Best Modern Aircraft Kits?

[robertw]

I guess I was bit by a bug, specifically a modern jet bug. I want all of them. I don't mean all the variants of every aircraft but at least one of each. F-14, F-15, etc.

I'm working on a Revell F-14 but it's an older Revell kit so it's got raised panel lines, flash, inevitable fit issues, soft details, etc. Same as the Revell F-18 I built. I have the Revell A-10 and Monogram F-15 and I don't expect those to be any different. My question is, if you haven't guessed it, who in your opinion makes the best modern jets? Preferably in 1/48. Now I know being 1/48 it's gonna be expensive but I can acquire them over time. In my limited research I've determined that Tamiya makes the best F-16 and Hasegawa makes the best F-18. Just thought I'd ask you guys who have been into the hobby for longer than I and have maybe even built some of the kits.

Oh and just to note, I do plan to start with the cheaper Revell kits to hone my skills before I attempt the expensive ones.

[Roland]

I am not sure this can be answered with one definitive company.

In my experience each manufacturer has good and bad kits. Best tip I can give you is to do what I have been doing lately and that is, once you know which model you are looking for, to read reviews about it. Most reviews will state problems and/or issues and could point you in the general direction of the best Kit avaliable. I did that with the A-10 and it turned out that Revell seems to make the most accurate Kit and seems to be preferred. I have the Kit in my stash but I have not built it yet.

Like I said, I am not sure if one manufacturer can fulfill your needs on each and every model, but I could be wrong, I haven't been modelling for a long time and just got back into it

Good luck and if you find really good kits let us know

[robertw]

I am not sure this can be answered with one definitive company.

In my experience each manufacturer has good and bad kits. Best tip I can give you is to do what I have been doing lately and that is, once you know which model you are looking for, to read reviews about it. Most reviews will state problems and/or issues and could point you in the general direction of the best Kit avaliable. I did that with the A-10 and it turned out that Revell seems to make the most accurate Kit and seems to be preferred. I have the Kit in my stash but I have not built it yet.

Like I said, I am not sure if one manufacturer can fulfill your needs on each and every model, but I could be wrong, I haven't been modelling for a long time and just got back into it

Good luck and if you find really good kits let us know

Sorry, probably failed to say that I'm not looking for one manufacturer for all. I'm tired and should have the keyboard taken away lol I'm just looking for the best around and don't really care who makes it.

Huh, Revell makes the best A-10? That's interesting. I have their kit but haven't looked in the box lately.

[Willem]

Try a site called scalemates, they have a good link to kit reviews.
Or check out the review section on here.

[Paul]

Hobbyboss for the f-14's Great Wall hobby for the F-15 IMO of course

[Roland]

I am not sure this can be answered with one definitive company.

In my experience each manufacturer has good and bad kits. Best tip I can give you is to do what I have been doing lately and that is, once you know which model you are looking for, to read reviews about it. Most reviews will state problems and/or issues and could point you in the general direction of the best Kit avaliable. I did that with the A-10 and it turned out that Revell seems to make the most accurate Kit and seems to be preferred. I have the Kit in my stash but I have not built it yet.

Like I said, I am not sure if one manufacturer can fulfill your needs on each and every model, but I could be wrong, I haven't been modelling for a long time and just got back into it

Good luck and if you find really good kits let us know

Sorry, probably failed to say that I'm not looking for one manufacturer for all. I'm tired and should have the keyboard taken away lol I'm just looking for the best around and don't really care who makes it.

Huh, Revell makes the best A-10? That's interesting. I have their kit but haven't looked in the box lately.

According to the reviews I have read via scalemates it seems they make the most accurate kit. As for which kit goes together best I cant really say as I stopped searching at that point

[Tarasdad]

I have the Revell A-10 on my workbench right now. It's an older kit (1986) with raised rather than inscribed details. The detail itself is superb, just old school. There are some fit issues with the kit, some minor and some a bit more serious. With patience and care it builds into a fine model. I also just finished Revell's F-15E Strike Eagle. This is a newer release with fine inscribed details. Fit is far better but there are still a couple of issues to deal with, mainly where the cockpit/nose join to the main fuselage. There is a lot of detail on this kit!

[robertw]

Anybody ever built the Hasegawa 1/48 F-15E Strike Eagle? I haven't been able to find squat as far as reviews go for it except for the "Tiger Meet 2005" but that isn't the same kit is it? All I've find is people talking about how it's not actually an E but a D and I'll be honest and say I don't give an F. Heh, see what I did there? I'll show myself out Anyway, the reason I'm looking at it is that towerhobbies has this service called Easy Pay which is just Bill Me later but credit isn't involved. It's $80 so I'd pay like $30 now and then payments with ZERO interest which sounds awesome! But I'd still like to know if the kit is any good. Frustrating.

[5Craven]

I have a version of the Hasegawa kit and I didn't pay anywhere near that price. To my mind all Hasegawa kits are over priced. Their F-15E is as you have mentioned actually a prototype E not a true E and its an old kit as well. I would suggest you look at one of Eduard's special edition F15's which comes with Photo etch, resin and masks a much better deal IMHO. Or of course the Great Wall Hobby versions as featured in Paul's video build.