Enamel or Acrylic?

Unfortuantely my local shop doesn't seem to do much Italeri. They've got Airfix, Revell, Tamiya and Academy kits mainly. The Polikarpov I-16 I picked up from E-bay is a Hobby Craft kit, seems quite good if a bit basic (Not much in the way of cockpit details, but on the other hand on one of the links that was posted a modeller commented that a 1/48 cockpit interior wouldn't be much use anyway without a 1/48 flashlight to be able to see inside it!)

What's your opinion of Academy kits? I haven't tried them myself, they seem a little more expensive than Airfix/Revell but cheaper than Tamiya. Haven't had a chance to look inside one as the boxes are all well sealed.

 

The more recent Academy kits are great. It's not much that separates them from the offerings from Tamiya, if anything at all. Their new P-38 is easily the best available in 1/72 scale. They do, however, box some of the older Minicraft and Hobbycraft kits as well, of which all are not quite as great. A peek inside the box, if possible, before purchasing might be advisable.

1/72 scale Academy kits I have myself, and can recommend, include :

- Hawker Tempest
- Hawker Hurricane
- Hawker Typhoon
- P-39N/Q
- A6M5c 'Zero Fighter'
- Spitfire Mk.XIVc
- F6F-3/5 Hellcat
- Bf 109G6
- T-6G Texan

 

Very nice to see that academy is producing some new stuff again. I shall try to find them here in Holland, too.

 

Which one, there are quite a few Airfix Spitfires to choose between.

 

Admittedly, it's been a while since I've been able to buy any new kits, much less work on the ones I already have. However, the last time I bought an Academy kit (coincidentally whilst in Korea!), in 1997, it was almost a direct copy of Tamiya's Gulaschkanone!! I had built Tamiya's several years before, and as near as I could tell, it was the same molds.