So, I am not an airplane builder but I’m thinking about building some of planes that I have grown to love. My question is what are the best kits of the following planes: OV-10 Bronco, F15. C130, F35, F/A 18, F16, E2 Hawkeye, F22, B2, B52, C17, B1, AV-8B, F117, E3, A10, SR71, A6, U2, S3, A37. I would like to stay in 48 scale, but I know some of these are huge so I’ll give a little on the bigger ones.
I see you are a blowtorch fan or spinners turned by torches - can’t give you much advice I am sorry to say .
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there is a kit for a c-130j on amazon, it is from italeri. I have built it, it is a good kit but it needs some more detailing.
there is a kit for the a-37 from trumpeter, I have built that aswell and it is a good kit, doesn’t need much more detailing.
Yeah, I love the WW2 stuff just don’t want to build it. I’m more of a modern builder.
There was a build here recently of the Tamiya F-16 aggressor in 1/48 you might check out. That’s a great kit - you don’t have to do the agressor paint scheme and it’s not really big compared to some of the others on your list.
On some of these subjects, there is only one kit available in 1/48, or none at all on the large bombers and transports. On others there are multiple kits, but also multiple variants due to the respective types long service lives.
ICM makes a new tool beautiful OV-10 that is probably the best current kit in 1/48.
The F-15 has multiple variants and multiple kits of them, so you might want to narrow that down a bit. The same goes for the A-10, AV-8, F/A-18 and F-16.
For the F-35 family I’d say look at the new Tamiya kits in 1/48.
There are no mainstream injection molded plastic kits of the C-17, E-3, B-2, or B-52 in 1/48.
For the B-1 there is the Revell kit that has been issued multiple times, and the Testors/Italeri family of C-130s in 1/48 that are the only game in town. Same goes for the S-3 that was originally kitted by ESCI, but has been re issued by AMT and Italeri. The E-2 has only been kitted by Kinetic then re issued by Italeri in 1/48.
There are multiple 1/48 kits of the F-117, but again I’d lean towards Tamiya for quality.
For the 1/48 F-22 there is Italeri, Hasegawa, and Academy, so pick your poison there.
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Great info and thank you. For the ones that have a bunch I’m looking for the “best” (newest, easiest to build)
Newest and easiest to build are not always the same kit. For example on the A-6, the Revell kits are reputed to be easier to build than the newer Hobbyboss kits. The same could be said of the old Testors SR-71 vs. the new Revell SR-71 in 1/48.
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Well put. Let me reword my request I want a kit that will be a good build for a non-plane builder with mediocre modeling skills.
Came here to post this. Stikpusher nailed it.
I’d say for the F-22 go with Hasegawa. I did a bunch of research before buying mine and it has the most accurate nose shape. Only downside is the thicker ram panels.
On your comment about ease, I’m afraid none of these newer kits are great for first timers. Tamiya’s F-35 for example is a great kit but man it’s bogging me down.
I’d suggest finding a 1/48 Tamiya F-16CJ, or any of the mid-90s warbirds (I know they’re not your preference, but those WWII kits are great) and build it. Spitfire or Mustang. Then branch out.
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The only OV-10 worth considering the ICM kit. The Testors (actually an old Hawk kit) is ancient and not very detailed.
The best current F-15 kits are made by Great Wall Hobby, but they are fairly expensive. If you don’t care about the version, the newer tool Revell F-15E Strike Eagle is very good, and can be had a lot cheaper.
C-130: The only 1/48 kit is the Testors/Italeri kit. An older kit. Detail is OK, but the wings need a spar added for strength in such a large size. For 1/72, there is again Testors/Italeri, and Zvezda. Again, the former is OK, but the Zvezda is newer and better detailed, but there have been problems with the canopy being warped.
F-35: It begins and ends with Tamiya
Hornet: Meng probably makes the best Super Hornet kits in 1/48. For Legacy Hornet, probably Kinetic first and Hasegawa second.
F-16: Tamiya is the best, but a limited selection of versions. The Kinetic kits, especially the recent Gold series, are a close second, and available in a lot more versions.
E-2 Hawkeye: There is only the Kinetic kit
F-22: Academy or Hasegawa. Both are decent and have their pros and cons.
B-2: There is no 1/48 kit. In 1/72, the Modelcollect kit is probably a bit better than the old Testors/Italeri kit.
B-52: No real options in 1/48. In 1/72, there is the old Monogram kit for a D model. For later versions, both Modelcollect and AMT have issues.
C-17. Out of luck here. Don’t know of any 1/48 kit, or 1/72. Kinetic announced a 1/72 kit, but it never materialized.
B-1: The only 1/48 kit is the old Revell kit, which represents the B-1A #4 prototype, I believe, and would take a lot of work to represent anything near a current version. Not a lot of good options in 1/72 either. The Monogram/Revell kit is also old, but better than the also old Airfix kit.
AV-8B: The newer UMa AV-8B has gotten some good press, but also has a few issues noted. The older, and cheaper, Hasegawa kits aren’t that bad.
F-117: Tamiya
E-3: You mean the E-3 Sentry? I think you are limited to finding a 1/72 Airfix/Heller kit.
A-10: Great Wall Hobby is the best in 1/48. Also, quite expensive.
SR-71: Revell
A-6: Hobbyboss
U-2: Hobbyboss for the R/S, although they forgot the frameless windscreen for the U-2S. For earlier versions, the AFV Club kits look nice with regards to detail, but have some issues.
S-3: You’re pretty much limited to the ESCI/AMT/ERTL boxings and reboxings
A-37: I think you’re limited to the old Monogram kit or the newer Trumpeter kit.
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Perfect thank you gentlemen and have a great weekend you have left me a lot to think about.
F-16 Tamiya, Kinetic Gold Series
F-18 Meng
F-35 Tamiya
F-22 Hasegawa
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1:144 Revell kit. Still a big kit in that scale.
B-2, B-1B, B-52, there is some 1/144 option. Not a bad scale for large aircraft, imho. Kinda like doing a Dora rail gun, you can in 1/35 but most people don’t have that room. So 1/72 or even 1/144 is a better choice.
A-10, Academy is also an option.
Do agree on all the options mentioned.
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