Anyone have any experience with Aviation Model's pre-painted stuff?
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Anyone have any experience with Aviation Model's pre-painted stuff?
I'm looking at the Wing Club L4 series right now and they seem to be very expensive... around US$20 a plane and as much as $80-$90 for the specials. What makes them so much more expensive?
Nothing, they are not worth that much money, my rule of thumb is: no more than $10US a model and no more than $15 for a special unless I think I really have to have it. If its more than that then wait for the price to drop or wait for the model to come out via a different source.
I found a local hobby store that had some Big Bird vol. 3 boxes in stock. I picked up 3 of them and got 3 Ki-21 Sally's... two of which are the secret/special ones. I also picked up one Takara Famous Airplanes of the World, Wings of the Luftwaffe and it was the secret Japanese Bf109 with the motor.
The secret bombers I'm going to just use since they will give me a nice 3 ship box formation for missions. The Japanese 109 with the motor I'm not sure what to do with. I really don't have a need for a Japanese 109, so I don't think I will ever game with it and I really don't care about collecting these for collection's sake. I guess I could put it up on eBay to try and fund buying a few more boxes.
you could change the decals on the 109 and make it german, as for the motor, its a cool gadget that can be placed with any other Takara plane... you should reconsider.
I have a Do335 that needs two motors to have both propellers moving :)
The FW190's are excellent, the 4 different models arrived yesterday and I had a quick look at them, but have not removed them from there protective plastic yet. The paint work is very neat and are painted weathered. Details are nice and its great now having 4 planes from the same squadron. I will add some pilots to mine before I glue the canopy down, too good an opportunity to miss.
I'd score these babies 9/10, as these models are on par with Takara
I recieved my models from Ebay from a vendor called 7TOYS. He is one of the best sellers I have found yet and he has the set on sale for $24 US with $10 postage, these guys are a bargain for under $10 a model.
Trevor
Thanks Trevor. I have an order in with him right now for some different stuff. He got my stuff in the post very quickly, just have to wait for it to show up from HK now. Guess I'll have to look into getting that set from him as well.
Is it just me, or is there a big lack of Allied fighters out there? So far I've only really found the F6F and P-38 for Pacific stuff.
Can the landing gear be modeled closed on these?
I've also had good luck with 7Toys. I bought my F-Toys Albatros DIIIs and Spad VIIs from him.
Pooh
Its not just you Col. there is a huge shortage of Allied models. My theory is that the Japanese seem to have a real facination with Axis models, its the same with armor models as well, all Tigers and not much else.
It's to bad as it makes wargaming in this scale much harder :(
More or less, the main planes are available for the Allies. Though the selection of "secondary" models is kinda low (I did not see any French planes for that matter). But with the popularity of this scale increasing, in the future we may get more Allied fighters, why not.
I read recently some place that Takara and one other company have announced that they will not be making any more 1/144 planes... so I think it is going to get harder to find things.
1/144 Allied Fighters from the Japanese Manufacturers (Ftoys, Takara, Bandai) you have: Spitfire, Lightning, Mustang, Thunderbolt, P40 Warhawk, Swordfish, Corsair, Typhoon, Hurricane, Ilyushin Il2, Yak 9, Mosquito, Avenger, WildCat, HellCat, Meteor... so there are some models available. From the list only the French are missing more or less, but I found D.520 resin kit available, but unpainted.
As Bombers, again lots of them are available. I do not think its that bad ;)
Where did you read this?
FToys have the biggest range, including almost all the above named models. They also issued a new set, coming out in March.
Takara had an edge in quality over FToys. These guys would supply you even with motors to your planes! True masterpieces of quality, collectors items I would say. Takara has a huge range in WW2 Armor 1/144 (World Tank Museum). If they stop making 1/144 aircraft, they will stop making armor also maybe, so either they are going bankrupt, either they were bought by some other company... actually they are somehow under Tomi toy builders company. I think Tomi are Americans so there might be an answer. There might be another explanation: I believe Takara had a deal with Hasegawa, some Japanese "master" designer and their collaboration ended. This is what you might have read.
1/144 in planes, in my humble opinion is the best scale. Not too big, not too small in order to have details, biggest range available (excluding 1/72 or bigger) and multiple manufacturers. And when they are many, you have new players on the market, as well as old players going "out".
This discussion is about plasic/resin planes. Die-cast excluded. If you don't mind metal, then in the equation you have new manufacturers as Corgi, Altaya, Johnny Lightning and so on.
But how many of those can you actually get these days?? I've seen the P-40 from Bandai's first series, a few P-47s, one P-38 and one F4U (both way up there in price) and some early series Spitfires. The Hellcat and P-51 I've found for sell from a store (not ebay).
