun metal color, so I just grabbed a bottle of Testors at the local hobby shop...... $3.81. When I was a kid that would have bought me two 1/25 car kits and 4 or 5 bottles of Testors paint.
Been modeling since 6 myself. When you calculate the cost per gallon of the paint it is astronomical to say the least . No way the companies can justify charging hundreds for a gallon of freekin model paint !! Hell, you could buy paint for a real aircraft for less money !! But, I will still pay though .😊
Great run down. Fun to watch. For me, my top 2 near perfect kits I build recently are 1) 100th Anniversary Tamiya release of the Storch in 1/48 scale. Goes together like Legos. I used no putty or filler anywhere. and 2) The Honda Jet by Ebbro also in 1/48. Again no putty needed, minimum sanding, beautiful engineering and tooling. Complete detailed interior that can be shown by the removable top of the fuselage. Many of the parts just snap together so tightly that I skipped using cement.
The Mk XII Spitfire was the First Griffon engine mark to be produced. Early production examples were based on the Mark Vc Airframe and later examples were based on the Mk VIII airframe. The ONLY was to tell them apart is to look at the tail wheel. If it is fixed - it was a Mark Vc, whereas a retractable tailwheel was a Mark VIII based example. Basically this means you need a Good photo of the individual plane you are intending to build, showing the tail. BTW both Early and Late versions had the Asymmetric Radiators. (Like the Mark Vc.)
Thanks Brett. Technically it was a Mk IV as the first - but thats a testbed, not a production article. And yes I have detailed photos of the one I want to do, a late with retractable wheel, hence the Mk VIII. The conversion kit I have is the Grey Matters resin set for the Revell/Hasegawa Mk V, plus another unknown garage kit that someone gave me (just the nose). If I had some skill I would make my own Griffon conversion set for the Tamiya kits - but that's off the table for now. I'm currently building the Special Hobby 1/48 Mk XII, will have a video up on that later this year probably. Thanks for commenting, appreciate your insight. Cheers, Chris
First off- New sub :) Second: What a great video. I might have to pick up a few of these!!! Third: you asked what our bottom or tops were. Unfortunately, I havent built very many models. Kind of "just got in to it", so I dont really have a stash, and my highschool gets in the way of modelling time alot. But my top 5 from what I've built: 1. Tamiya 1/48 F4U-1A "Birdcage" Corsair 2. Tamiya 1/48 P-47 Razorback 3. Accurate Miniatures 1/48 TBM Avenger (not academy box, OG AM) 4. Revell 1/32 Ki 61 Tony (Super old, but great details) 5. Zvezda 1/48 Yakolev Yak 3 I've also built some amazing tanks, like the RFM 1/35 Panther F, Tamiya 1/48 Easy 8, and Tamiya 1/48 StuG III in Finnish service. But I'm more of a plane person.
Now thats a great list! BTW I've built two KV-2s so far, have a Meng Egg one to do (as a giant fridge) but I'm waiting for Tamiya to redo their new tool KV-1 as a KV-2. Good to see you're starting with some quality models - if you want any further advice or ideas, don't hesitate to ask away, thanks for the sub, Cheers Chris
@@beckersmodels thanks Chris! Those KV kits sell like hotcakes where I'm at. I dont have a debit or credit card yet (I hate being a teen sometimes lol), so I have to rely on shops as opposed to online orders, and they never have the KV-2s in stock when I'm there. I'll definitely ask for advice when I think of it, especially as i see more of your vids come out. Have a good day!
G'day Chris, I'm so glad I came across your channel. There are way too few Aussie modellers with a presence on UA-cam. So far, you're the second after I discovered Harry Houdini up in Brisbane a year or so ago. He's got an outstanding channel and, like me, likes to 'waffle'. Anyway, I thought those two lists of yours were interesting and revealing. They used to say you could get the measure of a person by looking carefully at their books. There's a hint of truth in that about modellers' stashes and preferences. I began modelling around age 9 which continued until I got a little busy while in the RAAF. I got back into modelling about 2 years ago. I'm 66 now and loving the challenge of coming to grips with new modelling techniques, tools and chemicals etc. When I was a kid modeller, I would have had no idea what an airbrush was, let alone use one. So, I began as a 'brush brat' and, believe it or not only got my hands on a small 'cordless' airbrush on the say so of Harry Houdini... and now I'm hooked. Although, an airbrush will never completely replace my preference for hand brushing, it will save me a lot of time doing large control surfaces and undercoats etc. I've ordered a proper airbrush kit and this will really help with the 30 odd kits I want to do for my RAAF build. Got to say, Chris, I like your work and your enthusiasm. Predictably, I do mostly WW2 and post-Korea military aircraft and generally, aircraft that were on the RAAF inventory. This year, the 100th anniversary of the RAAF, I'm working on a multiple build project of significant aircraft in the RAAF's history. Beginning from 1921. Of course, after seeing this video I subscribed and 'rang the bell'. I'll begin by watching your How To videos but please I hope you don't mind if I pester you, occasionally, with a 'stupid' question. Like you, I'm a fan of Tamiya and some of the 'new tool' Airfix kits. In the old days, Hearns’ Hobbies in Melbourne (started by three ex-RAAF brothers) was the only place I knew to get models. And, yes, my very first model was a 1/72 Airfix Spit. It turned out more like an ‘Eton Mess’ than a model but, again, I was hooked. These days I stay away from 1/72 because of my eyesight and my sausage fingers or hands of a Sturgeon! Sometimes I'll snag a 1/72 if it's a model of a big aircraft, in reality but otherwise it's 1/48 and up. Because of the wrap you gave the Tamiya Mk VIII Spitfire, I raced over to Metro Hobbies and found one at a good price! Can't wait for that one. There's also a 1/32 F4U Corsair and a Mozzie I'm really looking forward to building. Soon as I heard rumours of Army getting rid of their M1 Abrams, I decided to try my very first tank and after listening to you I'm happy that I chose a couple of Meng kits. I also realised that I couldn't do a proper tribute to the RAAF without doing models of their Fire Trucks, Ambulances and their old Halverson Search & Rescue boats. So, this one project has taken me down a path I never thought I’d travel. If I can come anywhere close to the quality of Harry's or your builds, I'll be extremely happy. Looking forward to future videos from you while I catch up on your old ones. Cheers, and all the best! BH, Hobart TAS.
I’m watching this three years later apparently and I am in the middle of building the Tamia 1/32 F for you Corsair actually I’m more at the start and I found a couple of fit issues. Couple of pegs with no holes to put them in so I’ve had to do some nipping, but the quality of the build. More than makes up for it. I’m having a ton of fun and I’m only on step 10 of the build.
I've been in this hobby for over 40 years - albeit having taken a break for the last 15 - and I don't think I've owned 125 kits yet! You've got me thinking about my list of best and worst now.
Very nice video! I build mostly armor, and I agree with the Tamiya Mark IV Male tank... what an amazing kit, quite simple but so well engineered and such great, crisp surface detail, I was stunned. It proved to me that an accurate and detailed kit need not have hundreds of tiny parts to look great!
Great video mate, I agree Tamiya just has this ease of build and enough details you feel an excitement the entire build. I really enjoyed that list you made I really want the dornier arrow now. My top 5 are 1.Tamiya panther G 1/35 2. Amusing hobby Panther II 1/35 3. Tamiya He 162 1/48 4. Tamiya Jagdpanther late 1/35 5. Tamiya StuG Ausf G 1/35 And my bottom 5 1.ICM me109 1/48 2.RS models Hs 132 1/72 3. Dragon StuG Ausf f 1/72 4. Italeri marder 1 1/35 (yuck) 5. Italeri ju88 1/72 (why is this still made) Honourable mentions Italeri Sdkfz 234 puma (not too bad tbh) Tamiya PaK40 ( fun, easy and still looks good)
Thats a great list - I've built all your top five but I havent painted my Panther II yet (its the R-1 missile launcher one).....and yes that Dornier is superb. Thanks for the comment, cheers Chris
A loved the video and your enthusiasm! This 78 year old hasn’t built a model since the original Airfix days in England decades ago but now I’m tempted but where to start?
Thanks Ian - check out my "Your first model should be a 1/48 Tamiya" video where I explain whats the best option for a returning modeller, in my opinion at least. Cheers Chris
3 or 4 of these in your top ten are in mine as well, along with the other 1/32 scale Tamiya kits. I've built one of each of the modern releases and love them all and like you have bought another to build again. (I have yet to build my Bandai 1/144 Millennium Falcon, and I still have a 1/72 Fine Molds to build). Thanks for the great video.
Well, I just happen to have an Italeri 1:35 LVT-(A) 1 Alligator in the stash, I bought it for an Island landing diorama. I'm hoping it goes together smoothly as at 69 years of age, stuck in the house during the great lockdown of 2020, I took up mail order, e-bay model buying and started modeling. No, I didn't build models as a kid this is my first go at it. I'll have to agree on the Tamiya's, The Revell's and Lindberg's have improved my putty and sanding skills, you said you had trouble with the tracks, well I got a stupid good deal on some Friulmodel tracks and I'm going to try them, not sure when as there are a few models in the queue to be built first. wish me luck. Nick
Those Friulmodel tracks (and hopefully sprockets? If not - epoxy in the kit sprockets) will make a world of difference to that kit, the rest of it is not too bad! Cheers Chris
Hi Chris, thx for sharing your experience. I agree with the 1/48 AFV Tiger; I built it too; great fit, great detail. 1/144 Revell Tornado ECR Tigermeet 2011: what a fantastic kit. The decals that come with the kit (designed by Syhart) are absolutely fantastic and precise to the micrometer. 1/72 Revell P-47M Thunderbolt: very nice detail, great fit, great value for money. 1/72 Academy P-51 series: decals give you a bit of a fight, but a lovely kit with very nice detail and no fit problems. Now my favorite: 1/72 Eduard Fw-190 (Profipack). Fit: perfect. Detail: fantastic, even without the included PE. Decals: perfect. 95/100. Just not 100/100 as you never know what may still come done the road.
Great video, Chris! I'd love to get my hands on one of those WWI Tamiya Tank kits. Yours looks amazing. Love all your builds. You do great work! I've had one recent dog of a kit. The Airfix Ju88A-4 in 1/72 scale. I bought it after returning to the hobby in 2013, having just finished the 1/72 Airfix A6M2b Zero (a great kit, btw). Since the Zero was in a red box and a recent tooling at the time, I thought the Ju88 would also be a recent tooling, since it came in the red box with awesome artwork. Lo and behold it was a re-pop from their 1964 Ju88 mold. It looked like a box of chewed blue-gray bubble gum. I should have binned it, but decided to build it. Needless to say, I discovered Scalemates afterwards, and now know to do some research before plunking down my money on a crap kit.
Thanks for the kind comments Ken - yes scalemates is your friend to avoid those sorts of dramas. I think there's much better manufacturers if 1/72 is your think - Arma Hobby or Eduard for example. Cheers, Chris
Great video, made me think back to my 5 favourite builds (and not so favourite). I build mainly ships and WWI aircraft. (1) Fokker D.VII from Wingnut wings. Absolutely superb kit, very precise and detailed, the only drawback are the large wing decals which need care to fix on. (2) 1/35 S100 Schnellboot from Italeri, a well detailed kit with plenty of room for additions. (3) 1/48 Roland C.II from Eduard. I love the lines and looks of this plane, well detailed and reasonably easy to build. (4) 1/350 Russian protected cruiser VARYAG from Zvezda. A surprisingly well detailed and attractive kit of the pre-dreadnought era, with very few fit issues. (5) The 1/16 Garrett steam traction engine from Bandai. This 40+ year old kit went together without issue, even the decals were still good but needed care when applying. The worst was Academy's 1/32 Sopwith Camel, totally devoid of any detail. The only saving grace is that there is a photo etch cockpit kit available for it, but the plastic needs extensive modification to make it fit.
Thanks Robert! What a great list, I'd love to tackle that Eduard Roland, its one of my fave WW1 planes and I stupidly sold the WnW version several years ago - I built the WnW Albatros and it was a joy too. Did you check out Harry Houdini's Varyag build? Spectacular! Hmm...that Schnellboot would be fun too! Too many models, not enough time. Cheers Chris
@@beckersmodels Yes I did check out Harry's build, awesome. Zvezda do make some really nice kits. I have the WNW Roland and Albatros, along with a few others in my stash, look foreward to building them, but as you say, too many kits not enough time.
Howdy and hello, I have been making kit since 1972 and I still remember my first kit close to 50 years ago. I have always found biplanes to a bit fiddly and they require more attention than regular monoplanes. One kit that very challenging for me was the Revell 1/96 scale Constitution and Cutty Sark. Another tough kit was the Bristol Boxkite and the thread really added strength to the air frame. And I have made kits from MPC Amt Revell Monogram Aurora Frog Tamiya and Hawk. And those are just plastic kits too. I hear Pocher is a very spendy kit to make and there are some of them out there. Two more I forgot to mention is Entex and Heller. Then come the balsa kits and that take real patience to make and even more when you are making from plans. I do not know if you know about Cleveland design or not, but they are worth checking out the detail on the plans is quite something. You might want to try a vintage kit sometimes and they can be a lot of fun. Sincerely, Robert Johnson
Thanks Robert, enjoyed your comment. Yes, I have several vintage kits in my collection, lots of 1/24 Airfix aircraft, plus the 1/72 Airfix Super Connie. You sound like you'd enjoy Harry Houdini's channel - he's right up there with various shipbuilding techniques including plastic and wood, and also enjoys the vintage Heller and IMAI type kits. Cheers, Chris
I remember back in the mid-60s when I could go down to my favorite Japanese department store on Okinawa and get amazing model airplane kits most of which never cost any more than 50 cents. Many of the kits that I built in my youth are $30 or more now.
Airfix and Italeri making a few appearances in the bottom ten.... so no surprises there. Was surprised about the Tamiya 48 Sherman though. I haven't got the Tamiya Tomcat - it's really expensive here (UK) so it's on hold for the time being. I generally build armour, but I've built the Tamiya Spitfire 4 times now. I think it's that good, that I thought I might send one to Italeri headquarters with simple note that says: this is how you do it. It's a fantastic kit. Great video thanks for sharing.
