Tamiya or Airfix or...?

[Slowboathome]

I've just returned an Airfix starter kit to Amazon because the one they sent me had all the paints dried up, and it was clear that it had obviously been returned once. Apparently this is a longstanding problem with these starter kits, but they keep punting them out.

Are any manufacturers more reliable than others in terms of quality? Or are they all much of a muchness?

I'm mainly looking to build military aircraft, and at the cheaper end of the scale.

Thank you.

[chrisga]

Tamiya quality always been spot on for me. But they dont come with paints and will be more expensive. But worth it IMO.

Having said that I only do cars and bikes so probably shouldnt really have commented on a militray aircraft question as have little experince with Tamiya for these.

[Slowboathome]

chrisga said:

Tamiya quality always been spot on for me. But they dont come with paints and will be more expensive. But worth it IMO.

Having said that I only do cars and bikes so probably shouldnt really have commented on a militray aircraft question as have little experince with Tamiya for these.

Thank you. I don't mind paying a bit more - just feel Airfix are ripping people off with this kit.

[MBBlat]

New Airfix
Old Airfix
Without doing some research they are difficult to tell apart.

Tamiya - generally good quality, instructions are about the best in the business. About the only kit to avoid is the 1/48 sea harrier.

Revell my experience is don’t touch with a barge pole, others may differ.

Eduard you get a lot for your money including photo etch and masks, would not recommend for a beginner though.

Left field suggestion Bandai A-wing, not exactly an aircraft but excellent detail, no glue required and you could get away without painting. If painting you need red and white, which can be spray cans, for the fighter and a grey for the base.

Airfix starter kit paints are rubbish and best thrown straight in the bin. Cheapest option is to pop into Halfords for their spray cans, they don’t do a lot of military colours though.

[Yertis]

MBBlat said:

New Airfix
Old Airfix
Without doing some research they are difficult to tell apart.

I think that depends how old you are...

[oddball1313]

Hasegawa are pretty good and Trumpeter have raised their game in recent years. Britmodeller is an excellant resource for advice

[Super Sonic]

Slowboathome said:

I've just returned an Airfix starter kit to Amazon because the one they sent me had all the paints dried up, and it was clear that it had obviously been returned once. Apparently this is a longstanding problem with these starter kits, but they keep punting them out.

Are any manufacturers more reliable than others in terms of quality? Or are they all much of a muchness?

I'm mainly looking to build military aircraft, and at the cheaper end of the scale.

Thank you.

Italeri do some good 1/72 aircraft kits, have built their jaguar jet and lynx heli amongst others.

[Slowboathome]

Thanks for the advice and suggestions. Lots of manufacturer names I'd never even heard of.

[r159]

If you see a kit you like go onto Scalemates as you will normally find a link to a copy of the instructions - this will give to a heads up as to what you will be getting into - and give you paint numbers.

Also if its japanese look at 1999.jp they also have copies of instructions, very good for far east manufacturers

Be aware companies rebox other's kits for example a lot of tamilya 1/72 are Italieri

Don't dismiss older kits some are really good especially if you are getting back into it as the part count is not mental, after market decals can easily be picked up (Hannants).

Aldi is great for the starter kits around Christmas

Edited by r159 on Saturday 27th August 10:24

[Super Sonic]

Scalemates mentioned by r159 also gives you the age of kit and who manufactured it when, so yo will know which are the old and new airfix kits etc.