Who made the Wildcat and the Hurricane?
I honestly can remember where I read it, but they were talking about the loss to the Hasegawa company (which make some of the best larger scale aircarft model kits out there... or they used to when I was still doing 1/48 scale stuff).
Well, FToys are most common pieces, then Bandai and last, Takara.
The Wildcat is in Part-2 Series by Bandai. I did not buy one, it was some $25 on Ebay, but I bought the Hellcat pretty cheap, some $6 or under and an Avenger, I believe $22, but the latter is a more complex model with moving parts and such, so the price was worth it.
The Hurricane is also in the Bandai part-2 Series, I have one, cant remember how much I've paid for it, around $20, but I saw one go with $17 also.
Wildcat and Hurricane are really exception imo, because I believe no other producer has them in their range (either die-cast or plastic). So they tend to go over $20. Corsairs are also expensive sometimes, but each week there are at least 2-3 on Ebay. If you cannot get one at a decent price, you have the Corgi die-cast model available and that goes under $10 if I remember correctly.
About prices, $20 can seem like a lot, but a WoW/DoW model is around $8-$9 , paying double for a bigger model with more details and excellent quality is not a bad idea for me. And this for rare models. The common ones like Zeros, FW190's are cheaper than WoW. I have some Zeros from Takara with weathered paint that look exceptional and one piece costs like $6... if you look for them. Their landing gear can be up or down, the cockpit can be open or not, with pilot visible or not...
1/200 in planes goes well with 1/144 armor... they look good in battlefields like this, with this ratio for scales.
But 1/200 does not have the range and quality imo. Not yet, maybe in the future 1/144 scale planes will "die" and 1/200 will replace them in popularity. Hard to say...
Stay clear of the Part-1 Spitfires from Bandai. They have quality issues people tell me. In March, FToys releases a new Spitfire so the cost wont be an issue anymore as well as the quality, most likely. Or if you like die-cast, then go with other producers for Spitfire.
Lightning is not that hard to find, since it was produce by Bandai (L1) and FToys - 3 models (one secret) in Workshop 3 series. Also I saw this plane in die-cast.
I use 1/144 planes because my armor is 1/100 so in this way everything looks good on the battlefield. 1/200 planes are too small to display alongside 1/100 vehicles... So I have chosen this scale (1/144, 12 mm) for planes.
Yeah, there are two Corsairs on ebay right now... one is at a bid of $11.55 and one is a buy it now priced at $55.00 :eek:
The one at $55 must be the "canadian" shop Hand Sized History... each week lists that Corsair at $55, must be looking for someone... mentally challenged. Until now the most expensive Corsair F4U I saw sold, went for $31.
The canadian shop also has a Me109 with finish marking at some $130... :))))
How hard it is to buy a normal Me109 and change the decals, it must be easier than buying one at over $100 :P
Forgot to tell you about the Nakajima Oscar... that is also a plane, strangely, that was made only by Bandai in the L1 series, tends to go over $13, though there were sold with $10 also. In the upcoming FToys series, this will be again available so it should be easier to find.
Do you still have the "japanese" Me109 with motor or did you put it on Ebay already?
I tell you a plane that sold for $55, it was a Do335 A2, the green one, from Takara. But I bought the A0, the silver one for $11 :D Same model (we could say), different colors. Now I need two motors for it :D It's my favorite plane you see...
RedBaron, you seem to be pretty up to speed on what planes were in what series by each company. Would you be willing to put a list together showing all of this for us?
I do still have the Japanese 109, unopened. I've not decided what to do with it yet :( I'm going to be ordering at least a case of that series here soon. We'll see what I get.
Let me get this straight, you intend to order a case of... Takara Famous Airplanes? Is that possible? I have found FToys cases, but Takara or even Bandai... no. PM me with details pls if it is possible.
I will put up a list of the planes and the producers. I do not have a complete list, but for what I have I will put it up in here if it will help you.
Ok, below you will find a list of Plastic Planes, scale 1:144 produced by some Japanese Manufacturers. The list is not complete, since I still have to update it with some models, but it is a starting point:
Again, all planes are prepainted plastic 1/144.
Note that the Bandai Part 1 Series, all Furuta Series and all 21st Century Toys Series are not in the list, since all of these I consider to be below the standard of quality that I accept. Still, you will find from the previously named producers plane types that otherwise cost a lot to buy from Takara or Bandai. I might be wrong with regards to their quality, but there you have it... I only look for the below list.