EDITED FOR ERROR CORRECTION My worst: Italeri's 1:35th-scale kit of the CCKW 353 U.S. Army 2.5 ton Cargo Truck. The assembly and details were mediocre. What truly set me to chuck it aside (I save all polystyrene bits, even sprue), however, were the rear axles. The parts had no clear way to set them into place, and I actually put one reversed, making it impossible to place the driveshaft. So exasperated this had me that I immediately required an antidote. I took the bus out to the hobby store (where I but a week or so prior had found in a bargain bin that landmine!), buying Tamiya's-- at more than thrice the price! I also bought the accessory set, with a driver, some cargo, and a puppy. I had that joy completely assembled, painted, and weathered (just enough to show it had been driven through the Italian countryside during the spring of 1943) in another fortnight. I set it immediately to one side of Tamiya's 1:35th-scale kit of the M38 "Jeep" 1/4-ton GP Utility Truck. An acquaintance who was a veteran saw the little one, asking to buy it. In the few occasions where a veteran asks to buy one of my builds, I charge just what it cost me; round $20 USD. He liked the truck, but at $40, it was more than he had at the time. I replied that he could pay me when he would be able. He did at the first of the month. I bought another of each. A close tie is Hasegawa's 1:48th-scale kit of the Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor USAF Air Dominance Stealth Fighter. I bought two: one to build with the landing gear down and all its doors open. The other airborne, in a determined climbing turn. Both suffered a fatal design flaw wherein I could not fit together the two halves of the airframe. They went back into the box, to sit upon a shelf. To be blunt, I would rather have back my money. I think they had retailed at $90 USD each. I then had appreciably more discretionary income. The supposed quality and the exorbitant price are why these rank so low. My favourite: Tamiya's 1:48th-scale series of Chance Vought F4U Corsair Carrier-based Fighter. I built a -1, a -2, a -1A, a -1D, and a -1A that I modified to a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Corsair I. I had another -1 kit I had intended to convert to a -1C, with the four 20mm cannons, and a -1D I would modify to a latewar -4 with a four-blade propeller. I could not find a conversion kit to effect these changes, however. I found an Academy kit of the -4B, from which I had cut away the fuselage forward of the cockpit, to incorporate into the Tamiya model; I would inscribe onto the Academy portion the better panel lives and riveting. My personal circumstances took a terrible turn, and my model work came to a stop. Re the 1:35th-scale Hobby Boss kit of the Leopard 2A4 German Bundeswehr Main Battle Tank, at 4:52, you advise your viewers to buy the [unintelligible] kit. I checked the transcript; it read "the men kit". Please clarify.
I'm a new modeler and have spent a lot of time researching exactly what kits I should get into. I had a feeling Tamiya was the market leader... thanks for confirming my suspicions! Super helpful video. Looking forward to checking out your content.
Thanks for watching Jared - I did a separate video on how to pick your first aircraft kit, which I think should be an older 1/48 Tamiya single prop WW2 fighter, check that out. I may do a video on what armor and scifi kit to start with next, Cheers Chris
Hello great video I wanted to let you know I Served onboard the USS Nimitz CVN-68 V-4 Division Flight Deck Maintenance from 1981-1984. I was fortunate to be on Flight Deck with the F-14A Tomcats! We had VF-84 & VF-41. I agree the Tomcats should still be in Service. Yes it’s the Best looking Fighter Aircraft of all Time! I built the 1/32 scale Tamiya’s first F-14A Tomcat. I still prefer that kit out of all F-14 Tomcat kits. I was never a fan of the low visibility paint schemes. Thanks again Mate!
Wow thanks Paul, and thanks for your service! F-14 has to be my favourite jet aircraft of all time, I've been playing around with the Tamiya 1/32 for awhile (rescribing and upping the cockpit detail), I do intend to get back to it one day, but I have another, let me check....10 F-14 kits to finish first! Cheers, Chris
My revelation was building the Tamiya 1/32 scale Mitsubishi Zero in 1969. It even had realistically etched fabric control surfaces. I was 10 and had built everything I could get my hands on from Airfix, Frog, Classic, etc., but this was real quality. But we thought the other stuff was pretty good too. Things have moved on massively but I quit at 40-something when I’d had enough of super-detailing. Somehow I just enjoyed the weekend builds more. And the eyes aren’t up to it at 63. Nice job of the Spitfire! Just sold NIB Zoukei Mura Ta-152 , and 3 Pacific Coast models 1/32 - Macchi Folgore, Reggiane Saggitario, and Fiat Centuaro. Also a NIB 1/32 Wingnut Fokker D.VII. These were all superb quality. The old Airfix 1/24 Bf-109 and Spitfire were also pretty good in their day. The Monogram B25 Mitchell was and probably still is a fantastic kit. I won the Masters with a heavily sanded, scribed, and super-detailed Revell 1/32 P47, on a sandpaper runway with the pilot and crew chief having a chat (Verlinden 1/35 - close enough)
The Airfix Arado 196 dates back to 1966 and a good thirty years ago was surpassed by the Heller mould so it is a curiously/antique only. The Corsair mould is even older I think 1964 . The original Matchbox mould of the Beaufigher X when I built one in the early eighties had an ok fit. I suspect the moulds have deteriorated a lot since then after all it was made in 1974. The new Airfix one is in my experience currently the best. I think with Airfix, Revell and Italeri in 1/72 WW2 aircraft which is my thing you have to do your research as the modern stuff can be very very good. The Airfix Beau, Blenheim and Beaufort are all excellent. The Revell Lanc from 2007 is good and value for money and Junkers 290and Blohm & Voss 222 are tremendous value and great kits.I hear good things about the C-54. And have one in my stash.The Italeri Ju 88 still isn’t bad and I still like their Me 232 for ambition alone and particularly the Dornier 24. However the older reboxes can be horrible I have been caught in the past with things like the Airfix Helldiver great box art ancient kit and old Revell Marauder. I would recommend Scalemates to check the kits origins, age and often review links.if in doubt.
I've been building kits for rather more than the last seven years and began with Airfix as a kid as that was all that was available. It was a revelation to build Tamiya many years later and they never fail to impress me personally. Have yet to build Meng (two kits waiting) but they look pretty good. Also returned to Airfix with a 1/72 Vapire recently which only served to remind me that my eyes are way too aged for that scale and though the finished article looks passable, that's all folks for me and 1/72. My most recent pig was the Revell 1/48 Lanc which was a dispiriting travail which only Tamiya has reinvigorated me from. Enjoyable vid, thanks.
Good show old chap - guess what - I picked up another 1/48 X-wing the day after I made this video! So I'm going to get some Archive X paints and go to town on it and repaint my old one too...
Recommended build: The Tamiya 1/35th Matilda was a surprisingly fun kit to build. It is a jewel of a model that was a joy to put together. I love 1/35th scale Tamiya armor and this one is a "must". Can't go back kit: 1/48th Monogram Corsair. Super fun when I was a kid in the 70's. Many working parts such as folding wings, retractable landing gear and such. Today it is a terrible build. I think the molds are very worn and nothing fits as it should. My Mom (bless her) gave me the kit as a present for my recent birthday. I built it up with many working parts glued in place and it looks pretty good. Not fun, but looks nice in my Corsair collection.
You haven't done BAD until you've done Airfix 1:600 Bismarck. I managed to rescue it, but by then it had become half kit, half scratch build. Appalling fit, moulding, inaccuracies galore. Needed a whole new deck, and some serious surgery to get the hull height down to something even close to accurate. The rudders supplied were actually twice the scale size, it's like the cleaning lady got the drawing scales wrong and no one else noticed. Most of the superstructure sides was just flat featureless plastic, yet look at any photo of it and there's hatches, scuttles, cable reels etc..., all of which need to be added assuming you've got the references to hand. I would rate the Scharnhorst model even worse if it wasn't for the fact that the hull looks something like correct shape and size. Yet Airfix can produce reasonable models such as HMS Repulse and KGV in the same scale. They must just seriously dislike the Germans!!
Check out Harry Houdini's channel, he is currently restoring an old Airfix sailing ship and really knows his stuff with the creme da le creme of the Airfix ship catalog. ua-cam.com/users/HarryHoudiniModelsvideos Cheers, Chris
i completely agree with you there on the Bismarck I got given one and it went into the bin after a few months of sitting on the bench because it was that bad. Nothing fits properly on it and the amount of flashing on the kit was appalling.
@@samuelvanderzwaag157 Yeah its a bit of a shame. The original model was pretty bad and the re-released moldings were shocking. I have seen an old 1970s offering of it online, and it might be OK molding wise, but still needs a lot of work to get accurate. Shame they didn't re-release some better models, but I guess the Bismarck is assumed to be an automatic sale. I've heard of quite a few going in the bin. Not great for Airfix reputation.
Even though some of the assembly was different and not typical of what is expected I thoroughly enjoyed building my first F-4J from Zoukei-Mura. After noting the idiosyncrasies of that particular model/assembly with it fresh in my mind I really, really wanted to immediately start another one...unfortunately I had a couple shelf queens and another build for someone to finish off. I will admit to being a big fan boy of ZM, mostly because they were the first to address in 1/32 so many of my favorite aircraft(Ta-152, He-219, Raiden and Shinden, and now the Ki-45, and Hs-129), and their approach to the idea of model building.
They do make some amazing kits but they require a different approach where for me, you really have to be passionate about the subject. I'm looking forward to see what else they have coming out - a 1/32 Val would be great! Cheers, Chris
I've never had a good experience with an Italeri kit...not a single one. They have all had sorry fit and sorry detail. I had to work way too hard to make them look the part. In will say in the end, all the hard work was rewarding considering the effort I had to put into them. With that being said, I always promise myself, "I will NEVER put another Italeri kit together again!"
I'm inclined to agree with you on this. The Italeri Opel Blitz Truck and Maultier cabs were a nightmare to assemble. Also the plastic parts for the small items that were supposed to go on the fenders were next to useless. No holes in the fenders to attach the headlights either And the plastic used is brittle & prone to breaking (particularly all the wheel axle's).
Having been building since age 10 (that's 67 yrs ago) I've built nearly everything from Revell and AMC to Tamiya (the best) including Cutty Sark in 1959 with all the standing and running rigging (and my own ratlines, theirs sucked) no sails. All I ever wanted for Christmas and birthdays were models. Wood, plastic, pot metal, vaccu-formed, U-control line, early R.C. and whatever. Give me the cash and transport, I'll pick my own thank you, no gifts. My mother would complain that my room smelled like glue and airplane dope, I was probably high and didn't know it. Myself, I like wheels and flaps down and often make into diorama's of the period and type. I like to believe the hobby instilled in me an appreciation of history, fine motor skills and a little anal about details and accuracy. Review of Battle of Britain (1969). I commend you for having constructed the number of kits in such a short time. Great site BTW. Subbed and noted we like same channels. Rojasbazan is INSANE.
Tamiya and Bandai are the gods of plastic! I'm a sci-fi modeller and my favourite kits are: 1. Bandai 1/144 Millennium Falcon, its 100% perfect. 2. Polar Lights 1/1000 USS Enterprise Refit, its the polar opposite of the old AMT kit. 3. Moebius Battlestar Galactica (reboot) easy assembly, spray it Gunship Grey then dry-brush it, a few pin-washes and it looks great. 4. Pegasus Hobbies 1/144 War of the Worlds Tripod. Big kit, fine detail, good fit, designed for lighting kits.
The Moebius Galactica is one of the worst kits I have ever made. It fits together well, but the shape is not remotely accurate, it has no texture between the hull ribs, the armour should have been separate parts, but instead they molded it onto the main sections and created those awful bevels between the ribs, they have the wrong number of ribs on the flight pods, lots of missing guns, the wrong shape on the pods (flat rather than barrel sided) no internal detail, and that ridiculous step between the head and neck of the model that was never on the screen version. I have been trying to build one on and off for seven years, but it sucks all the joy out of modelling! It was as cheap and lazily engineered as you can get.
@@nickboylen6873 I think most of the issues you've mentioned come down to the size of the model and the limitations of mould-making tech, and possibly how quickly the company wanted to release the kit
@@jamesbielby3491, there are certainly limitations on what they could do with the hull shape and simple two-piece moulds. But they should have made the plating separate to prevent that infill of the ribs, and there is no excuse for the step on the back of the head or having single CIWS guns for the full length of the pods and missing the Viper launch tubes - that’s just bad research of the subject. I have just bought their 2001 Discovery and HAL 2000 kits, and the Discovery seems much better.
Haven't had a really bad kit, but then the brief modeling I have time to do only built about 20 in the last 10 years!. Probably my worst was the 1/48 Hasi Arado 234 blitz. Was really looking forward to this - got the Aries cockpit set - first time with resin - That turned out really well. BUT I just sort of lost my mojo on it as a whole. Had some fit issues with some of the fuselage panels - esp round the cockpit and clear recon panels, and the plastic just seemed brittle - just seemed a chore to get it done - Got it done in the end. but it was a struggle - Did the Airfix Spit XII after that had a blast. Now doing the Tamiya F14A and yes its great! Other fun kits Tami 1/48 Beufighter, RAF Mustang Mk.III, Hasi Bf.109E and the old tool Tami 1/48 spits. Only ever given up on one - another Hasi - the 1/72 F6 Lightning - that was a real F-it - this is bad, and is now a paint mule! Did not help I tried to do a bare metal that just showed up everything.
That's some great advice Tim - after this video I've thinking of getting the Tamiya Beaufighter actually. I'm currently building an old tool Tamiya 1/48 Spitfire as a full video build to put up here one day. Great kit for nearly 30 years old! Cheers, Chris
you're amazing! You do great work! My dad served on the USS enterprise and gave me Revell model kit that he always wanted to put together and never did. I can't do models but I would love to see what one looks like complete. Did you ever do that one? I bet you would make it look fantastic!
Would love to see a new YF-23 kit. Built one as an eight year old, but it fell apart (child build quality not being so great) and was thrown out years ago. I feel your disappointment because it's such a cool looking thing, and I'm amazed nobody wants to take it on for a new release.
