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Me-262 opinions: Revell vs Airfix
Topic Started: Feb 23 2018, 07:12 AM (577 Views)
jvenables
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Hawk
[ * ]
Just looking for opinions regarding the recent Airfix Me-262 vs the older Revell 262.

Whilst not really interested in Luftwaffe subjects, I have always liked the smooth lines of the Me-262 and I picked up a couple of Revell kits very cheaply about a decade ago just in case the inspiration ever hit me. As I've mentioned here a few times, I am beginning to be swayed toward some Luftwaffe aircraft and the Me-262 is on the radar.

Since I'm yet to build a Revell 262, I have no personal experience with it, but I do recall reading very glowing reviews at the time of its release. What do others reckon: is the recent Airfix kit recommended as a significant improvement over the Revell kit or is it a matter of "either-or", especially considering I already have a couple of the latter and that I'm unlikely to ever want to build more than a couple (probably a Luftwaffe Me-262 and an Avia S-92)?

James from Brisbane, Australia
Now living in Laos

Nil illegitimi carborundum
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walrus
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Porco
[ * ]
Built the Revell kit quite a while back
IIRC It went together well and looks like a Me262 to this non aficionado of the type.
(No idea about accuracy of either kit)

There is an issue with the underside of the cockpit tub which AFAIK can't actually be seen through the wheel well, but is nicely detailed.
Which tbh wasn't a big deal for me.

The one thing that is really poor with the Revell kit is the canopy. It was awful and no Squadron vacform replacements were available at the time so I had to suck it up and use the kit part. Looks like there is mould damage and the clear part had bubbles to add insult to the injury!
Didn't like that the rear, painted part of the canopy was moulded onto the fuselage either.

(as an aside I had similar complaints about the Revell Fw190 canopy, likewise with rear section moulded onto the fuselage, and the P-51B glazing was damaged)

Have no experience with the Airfix kit.

Paul from Birmingham, UK
Now living in Barnsley.
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jvenables
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Hawk
[ * ]
Thanks Paul.

I suppose my query may be a little premature as there's probably not too many Airfix Me 262's built out there yet.

That said, inbox opinions would also be welcome.
James from Brisbane, Australia
Now living in Laos

Nil illegitimi carborundum
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J.C. Bahr
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Hero
[ * ]
Aside from the canopy distortion... the underside of the cockpit tub thing that I'm aware of: It's detailed like what it should be to be able to be seen through the main gear wells... but IIRC, Revell moulded a roof to the wheel wells, so that detail can't be seen! Why would you mould the detail to the underside of the cockpit for it not to be seen?!?! :mental:

Have heard that the Hasegawa nacelles were undersize and it was recommended to use the Revell nacelles on a Hasegawa airframe to get the best representation of a -262... but I'm thinking this could be done with Revell, as long as the main gear bay was opened up, the canopy is replaced... and IMHO, the wheels replaced, as I don't feel like many of the existing -262 kits have done a very decent job on the wheels yet... apart from the new Airfix that did do decently well here, but I think there are aftermarkets available now.
J.C. Bahr

"A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP" - Leonard Nimoy
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Chuck1945
Hero
[ * ]
I built the single seat Revell Me 262 when it was a new release, other than the way it was molded like Walrus said, I had no canopy issues. It wasn't very hard to open the main gear bay to show the cockpit tub. The only 'problem' I had was self induced. I used lead wool in the engine nacelles for weight and then flooded the first nacelle with thin CA to hold it in place. The exothermic reaction as all that CA cured generated enough heat to severely distort/melt the plastic :mad: fortunately I had a couple of extra kits :haha:

In the box, the Airfix kit looks quite nice. Detailing is better than Revell's IMO, and the main gear bay is correctly done to show the inner cockpit tub. However, the engine nacelles lack the little indented scoops that are around the outside rear of the nacelles. While these are present on the Revell kit, and are quite visible on many photos, I have at least one that appears to show them closed and less visible. The main gear legs also lack the torsion link, although once the wheel is on, its absence would almost be un-noticeable.

Conclusion, if you already have the Revell kit and are not Luft-aholoic, just build the Revell kit
Chuck
Eastern WA, USA
Finished 2018:
Eduard Spitfire IXc, VIII, Monogram/Starfighter BFC-2
On the active bench:
Eduard Bf 110C, Hasegawa B-24D, SH P-40E
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Mark Schynert
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Yeast
[ * ]
jvenables
Feb 23 2018, 07:12 AM
Just looking for opinions regarding the recent Airfix Me-262 vs the older Revell 262.

Whilst not really interested in Luftwaffe subjects, I have always liked the smooth lines of the Me-262 and I picked up a couple of Revell kits very cheaply about a decade ago just in case the inspiration ever hit me. As I've mentioned here a few times, I am beginning to be swayed toward some Luftwaffe aircraft and the Me-262 is on the radar.

Since I'm yet to build a Revell 262, I have no personal experience with it, but I do recall reading very glowing reviews at the time of its release. What do others reckon: is the recent Airfix kit recommended as a significant improvement over the Revell kit or is it a matter of "either-or", especially considering I already have a couple of the latter and that I'm unlikely to ever want to build more than a couple (probably a Luftwaffe Me-262 and an Avia S-92)?

I picked up the Airfix kit and compared it directly with the Revell and both Hasegawa iterations.

