Cheap practice kits are a great idea. Cutting ailerons and flaps can be challenging for sure. ....and, because it was a double review... Cheap practice kits are a great idea. Cutting ailerons and flaps can be challenging for sure. Good honest review Andrew :)
As a general note: "squared-off" wheel wells belong on an F-4, definitely not on an F-2. Viz: If I recall correctly, all of the "G" Series aircraft had the "squared" gear openings, carried over from an intent to allow for a gear door to cover the F-4's wheels. For whatever reason; those outer doors did not actually appear on the "F" at all, and then only on the later to last "G" models. Despite any of it's other faults; I suggest reference to the Italaeri F-2/-4 kit. At first glance, the undersides of the wing appear to offer the "rounded" wheel wells, which pretty well disqualifies the "F-4" part of the Italaeri "F-2 (and) F-4 in-one-kit" claims. However: if you look on the inside of the lower wing, you will clearly see "squared-off" walls molded to the outside of the "round" cuts in the wing. All you need to do is to remove the "round" wells to the "squared position"; and you have the F-4 wells. I got my Italaeri kit a log time ago from a friend, knowing it had no instruction sheet. So: whether or not that round-trimmed-to-square (ie. F-2 to F-4) feature is mentioned by Italaeri, I don't know. Only a detailed comparison of the Mistercraft kit with the many other (previous) "F" and "G" releases will reveal it's true origin; I have never seen one of these items, and nobody I have read claims any Mistercraft kits to be complete "new tools". One of the commentators said the decals splinter in water. Poor decals, in this day and age, are unacceptable, and are a symptom of an underlying problem with the manufacturer.
The old Johan kit from around 1973. Not bad for when they were new and a step up from the old Airfix kits in the same scale and era and not bad against the Matchbox 109E released the same year as this kit, but that was a long time ago now and all kits have improved tremendously since then obviously. The molds look to be in very poor condition too as the original kit was a lot sharper in the detail and didn't have that pebbling to the finish. Clearly no effort was made to clean up the molds and the molds are very tired given the finish and flash. My guess is the molds made their way to an old soviet union country much like the old Frog kits and that's where this run of the kit has come from. Mistercraft is a Polish company, so kind of fits. In the original release Johan advertised the kit as an F or G variant with the same parts you got in your kits. These days on a modern kit that probably wouldn't sail, but in 73, it wasn't such a big deal and seen as a bonus by a lot of modellers. Look forward to seeing you put one of these together.
Thanks for the reviews. Mistercraft/Mastercraft are synonymous with using much older moulds from other companies (I personally have Mistercraft kits with moulds from Heller, Frog, Smer and ZTS Plastyk from the 70s) so the sprues will have excess flash and soft panellines purely down to their age. You'll find the decals are hit and miss. Some are excellent, others have reported that they have shattered in water so a coat of liquid decal film could worthwhile on the more colourful ones. Shame that the instructions are modern 3D CAD plans where the designer may only have seen a glimpse of the sprues and original instruction sheet :D But for their price and the scarcity of the model subject, these are great for fettling, much like the older Airfix and Revell kits.
Yeah I may have been a little harsh. But when you look at some of the newer kits for around the same price mark its hard not to be a little dissapointed.
The shape of those rudders are a bit iffy too. But you're right, there really is a shortage of affordable practice kits. I remember having a devil of a time finding an FW 190 in 1/48 for less than $20.
Just bought a cheap fw 190 d9 from hobbyboss £13 they have a range of about 4 types at that price d-9 and few variations of it. And the cheapest armour kit in 1/35 with interior I found is Rpm's 20mm tks tankette, building it now and fit is great and it comes with link and length Tracy or rubber £5:50 or without interior £3:50 😳.
You can still get the Jo Han 109 kit from Mistercraft. The latest release isn't as good though as the molds haven't been looked after very well and the decals are poorer in the latest release. Still, if you want to build this kit and not use one of the survivors, its an option for modellers.
You cannot fault them they are trying, they seemed to nail everything we moan about kits. Has swazis Colour paint guide Big list of paint manufacturers Just just need to concentrate on the plastic and they will be alright. If it didn't have mistercraft on the box that would be what I remember airfix kits were like when I first built them as a kid.... you bought a box of flash and hoped after you whittled away you would end up with a kit. Automotive filler primer will sort that surface......... or what the yuppies would call Mr surfacer 🤼♀️
Cheap practice kits are a great idea. Cutting ailerons and flaps can be challenging for sure.
....and, because it was a double review...
Cheap practice kits are a great idea. Cutting ailerons and flaps can be challenging for sure.
Good honest review Andrew :)
HAHA Too funny. Thanks Kerri.
Nice honest review , If I was to build those poor kits I would do them as crash landed , have great day mate
Yeah thats not a bad idea mate. Thanks for watching.
As a general note: "squared-off" wheel wells belong on an F-4, definitely not on an F-2. Viz: If I recall correctly, all of the "G" Series aircraft had the "squared" gear openings, carried over from an intent to allow for a gear door to cover the F-4's wheels. For whatever reason; those outer doors did not actually appear on the "F" at all, and then only on the later to last "G" models.