Me too, or even an in service F-23A, check out The Drive's article on what that would look like: www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/24911/this-is-what-a-northrop-f-23a-wouldve-looked-like-if-lockheed-lost-the-atf-competition
Thanks for showing the Porco Rosso's Savoia S21F, as I had no idea that there were kits for it! I haven't built anything in years now, but looking to get back to the hobby with something manageable with as little rigging wires as possible. Shame that nobody is selling the kit around central Eu it seems, but will try to import it from JP or something. Anyway, looking forward to see your upcoming build of that very plane!
You're very welcome Erik - try Plaza Japan they are very good for shipping around the world and usually have all the Fine Molds kits. I'm itching to build it too - well, both of them! Cheers Chris
Only the Hobby Boss 1/48 YF-23 surprised me. The decals went in the bin for some lovely Caracal decals. But the kit (for me) just sailed together. I used a smear of filler on the wing to fuse joint, but other than that, and other than some slight inaccuracies in some of the compound curves around the forward nacelles, and centre fuselage, it went together like a Tamiya kit. Heaps of room for detail painting around the exhaust trenches, very light, restrained weathering... Possibly one of the "funnest" kits I've built in the last 37 years. Would love to build "Grey Ghost" to park next to "Spider", but... the price! Mind you, I only paid AU$37.50 for mine on eBay 2nd hand, but unopened.
When I worked at hobby center toys in Toledo Ohio I was in charge of the warehouse with models and trains. I built the Tamiya F-14 tomcat in the 80s and the only decals you got where the Nimitz Jolly Roger or the Iranian Air Force . The main wings could pivot for subsonic or supersonic flight.
I went to HOBBY CENTER STORES A LOT I STILL LIVE IN THE TOLEDO AREA... Went to the HOBBY CENTER at Miracle Mile shopping center in the 70s... bought a lot of models from there... CHRIS from OHIO
Trying to decide if I should do an F16 or Spitfire next, I think you just helped me choose! I'm wrapping up the Tamiya 1/32 F4U-1A, it was the most complicated I've ever built eith 9ver 300 parts, but as you said the engineering is off the charts good! Question... Is the Spit VIII that much better than the V?
The Tamiya VIII is miles ahead of the HB Mk V or even the new Border Model version in 1/35 scale. If you can stand to wait, Kotare will have a Mk Va out soon, with a Mk Vc wing variant probably in a year or two...
Hi. Now this might be an over the Top Extra's to a Model Kit, But is it possible to Add motors and Gears to Lower and Raise the Landing Gear, Spin the Prop, and like you, I would use LED Lights on all the Correct positions, and have them flashing as they would really look if I was on the ground looking up, Or Plane Spotting at Dusk and see the Strobes On the Wings, Tail and under Belly, I'm now Disabled and looking for something I can sink my teeth in to, and im going to hang them from the Ceiling, and I'm hoping to use some of my old Stage Lights to Set a Sunset, and have the Model Plains on the Smallest Curtain track I can find, And I cant see why I cant use .5mm Twin Wire to hand the Model Plains But to also move them around the Room, Like a Train Kit upside down, And the 1 Kit that I really want to build is the Skymaster 337, and the biggest Scale I can find, If I wasn't so Disabled I would have gone in to Model Flying Aircraft and join a Club, but that is not possible now, So I thought a Real scenario type effect hanging from my ceiling and all following there own very small Curtain track, that would be made in to Loop's, Just having a Glass Trophy Case full of Model Aircraft Makes them Look Good, But I would Love to try and make and action seen, as I want the Big Models, and also the De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou , That I used to fly in when I was in the Australian Army, from the mid 70's to the mid 80's, So the De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou will have to be my Favorite, so if you can recommend a top Model of the De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou that I used to fly around in when post to Air Dispatch, as after my Accident in the Army, I didn't want a Discharge, I just wanted a Posting that would keep me happy, and a transfer to Air Dispatch, Riding in the De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou and the Lockheed C-130 Hercules which I also would like to know what is the Biggest and Best Model of a Lockheed C-130 Hercules, Regards. . . Colin
Thanks for your perspective! I've been modeling for over 50 years and its always good to hear other views. I'm impressed with Moebius and their 2001: Space Odyssey kits. There are a few errors but all are easily correctable with some aftermarket parts.
There are two kits I've encountered over several decades that I consider absolute dogs. I've built just about every genre and ever material out there and its funny that the two kits are both 1/35 armor. MP Models M50 Sherman. Got one years ago and had it in my stash until I finally decided the put it together. It was horrible. The mold lines were huge ridges the just about destroyed my dremal grinding them down, the fit was so bad I use sheet styrene to build up joints or to back gaps so I could fill them with putty, the hull was warped and to short to fit the lower hull. After a week of sectioning, bracing, stretching and filling I got it to fit. But then I had the same issue with the turret. Since dragon had a M50 by then I chucked it in the bin. The other dog is currently on my bench. It's Gunze-Sangyo M60A1 w/Rise. The only selling point on the kit is the white metal ERA blocks. It's the old ESCI kit in a different box with added white metal parts. The kit has some nice features but the main problem is the molding. They must have had some issues with the mold when this one was made. The main gun is too short due to the muzzle not being molded correctly. The wheel hubs are not molded properly with deep voids between the bolts and around the hub. Other parts have deep sink marks and voids that would require large amounts of putty to fill. Fortunately I have parts scavenged from two other M60A1 kits that I can use to build a nice one and use the white metal parts on. Not the first time I've built a frankentank.
I'd have to agree with you about the Tamiya Do-335 Pfeil kit. I too found it a joy to build right out of the box, although I found that the main canopy was slightly too narrow (approx. 0.5mm) to sit cleanly in position. Tamiya have also done a 2 seater version of the Do-335 that I'd like to get a hold of. I'd highly recommend any Hasegawa Me-109 kit in 1/48 scale as well, as they are a dream to build even though they are getting quite old now. Also have to agree with you regarding Italeri. I've been burnt so many times now that I just refuse to go near them any more, and especially so with their bad habit of re-releasing 30 & 40 year old kits and trying to pass them off as something new. Their F-14A, Tornado and MiG-23/MiG-27 kits in 1/48 scale are prime examples to avoid.
Thanks for the comment James - yes indeed, I've steered away from Italeri (just like Airfix really) and I only have their reboxed 1/9 Kettenkrad (which is a dog) and the "new" FIAT 506, which looks promising, but I've only heard bad things from builders in terms of assembly, although detail looks great. I just don't see the point in them unless you can't get that particular subject anywhere else. Cheers Chris
@@beckersmodels Yup. To be fair, I should probably clarify that Italeri re-boxed kits from what was Accurate Miniatures are ok. For example, their A20 Boston III in 1/48 is still a fairly decent kit, but anything molded by Italeri themselves should be avoided. I'd also NOT recommend buying any Tamiya re-boxed versions of Italeri kits as your not getting Tamiya quality, but still paying inflated Tamiya prices etc. The Tamiya 1/35 M24 Chaffee is a prime example. The newer tooled AFV Club kit is far cheaper as well. Tamiya are not doing themselves any favors by re-boxing Italeri rubbish unfortunately.
The AFV Club 1:48 Tiger was originally a Skybow kit. When Skybow was broken up AFV Club bought the Tiger 1 kits but not the molds. Released around 2004-05 I guess.
Indeed - and when I look back at my build, there are some areas I'd really like to improve on the kit that is probably able to with the Tamiya version. However, I do note that Suyata have brought out a Panther in 1/48 with full interior, I'm hoping they extend to the Tiger as well. The last Tiger model I want to build is Wittman's late Tiger, but blown up with the turret on the ground, maybe with a British Firefly driving past the remains...
I first did model kits when I was 13/14 and started with Airfix which was good at the time but then I came back into the hobby in February of this year (after 12 years), tried a couple of the airfix kits to ease myself back in and I can honestly say I just ain't keen on Airfix anymore. Most of their kits don't have the best fit and they are very limited in their selections especially for 1/35 Scale I have however, fallen in love with the Tamiya kits. They tend to fit together much nicer and have better instructions and details. Completed two Tamiya kits so far (1/35 Tiger 1 Late Production and King Tiger Pre Production) and an Italeri M4A3E8 Sherman "Fury". The airfix kits I have completed are 1/72 Hawker Hurricane, P51D Mustang, Me Bf109E and a Supermarine Spitfire MkVb Airfix just isn't to the same quality that Tamiya is. I do wanna try some Trumpet, Dragon and Ryefield kits
Started with Airfix in the late 1950’s still going strong, eyes are giving me a hard time, but shit happens! Started a Bandai 1/72nd X wing as a precursor to my Bandai 1/72nd Perfect Millenium Falcon, really looking forward to this one. Great channel mate keep it up.🇦🇺🦘👍🏼
How did you find that Dinah? I've heard mixed reports about it but its definitely on my radar to fill out my 1/48 twin engine fighter collection. Cheers, Chris
My very limited building experience has taught me that 1/35 Dragon armour kits have great detail, and for the most part are well engineered, but the instructions........WOW!
Oh yes. I could only do a couple Dragon kits, I would use up a whole box of headache pills and a beer or three just to decipher the instructions...much better to go with Meng or Tamiya. Cheers, Chris
@@beckersmodels Well Chris, just found your channel, great stuff, thanks. As for Dragon, I have 6 more kits on the shelf in waiting. I think I may take one out when I'm in the mood for some self-abuse.
something about Tamiya yeah, my last two builds were the 1/48 spitfire and the p-38 lightning, fantastic fit and build. my all time fav was the p-47 bubbletop which was about 10 years ago but i will do another. may i ask what are those display cases you store them in. was going to get more ikea ones
Yep Im itching to do the P-38 one day, I did the P-47 Razorback late last year completely out of the box and it was a great stress relief after some hard slogs! The cabinets behind me are my upgrades from the IKEA Detolfs which I didn't like - these are some local cheapies, they have a big slot in the back to let in dust! I need to cover them up with some acrylic sheet. My next cabinet will be 1500mm wide for my big ships and big aircraft - Ive run out of room! Cheers, Chris
I,ve done that F-14 tomcat kit behind you myself a few years back and I remember loving it . It was one of the 1st I went all in on the painting and even tho I,m no expert at it was very happy with the finished article
I have one of those Tamiya's Dornier 335 ready to build one of these days (OK, make it one of these months :)), so I'm glad to know it's that good. Also, if you want to add one to the "stay away from those kits" list, I'd say Special Hobby's Buchon.
9:09 - awesome kit! One of the best Tamiya has ever engineered and released! I have the full Dornier 335 series, tandem cockpit, original single seat configuration and the destroyer, beautiful kit and beautiful plane :)
Since I have been a Star Wars fan nearly my entire life, my favorites have been mostly Star Wars kits. I have yet to build a Bandai SW kit I didn't like. Favorites include the Y-Wing, AT-ST and the 1/144 Falcon. I recently started the PG Falcon, and I say 'wow!' with just about every part. It's stunning. My least favorites were from long ago, the MPC Darth Vader TIE fighter, the solar panel to body fir was so bad that I couldn't get them to stay put (they were very heavy). I also had a Revell 'Lights, Action, Sound' Police Bike when I was 8 or 9 years old that was way out of my league, and I remember didn't fit too well.
Totally agree - check out my video on superdetailing the MPC Tie Advanced - after I finished, one of the wings fells off again! Its still sitting in my display cabinet with its wing off....I've yet to make all the Bandai SW stuff, but I'm getting there! Working on the AT-AT today to publish a video on Friday, its a fun kit to weather. Thanks for the comment, cheers Chris
I know what you mean about the MPC TIE Advanced... I had three of them (Two sold to me by a friend who decided not to build them), and made a TIE Bomber out of one of them (I still have the conversion plans... somewhere... three moves and a fire have not been kind to my collection or stash of reference). The third still resides amongst my unbuilt kits.
Good vid, thnxs. Every now & then I need a lil re-inspiring. I build Everything. Am from Melb Oz ; Favs prob. 1/35 AFV T34 Clear hull tank. AMT Star Wars podracer. Due to space restriction I now build many many cars. Tamiya Porsche GT One 911 Clear body. I’ve Both Tamiya a 1/32 Spitfire mkv111 & P51D ( be interested in thoughts of later ) Love Aoshima kits. After 20 years Moulding / Design Tupperware, consider All Elements of Both Engineering kit & actual mechanics of original item.
The 1/32 Tamiya P-51D is a great kit, you have to build almost the entire engine even if you dont want to display the cowls open, and you must be very careful with alignment to get it right, but apart from that, no problems! Cheers Chris
I’ve been making models since I was a kid in the sixties. In my opinion Tamiya are the best out there. I’ve just built their Jagdpanther and I enjoyed it so much, I want to build another one. I may try the Meng kit though, just to compare.
The Meng is a little better in terms of detail, while according to Sam Dwyer (best armour modeller in Australia, IMO) the Takom Jadgpanther is even better. I really want to do another one in the future...or 1/16 even!
Oh yes! Listen to Robbie at The Model Guy - he kept nagging me everyday of his P38 build for me to start mine! I will eventually, I just want to master spinning props first. I reckon it will sneak into my Top Five from what everyone has been saying about it...cheers Chris
Honestly this hobby to me is being able to enjoy doing something with my hands whilst also having a fondness for these vehicles and if I don't enjoy the kit then theres no point, so to me everytime I pick up a new kit I always make sure to stick with certain manufacturers that I know that have overall great products. These include TAMIYA (obviously) Academy SOMETIMES, Trumpeter, Hobby Boss, MENG, RFW, TAKOM and GWH. Other than that I don't buy any other unless I've seen this particular kit being very good and not having issues with it, but its rare..
Funnily enough, no Eduard yet. I do have their 1/48 Spitfire Mk 1 that I want to try out though, and compare to the new tool Tamiya Spit. Cheers, Chris
@@beckersmodels I have built there 1/48th scale profi pack spitfire and it was a very very good build. A bit fidly at some places with the tiny foto etched parts. But all in all a very enjoyable built.
