We all have our favourite model producers and different experiences of companies.
They all have their good and bad kits and their good and bad points. Some companies are great in one genre and poor in another genre.
So rating companies is a very subjective process, but perhaps we can use our collective experience to help new modellers.
I can only speak about aircraft, specifically in 1/48, 1/32 and 1/24 scale. So will post rating companies based on my experience of these. Perhaps others with a wide experience of other scales and genres can so similar.
I propose that for consistency we do so by applying the following basis:
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I will make a start - 1/48, 1/32 and larger scale aircraft.
I am not trying to categorise every single brand in this space, only those I have either built or have examined and seen a significant number of reviews.
High End Manufacturers:
Tamiya:
These I rank right at the top of the tree for the following reasons:
Painting instructions using Tamiya paint codes and a lot of mixes so it is not always clear what the actual colour is. It needs some research and planning to paint in anything other than Tamiya shades.
The decals, Tamiya's big fail. Thick, take a lot of solution to get them to bed into detail and they are prone to splinter when adjusting position.
Then, of course, they are more expensive than most but, you get a great result out of the box and don't need to spend out on a lot of aftermarket so the outlay is not as high as it seems.
So, even the best model company does not get everything right.
Zoukei Mura:
These are a relatively new company with their early releases within the last 10 years and while not as good as current ones are still very good and ZM learned quickly. These are only other company I would rank as 'high end', so why?
Expensive but, again, no aftermarket is needed for a great result.
The tight tolerances, again easily resolvable by test fitting and a sanding stick.
Some might regard the level of detail as over-engineering but this is their 'calling card' and it provides options for those who want open panels.
High to Mid Range Manufacturers.
Hong Kong Models
ICM
GWH
Low to Mid Range Manufacturers.
Airfix:
Trumpeter/HobbyBoss
Hasegawa
Zvezda
Dragon
Academy
Special Hobby
Low end manufacturers
Italeri
Revell
Kitty Hawk
They all have their good and bad kits and their good and bad points. Some companies are great in one genre and poor in another genre.
So rating companies is a very subjective process, but perhaps we can use our collective experience to help new modellers.
I can only speak about aircraft, specifically in 1/48, 1/32 and 1/24 scale. So will post rating companies based on my experience of these. Perhaps others with a wide experience of other scales and genres can so similar.
I propose that for consistency we do so by applying the following basis:
- Base the rating on newer tools, kits produced within the last 10 years. It would not be fair to rate a company based on a 1970's tooling well before the development of CAD and slide moulding.
- To place manufacturers into a broad heading based on your experience, one of the following.
- High end manufacturers. Those who you would expect to pay more for and live up to their cost.
- Mid-to-high end manufacturers Those that just fall short of the very best in some way that is significant.
- Low end-to-mid manufacturers.
- Low end manufacturers.
- Then within each, list them in order of preference and explain what you think of them.
===============================================
I will make a start - 1/48, 1/32 and larger scale aircraft.
I am not trying to categorise every single brand in this space, only those I have either built or have examined and seen a significant number of reviews.
High End Manufacturers:
Tamiya:
These I rank right at the top of the tree for the following reasons:
- High quality engineering and fit unrivalled by anyone. Enhanced by a thoughtful approach to ease of build.
- Superb detail and clean, well moulded parts needing minimum clean-up.
- Instructions are well paid out with no ambiguity over part placement and comprehensive painting instructions.
- Securely and well packaged in a way that minimises damage to parts.
- High level of accuracy.
- Good sprue organisation.
Painting instructions using Tamiya paint codes and a lot of mixes so it is not always clear what the actual colour is. It needs some research and planning to paint in anything other than Tamiya shades.
The decals, Tamiya's big fail. Thick, take a lot of solution to get them to bed into detail and they are prone to splinter when adjusting position.
Then, of course, they are more expensive than most but, you get a great result out of the box and don't need to spend out on a lot of aftermarket so the outlay is not as high as it seems.
So, even the best model company does not get everything right.
Zoukei Mura:
These are a relatively new company with their early releases within the last 10 years and while not as good as current ones are still very good and ZM learned quickly. These are only other company I would rank as 'high end', so why?
- Highly detailed with an innovative approach to engineering and design not shared by any other company. It really gives you a feel for how the original aircraft was built.
- Great fit but with tight tolerances so test fit and you may need to 'ease' fit with a swipe of a sanding stick. Never force parts together.
- Very high quality packaging keeping parts safe.
- Interesting subjects, a mix of popular and unusual.
- Comprehensive, including seatbelt options and paint masks.
- I have found the decals to be resilient and 'conformable'.
- The instruction manual is highly detailed and included photos as guidance leaving no ambiguity.
- Kits are complex but are not complicated to build thanks to the clear instructions.
- Plastic is of high quality, cleanly moulded and good use of slide moulding (no burring or flash at all in the latest kits, but the older ones do have some of this.)
- High level of accuracy.
- Good sprue organisation
Expensive but, again, no aftermarket is needed for a great result.
The tight tolerances, again easily resolvable by test fitting and a sanding stick.
Some might regard the level of detail as over-engineering but this is their 'calling card' and it provides options for those who want open panels.
High to Mid Range Manufacturers.
Hong Kong Models
- Great subjects with some of the most innovative engineering making great use of slide moulding techniques.
- High quality plastic, cleanly moulded and great fit.
- A nice balance of good detail without being (perhaps) too over-engineered.
- Well packaged and presented.
- They listen to criticism and correct (1/32 Lanc to the 1/48 Lanc releases shows this)
ICM
- High quality plastic, clean moulds, great fit and great engineering with some outstanding subjects.
- Decent decals
- Fantastic value for money
- Good accuracy
- Ease of build
GWH
- These listen too feedback and improve
- High quality plastic and clean moulding.
- Great subjects
- Great value
Low to Mid Range Manufacturers.
Airfix:
- They have some excellent engineering and design but no slide moulding.
- Great subjects and prolific, the original to some people 'all plastic kits are Airfix'
- Their instructions are good and clear.
- Good fit and accuracy (now...)
- Decals are excellent, among the best.
- They have recently improved their sprue organisation.
Trumpeter/HobbyBoss
- Good fit, decent quality plastic, but parts can be a little 'burred'
- Big range of subjects.
- Some engineering can be described as 'genius'
Hasegawa
- High quality plastic and great fit
- Decent accuracy
- Simple engineering and design
Zvezda
- Nice quality plastic, well moulded
- Interesting subjects.
Dragon
- Great fit
- Great quality plastic with good engineering
- Good clean mouldings
Academy
- Some very nice kits, buildable with interesting engineering.
- decent quality moulds
Special Hobby
- Some great subjects
- Good range of kits
Low end manufacturers
Italeri
- Good subjects
- Some good kits
Revell
- Cheap
- Capable of producing a good kit and when they do it is great value
Kitty Hawk
- Interesting subjects