lgl007 Posted February 3, 2023 Share Posted February 3, 2023 Hi all, Generally speaking how good are the Meng 1/48 F-18 kits? As good as 1/48 scale Tamiya kits in terms of quality, fit and accuracy? They look amazing but wanted to get the inside scoop form members who have built them... I'd buy a Tamiya F-18 in 1/48 if they made one but since they don't I'm looking for a great out of the box build... Thanks! -Greg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Solo Posted February 3, 2023 Share Posted February 3, 2023 No, those kits do not match Tamiya quality. But of course those one are very nice kits, I do believe the best models of Super Hornet on the market. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DONG Posted February 3, 2023 Share Posted February 3, 2023 Greg I've built the 1/48 Meng F-18E and it was close to Tamiya for fit. I don't think I used any putty and it gives you wing tips like the Tamiya F-4B with straight or angled pieces for the wing folds. It also gives you metal pins in the pylons to change weapon loads. Don Quote Link to post Share on other sites
eraucubsfan Posted February 7, 2023 Share Posted February 7, 2023 I agree with the above, while not Tamiya quality, they are still nice kits. I halfway through mine and enjoying the build. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lgl007 Posted February 7, 2023 Author Share Posted February 7, 2023 Thanks gents... most helpful 🙂 -Greg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bsin Posted February 7, 2023 Share Posted February 7, 2023 (edited) My personal opinion is that the Hobbyboss F-18E Is more accurate, and has much finer details. I also hear the fit isn't too bad. They definitely had their A team working on that one! Just in case you were wondering. Edited February 7, 2023 by Bsin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Solo Posted February 7, 2023 Share Posted February 7, 2023 If you want to compare Meng vs. HB, you can find it here: 1/48 F/A-18 Super Hornet - Meng vs. HobbyBoss - KFS-miniatures Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lgl007 Posted February 8, 2023 Author Share Posted February 8, 2023 Very through review from the Link, albeit in Polish. Good thing I can read Polish still after all these years 😉 Thanks for the link. -Greg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Studneru Posted February 8, 2023 Share Posted February 8, 2023 Imagine how many languages you'll remember with google chrome browser built-in "auto-translate" option" ! 🙂 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lgl007 Posted February 8, 2023 Author Share Posted February 8, 2023 True, but it gave me a chance to stretch the 'ol brain again after all these years 😉 -Greg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
eraucubsfan Posted February 8, 2023 Share Posted February 8, 2023 One thing to look at, if you want the F kit, the Hobbyboss kit is a Pre-ACS aircraft. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lgl007 Posted February 8, 2023 Author Share Posted February 8, 2023 Thanks cubsfan! -Greg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sodasorb Posted February 8, 2023 Share Posted February 8, 2023 I need to bring out the Meng Kit and see for myself! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bsin Posted February 8, 2023 Share Posted February 8, 2023 Who knows, maybe GWH will do one! 🙂 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Specter1075 Posted February 10, 2023 Share Posted February 10, 2023 On 2/8/2023 at 12:57 PM, Bsin said: Who knows, maybe GWH will do one! 🙂 I hope not. Let them give us something we don't have any or many options for! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DONG Posted February 10, 2023 Share Posted February 10, 2023 (edited) On 2/8/2023 at 2:38 PM, eraucubsfan said: One thing to look at, if you want the F kit, the Hobbyboss kit is a Pre-ACS aircraft. It has both instrument panels and coamings for early/ACS cockpits. Sprue J has the ACS IP and coaming. Don Edited February 10, 2023 by DONG Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gb_madcat_sl Posted February 10, 2023 Share Posted February 10, 2023 6 hours ago, DONG said: It has both instrument panels and coamings for early/ACS cockpits. Sprue J has the ACS IP and coaming. Don Are you sure about this? According to the instruction sheets, sprue J has parts specific to the Growler. Is this sprue included in the F kit? Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Niels Posted February 10, 2023 Share Posted February 10, 2023 Just checked the instructions for both the EA-18G and the F/A-18F, and both use part G3 for the rear IP, and A20 for the front IP. Hence no difference. Instructions from Scalemates: 1387760-98-instructions.pdf (scalemates.com) 1360682-79-instructions.pdf (scalemates.com) As you will see from the parts chart at the end of each of the instructions, the J-sprue don't contain parts for the cockpit. And Sprue J is not in the F/A-18F kit for that matter. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
eraucubsfan Posted February 10, 2023 Share Posted February 10, 2023 @Niels yes that is correct, the F (and G) kit from Meng are ACS aircraft. I think the question is whether the Hobby Boss F kit has the sprue in the box from the G kit allowing it to be modeled as ACS-equipped aircraft. From the instructions, it appears that it doesn't. This is similar to what Hasegawa did. The sprue is J from the G kit, which contains the different parts needed for the ACS (and also other G specific mods). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Niels Posted February 10, 2023 Share Posted February 10, 2023 (edited) Thanks @eraucubsfan As this thread is relating to the Meng kit, what Hobby Boss or Hasegawa have done isn't that interesting. That being said, and for sake of information both Hasegawa and Hobby Boss left out the ACS IP in the rear cockpit for their F/A-18F's. Hasegawa have however included it in some boxings, so check the various alternatives by checking Scalemates. Hobby Boss included it in their EA-18G. And as it turns out, these parts are also on Sprue J, so I belive this is what @DONG refered to actually, and not Sprue J on the Meng kit 🍺😅 Edited February 10, 2023 by Niels Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dave Williams Posted February 10, 2023 Share Posted February 10, 2023 That’s similar to what Trumpeter did with their 1/32 kits. The sprue with the ACS was only in the G kit, not in the F kit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DONG Posted February 10, 2023 Share Posted February 10, 2023 Yes I was referring to the Hobby Boss F/A-18F, it has sprue J from the EA-18G. I have all 3 Hobby Boss Super Hornets and they look to have the same sprues because the new refueling pod comes in the G kit. Don Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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