Absolutely love their 1/48 MiG-21's, and their kit decals are the best in the business. Only reason I can't rank Tamiya kits #1. Their decals are just not very good.
Great video. I have done 2 tamiya 1/32 spitfire. And what you would like better then that. Is the tamiya P51 1/32 or my favorite, The F4U corsair. Done 2 of them to. Amazing kit. I recommend doing those. Bless away the spitfire. I'm a tamiya fanboy to. And think tamiya has the best kits.
No contest. Tamiya 1/48 P38F/G/H. They should be bringing out a J version hopefully. This kit is probably the best propeller aircraft scale model kit in 1/48 scale hands down.
I only build WW2 armor. Love the Tamiya kits. Worst one I built was Academy’s M18 Hellcat. Had some fitting issues with some parts and the tracks that came with the kit were not long enough
hi, great video, steer clear of the airfix vintage classic ships ie, the bismark and hood, the moulds are so old,lots of flash and parts dont fit.had to use lots of model putty,as a child i remember them in 1962,also the plastic seems different now, Revell are good kits but they have cut back on the range which is a pity
I enjoyed building the Tamiya Beaufighter in 1/48 (do they even have another?). Revell bugged me a lot with their re-releases that didn't make it really clear what to expect. OK, if there were photos of the finished model on the side of the box, it was probably good, if there were detail-photos of the real thing, it was likely something rustic from the seventies. When I started in the eighties, there still was a particularly terrible B-17 in 1/72 which was nevertheless re-released again in the nineties. On the other hand, at some point they bought the mold of Hasegawa's rather new Aichi D-3a and sold it at less than half the price (while my kit still sat on the shelf untouched).
Very good video and choices. I would only not agree with you about Tamiya's Tomcat. Yes, the kit has great engineering and fitting but... it's pretty basic being very expensive at the same time. I think the AMK's one is much better. When I sold my Tamiya's F-14A before building I bought at the same price two Hobby Boss's kits: F-14D and the Persian Cat. Yes, two brand new kits [sic!]. They offer much more options to display along with some photo-etched parts. You can display them with opened radar bay, gun bay, opened flaps, you have nicely detailed wheel bays and cockpit. Cheers and good luck!
Thanks for the comment - I agree on the basic-ness of the Tamiya kit and I almost got the AMK kit, but remember I'm more into wheels up dynamic display than wheels down, everything open (although I do intend on doing my Tamiya f-14D as a VF-31 wheels down build and it needs an Aires cockpit and a few extra details to get right). Cheers, Chris
@@scalemodellerbyaccident8671 we're spoiled for choice these days, definitely - sometimes I have to hold my tongue when I lambast a kit and realise, hey there's more than one fish for most cases! Have you built the Hobby Boss 1/48s yet? I heard they are trickier than their bigger brother 1/32 Trumpeters (which I have, but need a lot of revision, accuracy wise) Cheers, Chris
@@beckersmodels I wish I could start the build this year - yeah, sounds so daft :) But my stash is full. Now I'm finishing an armour model, then a smaller scale aircraft, armour once more, and... I will see if Academy's F-4B or Persian Cat from Hobby Boss. Just follow my channel :)
The Eduard 1/48 Iwo Jima mustang, 1/350 Montana from Very Fire as well as the 1/350 Taiho, Tamiya 1/32 Mustang, and a few 1/35 Meng King tigers and Jagdtiger (Porsche).
Are these your top ones Gary? I agree with the Tamiya Mustang, I havent tried the Meng King Tigers, but very interested in that 1/350 Montana - I built a 1/144 semiscale Montana as a youth when I did R/C boats....cheers Chris
I think the Revell Beaufighter is let down by the fact it's a re-boxing of the old Matchbox (cheap 'n' cheerful) kit, originally moulded in three colours , to compete with Airfix. I second your Tamiya version, but the 1/72 Airfix leaves the Revell standing (although much more expensive originally).
Best Kits I have done are a tie between the Arma Hobby 1/72 FM-2 Wildcat and Tamiya 1/72 Bf106 G6 Worst kit would be the Airfix 1/72 english electric lightning followed closely buy Revell 1/48 Ju87 rebox from the 1968 Monogram mold.
Ha! I just binned that Airfux EE Lightning kit a few weeks ago, well I've turned it into greebly parts....but am looking forward to the Arma Hobby stuff next year for sure, check out my P-51 review: ua-cam.com/video/0EJz7Qo-wS0/v-deo.html
Have you had any experience with the modelcraft F-82? If you did, I bet it would end up on your top ten worst list. I'm just a casual modeler(don't do anything super detailed) and this was the 4th kit I've finished and it was a nightmare to work with. Absolutely nothing fit together. I was pretty discouraged when building it. I asked myself am I really this bad at building kits and are a lot of them like this? Then I found an article on modeling madness where the builder had 30 years of experience and he said he had never in his life encountered a less buildable kit. He also mentioned that a lot of the serious modelers ended up throwing theirs in the trash. It just so happened to be one of the first kits I did. On the bright side, things really can't get any worse :-)
Yeah they can get worse -try the Su-34 from Italeri! If you're a casual modeler, check out the 1990's/early 2000s Tamiya 1/48 catalog. You can't go (very) wrong. Cheers, Chris
I've just built an airfix 1910 omnibus, absolute nightmare.... So much flashing and the chassis was slightly bent..... I persevered and it looks OK I guess...
Hi ! Did you make a video where you rank worse brands to best ? I don't have your experience, and I bought several kits following press advises but I should not, like the Sufa of Kinetic, a nightmare to build. It would be very helpfull. Thx. Another theme I'd like to see : ebay VS nowaday. Comparing the Revell F-14 1/48 of the 80's, a great kit at this time, with the latest Tamiya F-14A. Just an idea...
I've heard a lot of people say that building Gundam model kits is not 'real modeling'. Yeah, they snap together and you can put them up on your shelf and they look good enough. I have several finished gundams and a lot more 'in process'. It's a minimum 2 to 3 months for a 1/100 kit to complete when you make it 'anime accurate'. That includes an absurd amount of planning, detailing, scratch building, painting inner frames bolts that you will likely never see again, and the list goes on. That is just a standard build. I just started the 1/35th Tiger 1 late, from Tamiya. I forgot how bare bones it was. I finished scratch building one entire side of working torsion bars. The skills I have learned from building Gundam... No, scratch that. The things I have learned from the Japanese and Korean builders are things that I have rarely seen in the other genres of scale modeling. I hope no one takes this as a dig. It is definitely not. My go to shop is an old school train store. I've learned a lot from going there, as well as the amazing paint and detail from folks that build AFV and scale cars. Point is; this is supposed to be a fun hobby and sometimes I feel like it devolves into a Linux discussion thread hahaha
Indeed! My line is always "There's more than one hobby" - that we all derive different pleasures and enjoyment out of different aspects of the hobby. Its why I say armor modellers should do a scifi model from time to time, or an aircraft modeller should build a weathered tank. Cheers, Chris
Well this video went a bit nuts over the weekend - many thanks for all the likes and comments! I've added the full lists inside the video description plus all the links to the videos I've done on them. Happy to hear your thoughts on which of the Top Ten I should revisit (I also was able to snag a second 1/48 Bandai X-Wing since publishing this!) - I'm definitely doing the Savoia S.21 from Porco Rosso, but tempted to try another very shortly! Cheers, Chris
Those 1:32 scale Tamiya aircraft kits are beasts. Making the cockpit and engine for the Corsair took forever, but the pieces always fit together perfectly.
I'll never buy another Revell kit though. Their quality has dropped drastically over the years. Warped and broken parts, awful quality plastic, bad instructions, etc. Couldn't even finish a 1:48 AH1 Huey it was so awfully engineered.
Glad I found you
Thanks for showing this.. I built planes 50 yrs ago, starting to build more now, 65yrs old now.
Glad to know about quality in the different manufacturers i.e. , Revell , Tamiya
Great info
@@steveokon5431 no problem! It's difficult to find an enjoyable airplane kit these days. Ironically, the last plane I actually had fun building was the Revell 1:48 B25 Mitchell. Then the dark times began...
Gday can you tell me where you found the Porco Rosso seaplane please ?
At the age of 55 I've just completed my first go at an Airfix model kit: 1:72 Supermarine Spitfire Mkia. Skill level 1 but boy am I pleased with myself.
That’s great! I’m 20 and just grabbed the Airfix model Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat 1:72. It’s taken a couple of weeks to get the proper materials but I’m super excited to get it going 👍 I love how nice the pieces are molded
I’m 11 and just completed my 3rd kit!
@@jojothefisho4199 good on you, I started when I was 11 as well
1/72 is a tough scale.
Keep going. Great job and awesome hobby !
The engineering, fit, and finish of the Bandai Star Wars kits is so ridiculously satisfying to assemble. I love how these kits come together and all without glue. They are simply brilliant!
they're legit god-tier. I have the x-wing and a-wing and I want to get a few more now because they turned out so insanely good
How can anyone ‘dislike’ a video like this?
Total A-Holes, in my opinion.
I am so pleased your ‘best’ kit is the Spitfire. I am 67 years old and I grew up with ‘Airfix’ and ‘Revell’. My best were the large scale Spitfire, 1/72 Avro Lancaster and B17.
I didn’t paint them to the outstanding quality of your kits but I still remember the satisfaction of hanging the finished ones up in my bedroom around 1964.
I would love to see your attempt at a Mk9 Spitfire with D-Day markings..........only because I had the honour of actually flying in one for around thirty minutes from Biggin Hill on May 1st this year.
Probably the second best experience of my life. (Can’t go into my first.....!)
Ace video mate.
Thanks Clive. I just happen to have a Spitfire IX with beer barrels somewhere in that big stash cabinet! Its about the only Allied plane I want to do in D-day markings...except maybe a C-47?
And you have my sincere jealousy at managing a ride in a Spit!!!!
You just nailed it, brother ! If model companies listened to you, then they would sell 10x more models. Kits have to be well engineered with perfect fit, so that moms would allow dads to buy them. Me and my 9 year old son want more Bandai snap kits !!!
Just returned to Modeling - started in the 1970's with Airfix of all Military types - a lot has changed; just got the Tamiya Matilda II 1/35 -looking forward to doing two of them, an Aussie one and the standard Brit desert one.
Airfix Lancaster from 1976. All that dark plastic worked really well. And the decals seemed colourful and exciting
That was cool to watch, thank you for presenting your pigs and favourites! Since i am not an expert for aircraft models this is valuable information :) Thanks again and i appreciate the shout out mate.
You're very welcome Michael! Thanks for the inspiration, it was a fun video to make. Cheers, Chris
Nice list. I am just about finished with the Premium Hobbies F-14A "VF-142 Ghostriders" 1/72. My father was chief safety inspector for the F-14 throughout it's entirety. The plane has a lot of meaning to my family.
One of my favorite kits was the old Airfix 1/72 SPAD XIII, which I built when I was five... my first kit. I slopped Testors 'Competition Orange' all over it, painted the pilot brown overall, and loved it fiercely until I started building other kits, typically small, cheap kits packaged in blister-packs hanging near the cash registers of most hobby stores. I wasn't rich, and my parents could easily see how an impressionable young boy might become obsessed with this pastime, to the complete dereliction of anything else. Nine years in I was 14, and my next most favorite kit was the old Airfix 1/72 Fokker Dr.I, blister-packed, of course, and hanging from a disused wall of cheaper kits, including the old Heller Cadet series of 1/100 jet planes from the 'sixties.
Do you see what I'm getting at? It's not what's in the box what counts, or what you paid for it (every kit you've mentioned, good or bad, is light-years beyond what I ever could have afforded in those first nine years. I yearned for the old Entex 1/350 Titanic, but I wasn't able to buy it until 1989), or how much some God-knows-which UA-cam so-called 'Influencer' insists you MUST have it... it's what you put into the hobby, what comes from your heart and soul, not your wallet-pocket. Phrases like 'I couldn't get into it' and 'I'm just not going to say any more' are not terribly helpful; any functional adult so traumatized over a model kit might consider some other hobby. Did you think this was going to be a kind hobby? If you let it, it will spend all your money regardless of your station; it will turn at least one room of your house into a toxic waste dump; it is, for the most part, a solitary pursuit, and most girls still 'just don't get' what drives young boys and some old men to construct these funny little replicas of real-life objects.
I am less a young boy today than an old man, as are you. Have you discovered, as have I, that we're just not as dextrous, not as eager, not as clear-sighted, as we were decades ago? Frankly, I look at the hundreds of kits I've built over my life and wonder, 'Where did that kid have the stamina, the TIME, to build all these?' And then I remember how many sunny days I spent indoors to build those things. This is not a kind hobby.
I currently own a good hundred kits. In boxes. Some partially built, others still in plastic bags. Some are decades old. I plot, scheme, to finish some of them, but somehow never have the time, or the stamina, or something. I have re-built several beloved old kits, bringing them to new standards of displayability. My favorite kits? ALL OF THEM. I have ten vintage Revell car kits from the old days. I have several vintage Airfix ships, including the Vasa, the Victory, the Bismarck, and the E-Boat. I have twelve Gundam kits, which do not require paint or cement, but guys our age do need to do a little research to know what we're building. I do mean to build them. All of them. Someday.
P.S. Many UA-camrs develop scripts for their videos, especially if they feel they have something to say about their chosen subject. You might consider a script. Keep posting.
Hi mate. Great video. Just found your channel. You got my sub. I am 59 years old. I used to build model kits many years ago. Probably haven't built one for over 30 years. Spent 23 years as an Armourer in the RAF. Because of lockdown, I had a lot of time on my hands. So I decided to start modelling again. Tamiya have always been my go to kit manufacturer. I build many of their armour back in the day. So far, I have completed 3 kits in the last 6 months or so. The 1st 2, I had in my stash in the loft. Tamiya 1/35 Humvee Weapons Carrier and Tamiya 1/12 Yamaha YZF R1 Taira Racing. Then I bought the Tamiya 1/350 HMS Prince of Wales battleship. Completed it with Eduards Cranes & Railings Photo Etch set and a wooden deck set. Now I am building a Tamiya 1/32 F4-J Phantom marines. Oh boy, that is a great kit. Not far off completing it. Will be going back to armour for my next build. I have got Meng's 1/35 Merkava Mk4M with the reactive armour package to do. Anyway, I have put pictures on my page on Scalemates. Will be checking out more of your content for sure.
