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Best 1/48 "modern" american jets


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Hello guys,

can you tell me please which manufacturers produce the most accurate kits for the following models ?

F-14B - Hasegawa

F-14D - Hasegawa

F-15C - GWH

F-16C - Tamiya

F-15E - Revell

F/A-18 - Hasegawa

F-22 - Academy/Hasegawa

A-10 - Italeri

Cheers

Edited by marcinko
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As of this moment, the F-14 for accuracy is Hasegawa, but it still has issues. I've started an HB kit, which has some inaccuracies, but the fit sure is better than Hasegawa. However, I'd wait for the AMK F-14 series to be released. If it's anything like their previous release, it will hands down be the best F-14 out there. The F-15C would be the GWH, the F-15E would be Revell, the F-22 would be Hasegawa (it has some issues, though), and the A-10 is up for discussion. All the available kits have issues.

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Thanks Darren, I`ve read carefully some threads here, and the general opinion is that Chinese manufacturers are on a roll.

Not only they make the best Russian kits in 1/48, but it looks like they are gaining ground on American fighters also

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You didn't ask for it but in case you want to know...

F/A-18: I'd say right now Hasegawa makes the best...Legacy or Superhornet. But I think Kinetic is about to release a new Legacy Hornet.

F-16: Tamiya, hands down.

Edited by Fly-n-hi
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As of this moment, the F-14 for accuracy is Hasegawa, but it still has issues. I've started an HB kit, which has some inaccuracies, but the fit sure is better than Hasegawa. However, I'd wait for the AMK F-14 series to be released. If it's anything like their previous release, it will hands down be the best F-14 out there. The F-15C would be the GWH, the F-15E would be Revell, the F-22 would be Hasegawa (it has some issues, though), and the A-10 is up for discussion. All the available kits have issues.

Hey Darren, I'd say the only real issue with the Hase F-22 is the out of scale panels. Otherwise I think this is a fantastic kit!

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Hey Darren, I'd say the only real issue with the Hase F-22 is the out of scale panels. Otherwise I think this is a fantastic kit!

I thought there was something wrong with the tails. I know Academy has an issue, but I thought the Hasegawa kit had an issue as well. I've got the kit and it sure does look nice.

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As of this moment, the F-14 for accuracy is Hasegawa, but it still has issues. I've started an HB kit, which has some inaccuracies, but the fit sure is better than Hasegawa. However, I'd wait for the AMK F-14 series to be released. If it's anything like their previous release, it will hands down be the best F-14 out there. The F-15C would be the GWH, the F-15E would be Revell, the F-22 would be Hasegawa (it has some issues, though), and the A-10 is up for discussion. All the available kits have issues.

I second this post. I dont like the depth of the GWH cockpit for the F-15 but on the other hand i dont know if hasegawa or revells are the correct depth or the other way around. It does build up nice though. I own 4 or 5 GWH kits and about 10 hasegawa Eagles.

Edited by adamitri
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Darren, IIRC, it was the Academy F-22 that had the issues with the vertical stabilizers, not the Hasegawa.

The other kits have been covered pretty well. I've always liked the Monogram A-10, but it's not really an up-to-date airframe, missing various and sundry lumps and bumps that have been added since that kits release. I don't have a Hobbyboss A-10 in the stash so can't comment on those. Take a pass on the Tamiya A-10. IIRC, it was the first 1/48 A-10 on the market and really represents a pre-production aircraft.

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I've heard that the Revell Pro Modeler F-15E is the cat's pajamas for that particular variant... I own one and it looks great- haven't built it though. Compared to the Academy F-15E that I also have, I'd say go for the Revell kit.

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I've heard that the Revell Pro Modeler F-15E is the cat's pajamas for that particular variant... I own one and it looks great- haven't built it though. Compared to the Academy F-15E that I also have, I'd say go for the Revell kit.

OOB the Revell Strike Eagle will give you an ODS era jet. If you want a more modern iteration, wait for GWH to release an E. Actually, their current Ra'am kit will get you an E as well. Just need to modify a few small parts.

Mark

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It must be nice to have the dosh to have a stash with those kits in it; do you by chance happen to love Eagles?

I have built a few in my day. Here is my latest...

http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=291092&view=getnewpost

Edited by adamitri
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OOB the Revell Strike Eagle will give you an ODS era jet. If you want a more modern iteration, wait for GWH to release an E. Actually, their current Ra'am kit will get you an E as well. Just need to modify a few small parts.

