I had that ssme boxing and as you said the major drawback it's on the underside of the kit. I remember when I was young ( 54 y/o now ), that the original Otaki boxing hasnall the 3 decal options and were far better in quality. Thanks for the review and keep going on!!!
Great review as always!! The Otaki Mk.VIII is in my stash for building! As a side note. A Mk.VIII has just been (re)imported into Australia and is in the markings of Clive Caldwell. It is SN MV154 which was sold to the UK but has returned in Aussie recently. It resides in Brisbane and no doubt will be a very popular addition to the local warbird scene!
Good Morning from Az! I am still alive. I've missed too many episodes! You are most welcome Jon. Always great videos, and great history! Looking forward to the final. And thanks for the high spot of my week. Take care to all and ................................... MODEL ON!
Nice video Jon! For an older kit the arii otaki seems typical for Japanese kits of the time, but I have to say it’s detail is a step up and the finish seems cleaner. Reminds me of early Hasegawa. Thanks and Ride on!
Hi Jon. Thanks for the vid. A very tidy kit considering it's age. Nice to close up a fuselage without having to finagle numerous items into place that you will probably never see anyway. Those yellowed, original decals are RAAF markings for Clive Caldwell's Spitfire. Cheers Matt🦘
@@MatterusOD You're welcome, Matt! I agree, I think it will look great on the shelf, and few people will get close enough to see the lack of detail through the cockpit canopy. Cheers!
The Spitfire VIII kit was one of the first Otaki kits that I bought in 1975, at the long defunct Hobby House in Decatur, Georgia. It is still a very good kit. By the way, it cost three dollars and change back then!
Wow! When I got back into model making in the later 1990s, these Otaki kits could be bought for a song. They were great practice and can still be turned out well. Cheers!
Which is roughly 18 Dollars today. Heck of a good deal for what was then was a state-of-the-art new release kit. While the box art is very familiar, I'm not positively sure if I have ever owned this kit. I have owned several ARII/Otaki kits in the past and even built a few but not sure about owning this one (though I know I have never built one).
Good, fair review of what is still a basically nice kit. The missing lower gull wing feature will only annoy those who are perfectionists. As you state, it's a flaw that can't be seen unless the model is picked up. The Mk VIII had extra wing tanks inboard of the cannons. These will have to be inscribed into each wing. (Use your Eduard kit as a guide). Looking forward to seeing your build.
Superb honest review/comparison. For their early through mid 1970s era, Otaki kits were remarkable and right up their with Tamiya. Whilst decals in those days were much more basic in general (no stencils), the decals in the Arii reboxings are consistently cheap yellowed rubbish IME of a couple of Japanese types (Ki-61-1 & N1K1-Ja). That said, the original Otaki decals in their Bf 109G & Fw 190A-8 kits were pretty spectacular and close to up there with Tamiya's of the same era, missing instrument panel decal notwithstanding.
I’ve been WATCHING 👀……. I’m happy for your FOLLOWING, SUBSCIBERS…. I’ve never built a OTAKI KIT… BUT, from what I can tell KITS, COMMENTS…. They are a pretty good KITS TO BUILD…. Take Care JON…. MODEL ON ….. CHRIS 🇺🇸
Hey Jon, as you know the Otaki kits were my go to kits of that period. . They were a nice clean build. I occasionally had a few problems with the cockpit fitting related to the P51 but that was probably a " builder" problem.. Do you know when or wh0 they were bought out? Tamiya and Eduard have been my replacement kits with some Hasegawa mixed in. Great to have my Saturday coffee and one of your reviews on a Saturday morning. Cheers Bob
@c123bthunderpig Thanks, Bob! I'm not 100% sure who bought Arii. Maybe AMT? The Academy Corsair seems like it could be an Otaki product, but I'm not positive. Maybe someone else out there knows?
I must say,I like your reviews of these old kits and can't wait for you new reviews to come out. It reminds me of those days as a kid in working hard a buying these type of kits weather in a box or bag. Most of these Japanese kits where high dollar compared to American kits which you could buy one for less then 5 dollars. ..😊😊😊😊😊
@peteryim7447 It's amazing to me that Otaki could produce a kit like this in the 1970s with surface detail that is much more refined than today's Airfix kits. Cheers!
I had that ssme boxing and as you said the major drawback it's on the underside of the kit. I remember when I was young ( 54 y/o now ), that the original Otaki boxing hasnall the 3 decal options and were far better in quality. Thanks for the review and keep going on!!!
Thanks! It makes sense that the original kit had more/better markings & options. That would explain the insert. Cheers!
Great review as always!! The Otaki Mk.VIII is in my stash for building! As a side note. A Mk.VIII has just been (re)imported into Australia and is in the markings of Clive Caldwell. It is SN MV154 which was sold to the UK but has returned in Aussie recently. It resides in Brisbane and no doubt will be a very popular addition to the local warbird scene!
Very cool!
Great review. It is a lovely kit to build, a real pleasure to paint as well.
@@PiperStart Thank you!
Good Morning from Az! I am still alive. I've missed too many episodes!
You are most welcome Jon.
Always great videos, and great history! Looking forward to the final.
And thanks for the high spot of my week.
Take care to all and ...................................
MODEL ON!
I'm glad to hear it, Jeff! Thanks again for the review kit!
Sound how I feel. I hope your recovering if you were unwell.