Thanks for the comment Andrew - you'll love that Meng Merkava, I did the Mk III but sold it off to someone else to paint it, was a fun, if a little complicated build. Cheers, Chris
@@beckersmodels Thanks, Yes the Merkava looks like a great kit. Looking forward to starting it soon.
I've just started my very first kit! Bandai X-Wing 1:72. I absolutely love building it. Looking forward to trying to paint and weather it next. Will definitely keep an eye out for the Millennium Falcon by Bandai now! Thank you for the inspiration.
Enjoy that kit its fantastic and welcome to the hobby! I'll have another Bandai Millennium Falcon video up soon on how to paint and weather the Falcon...cheers Chris
41 here and been building since age 6. One thing I've really noticed is how much the cost of this hobby has risen. Not just the kits, you'd expect those to increase given the complexity and detail that goes into them today, but it's the consumables that have spiralled ridiculously. It's quiet easy to blow 50 bucks and not cart many items home for the inventory. Great video, keep up the good work.
I agree -I've only been modelling for 7-8 years and seen a big leap in costs, with kits probably the cheapest part of the hobby now! Cheers, Chris
consumables - you mean paint ? excluding tools ?
but when i was a pup i found the price of kits pretty steep aswell. it took a couple of weeks of saving to get a kit
I can remember paying 13 cents for the little Testors glass bottle paints when I was a young kid. This weekend I needed just a bit of gun metal color, so I just grabbed a bottle of Testors at the local hobby shop...... $3.81. When I was a kid that would have bought me two 1/25 car kits and 4 or 5 bottles of Testors paint.
Been modeling since 6 myself. When you calculate the cost per gallon of the paint it is astronomical to say the least . No way the companies can justify charging hundreds for a gallon of freekin model paint !! Hell, you could buy paint for a real aircraft for less money !!
But, I will still pay though .😊
Great run down. Fun to watch. For me, my top 2 near perfect kits I build recently are 1) 100th Anniversary Tamiya release of the Storch in 1/48 scale. Goes together like Legos. I used no putty or filler anywhere. and 2) The Honda Jet by Ebbro also in 1/48. Again no putty needed, minimum sanding, beautiful engineering and tooling. Complete detailed interior that can be shown by the removable top of the fuselage. Many of the parts just snap together so tightly that I skipped using cement.
Thanks for watching - yet another kit I need to add to the pile - the Storch! Cheers Chris
The Mk XII Spitfire was the First Griffon engine mark to be produced. Early production examples were based on the Mark Vc Airframe and later examples were based on the Mk VIII airframe. The ONLY was to tell them apart is to look at the tail wheel. If it is fixed - it was a Mark Vc, whereas a retractable tailwheel was a Mark VIII based example. Basically this means you need a Good photo of the individual plane you are intending to build, showing the tail. BTW both Early and Late versions had the Asymmetric Radiators. (Like the Mark Vc.)
Thanks Brett. Technically it was a Mk IV as the first - but thats a testbed, not a production article. And yes I have detailed photos of the one I want to do, a late with retractable wheel, hence the Mk VIII. The conversion kit I have is the Grey Matters resin set for the Revell/Hasegawa Mk V, plus another unknown garage kit that someone gave me (just the nose). If I had some skill I would make my own Griffon conversion set for the Tamiya kits - but that's off the table for now. I'm currently building the Special Hobby 1/48 Mk XII, will have a video up on that later this year probably.
Thanks for commenting, appreciate your insight. Cheers, Chris
First off- New sub :)
Second: What a great video. I might have to pick up a few of these!!!
Third: you asked what our bottom or tops were. Unfortunately, I havent built very many models. Kind of "just got in to it", so I dont really have a stash, and my highschool gets in the way of modelling time alot. But my top 5 from what I've built:
1. Tamiya 1/48 F4U-1A "Birdcage" Corsair
2. Tamiya 1/48 P-47 Razorback
3. Accurate Miniatures 1/48 TBM Avenger (not academy box, OG AM)
4. Revell 1/32 Ki 61 Tony (Super old, but great details)
5. Zvezda 1/48 Yakolev Yak 3
I've also built some amazing tanks, like the RFM 1/35 Panther F, Tamiya 1/48 Easy 8, and Tamiya 1/48 StuG III in Finnish service. But I'm more of a plane person.
Now thats a great list! BTW I've built two KV-2s so far, have a Meng Egg one to do (as a giant fridge) but I'm waiting for Tamiya to redo their new tool KV-1 as a KV-2.
Good to see you're starting with some quality models - if you want any further advice or ideas, don't hesitate to ask away, thanks for the sub, Cheers Chris
@@beckersmodels thanks Chris! Those KV kits sell like hotcakes where I'm at. I dont have a debit or credit card yet (I hate being a teen sometimes lol), so I have to rely on shops as opposed to online orders, and they never have the KV-2s in stock when I'm there. I'll definitely ask for advice when I think of it, especially as i see more of your vids come out. Have a good day!
G'day Chris,
I'm so glad I came across your channel. There are way too few Aussie modellers with a presence on UA-cam. So far, you're the second after I discovered Harry Houdini up in Brisbane a year or so ago. He's got an outstanding channel and, like me, likes to 'waffle'.
Anyway, I thought those two lists of yours were interesting and revealing. They used to say you could get the measure of a person by looking carefully at their books. There's a hint of truth in that about modellers' stashes and preferences.
I began modelling around age 9 which continued until I got a little busy while in the RAAF. I got back into modelling about 2 years ago. I'm 66 now and loving the challenge of coming to grips with new modelling techniques, tools and chemicals etc. When I was a kid modeller, I would have had no idea what an airbrush was, let alone use one.
So, I began as a 'brush brat' and, believe it or not only got my hands on a small 'cordless' airbrush on the say so of Harry Houdini... and now I'm hooked. Although, an airbrush will never completely replace my preference for hand brushing, it will save me a lot of time doing large control surfaces and undercoats etc.
I've ordered a proper airbrush kit and this will really help with the 30 odd kits I want to do for my RAAF build.
Got to say, Chris, I like your work and your enthusiasm. Predictably, I do mostly WW2 and post-Korea military aircraft and generally, aircraft that were on the RAAF inventory.
This year, the 100th anniversary of the RAAF, I'm working on a multiple build project of significant aircraft in the RAAF's history. Beginning from 1921.
Of course, after seeing this video I subscribed and 'rang the bell'.
I'll begin by watching your How To videos but please I hope you don't mind if I pester you, occasionally, with a 'stupid' question.
Like you, I'm a fan of Tamiya and some of the 'new tool' Airfix kits. In the old days, Hearns’ Hobbies in Melbourne (started by three ex-RAAF brothers) was the only place I knew to get models. And, yes, my very first model was a 1/72 Airfix Spit.
It turned out more like an ‘Eton Mess’ than a model but, again, I was hooked.
These days I stay away from 1/72 because of my eyesight and my sausage fingers or hands of a Sturgeon!
Sometimes I'll snag a 1/72 if it's a model of a big aircraft, in reality but otherwise it's 1/48 and up.
Because of the wrap you gave the Tamiya Mk VIII Spitfire, I raced over to Metro Hobbies and found one at a good price! Can't wait for that one.
There's also a 1/32 F4U Corsair and a Mozzie I'm really looking forward to building.
Soon as I heard rumours of Army getting rid of their M1 Abrams, I decided to try my very first tank and after listening to you I'm happy that I chose a couple of Meng kits.
I also realised that I couldn't do a proper tribute to the RAAF without doing models of their Fire Trucks, Ambulances and their old Halverson Search & Rescue boats. So, this one project has taken me down a path I never thought I’d travel.
If I can come anywhere close to the quality of Harry's or your builds, I'll be extremely happy.
Looking forward to future videos from you while I catch up on your old ones. Cheers, and all the best! BH, Hobart TAS.
No such thing as a stupid question, just the one that isnt asked! Thanks for coming along for the ride Bill, good to have you here. Cheers, Chris
I’m watching this three years later apparently and I am in the middle of building the Tamia 1/32 F for you Corsair actually I’m more at the start and I found a couple of fit issues. Couple of pegs with no holes to put them in so I’ve had to do some nipping, but the quality of the build. More than makes up for it. I’m having a ton of fun and I’m only on step 10 of the build.
Keep going it gets better!
I've been in this hobby for over 40 years - albeit having taken a break for the last 15 - and I don't think I've owned 125 kits yet! You've got me thinking about my list of best and worst now.
Love to hear your thoughts!
Very nice video! I build mostly armor, and I agree with the Tamiya Mark IV Male tank... what an amazing kit, quite simple but so well engineered and such great, crisp surface detail, I was stunned. It proved to me that an accurate and detailed kit need not have hundreds of tiny parts to look great!
Indeed, although the Takom Mk IV's look good too, I'd like to try their Mk 1 as well. Cheers, Chris
Great video mate, I agree Tamiya just has this ease of build and enough details you feel an excitement the entire build. I really enjoyed that list you made I really want the dornier arrow now.
My top 5 are
1.Tamiya panther G 1/35
2. Amusing hobby Panther II 1/35
3. Tamiya He 162 1/48
4. Tamiya Jagdpanther late 1/35
5. Tamiya StuG Ausf G 1/35
And my bottom 5
1.ICM me109 1/48
2.RS models Hs 132 1/72
3. Dragon StuG Ausf f 1/72
4. Italeri marder 1 1/35 (yuck)
5. Italeri ju88 1/72 (why is this still made)
Honourable mentions
Italeri Sdkfz 234 puma (not too bad tbh)
Tamiya PaK40 ( fun, easy and still looks good)
Thats a great list - I've built all your top five but I havent painted my Panther II yet (its the R-1 missile launcher one).....and yes that Dornier is superb. Thanks for the comment, cheers Chris
A loved the video and your enthusiasm! This 78 year old hasn’t built a model since the original Airfix days in England decades ago but now I’m tempted but where to start?
Thanks Ian - check out my "Your first model should be a 1/48 Tamiya" video where I explain whats the best option for a returning modeller, in my opinion at least. Cheers Chris
3 or 4 of these in your top ten are in mine as well, along with the other 1/32 scale Tamiya kits. I've built one of each of the modern releases and love them all and like you have bought another to build again. (I have yet to build my Bandai 1/144 Millennium Falcon, and I still have a 1/72 Fine Molds to build). Thanks for the great video.
Well, I just happen to have an Italeri 1:35 LVT-(A) 1 Alligator in the stash, I bought it for an Island landing diorama. I'm hoping it goes together smoothly as at 69 years of age, stuck in the house during the great lockdown of 2020, I took up mail order, e-bay model buying and started modeling. No, I didn't build models as a kid this is my first go at it. I'll have to agree on the Tamiya's, The Revell's and Lindberg's have improved my putty and sanding skills, you said you had trouble with the tracks, well I got a stupid good deal on some Friulmodel tracks and I'm going to try them, not sure when as there are a few models in the queue to be built first. wish me luck. Nick
Those Friulmodel tracks (and hopefully sprockets? If not - epoxy in the kit sprockets) will make a world of difference to that kit, the rest of it is not too bad! Cheers Chris
Hi Chris, thx for sharing your experience.
I agree with the 1/48 AFV Tiger; I built it too; great fit, great detail.
1/144 Revell Tornado ECR Tigermeet 2011: what a fantastic kit. The decals that come with the kit (designed by Syhart) are absolutely fantastic and precise to the micrometer.
1/72 Revell P-47M Thunderbolt: very nice detail, great fit, great value for money.
1/72 Academy P-51 series: decals give you a bit of a fight, but a lovely kit with very nice detail and no fit problems.
Now my favorite: 1/72 Eduard Fw-190 (Profipack). Fit: perfect. Detail: fantastic, even without the included PE. Decals: perfect. 95/100. Just not 100/100 as you never know what may still come done the road.
Great video, Chris! I'd love to get my hands on one of those WWI Tamiya Tank kits. Yours looks amazing. Love all your builds. You do great work! I've had one recent dog of a kit. The Airfix Ju88A-4 in 1/72 scale. I bought it after returning to the hobby in 2013, having just finished the 1/72 Airfix A6M2b Zero (a great kit, btw). Since the Zero was in a red box and a recent tooling at the time, I thought the Ju88 would also be a recent tooling, since it came in the red box with awesome artwork. Lo and behold it was a re-pop from their 1964 Ju88 mold. It looked like a box of chewed blue-gray bubble gum. I should have binned it, but decided to build it. Needless to say, I discovered Scalemates afterwards, and now know to do some research before plunking down my money on a crap kit.
Thanks for the kind comments Ken - yes scalemates is your friend to avoid those sorts of dramas. I think there's much better manufacturers if 1/72 is your think - Arma Hobby or Eduard for example. Cheers, Chris
Great video, made me think back to my 5 favourite builds (and not so favourite). I build mainly ships and WWI aircraft. (1) Fokker D.VII from Wingnut wings. Absolutely superb kit, very precise and detailed, the only drawback are the large wing decals which need care to fix on. (2) 1/35 S100 Schnellboot from Italeri, a well detailed kit with plenty of room for additions. (3) 1/48 Roland C.II from Eduard. I love the lines and looks of this plane, well detailed and reasonably easy to build. (4) 1/350 Russian protected cruiser VARYAG from Zvezda. A surprisingly well detailed and attractive kit of the pre-dreadnought era, with very few fit issues. (5) The 1/16 Garrett steam traction engine from Bandai. This 40+ year old kit went together without issue, even the decals were still good but needed care when applying. The worst was Academy's 1/32 Sopwith Camel, totally devoid of any detail. The only saving grace is that there is a photo etch cockpit kit available for it, but the plastic needs extensive modification to make it fit.