Mark

Damn GWH (and other Chinese companies) are on a roll nowadays

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F-16C - Tamiya

F-16A/MLU and Humped version - Hasegawa (Released Sufa, Iraq F-16, Polish etc...)

F-22 Hasegawa (Academy is strange - have small vertical stabilizer... and Italeri is old...) Hasegawa have plastic surface (heat panels) but looks as Raptor...

A-10 - i prefer Italeri - have a A-10C too, but when you can have open cockpit you must invest to AM parts. (Eduard make AM PE for A-10C and Aires full resin cockpit for A-10A. Or you can bought a Hobby Boss. Hands down from Tamiya (UGLY !!!)

F-15E - Revell is very and accurate nice kit for few bucks. But i think a Academy re-tool kit isn´t really too bad - have decals and P.E. for OIF Strike Eagles. GWH is very expensive kit...

F-15C i don´t know - but i think a Academy F-15C MSIP II isn´t bad... Or you can choice a GWH...(But price is +100% as Academy...)

F/A-18E/F/G are best from Hasegawa... Really nice kit !

Edited by AlCZ
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F-16C - Tamiya

F-16A/MLU and Humped version - Hasegawa (Released Sufa, Iraq F-16, Polish etc...)

F-22 Hasegawa (Academy is strange - have small vertical stabilizer... and Italeri is old...) Hasegawa have plastic surface (heat panels) but looks as Raptor...

A-10 - i prefer Italeri - have a A-10C too, but when you can have open cockpit you must invest to AM parts. (Eduard make AM PE for A-10C and Aires full resin cockpit for A-10A. Or you can bought a Hobby Boss. Hands down from Tamiya (UGLY !!!)

F-15E - Revell is very and accurate nice kit for few bucks. But i think a Academy re-tool kit isn´t really too bad - have decals and P.E. for OIF Strike Eagles. GWH is very expensive kit...

F-15C i don´t know - but i think a Academy F-15C MSIP II isn´t bad... Or you can choice a GWH...(But price is +100% as Academy...)

F/A-18E/F/G are best from Hasegawa... Really nice kit !

I`ve checked the Hase Super Hornet and it comes with 2 x Sidewinders & 2 x Amraams, needless to say I was expecting more from Hasegawa not to mention more for that price

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nope

Hasegawa kits have a tendency to be expensive, sometimes tricky to build (e.g., the F-14 can be frustrating in parts), almost never include weapons, and need careful attention on decals (read: use hot water). They build into nice kits though.

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Thanks Darren, I`ve read carefully some threads here, and the general opinion is that Chinese manufacturers are on a roll.

Not only they make the best Russian kits in 1/48, but it looks like they are gaining ground on American fighters also

And we troll internet forums to hear what you have to say lol.

Seriously though, we are modelers ourselves so we expect our company to be a truer refection of our own wants from this hobby of ours.

We want something so we make it happen.

If you need anything - give me a shout here.

Cheers!

Edited by Martin @ AMK Models
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But Hawa Super Bug is very nice kit. Another kit of Super Bug are from Italeri (little re-tooled mould - but haven´t plastic cockpit and US Revell. US Revell reboxed by Revell of Germany isn´t a many years on €U market and i read a build is little difficult... I have for my Hawa´s Super Bug prepared a weaponry set from old Academy Strike Eagle...

And isn´t a US jet but Dassault Rafale M and C from Revell are too very beautiful kits... But now is on shops a navalized single seater "M" only - with upgraded moulds and weapons rack and decals from operation against Gaddafi´s Libyia. In €U cost around 20$... (one of cheapest quarter scale jets...)

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And we troll internet forums to hear what you have to say lol.

Seriously though, we are modelers ourselves so we expect our company to be a truer refection of our own wants from this hobby of ours.

We want something so we make it happen.

If you need anything - give me a shout here.

Cheers!

Hi Martin,

a few years ago I got - again - into model buying (building it`s a different story lol), and 1/72 was the choice, because I could find a lot of Russian fighters in that scale.

A few days ago I was building a MiG-29 - nothing fancy, an Italeri - and a all of a sudden I had an epiphany, 1/48 it`s the way to go nowadays.

The old excuses, no MiG-25, MiG-31 etc in 1/48 don't stand anymore.

I`ve read Mike`s review & build from britmodellers of your Foxhound, I`am sold, it`s definitely on my to do list quite high up.

Cheers from Bucharest

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If you need anything - give me a shout here.

Cheers!

North American B-45A Tornado, America's first jet bomber. 1:48, if you please. It was ordered in case the B-47 flopped in a big way. The RB-45C served in Korea and at least one was shot down over western Russia while gathering elint.

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