@@davepavey2737 Thank you very much, Dave Take care and..................................................
MODEL ON!!!!
Nice video Jon! For an older kit the arii otaki seems typical for Japanese kits of the time, but I have to say it’s detail is a step up and the finish seems cleaner. Reminds me of early Hasegawa. Thanks and Ride on!
Thanks! This one wouldn't look out of place in a Hasegawa box. It honestly reminds me of the Hasegawa Mk V. Cheers!
These otakis are good little kits. Thanks for the tips on using the aftermarket parts
You're welcome!
I’ve built 5 of these, have several more waiting to be built. Good simple kits easy to build.
Right on!
Hi Jon. Thanks for the vid. A very tidy kit considering it's age.
Nice to close up a fuselage without having to finagle numerous items into place that you will probably never see anyway.
Those yellowed, original decals are RAAF markings for Clive Caldwell's Spitfire.
Cheers Matt🦘
@@MatterusOD You're welcome, Matt! I agree, I think it will look great on the shelf, and few people will get close enough to see the lack of detail through the cockpit canopy. Cheers!
The Spitfire VIII kit was one of the first Otaki kits that I bought in 1975, at the long defunct Hobby House in Decatur, Georgia.
It is still a very good kit.
By the way, it cost three dollars and change back then!
Wow! When I got back into model making in the later 1990s, these Otaki kits could be bought for a song. They were great practice and can still be turned out well. Cheers!
Which is roughly 18 Dollars today. Heck of a good deal for what was then was a state-of-the-art new release kit. While the box art is very familiar, I'm not positively sure if I have ever owned this kit. I have owned several ARII/Otaki kits in the past and even built a few but not sure about owning this one (though I know I have never built one).
@@albapfalzd3102 That's a good point about the inflation adjusted price.
They were pretty decent kits in their time.
Interesting to see the Matchbox 'PK' on the spure.
Good vid.
@@MillwalltheCat Thank you!
Good, fair review of what is still a basically nice kit. The missing lower gull wing feature will only annoy those who are perfectionists. As you state, it's a flaw that can't be seen unless the model is picked up.
The Mk VIII had extra wing tanks inboard of the cannons. These will have to be inscribed into each wing. (Use your Eduard kit as a guide).
Looking forward to seeing your build.
I appreciate the feedback. Thanks for the heads-up on the wing tanks. Cheers!
Superb honest review/comparison. For their early through mid 1970s era, Otaki kits were remarkable and right up their with Tamiya. Whilst decals in those days were much more basic in general (no stencils), the decals in the Arii reboxings are consistently cheap yellowed rubbish IME of a couple of Japanese types (Ki-61-1 & N1K1-Ja). That said, the original Otaki decals in their Bf 109G & Fw 190A-8 kits were pretty spectacular and close to up there with Tamiya's of the same era, missing instrument panel decal notwithstanding.
@@theblytonian3906 Thanks for the feedback and additional information about the Otaki/Arii kits of the era. I agree with you. Cheers!
I’ve been WATCHING 👀…….
I’m happy for your FOLLOWING, SUBSCIBERS….
I’ve never built a OTAKI KIT…
BUT, from what I can tell
KITS, COMMENTS….
They are a pretty good KITS TO BUILD….
Take Care JON….
MODEL ON …..
CHRIS 🇺🇸
@@chrispacer4231 Thanks, Chris! Are you working on anything in particular recently?
Hey Jon, as you know the Otaki kits were my go to kits of that period. . They were a nice clean build. I occasionally had a few problems with the cockpit fitting related to the P51 but that was probably a " builder" problem.. Do you know when or wh0 they were bought out? Tamiya and Eduard have been my replacement kits with some Hasegawa mixed in. Great to have my Saturday coffee and one of your reviews on a Saturday morning. Cheers Bob
@c123bthunderpig Thanks, Bob! I'm not 100% sure who bought Arii. Maybe AMT? The Academy Corsair seems like it could be an Otaki product, but I'm not positive. Maybe someone else out there knows?
It's an excellent shelf sitter, 3-foot stand off kit with a new set of decals.
@@briansmith8079 Right on!
I must say,I like your reviews of these old kits and can't wait for you new reviews to come out. It reminds me of those days as a kid in working hard a buying these type of kits weather in a box or bag. Most of these Japanese kits where high dollar compared to American kits which you could buy one for less then 5 dollars. ..😊😊😊😊😊
Thanks, I'm glad you're enjoying the reviews!
wow, I always thought it was from the 80's
@peteryim7447 It's amazing to me that Otaki could produce a kit like this in the 1970s with surface detail that is much more refined than today's Airfix kits. Cheers!
Easier, less parts are key 🔑 ❤
Right on! There's no wrong choice here, it all comes down to the values of the individual modeler. Happy New Year!
No "gull-wing" effect under the fuselage centerline makes the kit less accurate
@@EmilPozarphoto Yep, I said this in the review. Cheers!
You've been dusting off some oldies but goodies?🤔
Jman
Yep. I have a couple newer ones on the horizon, though. Cheers!
@jonsmodelkitreview4624 besides newer kits I'm partial to monogram/revell kits. Working on another B52D
currently!😁
Jman
@robertmunoz7543 Right on! I built the 1:72 B-36 as a 9 year old! Several of the reviews coming up are Revell/Monogram kits. Cheers!