Thanks Robert! What a great list, I'd love to tackle that Eduard Roland, its one of my fave WW1 planes and I stupidly sold the WnW version several years ago - I built the WnW Albatros and it was a joy too. Did you check out Harry Houdini's Varyag build? Spectacular! Hmm...that Schnellboot would be fun too! Too many models, not enough time. Cheers Chris
@@beckersmodels Yes I did check out Harry's build, awesome. Zvezda do make some really nice kits. I have the WNW Roland and Albatros, along with a few others in my stash, look foreward to building them, but as you say, too many kits not enough time.
Howdy and hello,
I have been making kit since 1972 and I still remember my first kit close to 50 years ago. I have always found biplanes to a bit fiddly and they require more attention than regular monoplanes. One kit that very challenging for me was the Revell 1/96 scale Constitution and Cutty Sark. Another tough kit was the Bristol Boxkite and the thread really added strength to the air frame. And I have made kits from MPC Amt Revell Monogram Aurora Frog Tamiya and Hawk. And those are just plastic kits too. I hear Pocher is a very spendy kit to make and there are some of them out there. Two more I forgot to mention is Entex and Heller. Then come the balsa kits and that take real patience to make and even more when you are making from plans.
I do not know if you know about Cleveland design or not, but they are worth checking out the detail on the plans is quite something. You might want to try a vintage kit sometimes and they can be a lot of fun.
Sincerely,
Robert Johnson
Thanks Robert, enjoyed your comment. Yes, I have several vintage kits in my collection, lots of 1/24 Airfix aircraft, plus the 1/72 Airfix Super Connie. You sound like you'd enjoy Harry Houdini's channel - he's right up there with various shipbuilding techniques including plastic and wood, and also enjoys the vintage Heller and IMAI type kits. Cheers, Chris
Thank you Chris. I'm looking for a project as I'm sitting in bed with COVID and need something to do.
Get well soon!
Hey man! I am doing a black f-14 right now!
My question is , do you have a video of building it or photo's
Thanks - I have a few WIP photos lying around, it was a very simple build. Check out my Facebook albums I think they're in there? cheers Chris
I remember back in the mid-60s when I could go down to my favorite Japanese department store on Okinawa and get amazing model airplane kits most of which never cost any more than 50 cents. Many of the kits that I built in my youth are $30 or more now.
Airfix and Italeri making a few appearances in the bottom ten.... so no surprises there. Was surprised about the Tamiya 48 Sherman though.
I haven't got the Tamiya Tomcat - it's really expensive here (UK) so it's on hold for the time being. I generally build armour, but I've built the Tamiya Spitfire 4 times now. I think it's that good, that I thought I might send one to Italeri headquarters with simple note that says: this is how you do it. It's a fantastic kit. Great video thanks for sharing.
EDITED FOR ERROR CORRECTION
My worst: Italeri's 1:35th-scale kit of the CCKW 353 U.S. Army 2.5 ton Cargo Truck. The assembly and details were mediocre. What truly set me to chuck it aside (I save all polystyrene bits, even sprue), however, were the rear axles. The parts had no clear way to set them into place, and I actually put one reversed, making it impossible to place the driveshaft.
So exasperated this had me that I immediately required an antidote. I took the bus out to the hobby store (where I but a week or so prior had found in a bargain bin that landmine!), buying Tamiya's-- at more than thrice the price! I also bought the accessory set, with a driver, some cargo, and a puppy. I had that joy completely assembled, painted, and weathered (just enough to show it had been driven through the Italian countryside during the spring of 1943) in another fortnight. I set it immediately to one side of Tamiya's 1:35th-scale kit of the M38 "Jeep" 1/4-ton GP Utility Truck.
An acquaintance who was a veteran saw the little one, asking to buy it. In the few occasions where a veteran asks to buy one of my builds, I charge just what it cost me; round $20 USD. He liked the truck, but at $40, it was more than he had at the time. I replied that he could pay me when he would be able. He did at the first of the month. I bought another of each.
A close tie is Hasegawa's 1:48th-scale kit of the Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor USAF Air Dominance Stealth Fighter. I bought two: one to build with the landing gear down and all its doors open. The other airborne, in a determined climbing turn.
Both suffered a fatal design flaw wherein I could not fit together the two halves of the airframe. They went back into the box, to sit upon a shelf. To be blunt, I would rather have back my money. I think they had retailed at $90 USD each. I then had appreciably more discretionary income.
The supposed quality and the exorbitant price are why these rank so low.
My favourite: Tamiya's 1:48th-scale series of Chance Vought F4U Corsair Carrier-based Fighter. I built a -1, a -2, a -1A, a -1D, and a -1A that I modified to a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Corsair I. I had another -1 kit I had intended to convert to a -1C, with the four 20mm cannons, and a -1D I would modify to a latewar -4 with a four-blade propeller. I could not find a conversion kit to effect these changes, however. I found an Academy kit of the -4B, from which I had cut away the fuselage forward of the cockpit, to incorporate into the Tamiya model; I would inscribe onto the Academy portion the better panel lives and riveting.
My personal circumstances took a terrible turn, and my model work came to a stop.
Re the 1:35th-scale Hobby Boss kit of the Leopard 2A4 German Bundeswehr Main Battle Tank, at 4:52, you advise your viewers to buy the [unintelligible] kit. I checked the transcript; it read "the men kit". Please clarify.
Leopard 2A4 - the Meng kit is the best out there, by far....cheers
I'm a new modeler and have spent a lot of time researching exactly what kits I should get into. I had a feeling Tamiya was the market leader... thanks for confirming my suspicions! Super helpful video. Looking forward to checking out your content.
Thanks for watching Jared - I did a separate video on how to pick your first aircraft kit, which I think should be an older 1/48 Tamiya single prop WW2 fighter, check that out. I may do a video on what armor and scifi kit to start with next, Cheers Chris
@@beckersmodels Great recommendation! Checking that video out now!
Hello great video I wanted to let you know I Served onboard the USS Nimitz CVN-68 V-4 Division Flight Deck Maintenance from 1981-1984. I was fortunate to be on Flight Deck with the F-14A Tomcats! We had VF-84 & VF-41. I agree the Tomcats should still be in Service. Yes it’s the Best looking Fighter Aircraft of all Time! I built the 1/32 scale Tamiya’s first F-14A Tomcat. I still prefer that kit out of all F-14 Tomcat kits. I was never a fan of the low visibility paint schemes. Thanks again Mate!
Wow thanks Paul, and thanks for your service! F-14 has to be my favourite jet aircraft of all time, I've been playing around with the Tamiya 1/32 for awhile (rescribing and upping the cockpit detail), I do intend to get back to it one day, but I have another, let me check....10 F-14 kits to finish first! Cheers, Chris
My revelation was building the Tamiya 1/32 scale Mitsubishi Zero in 1969. It even had realistically etched fabric control surfaces. I was 10 and had built everything I could get my hands on from Airfix, Frog, Classic, etc., but this was real quality. But we thought the other stuff was pretty good too. Things have moved on massively but I quit at 40-something when I’d had enough of super-detailing. Somehow I just enjoyed the weekend builds more. And the eyes aren’t up to it at 63.
Nice job of the Spitfire! Just sold NIB Zoukei Mura Ta-152 , and 3 Pacific Coast models 1/32 - Macchi Folgore, Reggiane Saggitario, and Fiat Centuaro. Also a NIB 1/32 Wingnut Fokker D.VII. These were all superb quality. The old Airfix 1/24 Bf-109 and Spitfire were also pretty good in their day. The Monogram B25 Mitchell was and probably still is a fantastic kit. I won the Masters with a heavily sanded, scribed, and super-detailed Revell 1/32 P47, on a sandpaper runway with the pilot and crew chief having a chat (Verlinden 1/35 - close enough)
Yep the hobby has moved a lot since those times, and there's so much choice available too. Thanks for your comment Dave, cheers Chris
The Airfix Arado 196 dates back to 1966 and a good thirty years ago was surpassed by the Heller mould so it is a curiously/antique only. The Corsair mould is even older I think 1964 . The original Matchbox mould of the Beaufigher X when I built one in the early eighties had an ok fit. I suspect the moulds have deteriorated a lot since then after all it was made in 1974. The new Airfix one is in my experience currently the best. I think with Airfix, Revell and Italeri in 1/72 WW2 aircraft which is my thing you have to do your research as the modern stuff can be very very good. The Airfix Beau, Blenheim and Beaufort are all excellent. The Revell Lanc from 2007 is good and value for money and Junkers 290and Blohm & Voss 222 are tremendous value and great kits.I hear good things about the C-54. And have one in my stash.The Italeri Ju 88 still isn’t bad and I still like their Me 232 for ambition alone and particularly the Dornier 24. However the older reboxes can be horrible I have been caught in the past with things like the Airfix Helldiver great box art ancient kit and old Revell Marauder. I would recommend Scalemates to check the kits origins, age and often review links.if in doubt.
I've been building kits for rather more than the last seven years and began with Airfix as a kid as that was all that was available. It was a revelation to build Tamiya many years later and they never fail to impress me personally. Have yet to build Meng (two kits waiting) but they look pretty good. Also returned to Airfix with a 1/72 Vapire recently which only served to remind me that my eyes are way too aged for that scale and though the finished article looks passable, that's all folks for me and 1/72. My most recent pig was the Revell 1/48 Lanc which was a dispiriting travail which only Tamiya has reinvigorated me from. Enjoyable vid, thanks.
Oh I've been burnt by the Airfix Lancaster too! I have the 1/48 Tamiya Lanc's and while an old kit, it looks like fun. Thanks for your comment!
Like looking in a mirror. Thanks for being concise! You clipped along very nicely. I know I’ll be shopping for an S.21 now…
Heh heh thanks for watching Andrew - yep get one of those Fine Molds! They also make the Curtiss blue biplane too from Porco Rosso. Cheers, Chris
Yay! I have the Bandai, Falcon, & the 1/48 X-Wing - just inside the box they look superb, looking forward to them. Great video!
Good show old chap - guess what - I picked up another 1/48 X-wing the day after I made this video! So I'm going to get some Archive X paints and go to town on it and repaint my old one too...
Recommended build: The Tamiya 1/35th Matilda was a surprisingly fun kit to build. It is a jewel of a model that was a joy to put together. I love 1/35th scale Tamiya armor and this one is a "must".
Can't go back kit: 1/48th Monogram Corsair. Super fun when I was a kid in the 70's. Many working parts such as folding wings, retractable landing gear and such. Today it is a terrible build. I think the molds are very worn and nothing fits as it should. My Mom (bless her) gave me the kit as a present for my recent birthday. I built it up with many working parts glued in place and it looks pretty good. Not fun, but looks nice in my Corsair collection.
You haven't done BAD until you've done Airfix 1:600 Bismarck. I managed to rescue it, but by then it had become half kit, half scratch build. Appalling fit, moulding, inaccuracies galore. Needed a whole new deck, and some serious surgery to get the hull height down to something even close to accurate. The rudders supplied were actually twice the scale size, it's like the cleaning lady got the drawing scales wrong and no one else noticed. Most of the superstructure sides was just flat featureless plastic, yet look at any photo of it and there's hatches, scuttles, cable reels etc..., all of which need to be added assuming you've got the references to hand. I would rate the Scharnhorst model even worse if it wasn't for the fact that the hull looks something like correct shape and size. Yet Airfix can produce reasonable models such as HMS Repulse and KGV in the same scale. They must just seriously dislike the Germans!!
Check out Harry Houdini's channel, he is currently restoring an old Airfix sailing ship and really knows his stuff with the creme da le creme of the Airfix ship catalog. ua-cam.com/users/HarryHoudiniModelsvideos Cheers, Chris
i completely agree with you there on the Bismarck I got given one and it went into the bin after a few months of sitting on the bench because it was that bad. Nothing fits properly on it and the amount of flashing on the kit was appalling.
@@samuelvanderzwaag157 Yeah its a bit of a shame. The original model was pretty bad and the re-released moldings were shocking. I have seen an old 1970s offering of it online, and it might be OK molding wise, but still needs a lot of work to get accurate. Shame they didn't re-release some better models, but I guess the Bismarck is assumed to be an automatic sale. I've heard of quite a few going in the bin. Not great for Airfix reputation.
Even though some of the assembly was different and not typical of what is expected I thoroughly enjoyed building my first F-4J from Zoukei-Mura. After noting the idiosyncrasies of that particular model/assembly with it fresh in my mind I really, really wanted to immediately start another one...unfortunately I had a couple shelf queens and another build for someone to finish off. I will admit to being a big fan boy of ZM, mostly because they were the first to address in 1/32 so many of my favorite aircraft(Ta-152, He-219, Raiden and Shinden, and now the Ki-45, and Hs-129), and their approach to the idea of model building.
They do make some amazing kits but they require a different approach where for me, you really have to be passionate about the subject. I'm looking forward to see what else they have coming out - a 1/32 Val would be great! Cheers, Chris
Love to get one of those Ta 152's I bet it's awesome.
I've never had a good experience with an Italeri kit...not a single one. They have all had sorry fit and sorry detail. I had to work way too hard to make them look the part. In will say in the end, all the hard work was rewarding considering the effort I had to put into them. With that being said, I always promise myself, "I will NEVER put another Italeri kit together again!"
I'm inclined to agree with you on this. The Italeri Opel Blitz Truck and Maultier cabs were a nightmare to assemble. Also the plastic parts for the small items that were supposed to go on the fenders were next to useless. No holes in the fenders to attach the headlights either And the plastic used is brittle & prone to breaking (particularly all the wheel axle's).
Having been building since age 10 (that's 67 yrs ago) I've built nearly everything from Revell and AMC to Tamiya (the best) including Cutty Sark in 1959 with all the standing and running rigging (and my own ratlines, theirs sucked) no sails. All I ever wanted for Christmas and birthdays were models. Wood, plastic, pot metal, vaccu-formed, U-control line, early R.C. and whatever. Give me the cash and transport, I'll pick my own thank you, no gifts. My mother would complain that my room smelled like glue and airplane dope, I was probably high and didn't know it. Myself, I like wheels and flaps down and often make into diorama's of the period and type.