Plane Type / Manufacturers [Series]- Number of Paint jobs
Mitsubishi A6M5 / Bandai [P2]-2 / Bandai [L4]-2 / Takara [World Wing Museum A6M]-4
Mitsubishi A6M3 / Bandai [L2]-2 / Bandai [Kansai]-1
Mitsubishi A6M2 "Zero" / Bandai [L3]-2 / Bandai [Kansai]-1 / Takara [World Wing Museum A6M]-5 / FToys [Wing kit 1]-3 / 21st Century-3
Mitsubishi J2M3 / Bandai [L3]-2 / FToys [Wing kit 1]-2
Mitsubishi Karigata Liason Plane / Bandai [L1]-1
Mitsubishi Ki46 / FToys [WorkShop 3]-3
Mitsubishi Ki15 / Bandai [L1]-1
Aichi M6A1 / Bandai [L3]-1
Aichi D3A1 / Bandai [P2]-1 / FToys [Wink kit 1]-3
Aichi E13A1 / FToys [Wink kit 3]-3
Kawasaki Ki45 / FToys [Work shop 9]-3
Kawasaki Ki61 / Bandai [P2]-1 / FToys [Wink kit 3]-3
Kawanishi Shiden Kai / Bandai [L1]-1 / FToys [WingKit 1]-2 / FToys [Wingkit 2]-2
Nakajima J1N1 / Bandai [L4]-1 / FToys [Work Shop 9]-3
Nakajima A6M2 / FToys [Wing kit 1]-3 / Takara [World Wing Museum A6M]-6
Nakajima B5N2 / Bandai [L1]-2
Nakajima Ki43 / Bandai [L1]-1 / FToys [Wing kit 4]-3
Nakajima Ki44 / FToys [Wing Kit 2]-2
Nakajima C6N1 / Bandai [L2]-1
Nakajima Ki84 "Frank" / Bandai [L2]-3 / 21st Century-1
Kyushu J7W / FToys [Wing Kit 1]-1
Kugisho D4Y1 / FToys [Work Shop 7]-3
Grumman Wildcat / Bandai [P2]-1
Grumman Avenger / Bandai [L1]-1
Grumman Hellcat / Bandai [L2]-1
Grumman Bearcat / FToys [Wink kit 3]-3
F4U Corsair / Bandai [P2]-2 / Bandai [L4]-1
Lockheed Lightning / Bandai [L1]-1 / FToys [Worsk Shop 3]-3
North American Sabre / Bandai [L4]-2
North American P-51 Mustang / Bandai [L2]-3 / 21st Century-4
North American Twin Mustang / FToys [Work Shop 9]-3
SBD Douglas "Dauntless" / 21st Century-2
Curtiss Warhawk / Bandai [Kansai]-2
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt / Bandai [L3]-3 / 21st Century-2
Supermarine Spitfire / Bandai [Kansai]-1 / FToys [Wing kit 4]-3 / 21st Century-3
Hawker Hurricane / Bandai [P2]-1
Hawker Typhoon / FToys [Wing Kit 2]-2
De Havilland Mosquito / Bandai [L4]-1 / FToys [Work Shop 3]-3
Yakovlev Yak 9 / Bandai [L3]-1
Ilyushin Shturmovik Il-2 / Bandai [L4]-2 / FToys [Work Shop 7]-3
Macchi MC202 Folgore / FToys [Work Shop 7]-3
Fell free to comment on the above list if you find errors or know that a certain model was produced by someone else and it does not show up.
lol, okay... i'm getting data overload on this subject i think!
You can get prepainted P-47's from 21st Century Toys, I bought two of their razorbacks, which have rocket tubes and bombs, all you have to do is clip the undercart off. They also can come as a dogfight double with a Fw190 A8 There are also nice kits of P47's by Platz, I haven't bought any Platz kits yet, but Kaufstick said they were as good as or if not better than Sweet, which is saying something.
On the Pacific front I just read that Minicraft have released their Avenger with new decals this time with late war USN markings VC-88, Royal Navy '43 and Royal New Zealand Air Force late '44. They have also re-released their B-24J and B-26B, although Cafereo does a nice B24!
If you have the info of the 21st Century Toys list of planes, we should add them too to the list. What quality do they have? Some people say they are not quite so good. If you own some planes, could you tells us, do they have any quality issues?
The list lacks only the Germans from what I can supply as info. I will update it when I find some more time.
re/
Great info guys. Let's try and keep this list to non model kits. Only pre painted, mostly assembled planes (like F Toys, CafeReo, and Takara). The reason is there are a lot of people that like WoW and DoW because they do not have to assemble or paint the planes. Full on model kits stray to far from this idea. We could add a kit list separately I guess.
