hard for question for a knowledgable group (1 Viewer)

[ivanmoe]

I've been considering the purchase of ONE King & Country airplane model.

In doing so, my prime consideration is that it be as accurate a scale model as KC manufacturers.

It will be displayed with my other models, and perhaps a few KC figures and/or a wheeled vehicle.

Having looked at as many pictures as I can find, I'm still not comfortable that I know enough about any of them to spend $200+ on one.

This is one situation where ignorance is not bliss!!! ^&confuse

With the above thoughts in mind, can you help me?

Moe

 

[jazzeum]

Moe,

The answer depends on what kind of troops you will display them with, i.e. Western Front, North Africa, etc.

If that's not a concern, my vote would be the Desert Messerschmidt followed by any of the P40s.

Brad

 

[binder001]

The current generation of K&C stuff looks very good. What airplanes do you like? If you are spending $200 plus figures for a plane you need to find the airplane appealing. Otherwise find your local model club and commission them to build you a true scale model - probably be about the same price, but the model will always beat the collectible for detail and accuracy. The first release of the P51B was a great deal - original retail was only about $159 and the model was quite accurate and Andy did a whole host of support figures. The new "Red Tails" P51D also looks really nice, the bright marking are accurate for the 332nd Fighter Group. One "problem" is that although Andy made black pilots to go with it, the other available ground crews are white. The 332nd was a "colored" unit, so the ground crews and support personnel were also Afro-Americans. The plane sure looks nice though and could be paired with a jeep or truck to make a nice scene.

 

[Mitch]

Your going to get a lot of conflicting personal likes here. For me, the FW190 Dora was very good and the P40 desert version is superb. The ME 109 desert looked very toyish and not good for me so, it would not be one I would recommend as a starter into K&C aircraft. The new P51 looks very nice as is the Johnston Spitfire.

At the end of the day its really going to be only your choice
Mitch

 

[lancer]

Moe,

The answer depends on what kind of troops you will display them with, i.e. Western Front, North Africa, etc.

If that's not a concern, my vote would be the Desert Messerschmidt followed by any of the P40s.

Brad

I will second these choices with the caveat that I would choose the superb P-40's first, then the Marseille 109. The P-40's are very well done and accurate. The only thing I could find to complain about on the P-40 was the lack of the small (and thus delicate parts), post and ring sights and the pitot tube. Both MINOR complaints. The AVG P-40 is extremely well done down to a very good attempt at replicating the actual camo pattern. The AVG camo pattern was field applyed with rubber guide mats, so the patterns were very similar from plane to plane (at least amongst the first 100 P-40B's, which is the plane KC produced), and KC has done a good job with it. -- Al

 

[ivanmoe]

First, thanks to everyone for your very thoughtful responses. I do appreciate your help with this.

It really does sound as though there's something of a consensus here, that the best "scale models" are the P-40B and the Me-109F. If I'm right in that regard, I want to dig just a little deeper as to what your preferences are based upon. Let me pose this as a second question.

Is it the groups opinion that the strength of the P-40B is in it's finish, while the strength of the Me-109F is the quality of its molding?

No one has really said either of these things, BTW. Rather, it's largely my interpretation of ALL of the comments that I've read regarding both models, here, on the forum.

 

[PanzerAce1944]

Go with the K&C ME 262 Jet. A splendid 1/30 model IMO and of great historical significance.......The very "First" jet fighter !!!

 

[uksubs]

For me the Fw 190 Dora is the pick of the bunch just perfect

 

[lancer]

First, thanks to everyone for your very thoughtful responses. I do appreciate your help with this.

It really does sound as though there's something of a consensus here, that the best "scale models" are the P-40B and the Me-109F. If I'm right in that regard, I want to dig just a little deeper as to what your preferences are based upon. Let me pose this as a second question.

Is it the groups opinion that the strength of the P-40B is in it's finish, while the strength of the Me-109F is the quality of its molding?

No one has really said either of these things, BTW. Rather, it's largely my interpretation of ALL of the comments that I've read regarding both models, here, on the forum.

I think the molding of the P-40B is just fantastic. Beautiful lines and paint (AVG or Western Desert) make this plane the best KC has done. -- Al

 

[jazzeum]

Fully agree. I own nine K & C wooden and five of the polys and the P 40 is one of the best they've made, whether wood or poly.

