How complex are the 1/48 Italeri aircraft modelkits?

[Frank N. O.]

I'm looking for some nice aircraft models but they're either wooden models that costs 100s of USD or they're tiny cheap metalmodels from the toystore so kits seem to be the only way to get a nice aircraft model in a reasonable size but how hard are they to make so they look halfway decent?
I'm mainly thinking of smaller aircraft (a Hercules is probably one of the biggest planes I'd want) so the size around 1/50 seemed fitting and I see that the scale 1/48 is reasonably popular for kits so that's what I'm researching. I'm planning on leaving out weapons from any military aircraft and painting them in a clean simple fictional livery so decals and such aren't needed which I hope would make it easier. Of course, some other aircraft I'd like to look like a real-life one, like the minivan, Panaca Jane and LaFawnduh

Frank

[Panzerrat]

It's been awhile since I've done any model aircraft, but dusting off the old memory I recall that like all models, the detail involved has a lot to do with the dollars spent on the model.  Italleri models are pretty good, as I recall, but some of the best mass-produced model kits that I've come across, be it aircraft or others, has been Tamiya.  Tamiya kits can be pretty spendy though.  I'd recommend doing some internet research on model kits.  I'm sure there are experts out there far more able than I am to answer your questions.

[Oddball]

they are not hard to build frank used to have hundreds of them hanging off my bedroom roof when i was younger mainly airfix kits and 1/72 scale, all depends on how much detail you want to put on the insides

[FlyboyGil]

Italeri are pretty good kits, but they seem to make mostly smaller airplane kits. As mentioned before Tamiya makes good, but can be pricey. Hasegawa are pretty good kits. A new line is Trumpeter. Depending on where you get them (I usually get mine from Ebay, on a buy it now.), they can be pricey, but are one of the best in the market. They seem to have more detail per kit than any I've ever seen before. Alot more parts including more photoetch parts. Very complex. Revell and Monogram have improved their kits drastically, adding more detail. Getting back to your original question Italeri do make good kids. THey are not overly complex, but provide good detail.

http://www.italeri.com/

Now I've checked ebay, and the stores have the 1/48 Hercules for sale. They seem to start at $75.00 (USD) to $100

Course I recommend Tamiya's 1/48 scale Lancaster. The Grandslam model is in production again. I picked up From ebay (buy it now) for $65 + $25 shipping (From Hong Kong). Still not a bad price!! And that model has little motors which let the propellers spin. And Lancasters ROCK!!! (The grandslam did that literally!)

In conclusion of my long-winded advice, I think you'll do well with the Hercules kit, but there will probably be alot of detail, and the wingspan will be well over a foot long. It will be a big model.

Gil

[Mike]

I grew up building Italeri and Revell models.
LOVED Italeri! Started with trucks and then build 1:72 then 1:48 (mostly Corsairs,  )

I wouldn't say they are hard or complicated. But if you want to make them perfect you need a little of sanding and cutting off the mass-production-left-overs...

[Oddball]

https://www.model-mania.uk.com/index.php here you go frank here's a place for you even has some starter kits with paints and glue supplied

[Frank N. O.]

Ok, not sure if I mentioned this yet but I found a cheat starterkit for 50 DKK, or a little over 10 bucks US, a 1/72 Heller Typhoon and have started to look at how to operate a hobby knife.

I took a look around and found that Heller seems to have been bought by the company Humbrol who also owns Airfix and one place said that some of Heller's models might resurface as Airfix. I looked at the official site and found a new 1/48 kit of one of the two big infamous cancelled military superjets of modern times, the BAC TSR.2 (the other one aircraft, one I haven't seen a model of yet, is the canadian Avro Arrow). I still haven't found a 1/48 Concorde, only a 1/72. I did find out that there are at least three different AS350 kits by Heller, although if it's 1/48 or 1/50 is still in the air. However the only 1/48 Ranger I've seen is a OH-58 so atm I can't do a LaFawnduh but I'm still looking. The only Twin Otter was a first generation shortnose model and that doesn't really look like the minivans so that's also a no-go atm. I did find a Skylane model so Chuck's plane might be possible, but, no surprise, no Cardinal or Commander 112/114/115, or Black Widow II

While searching around then I did stumble over something totally awesome! Imagine a painted and almost completely assembled F-104 Starfighter that's 16 inches.... wide!! The length is 36 inches!!!! It's a 1/18 kit from Bad Cat Toys. Besides a Starfighter there's also a P-51D Mustang, Stuka, Me-262, Avenger and Mig-15.
http://www.badcataviation.com/21cetoulsoxt.html

Back to DIY modelkits, then I found out that there are a lot of paints and techniques to give a very realistic/authentic metal look for a plastic model, however how hard that is to do I still don't know, but it's nice to know it's possible. Some models in progress I've seen in forums have such detail that the pictures just left me breathless. If anyone wants some links to the threads and forums just give the word, it's really something to see!

Frank

[AirScorp]

While searching around then I did stumble over something totally awesome! Imagine a painted and almost completely assembled F-104 Starfighter that's 16 inches.... wide!! The length is 36 inches!!!!

Frank, I know exactly the one. A friend's father is in the local airforce and have one exactly like that in their house. Or maybe it was an F-4 Phantom, but still the thing is the same. Just Awesome! Can't imagine it in my house though 

[FlyboyGil]

Here's a link to the Arrow. It's by Hobbycraft. Their model kits used to suck S$!T big time, but now are fairly good kits. Right now I'm working on one of their Sopwith Camel kits. Good kit.

http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/hcc/hcchc1659.htm

[Oddball]

Hornby has bought Airfix and Humbrol now and has brought back a few of the old kits as well as some new ones. found out that a pair of toe nail clippers worked justt as well as a craft knife when it came to snipping the parts off the rails Frank.need to dig out some off my Airfix 1/72 BBMF Lancs i made some years ago and post some pics of them here.