Detail kits?

[ASAT]

Do you guys think P.E. and other media detail kits are worth the investment? If it’s cockpit or areas that will be displayed I think yes but seems like there is a lot that gets covered up.... is it just the fun of building and knowing it’s there or do you use pics to preserve the existence? I’m trying to decide if I should detail out the Revell B-25 I have.... plus are there special tools or anything I need to get if I decide to do it?

[Landlubber Mike]

For some kits I definitely think the detail kits are worth the investment.  Of course, you might end up spending more than you did on the kit!  I usually search online for build logs to get a sense as to how much a particular set will add to the build.

 

Not sure if you know about this site, but it’s a great place to find the accessories that might be available for a particular kit. You can also get a sense of how good the accessories are if there are build photos posted by kit and accessory.

 

www.scalemates.com

[Old Collingwood]

I think they are great  infact  essential  if you want to open your  aircraft up  - like  panel covers to show  inside work   and engines  also  ground equipment if you want to do a dio.

 

OC.

[ASAT]

Thanks Mike, yeah I’ve seen that site - that’s how I found out about Kitlinx.com , an online seller that is local to me, well sorta, about 50 miles one way...

[ASAT]

Yeah I agree OC, I love the engine details and some interior wing stuff that shows guns and ammo - that’s how I plan to depict the Typhoon I’ve got, but most of that is designed in the kit. But the Brassin stuff sure does look a lot better!

[Canute]

Lou, those Eduard sets for cockpits are really nice, especially the pre-painted ones. Like OC says, if you plan to display open cockpits or a large "glass" canopy, it's the thing. But like Mike said, the costs mount rapidly. Canopy paint masks might be a good investment, too.

[ASAT]

Oh yeah Ken, I don’t even consider cockpit masks and even camo masks for my first paint jobs aftermarket... more like necessities for me! I’m going to look into those cockpit kits, I got one for the P51 cause I ruined the kit decal, but I think I will look at some others too...

[mtaylor]

Lou,

You might consider some creative googling to find things.  Like "P-51 PE" or "P-51 detail parts"...  it's frustrating but eventually by changing your search perametors you can eventually find what you want.  I do agree, it's pricey.   When I was doing the -53 I found a ton of stuff that would never be seen so I ignored those parts.  Others.. might want them and that's good for them.

[lmagna]

I have no idea what tools would be best for you Lou. Someone here more experienced in plastic would be a better source of info there. 

 

But what I did when I decided to build my Huey, (That I already had in my stash) Like Mike suggests, I went to Scale Mates and did almost all my kit research there. They have just about all the info you might need to build any kit on the market new or old. The best thing you may want is to scroll down to "Related products" and browse all of the after market stuff being sold for the kit you are interested in. For example here is the Revell B-25:

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/revell-85-5512-b-25j-mitchell--111684

 

It is kind of a one stop research, buy, and enhance website. At least it was for me on the Huey. 

Edited April 6, 2020 by lmagna

[Canute]

Ditto for me Lou. The site has reviews from numerous other sites. I favor Cybermodeler, because he has a Top Gun section dealing with the best kit, for a model, by scale. And it's a/c. armor, ships, space, scifi, air defense and railroads (although it's primarily kits of wartime cars and locos, like the Morser Karl)

[lmagna]

We, (meaning I) had not heard of your sub getting cases Carl. Interesting looking design but I can't find anything about the class.

 

I bookmarked the site Ken. So far I have not seen anything even pertaining  to a D or H Huey but I did see the Moebius release of the 2001 Orion in 2021.

[JeffT]

21 hours ago, ASAT said:

Thanks Mike, yeah I’ve seen that site - that’s how I found out about Kitlinx.com , an online seller that is local to me, well sorta, about 50 miles one way...

I didn't even know this place existed.

[kurtvd19]

To find what tools you might want to have check out You Tube videos on using PE.  One tool that I wouldn't want to do without is a bender similar to this one by Small Shop - link below.  I have the larger original PE bender by Mission Models (see photo) and it is super - but the price is so much higher that I hesitate to recommend it (I have had it for years and it was the only one made when I got it).

Kurt

 

https://thesmallshop.com/collections/photo-etch-bending-tools

[ASAT]

Jeff, I didn’t know either and they have a local pickup option or I think they will send it to us locals for free during the lockdown.... 
 

Thanks Kurt, I need more tools! Those look pretty nifty, I would imagine it only takes a few ruined PE pieces to make you wish you had one!

[JeffT]

I have a similar PE bending tool. Works great.

[JeffT]

9 minutes ago, ASAT said:

Jeff, I didn’t know either and they have a local pickup option or I think they will send it to us locals for free during the lockdown.... 
 

Thanks Kurt, I need more tools! Those look pretty nifty, I would imagine it only takes a few ruined PE pieces to make you wish you had one!

Theres another down in Sandy that I've visited in the past: www.mrshobby.com

[ASAT]

Yep, I’ve been there number times, they used to sell the RC Foamies we used to make....  Griffwerks Foamies

[James H]

I used one all the time for my magazine work.

 

We also reviewed one here:

 

 

 

[Javlin]

21 hours ago, ASAT said:

Oh yeah Ken, I don’t even consider cockpit masks and even camo masks for my first paint jobs aftermarket...

A must if you are doing a canopy that I call a green hose lots and lots of ribs Kevin