 

[ivanmoe]

First, I want to thank everyone who responded to my questions. With your help and guidance, I've made a decision. However, I'm not going to reveal it (yet).

Second, I want to apologize for the incredibly sloppy wording of the thread title. I'll get used to not being able to edit typos, ex post facto, but it may take another flub-up, or two.

Finally, I want to thank Al/Lancer for dignifying so much of what I post here. He's a true gentleman, and the forum is a better place for his presence and contributions.

Thanks again, everyone!{sm4}

Moe

 

[Panzer ace]

First, I want to thank everyone who responded to my questions. With your help and guidance, I've made a decision. However, I'm not going to reveal it (yet).

Second, I want to apologize for the incredibly sloppy wording of the thread title. I'll get used to not being able to edit typos, ex post facto, but it may take another flub-up, or two.

Finally, I want to thank Al/Lancer for dignifying so much of what I post here. He's a true gentleman, and the forum is a better place for his presence and contributions.

Thanks again, everyone!{sm4}

Moe

Moe-

No need to apologize for the wording of your thread title, it made perfect sense to me!

I know I am a little late to the thread and you clearly got some great input, I would also recommend you reach out to forum member Beaufighter via PM. He is off the grid currently but he should be back soon. He is a great guy and has a vast knowledge of planes (K&C and others ).

Best,
Jason

 

[lancer]

Thank you, Moe. Those are very kind words and I appreciate them. -- Al

 

[Terp152]

Al is an inexhaustible source of aviation info, ie "The AVG camo pattern was field applyed with rubber guide mats". I wouldn't be surprised if he lives in a converted hangar. :smile2:

BTW, agree with others here, the P-40s are superb, due to the paint schemes. Detailing is very nice. I have several of the WWII fighter series and like the AVG and RAF desert acft the best. Chris

 

[bromhead]

My sweet spot is any P40,,I stare to this day at my 21st century 1/18 scale gem

 

[Cyber Field Marshall]

I'm surprised the original BOB Spitfire wasn't part of this conversation. To me its the classic, iconic fighter aircraft of WWII. To date my K&C warbird collection consists of the BOB Me-109, said Spitfire, RAF P-40 and the latest P-51 is on preorder. I like them all for different reasons and thats why they're a part of my collection. ^&cool

 

[ivanmoe]

Okay, I have one more question in reference to K&C model aircraft...

Is there any place on the Internet where the dimensions of the models are cited, in particular the wingspan? I've had some luck finding specs for different types, but it's NOT easy.

Moe

 

[lancer]

Okay, I have one more question in reference to K&C model aircraft...

Is there any place on the Internet where the dimensions of the models are cited, in particular the wingspan? I've had some luck finding specs for different types, but it's NOT easy.

Moe

Moe, try Aikenairplanes.com. They list JJD aircraft with lengths and wingspans. I know it's not KC, but it might help with WW1. -- Al

 

[ivanmoe]

Moe, try Aikenairplanes.com. They list JJD aircraft with lengths and wingspans. I know it's not KC, but it might help with WW1. -- Al

Hi Al,

I looked for the better part of an afternoon, and found the wingspan on the Marseille 109 cited at 13". Interestingly, the wingspan on a Corgi 1:32 is 12.5 inches. That certainly suggests that the KC model is close/accurate in its dimensions. I'm still looking for the wingspan on the P-40, BTW. I've also been looking at the Figarti airplane models, but they tend to model larger aircraft. Many of the Figarti types bust twenty inches on the wingspan!{eek3}

On Aikens, I always check their site for items like this. They're my main dealer for JJD models. Regrettably, they don't carry K&C airplane types.

Moe

 

[lancer]

Hi Al,

I looked for the better part of an afternoon, and found the wingspan on the Marseille 109 cited at 13". Interestingly, the wingspan on a Corgi 1:32 is 12.5 inches. That certainly suggests that the KC model is close/accurate in its dimensions. I'm still looking for the wingspan on the P-40, BTW. I've also been looking at the Figarti airplane models, but they tend to model larger aircraft. Many of the Figarti types bust twenty inches on the wingspan!{eek3}

On Aikens, I always check their site for items like this. They're my main dealer for JJD models. Regrettably, they don't carry K&C airplane types.

Moe

Moe, I measured my KC AVG P-40. Length from tip of spinner to end of rudder is 12.5 inches. Wingspan is 14.75 inches (possibly up to 1/8" shorter as my tape isn't real flexible). -- Al