luftwaffe1 Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 OK, I'm stepping away from the props to build my first post WW2 aircraft. This special project I went with the F-86F-30. After snooping around the internet I see two kits in 1/48...Haegawa/Academy. Well my questions is which one is better? thanks again for the time Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cunumdrum61 Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 Both kits are good but I personally like the finess of the Hasegawa kit the best. It is just so much better than the academy kit. Very little work involved to produce a really nice Sabre. I only wish the two Kinetic 32 scale Sabres on my bench were as nice as the Hasegawa kits. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PNW_Modeler Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 (edited) Actually, the Academy kit is the better of the two. I have both kits, I found the Academy kit's recessed lines to be a little crisper, the ability to open up the gun access panels, full engine and a trolly for the tail section, proper Korean War wings and fuselage (Hasegawa's kit was based off a Japanese F-86F-40)....and it is a fairly easy build to boot. Edited September 19, 2009 by paul.nortness Quote Link to post Share on other sites
F4DPhantomII Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 Actually, the Academy kit is the better of the two. I have both kits, I found the Academy kit's recessed lines to be a little crisper, the ability to open up the gun access panels, full engine and a trolly for the tail section, proper Korean War wings and fuselage (Hasegawa's kit was based off a Japanese F-86F-40)....and it is a fairly easy build to boot. What Paul said! I agree it's Academy hands down.I have several of both kits for different projects. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jennings Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 Both kits have very minor minus points and very great plus points. I don't really think there's anything to choose between them really. Get whichever one is cheaper. When built and painted almost nobody is going to be able to tell the difference. J Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nemsy_29 Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 Academy is better.With the model comes open space for engine and machine guns. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ben Brown Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 They're so close that aftermarket parts for one will fit the other. I ended up choosing the Academy kit, due to its price. Ben Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jennings Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 Academy is better.With the model comes open space for engine and machine guns. Unless you don't want those features to spoil the sleek appearance of your Sabre, in which case the Hasegawa kit is better. Really there's almost nothing to choose between them. J Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CrowTRobot Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 OK, I'm stepping away from the props to build my first post WW2 aircraft. This special project I went with the F-86F-30. After snooping around the internet I see two kits in 1/48...Haegawa/Academy. Well my questions is which one is better? thanks again for the time I can't speak for the Academy kit, but I'm putting the finishing touches on the Hasegawa kit right now. There is a cooling scoop on the aft right side of the fuselage that is not appropriate for USAF F-86F-30s. It's easy to remove, so don't sweat it. I used the kit cockpit, but I enhanced it with Eduard photoetch. The wing-fuselage join is superb- no putty required at all. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
brahio Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 (edited) The Academy and Hasegawa F-86 are pretty similar. Nonetheless I'd prefer Hasegawa for better fitting. Here the comparison (in Russian, but pictures say all): http://dishmodels.ru/gshow.htm?p=902 BTW, according to panel lines both Hasegawa and Academy make F-86F-40. So you'll need to do some downgrade to have F-86F-30 and earlier variants. http://dishmodels.ru/gshow.htm?p=2260 Sorry, only in Russian again Yury Edited September 21, 2009 by brahio Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mcaulk Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 IMHO the Hasegawa kit is better if you are trying to capture the gorgeous lines of the Sabre. The biggest problem is the nose. The Academy kit nose cone lips are to thin and not very well done. A flaw unfortunately repeated in the Kenetic 32nd near exact copy! The prominent gun troughs are crude compared to Hasegawa and the gun access panels are open (a plus if you want that feature but tough to fit if you don't). Overall the scribing on the Hasegawa kit is a bit finer and the drop tanks are more accurate. Neither cockpit is very detailed and best replaced or supplemented with Eduard stuff. Regards, Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Irving Babbitt Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 This is certainly one where reasonable gentlemen can reasonably disagree. I personally prefer the Hasegawa because I cannot bring myself to break up the Sabre's exceptional lines with open gun bays...much less bisect the poor thing. Consequently, the 'gawa offers the shorter path from A-B for what I wish to build. The Academy might be the better option for you. Price is the real deal breaker here. I haven't purchased a Hasegawa Sabre in 3-ish years, but when I last bought the kit it was nearly 10 bucks cheaper than the Academy offering. A ten dollar difference between such evenly matched kits is a substantial decision point. At any rate, I wouldn't get too worked up about your decision. You'll have an excellent kit no matter which you buy. I'd concentrate on price rather than brand. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wild Weasel78 Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 Hi I have built Hasegawa and Academy here the points : Academy good Engine with Trolly 12,7mm Gunbay left and right erlay and late Front Wheels F-86F-30 Fuselage Combat Tanks and for late Fighter/Bomber ,Bombes with Pylons ,other small Tanks , for other Versions AIM-9 Sidewinder Wheelbay/Undercarrige and Speedbrakes good in Detail Cockpit ok but a Resin Pit is better Lines and Rivet good Covers for Intake and Exhaust good in price Academy not good Decals Front Canopy Intake a little bit tricky Hasegawa good Cockpit a little bit better than Academy Wheelbay/Undercarrige and Speedbrakes good in Detail good Intake better than Academy Decals (better Academy) Klear Parts better AIM-9 Sidewinder Hasegawa not good F-86F-40 Fuselage only Combat Tanks and he are not good only in the first Produktion the Intakes under the Wing/Fuselage badley only late Wheels no Gunbay and other Goodies high in price Decals are not white ,ever creme or light gray Good Update Sets are : Verlinden , True Details (ex KMC) , Mustang Models , Legend , Aires, High-Tech, CMK (Cockpit,Gunbay,Undercarrige) Wheels: True Details erlay and late Other: Airwaves and cuttinge edge conversion to F-86E , cuttinge edge conversion to F-86A and erlay F-86E cuttinge edge Intake and Exhaust...........and many more :( greetings Michael Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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