I like to believe the hobby instilled in me an appreciation of history, fine motor skills and a little anal about details and accuracy. Review of Battle of Britain (1969). I commend you for having constructed the number of kits in such a short time. Great site BTW. Subbed and noted we like same channels. Rojasbazan is INSANE.
Thanks Ray - welcome aboard! Cheers, Chris
Tamiya and Bandai are the gods of plastic! I'm a sci-fi modeller and my favourite kits are: 1. Bandai 1/144 Millennium Falcon, its 100% perfect. 2. Polar Lights 1/1000 USS Enterprise Refit, its the polar opposite of the old AMT kit. 3. Moebius Battlestar Galactica (reboot) easy assembly, spray it Gunship Grey then dry-brush it, a few pin-washes and it looks great. 4. Pegasus Hobbies 1/144 War of the Worlds Tripod. Big kit, fine detail, good fit, designed for lighting kits.
The Moebius Galactica is one of the worst kits I have ever made. It fits together well, but the shape is not remotely accurate, it has no texture between the hull ribs, the armour should have been separate parts, but instead they molded it onto the main sections and created those awful bevels between the ribs, they have the wrong number of ribs on the flight pods, lots of missing guns, the wrong shape on the pods (flat rather than barrel sided) no internal detail, and that ridiculous step between the head and neck of the model that was never on the screen version. I have been trying to build one on and off for seven years, but it sucks all the joy out of modelling! It was as cheap and lazily engineered as you can get.
@@nickboylen6873 I think most of the issues you've mentioned come down to the size of the model and the limitations of mould-making tech, and possibly how quickly the company wanted to release the kit
@@jamesbielby3491, there are certainly limitations on what they could do with the hull shape and simple two-piece moulds. But they should have made the plating separate to prevent that infill of the ribs, and there is no excuse for the step on the back of the head or having single CIWS guns for the full length of the pods and missing the Viper launch tubes - that’s just bad research of the subject. I have just bought their 2001 Discovery and HAL 2000 kits, and the Discovery seems much better.
Haven't had a really bad kit, but then the brief modeling I have time to do only built about 20 in the last 10 years!. Probably my worst was the 1/48 Hasi Arado 234 blitz. Was really looking forward to this - got the Aries cockpit set - first time with resin - That turned out really well. BUT I just sort of lost my mojo on it as a whole. Had some fit issues with some of the fuselage panels - esp round the cockpit and clear recon panels, and the plastic just seemed brittle - just seemed a chore to get it done - Got it done in the end. but it was a struggle - Did the Airfix Spit XII after that had a blast. Now doing the Tamiya F14A and yes its great!
Other fun kits Tami 1/48 Beufighter, RAF Mustang Mk.III, Hasi Bf.109E and the old tool Tami 1/48 spits.
Only ever given up on one - another Hasi - the 1/72 F6 Lightning - that was a real F-it - this is bad, and is now a paint mule! Did not help I tried to do a bare metal that just showed up everything.
That's some great advice Tim - after this video I've thinking of getting the Tamiya Beaufighter actually. I'm currently building an old tool Tamiya 1/48 Spitfire as a full video build to put up here one day. Great kit for nearly 30 years old! Cheers, Chris
you're amazing! You do great work!
My dad served on the
USS enterprise and gave me Revell model kit that he always wanted to put together and never did. I can't do models but I would love to see what one looks like complete.
Did you ever do that one?
I bet you would make it look fantastic!
Thanks mate, no I havent done the Revell Enterprise, I have the 1/700 Academy CV-6 and the 1/350 Tamiya CVN-65
Would love to see a new YF-23 kit. Built one as an eight year old, but it fell apart (child build quality not being so great) and was thrown out years ago. I feel your disappointment because it's such a cool looking thing, and I'm amazed nobody wants to take it on for a new release.
Me too, or even an in service F-23A, check out The Drive's article on what that would look like: www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/24911/this-is-what-a-northrop-f-23a-wouldve-looked-like-if-lockheed-lost-the-atf-competition
Thanks for showing the Porco Rosso's Savoia S21F, as I had no idea that there were kits for it! I haven't built anything in years now, but looking to get back to the hobby with something manageable with as little rigging wires as possible. Shame that nobody is selling the kit around central Eu it seems, but will try to import it from JP or something.
Anyway, looking forward to see your upcoming build of that very plane!
You're very welcome Erik - try Plaza Japan they are very good for shipping around the world and usually have all the Fine Molds kits. I'm itching to build it too - well, both of them! Cheers Chris
What do you. Think about the MK.Iv rc tamiya version
Love it, built one, have another one I want to do, but without the R/C functions...although it would be fun to scare the cat from time to time...
I should be done with my builds by 2098. No worries, only 63 years old now.
Yep I'm running about 20 kits a year short....aka I need to build 20 more kits a year or my stash will grow exponentially away! Cheers, Chris
I looked at my stash the other day and thought it would probably be impossible for me to build all these kits and display them lol.
@@davidmccann9811 treat your stash like your personal hobby store - you dont have to build all of them! They're just ready stock.
Only the Hobby Boss 1/48 YF-23 surprised me. The decals went in the bin for some lovely Caracal decals. But the kit (for me) just sailed together. I used a smear of filler on the wing to fuse joint, but other than that, and other than some slight inaccuracies in some of the compound curves around the forward nacelles, and centre fuselage, it went together like a Tamiya kit. Heaps of room for detail painting around the exhaust trenches, very light, restrained weathering...
Possibly one of the "funnest" kits I've built in the last 37 years.
Would love to build "Grey Ghost" to park next to "Spider", but... the price!
Mind you, I only paid AU$37.50 for mine on eBay 2nd hand, but unopened.
Nice score on ebay for that! I'd like to try one again...
@@beckersmodels Yeah, jumped on that one really quickly.
When I worked at hobby center toys in Toledo Ohio I was in charge of the warehouse with models and trains. I built the Tamiya F-14 tomcat in the 80s and the only decals you got where the Nimitz Jolly Roger or the Iranian Air Force . The main wings could pivot for subsonic or supersonic flight.
I went to HOBBY CENTER STORES A LOT
I STILL LIVE IN THE TOLEDO AREA...
Went to the HOBBY CENTER at Miracle Mile shopping center in the 70s...
bought a lot of models from there...
CHRIS from OHIO
Trying to decide if I should do an F16 or Spitfire next, I think you just helped me choose!
I'm wrapping up the Tamiya 1/32 F4U-1A, it was the most complicated I've ever built eith 9ver 300 parts, but as you said the engineering is off the charts good!
Question... Is the Spit VIII that much better than the V?
The Tamiya VIII is miles ahead of the HB Mk V or even the new Border Model version in 1/35 scale. If you can stand to wait, Kotare will have a Mk Va out soon, with a Mk Vc wing variant probably in a year or two...
Hi. Now this might be an over the Top Extra's to a Model Kit, But is it possible to Add motors and Gears to Lower and Raise the Landing Gear, Spin the Prop, and like you, I would use LED Lights on all the Correct positions, and have them flashing as they would really look if I was on the ground looking up, Or Plane Spotting at Dusk and see the Strobes On the Wings, Tail and under Belly, I'm now Disabled and looking for something I can sink my teeth in to, and im going to hang them from the Ceiling, and I'm hoping to use some of my old Stage Lights to Set a Sunset, and have the Model Plains on the Smallest Curtain track I can find, And I cant see why I cant use .5mm Twin Wire to hand the Model Plains But to also move them around the Room, Like a Train Kit upside down, And the 1 Kit that I really want to build is the Skymaster 337, and the biggest Scale I can find, If I wasn't so Disabled I would have gone in to Model Flying Aircraft and join a Club, but that is not possible now, So I thought a Real scenario type effect hanging from my ceiling and all following there own very small Curtain track, that would be made in to Loop's, Just having a Glass Trophy Case full of Model Aircraft Makes them Look Good, But I would Love to try and make and action seen, as I want the Big Models, and also the De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou , That I used to fly in when I was in the Australian Army, from the mid 70's to the mid 80's, So the De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou will have to be my Favorite, so if you can recommend a top Model of the De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou that I used to fly around in when post to Air Dispatch, as after my Accident in the Army, I didn't want a Discharge, I just wanted a Posting that would keep me happy, and a transfer to Air Dispatch, Riding in the De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou and the Lockheed C-130 Hercules which I also would like to know what is the Biggest and Best Model of a Lockheed C-130 Hercules, Regards. . . Colin
Thx Chris for your feedback of which kits to avoid.
Thanks for your perspective! I've been modeling for over 50 years and its always good to hear other views. I'm impressed with Moebius and their 2001: Space Odyssey kits. There are a few errors but all are easily correctable with some aftermarket parts.
Thanks for watching and your comment John!
Always a great video!
Great builds.
Thanks mate!
There are two kits I've encountered over several decades that I consider absolute dogs. I've built just about every genre and ever material out there and its funny that the two kits are both 1/35 armor. MP Models M50 Sherman. Got one years ago and had it in my stash until I finally decided the put it together. It was horrible. The mold lines were huge ridges the just about destroyed my dremal grinding them down, the fit was so bad I use sheet styrene to build up joints or to back gaps so I could fill them with putty, the hull was warped and to short to fit the lower hull. After a week of sectioning, bracing, stretching and filling I got it to fit. But then I had the same issue with the turret. Since dragon had a M50 by then I chucked it in the bin. The other dog is currently on my bench. It's Gunze-Sangyo M60A1 w/Rise. The only selling point on the kit is the white metal ERA blocks. It's the old ESCI kit in a different box with added white metal parts. The kit has some nice features but the main problem is the molding. They must have had some issues with the mold when this one was made. The main gun is too short due to the muzzle not being molded correctly. The wheel hubs are not molded properly with deep voids between the bolts and around the hub. Other parts have deep sink marks and voids that would require large amounts of putty to fill. Fortunately I have parts scavenged from two other M60A1 kits that I can use to build a nice one and use the white metal parts on. Not the first time I've built a frankentank.
I'd have to agree with you about the Tamiya Do-335 Pfeil kit. I too found it a joy to build right out of the box, although I found that the main canopy was slightly too narrow (approx. 0.5mm) to sit cleanly in position. Tamiya have also done a 2 seater version of the Do-335 that I'd like to get a hold of.
I'd highly recommend any Hasegawa Me-109 kit in 1/48 scale as well, as they are a dream to build even though they are getting quite old now.
Also have to agree with you regarding Italeri. I've been burnt so many times now that I just refuse to go near them any more, and especially so with their bad habit of re-releasing 30 & 40 year old kits and trying to pass them off as something new. Their F-14A, Tornado and MiG-23/MiG-27 kits in 1/48 scale are prime examples to avoid.
Thanks for the comment James - yes indeed, I've steered away from Italeri (just like Airfix really) and I only have their reboxed 1/9 Kettenkrad (which is a dog) and the "new" FIAT 506, which looks promising, but I've only heard bad things from builders in terms of assembly, although detail looks great.
I just don't see the point in them unless you can't get that particular subject anywhere else. Cheers Chris
@@beckersmodels Yup. To be fair, I should probably clarify that Italeri re-boxed kits from what was Accurate Miniatures are ok. For example, their A20 Boston III in 1/48 is still a fairly decent kit, but anything molded by Italeri themselves should be avoided. I'd also NOT recommend buying any Tamiya re-boxed versions of Italeri kits as your not getting Tamiya quality, but still paying inflated Tamiya prices etc. The Tamiya 1/35 M24 Chaffee is a prime example. The newer tooled AFV Club kit is far cheaper as well. Tamiya are not doing themselves any favors by re-boxing Italeri rubbish unfortunately.
The AFV Club 1:48 Tiger was originally a Skybow kit. When Skybow was broken up AFV Club bought the Tiger 1 kits but not the molds. Released around 2004-05 I guess.
Indeed - and when I look back at my build, there are some areas I'd really like to improve on the kit that is probably able to with the Tamiya version. However, I do note that Suyata have brought out a Panther in 1/48 with full interior, I'm hoping they extend to the Tiger as well. The last Tiger model I want to build is Wittman's late Tiger, but blown up with the turret on the ground, maybe with a British Firefly driving past the remains...
I first did model kits when I was 13/14 and started with Airfix which was good at the time but then I came back into the hobby in February of this year (after 12 years), tried a couple of the airfix kits to ease myself back in and I can honestly say I just ain't keen on Airfix anymore. Most of their kits don't have the best fit and they are very limited in their selections especially for 1/35 Scale
I have however, fallen in love with the Tamiya kits. They tend to fit together much nicer and have better instructions and details. Completed two Tamiya kits so far (1/35 Tiger 1 Late Production and King Tiger Pre Production) and an Italeri M4A3E8 Sherman "Fury". The airfix kits I have completed are 1/72 Hawker Hurricane, P51D Mustang, Me Bf109E and a Supermarine Spitfire MkVb
Airfix just isn't to the same quality that Tamiya is. I do wanna try some Trumpet, Dragon and Ryefield kits
Tamiya armour is really good but the ones you mentioned are even better, although I find Dragon instructions are a minefield to read! Cheers Chris
Started with Airfix in the late 1950’s still going strong, eyes are giving me a hard time, but shit happens! Started a Bandai 1/72nd X wing as a precursor to my Bandai 1/72nd Perfect Millenium Falcon, really looking forward to this one. Great channel mate keep it up.🇦🇺🦘👍🏼
Thanks about mentioning Scalemates, I was unfamiliar. I'm slowly returning to the hobby because I want to do kits with my son at some point.
You're welcome, its a very useful resource, IMO
My favorite 5 kits:
5. Tamiya p51 D mustang
4. Dragon Tiger 131
3. Super wing Ki-45
2. Tamiya matilda mk. II
1. Tamiya ki-46 Dinah
How did you find that Dinah? I've heard mixed reports about it but its definitely on my radar to fill out my 1/48 twin engine fighter collection. Cheers, Chris
I found it in scalemates review section... and wanted to add it to the Japanese airplane collection
My very limited building experience has taught me that 1/35 Dragon armour kits have great detail, and for the most part are well engineered, but the instructions........WOW!