Despite any of it's other faults; I suggest reference to the Italaeri F-2/-4 kit. At first glance, the undersides of the wing appear to offer the "rounded" wheel wells, which pretty well disqualifies the "F-4" part of the Italaeri "F-2 (and) F-4 in-one-kit" claims. However: if you look on the inside of the lower wing, you will clearly see "squared-off" walls molded to the outside of the "round" cuts in the wing. All you need to do is to remove the "round" wells to the "squared position"; and you have the F-4 wells. I got my Italaeri kit a log time ago from a friend, knowing it had no instruction sheet. So: whether or not that round-trimmed-to-square (ie. F-2 to F-4) feature is mentioned by Italaeri, I don't know.
Only a detailed comparison of the Mistercraft kit with the many other (previous) "F" and "G"
releases will reveal it's true origin; I have never seen one of these items, and nobody I have read claims any Mistercraft kits to be complete "new tools".
One of the commentators said the decals splinter in water. Poor decals, in this day and age, are unacceptable, and are a symptom of an underlying problem with the manufacturer.
Great unboxed and review,when you build one so will I,done 2 of this brand so far with mixed results
Keep up the great work
Thanks, will do! Yeah I remember you telling me you had issues with one of this brands kits, shortly after I pressed the buy button lol :-)
The old Johan kit from around 1973. Not bad for when they were new and a step up from the old Airfix kits in the same scale and era and not bad against the Matchbox 109E released the same year as this kit, but that was a long time ago now and all kits have improved tremendously since then obviously. The molds look to be in very poor condition too as the original kit was a lot sharper in the detail and didn't have that pebbling to the finish. Clearly no effort was made to clean up the molds and the molds are very tired given the finish and flash. My guess is the molds made their way to an old soviet union country much like the old Frog kits and that's where this run of the kit has come from. Mistercraft is a Polish company, so kind of fits. In the original release Johan advertised the kit as an F or G variant with the same parts you got in your kits. These days on a modern kit that probably wouldn't sail, but in 73, it wasn't such a big deal and seen as a bonus by a lot of modellers. Look forward to seeing you put one of these together.
Thanks for the reviews. Mistercraft/Mastercraft are synonymous with using much older moulds from other companies (I personally have Mistercraft kits with moulds from Heller, Frog, Smer and ZTS Plastyk from the 70s) so the sprues will have excess flash and soft panellines purely down to their age. You'll find the decals are hit and miss. Some are excellent, others have reported that they have shattered in water so a coat of liquid decal film could worthwhile on the more colourful ones. Shame that the instructions are modern 3D CAD plans where the designer may only have seen a glimpse of the sprues and original instruction sheet :D But for their price and the scarcity of the model subject, these are great for fettling, much like the older Airfix and Revell kits.
Yeah I may have been a little harsh. But when you look at some of the newer kits for around the same price mark its hard not to be a little dissapointed.
Probably the best me109 for the money apart from a 2nd hand Heller , it is your skills that should improve it
The shape of those rudders are a bit iffy too.
But you're right, there really is a shortage of affordable practice kits. I remember having a devil of a time finding an FW 190 in 1/48 for less than $20.
Just bought a cheap fw 190 d9 from hobbyboss £13 they have a range of about 4 types at that price d-9 and few variations of it.
And the cheapest armour kit in 1/35 with interior I found is Rpm's 20mm tks tankette, building it now and fit is great and it comes with link and length Tracy or rubber £5:50 or without interior £3:50 😳.
Hmmm. Interesting. I may have to take a look at that kit in the future.
You can still get the Jo Han 109 kit from Mistercraft. The latest release isn't as good though as the molds haven't been looked after very well and the decals are poorer in the latest release. Still, if you want to build this kit and not use one of the survivors, its an option for modellers.
Note on decals! After soaking, they can break down. Many models of this manufacturer have it ...
Good review.
Glad you enjoyed it
Thanks for sharing
My pleasure
Go for the Tamiya or the AZ model Bf109's , I've got the AZ 109G-6 and G-14/AS.
G has blisters on the cowling you have them in both kits..they are not in the instructions...same kit
You cannot fault them they are trying, they seemed to nail everything we moan about kits.
Has swazis
Colour paint guide
Big list of paint manufacturers
Just just need to concentrate on the plastic and they will be alright. If it didn't have mistercraft on the box that would be what I remember airfix kits were like when I first built them as a kid.... you bought a box of flash and hoped after you whittled away you would end up with a kit.
Automotive filler primer will sort that surface......... or what the yuppies would call Mr surfacer 🤼♀️
HAHA yeah I may have been a little harsh, but your right. I wont need to sculpt a kit out of flash lol.
Дрова!
These now cost as much as a italeri bf 109 , i would not touch these kits with a barge pole .
Agreed
Good review, however the instructions are very bad and some parts are not shown like the headrest
I build several models of mister craft, photos in my face book, Leroy Rayden, cheers
The Build?
Hmmm not sure on this one. they are a bit of a headache. Will need to give it some thought.
@@andrewsartscalemodels
Build it Sir...
sorry to say but they are terrible kits. I would buy the hasegawa kits plus hasegawa has a bigger selection of 109s.
This is a poor quality copy of Academy model.
Nope, its a JoHan mold from 1973.