21st century are a bit hit and miss on quality, but they are OK.
They come painted/ assembled wheels down, they are basic in detail, they look OK, some of the paint work is shabby at times with oversprays especially on the underside. Assembly is generally OK with occassional straightenings required of bombs,rocket tubes or undercart. One of my FW190 A's has the engine insert missing so the prop is very loose which is annoying.
So far though I haven't had any major complaints apart from a missing engine part. My only beef with them is that they make a model then release it in different schemes they find without thought as to Mk correctness for example
They make a Spitfire MkX ???? and it comes in 4 different schemes
Green & Grey RAF, Pink PR RAF, Tan & Brown US, Foliage Green & Dark Green RAAF (Clive Caldwell) The problem is that for the last 3 they are the wrong Mk Spit with no tropical filters, but they look OK all the same.
So far I only know of these models
P51D, 3 x schemes, Blue & Silver, Red & Silver, Yellow, Silver and Olive.
Spitfire MkX, 4 x schemes as above
FW190 A8, 2 x schemes
Me262A
P47 Razorback and Bubble top
Hellcat, 3 x schemes 2 x US, 1 x RAF
Dauntless, 2 x schemes
A6M2 Zero 2 x schemes
Ki 84 Hayate 2 x schemes
Ok, I will add them also to the list.
A few details about Bandai this time. Someone from Japan told me that Bandai joined forces with Wing Club Corporation to produce the Series BANDAI WING CLUB. Also another "name" was involved in these series: Eishindo Corporation. Long story short, the association between these "names" broke at one point and Bandai now has no right to issue new stuff using the "Wing Club" name, probably Bandai lost also the producing tools from Eishindo. Hence, it is not clear if Bandai will issue new sets and when. I am still to find out. Or maybe Wing Club Corporation will go on their own. Further research needed for this.
As for Takara, same story, the collaboration with Hasegawa ended and that is why they are inactive in this field for now. Seems that their Armour Series is doing well, Navy stuff also, so I hope they will return to Aircraft sometime.
FToys as we know are quite active, in September 2009 they released Wing Kit 3, while in March 2010 comes out Wing Kit 4.
The other names: Cafereo, Dragon Cando, etc are also active.
Is 21st Century the only ones to make the Dauntless? I found a deal for 26 different 21st Century planes (already put together) for $50...
3 Dauntless
3 Hellcats
2 Spitfires
9 Zeros
1 Me 262
2 P 51
1 P47
4 FW 190
The P-51s and Hellcats I'm going to be getting some of new from the Bandai WC L2 series (better quality right?), the Spitfires I'll get when they come out new in March, and the FW190s I'll get new in the Takara series. So, the only thing I'm not going to be getting in better quality is the Dauntless and P-47 (the Zeros I'll pickup as one or two of the Takara series of Zeros.
At $2.62 a pieces, these are a really good price though.
Keith,
I have a Bandai Hellcat if you need close-up pics.
FW190 I have also one from Bandai, but I would consider the FW190's with weathering, from that producer from Hong Kong... Aviation Model I believe it is the name. I do not own one but I would consider those also... maybe someone could help us with more details, maybe pics.
Zero, I have a batch that must come, from Takara, the special Zero series; I will be able to tell you exactly the quality of those and also I will have pics if needed in a week or so. They should have weathering and high-quality.
Dauntless is not available with the Japanese so you do not have too many options. If you buy the 21st Century planes lot, please give me some feedback on the quality when you receive them... maybe some pics and first hand experiences. Good luck with the auction and keep me informed :D (by PM).
re/
Thanks for the update on the dive bomber set... I think I'll just hold off then.
Please help on a problem: Decals.
Did any of you have any Bandai planes? If so, how did you apply the decals (they are water transfer decals)? Please describe it here, because I do not succeed to apply them in a proper way, after they dry, they fell off if I touch them.
Please help...
I've only done decals from CafeReo so far. I did the normal decal steps with a setting solution and then hit them with a dull coat. They seem to be doing fine. I should have hit the plane with a gloss first though, I got a little bit of silvering, but it's in the 40s here so to cold to really do lots of spraying.
Well to start with I never got any decals with any Bandai planes I bought, I always thought there should have been.......
OK it sounds like they are a bit low in gum, probably dried out through age or are badly made.
What I would do is apply some gloss model varnish to the location that the decal will be placed on, apply the decal, let dry, carefully apply some decals set solution to the decal, let it dry then carefully apply some matt varnish over the whole model.
That is the system I uses as well. And I meant that it was 40 degrees here... so not quite warm enough for spraying varnish.