SPA Modeler

So I was having a nose through kingkit this lunch time and somehow ended up running a search through Revell 1/72 aircraft kits… there were a lot…

It occurred to me that, being mainly an Airfix/FROG/Matchbox/Tamiya man - I’ve hardly built any Revell models. IIRC none when I was growing up and maybe two since I re-started a few years ago - an S.E.5a and a AH-1W (which I think is a re-boxed Italeri kit?)

And they don’t seem to be mentioned too widely, certainly not in the forums I inhabit (I hear the Tornado is considered pretty good) - So, what’s the opinion of those little blue boxes? If I take my reference as Airfix, how do they compare in general? Better or Worse? (I guess that they probably have their good kits and bad kits just like every other manufacturer).

If you had to recommend one kit – to give a flavour of what they were like – which would it be?



(Apologies for the thread - I tend to think about these things too much and have a tendecy to start these sort of topics to stir up a bit of discussion - if it gets annoying, let me know and I'll stop... ..maybe.. )

Cheers

Port

PS> Hey - It occurs to me I have a unboxed single Seat Eurofighter Typhoon in the Stash

I have some in the stash-o-matic, but have not built many. Afterl buying them, I realized they are too small. They appear to be fairly simple kits, though.

Thanks guys! no real help needed as such - Just thought I'd kick off a discussion and see if I could gain a bit of knowledge

And that B-17 is a Beaut Jim!

When buying Revell (of Germany) kits you should always do some research. Some kits are great new tools kits, good fit, nice decals and cheap. But there are a lot of reboxed by Revell. Sometimes this is good, for instance Hasegawa reboxed. But Revell also sells old Matchbox, Frog and Plastikard kits. And these have a very different level of qualit. So always check what you are buying.

yes, Revell Germany is a mixed lot... some old original molds of their own, some acquired from other companies such as Italeri and Matchbox, and some new tooled gems. I personally would put their own molding on par with Airfix, especially in their newer releases of their own work. Great value for the money.

Some of the new Revell kits, at least in 72nd, are very good. I got there Ju 88A-4 a while back and its easily a match for the Hase kit but at much less cost. And the way its put together so they can make other versions but without loading the box with un used parts could certainly give Dragon armour a few lessons.

I have also taking a liking to the look of there 32nd kits.

Like Stik said...total mixed bag!

I've done the B-17 that Jim posted...I wouldnt' call it a "gem"...it's nice, far better than the way old Revell B-17. The only real drawback to it is the trenched out panel lines...reminded me of some metal, die cast stuff.




The Tornado was a great kit!!!



HO-229 was pretty good...(engine was not included in the kit)



The JU-88 was also a GREAT kit! (pic was in P/B album that accidently got deleted

I have a few in the stash...TA-152H, DH.2, Swordfish and a Stearman, that are older molds, and not so great looking kits. I also have an AR-555 (Luft 46) and JU-290A-7 that look GREAT!
Got a SAAB Gripen on the way...we shall see!

Fermis wrote:Like Stik said...total mixed bag!

I've done the B-17 that Jim posted...I wouldnt' call it a "gem"...it's nice, far better than the way old Revell B-17. The only real drawback to it is the trenched out panel lines...reminded me of some metal, die cast stuff.




The Tornado was a great kit!!!



HO-229 was pretty good...(engine was not included in the kit)



The JU-88 was also a GREAT kit! (pic was in P/B album that accidently got deleted

I have a few in the stash...TA-152H, DH.2, Swordfish and a Stearman, that are older molds, and not so great looking kits. I also have an AR-555 (Luft 46) and JU-290A-7 that look GREAT!
Got a SAAB Gripen on the way...we shall see!

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