The Hasegawa IMO has a better fuselage and wing than the Revell, but undersized nacelles. The Revell landing gear is also excessively chunky.

The main justified gripes about the Airfix kit are the absence of aft nacelle detail, and inaccurate nose wheel strut detail. I found that the Revell nacelles could be attached to the Airfix kit with very little trouble, but some of the other nacelle detail on the Airfix seemed superior to me to the Revell, so it's sort of a wash. As noted, those aft details are not always easily visible in photos, and I also determined that if one used clear tape as a template for capturing the pattern on the Revell nacelle, it could be transferred to the Airfix nacelle and added with very little additional trouble.

None of the kits are perfect. Having bought the Airfix, I'm satisfied that it's the best starting point, and that the only thing that bothers me enough to fuss with is the nose strut. But apart from the Hasegawa nacelles (which are anorexic, and need replacement,) these are all good kits, in much the way that the Revel, Hasegawa and old Airfix Lancasters were competitive with each other, before the new Airfix iteration left them all behind.
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Steve N
Hero
[ * ]
Where does the Academy 262 fall in the mix? I won it in a raffle a few years ago..looks nice on the sprues but I don't really know much about its accuracy.

SN
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J.C. Bahr
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Hero
[ * ]
It had issues for sure... but I don't know exactly what they all were. Enough so that I know I automatically crossed it off my radar to never be considered again. For certain, there's something really wonky going on with the nose as it just does not have that classic shark look about it!
J.C. Bahr

"A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP" - Leonard Nimoy
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jvenables
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Hawk
[ * ]
Thanks gents. Much appreciated.

Quote:
 
Where does the Academy 262 fall in the mix? I won it in a raffle a few years ago..looks nice on the sprues but I don't really know much about its accuracy.

Good question which I was about to raise myself, just for the sake of entirety, since we are on a Me-262 thread. Although I don't have much interest in Luftwaffe subjects, I do routinely read new kit previews and build reviews and since its release I have read mixed opinions, but mostly very complimentary. Even the often highly critical IPMS USA gave a very good review. That said, I do remember reading that it needs a bit of filler at the wing to fuselage join (or maybe it was the nacelle to wing join - I can't remember now) and the nose wheel strut needed the oleo scissor removed for some examples. I suspect most of the negative comments on modelling forums come from that faction of the modelling community who routinely pour derision on anything that doesn't have a Tamiya, Hasegawa or Eduard logo on the box and have never actually had one in hand for an educated opinion. Thankfully we don't have any of them lurking here!
James from Brisbane, Australia
Now living in Laos

Nil illegitimi carborundum
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Outsider
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Member
[ *  * ]
Speaking about Revell Me 262 canopies. Single seater has absolutely awful canopy - somewhat distorted and without no canopy framing at all. Definitely needs vac replacement there (Rob Taurus)! Two seater, on contrary, has very nice canopy with nicely engraved canopy framing. Maybe it is little bit thick, but the effect of thickness can be easily cured with floor wax I believe.
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stimpy
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Is It Safe?..... Nope
[ * ]
Regarding the Revell kit, if you buy the USA boxing, it has a different canopy, much superior to the RoG boxing, which as others have said is very poor quality. I like the Revell kit a lot, there are a few sink marks to fill on the nacelles and sometimes obtaining a nice seam around the nose lower section can be tricky. OOTB it looks the business!
No more plastic
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Outsider
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Member
[ *  * ]
That was interesting piece of information I wasnt aware of. I didnt know the differencies between US and RoG boxings. As a European, I feel somewhat discriminated first time in my life... :hmm: Does this also apply for a two seater kit or only for a single seater offering?
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peebeep
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Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious
[ * ]
The 262 was released as a Promodeler issue in the US, worth getting for the decals. I don't think there's any difference with the plastic per se, but I suspect they re-tooled the transparencies.

Review link
Edited by peebeep, Feb 26 2018, 09:15 PM.
www.locate-and-cement.com
Locate and Cement website
RevellAtions
Bring me my chariot of fire
Paul Brown, Chelmsford, UK Posted Image
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stimpy
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Is It Safe?..... Nope
[ * ]
Outsider
Feb 26 2018, 07:56 PM
That was interesting piece of information I wasnt aware of. I didnt know the differencies between US and RoG boxings. As a European, I feel somewhat discriminated first time in my life... :hmm: Does this also apply for a two seater kit or only for a single seater offering?
The sprues are the same for both ProModeller and RoG except for the canopy which was redone for the USA box, it's got framework is much more transparent compared to the blob in the RoG kit. I didn't know the USA had a two seater released that was not just a RoG import.
No more plastic
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Blekster
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
stimpy
Feb 26 2018, 11:32 PM
Outsider
Feb 26 2018, 07:56 PM
That was interesting piece of information I wasnt aware of. I didnt know the differencies between US and RoG boxings. As a European, I feel somewhat discriminated first time in my life... :hmm: Does this also apply for a two seater kit or only for a single seater offering?
The sprues are the same for both ProModeller and RoG except for the canopy which was redone for the USA box, it's got framework is much more transparent compared to the blob in the RoG kit. I didn't know the USA had a two seater released that was not just a RoG import.
Only Revell Germany released the Me.262B as as well the Me.262A recon fighter.
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