Oh yes. I could only do a couple Dragon kits, I would use up a whole box of headache pills and a beer or three just to decipher the instructions...much better to go with Meng or Tamiya. Cheers, Chris
@@beckersmodels Well Chris, just found your channel, great stuff, thanks. As for Dragon, I have 6 more kits on the shelf in waiting. I think I may take one out when I'm in the mood for some self-abuse.
something about Tamiya yeah, my last two builds were the 1/48 spitfire and the p-38 lightning, fantastic fit and build.
my all time fav was the p-47 bubbletop which was about 10 years ago but i will do another.
may i ask what are those display cases you store them in. was going to get more ikea ones
Yep Im itching to do the P-38 one day, I did the P-47 Razorback late last year completely out of the box and it was a great stress relief after some hard slogs! The cabinets behind me are my upgrades from the IKEA Detolfs which I didn't like - these are some local cheapies, they have a big slot in the back to let in dust! I need to cover them up with some acrylic sheet. My next cabinet will be 1500mm wide for my big ships and big aircraft - Ive run out of room! Cheers, Chris
great list....i got rid of my Italeria kits because i had the same issues you did
My joke is that "Italeri" is an untranslatable Italian term for an object made of more putty and swears than polystyrene.
I,ve done that F-14 tomcat kit behind you myself a few years back and I remember loving it . It was one of the 1st I went all in on the painting and even tho I,m no expert at it was very happy with the finished article
Great breakdown. Michael is one of my closest friends, it's nice to see his video inspired other people. I'll give your channel a thorough look over.
Thanks Adam. I love watching - and listening - to Michaels videos, he's one of the best model UA-camrs out there! Cheers Chris
I have one of those Tamiya's Dornier 335 ready to build one of these days (OK, make it one of these months :)), so I'm glad to know it's that good. Also, if you want to add one to the "stay away from those kits" list, I'd say Special Hobby's Buchon.
You'll have no problem with that Dornier kit - enjoy! Cheers Chris
9:09 - awesome kit! One of the best Tamiya has ever engineered and released! I have the full Dornier 335 series, tandem cockpit, original single seat configuration and the destroyer, beautiful kit and beautiful plane :)
Agreed. The Destroyer is my favourite, I have the 1/32 Hong Kong Models version but I'm a bit wary starting that one! Cheers Chris
Since I have been a Star Wars fan nearly my entire life, my favorites have been mostly Star Wars kits. I have yet to build a Bandai SW kit I didn't like. Favorites include the Y-Wing, AT-ST and the 1/144 Falcon. I recently started the PG Falcon, and I say 'wow!' with just about every part. It's stunning. My least favorites were from long ago, the MPC Darth Vader TIE fighter, the solar panel to body fir was so bad that I couldn't get them to stay put (they were very heavy). I also had a Revell 'Lights, Action, Sound' Police Bike when I was 8 or 9 years old that was way out of my league, and I remember didn't fit too well.
Totally agree - check out my video on superdetailing the MPC Tie Advanced - after I finished, one of the wings fells off again! Its still sitting in my display cabinet with its wing off....I've yet to make all the Bandai SW stuff, but I'm getting there! Working on the AT-AT today to publish a video on Friday, its a fun kit to weather. Thanks for the comment, cheers Chris
I know what you mean about the MPC TIE Advanced... I had three of them (Two sold to me by a friend who decided not to build them), and made a TIE Bomber out of one of them (I still have the conversion plans... somewhere... three moves and a fire have not been kind to my collection or stash of reference). The third still resides amongst my unbuilt kits.
Hi Becher could you to a video on the best kits of Revell and Tamiya.
I could do that - with Revell is quite easy, their best is 1/32 WW2 Luftwaffe and WW2 U boats in 1/72 and 1/144....
Good vid, thnxs. Every now & then I need a lil re-inspiring. I build Everything. Am from Melb Oz ; Favs prob. 1/35 AFV T34 Clear hull tank. AMT Star Wars podracer. Due to space restriction I now build many many cars. Tamiya Porsche GT One 911 Clear body. I’ve Both Tamiya a 1/32 Spitfire mkv111 & P51D ( be interested in thoughts of later ) Love Aoshima kits. After 20 years Moulding / Design Tupperware, consider All Elements of Both Engineering kit & actual mechanics of original item.
The 1/32 Tamiya P-51D is a great kit, you have to build almost the entire engine even if you dont want to display the cowls open, and you must be very careful with alignment to get it right, but apart from that, no problems! Cheers Chris
my 2 favourite online sources - scale mates and Hamilkar !
Just ordered a mk5. Hope it is as good as you say.
I’ve been making models since I was a kid in the sixties. In my opinion Tamiya are the best out there. I’ve just built their Jagdpanther and I enjoyed it so much, I want to build another one. I may try the Meng kit though, just to compare.
The Meng is a little better in terms of detail, while according to Sam Dwyer (best armour modeller in Australia, IMO) the Takom Jadgpanther is even better. I really want to do another one in the future...or 1/16 even!
Brings back memories.
Tamiya p 38 lightning the engineering, fit and the way it made me want to build it totally amazing.
Oh yes! Listen to Robbie at The Model Guy - he kept nagging me everyday of his P38 build for me to start mine! I will eventually, I just want to master spinning props first. I reckon it will sneak into my Top Five from what everyone has been saying about it...cheers Chris
Honestly this hobby to me is being able to enjoy doing something with my hands whilst also having a fondness for these vehicles and if I don't enjoy the kit then theres no point, so to me everytime I pick up a new kit I always make sure to stick with certain manufacturers that I know that have overall great products. These include TAMIYA (obviously) Academy SOMETIMES, Trumpeter, Hobby Boss, MENG, RFW, TAKOM and GWH. Other than that I don't buy any other unless I've seen this particular kit being very good and not having issues with it, but its rare..
Good philosophy!
Have you ever tried eduard kits? There Airplanekits in the Profi Edition are sublime!
Funnily enough, no Eduard yet. I do have their 1/48 Spitfire Mk 1 that I want to try out though, and compare to the new tool Tamiya Spit. Cheers, Chris
@@beckersmodels I have built there 1/48th scale profi pack spitfire and it was a very very good build. A bit fidly at some places with the tiny foto etched parts. But all in all a very enjoyable built.
Absolutely love their 1/48 MiG-21's, and their kit decals are the best in the business. Only reason I can't rank Tamiya kits #1. Their decals are just not very good.
Great video. I have done 2 tamiya 1/32 spitfire. And what you would like better then that. Is the tamiya P51 1/32 or my favorite, The F4U corsair. Done 2 of them to. Amazing kit. I recommend doing those. Bless away the spitfire. I'm a tamiya fanboy to. And think tamiya has the best kits.
The Tamiya 1/32 P-51 is great, even better fitting than the Spitfire, but the Corsair is even betterer!
G'day
Which P38 Lightning kit do you think is the best?
Love that plane.
Cheers
No contest. Tamiya 1/48 P38F/G/H. They should be bringing out a J version hopefully. This kit is probably the best propeller aircraft scale model kit in 1/48 scale hands down.
I only build WW2 armor. Love the Tamiya kits. Worst one I built was Academy’s M18 Hellcat. Had some fitting issues with some parts and the tracks that came with the kit were not long enough
I reckon Meng are slightly better than Tamiya but don't have the range in comparison. I sort of avoid Academy armour too!
hi, great video, steer clear of the airfix vintage classic ships ie, the bismark and hood, the moulds are so old,lots of flash and parts dont fit.had to use lots of model putty,as a child i remember them in 1962,also the plastic seems different now, Revell are good kits but they have cut back on the range which is a pity
I enjoyed building the Tamiya Beaufighter in 1/48 (do they even have another?). Revell bugged me a lot with their re-releases that didn't make it really clear what to expect. OK, if there were photos of the finished model on the side of the box, it was probably good, if there were detail-photos of the real thing, it was likely something rustic from the seventies. When I started in the eighties, there still was a particularly terrible B-17 in 1/72 which was nevertheless re-released again in the nineties. On the other hand, at some point they bought the mold of Hasegawa's rather new Aichi D-3a and sold it at less than half the price (while my kit still sat on the shelf untouched).
Good timing because I literally got a Tamiya Beaufighter (nightfighter variant) today on order. Looking forward to building that! Cheers Chris
Very good video and choices. I would only not agree with you about Tamiya's Tomcat. Yes, the kit has great engineering and fitting but... it's pretty basic being very expensive at the same time. I think the AMK's one is much better. When I sold my Tamiya's F-14A before building I bought at the same price two Hobby Boss's kits: F-14D and the Persian Cat. Yes, two brand new kits [sic!]. They offer much more options to display along with some photo-etched parts. You can display them with opened radar bay, gun bay, opened flaps, you have nicely detailed wheel bays and cockpit. Cheers and good luck!
Thanks for the comment - I agree on the basic-ness of the Tamiya kit and I almost got the AMK kit, but remember I'm more into wheels up dynamic display than wheels down, everything open (although I do intend on doing my Tamiya f-14D as a VF-31 wheels down build and it needs an Aires cockpit and a few extra details to get right). Cheers, Chris
@@beckersmodels Sure, it's your personal choice, I do respect that! Enjoy the hobby!
@@scalemodellerbyaccident8671 we're spoiled for choice these days, definitely - sometimes I have to hold my tongue when I lambast a kit and realise, hey there's more than one fish for most cases! Have you built the Hobby Boss 1/48s yet? I heard they are trickier than their bigger brother 1/32 Trumpeters (which I have, but need a lot of revision, accuracy wise) Cheers, Chris
@@beckersmodels I wish I could start the build this year - yeah, sounds so daft :) But my stash is full. Now I'm finishing an armour model, then a smaller scale aircraft, armour once more, and... I will see if Academy's F-4B or Persian Cat from Hobby Boss. Just follow my channel :)
Great video buddy, very helpful for someone trying to get back into modelling, cheers.
Many thanks, I've got another similar Top Ten video coming soon - stay tuned. Cheers Chris
@@beckersmodels cheers Chris will do.
I have not yet built the YF23 or DeHavelend Hornet though they are in my stash.
The Eduard 1/48 Iwo Jima mustang, 1/350 Montana from Very Fire as well as the 1/350 Taiho, Tamiya 1/32 Mustang, and a few 1/35 Meng King tigers and Jagdtiger (Porsche).
Are these your top ones Gary? I agree with the Tamiya Mustang, I havent tried the Meng King Tigers, but very interested in that 1/350 Montana - I built a 1/144 semiscale Montana as a youth when I did R/C boats....cheers Chris
I think the Revell Beaufighter is let down by the fact it's a re-boxing of the old Matchbox (cheap 'n' cheerful) kit, originally moulded in three colours , to compete with Airfix. I second your Tamiya version, but the 1/72 Airfix leaves the Revell standing (although much more expensive originally).
Best Kits I have done are a tie between the Arma Hobby 1/72 FM-2 Wildcat and Tamiya 1/72 Bf106 G6
Worst kit would be the Airfix 1/72 english electric lightning followed closely buy Revell 1/48 Ju87 rebox from the 1968 Monogram mold.
Ha! I just binned that Airfux EE Lightning kit a few weeks ago, well I've turned it into greebly parts....but am looking forward to the Arma Hobby stuff next year for sure, check out my P-51 review: ua-cam.com/video/0EJz7Qo-wS0/v-deo.html
Have you had any experience with the modelcraft F-82? If you did, I bet it would end up on your top ten worst list. I'm just a casual modeler(don't do anything super detailed) and this was the 4th kit I've finished and it was a nightmare to work with. Absolutely nothing fit together. I was pretty discouraged when building it. I asked myself am I really this bad at building kits and are a lot of them like this? Then I found an article on modeling madness where the builder had 30 years of experience and he said he had never in his life encountered a less buildable kit. He also mentioned that a lot of the serious modelers ended up throwing theirs in the trash. It just so happened to be one of the first kits I did. On the bright side, things really can't get any worse :-)
Yeah they can get worse -try the Su-34 from Italeri! If you're a casual modeler, check out the 1990's/early 2000s Tamiya 1/48 catalog. You can't go (very) wrong. Cheers, Chris
@@beckersmodels Thanks, guess I'm staying away from that one 😉
I've just built an airfix 1910 omnibus, absolute nightmare.... So much flashing and the chassis was slightly bent..... I persevered and it looks OK I guess...
Well that's Airfux!
Hi ! Did you make a video where you rank worse brands to best ? I don't have your experience, and I bought several kits following press advises but I should not, like the Sufa of Kinetic, a nightmare to build. It would be very helpfull. Thx. Another theme I'd like to see : ebay VS nowaday. Comparing the Revell F-14 1/48 of the 80's, a great kit at this time, with the latest Tamiya F-14A. Just an idea...
I do the same thing....buy multiples of kits......in case is screw something up or different versions.....like captured
I've heard a lot of people say that building Gundam model kits is not 'real modeling'. Yeah, they snap together and you can put them up on your shelf and they look good enough. I have several finished gundams and a lot more 'in process'. It's a minimum 2 to 3 months for a 1/100 kit to complete when you make it 'anime accurate'. That includes an absurd amount of planning, detailing, scratch building, painting inner frames bolts that you will likely never see again, and the list goes on. That is just a standard build.
I just started the 1/35th Tiger 1 late, from Tamiya. I forgot how bare bones it was. I finished scratch building one entire side of working torsion bars. The skills I have learned from building Gundam... No, scratch that. The things I have learned from the Japanese and Korean builders are things that I have rarely seen in the other genres of scale modeling.
I hope no one takes this as a dig. It is definitely not. My go to shop is an old school train store. I've learned a lot from going there, as well as the amazing paint and detail from folks that build AFV and scale cars.
Point is; this is supposed to be a fun hobby and sometimes I feel like it devolves into a Linux discussion thread hahaha
Indeed! My line is always "There's more than one hobby" - that we all derive different pleasures and enjoyment out of different aspects of the hobby. Its why I say armor modellers should do a scifi model from time to time, or an aircraft modeller should build a weathered tank. Cheers, Chris
@@beckersmodels Exactly. Never know until you give it a go.
Entertaining vid! Fun to watch fellow modellers get nerdy.
Nerd/Geek reporting in! Thanks Paul