kit review / recommendations

Hi all,
I'll be traveling to Hong Kong in a week
as we all know, model are a lot cheaper in Hong Kong than here in Canada...
so here are some models that I'm interested in buying
However, I wonder if anyone could give me some review on them so I know which kit to buy?
(P.S. i don't mind curbside... but I hate fit problems)
Thanks!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/mr_tomcat123/auto%20forum/200904033.jpg
I know fujimi is the only manufacturer to make this Sti
However there seems to be a few different verions
what are the differences among them?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/mr_tomcat123/auto%20forum/200904032a.jpg
fujimi seems to be the sole maker of the first gen MR2
however I rarely see them being built
can any one please give me a brief review?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/mr_tomcat123/auto%20forum/200904034.jpg
tamiya seems to be the only maker who made the first gen MR 2
i suppose we can expect tamiya quality from this kit?
please correct me if I'm wrong

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/mr_tomcat123/auto%20forum/200904035.jpg
i think both aoshimi and tamiya made the nismo Z
can someone please review and compare them? :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/mr_tomcat123/auto%20forum/20081228f.jpg
seems like all tamiya, aoshima and fujimi made the RX-7 FC
I've heard that the fujimi kit has a bad interior
(think the "initial d" models are from fujimi too)
heard that tamiya is good (but its too "stock"...no custom parts)
but haven't heard much about the aoshima one
can any one please tell me more about these kits?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/mr_tomcat123/auto%20forum/200904036.jpg
i think arii made the porsche 924
is this kit ok?
any other makers made this car?
are 924 easy to find (personally...I don't remember seeing any)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/mr_tomcat123/auto%20forum/200904031.jpg
fujimi seems to be the only one who made th RX-8
i know the early production models are horrible
heard that they're been fixed...
how much better are the new ones?
how can i tell (e.g. diff boxart?)
can i built stock versions if i buy these ones with sport package?

thank you very much! :biggrin:

The Z is a sweet kit for sure

As for the others, I find that you cant go wrong with a Tamiya.


:wave:

The subaru is one of Fujimi's recent models and for me at least should be considered one of their better models. Good level of detail all the way around. The only differences between the different versions offered as usually in the way of lips spoilers or wheels. The spec C version should have a molded air vent on the roof though. Otherwise the kits are very similar.

The first gen MR-2 shown is a late model version of the car from 1987+, has a real basic chassis and basic engine details (mainly just a plate with a valve cover molded to it). It should have the engine cover for the supercharged version of the car, instead of the flat lid for the normally aspirated car.


For the Miata, yes the car should be pretty standard Tamiya quality.
Revell makes a 1/25 version (I think with engine too) of this car as well but its pretty unlikely that you're going to find that in Hong Kong though.

For RX-7 and RX-8 models you should check out this (http://www.xs4all.nl/~erix7/eindex.html) site. It's very comprehensive. You should note that the Aoshima 2nd gen Rx-7s they use the incorrect chassis pans from their 3rd gen Rx-7s.

i was in HK last 2 weeks, i bought 5 kits :p

2 of those kits that i bought were the fujimi's impreza wrx with PE bought it at HKD248(normal kit should be around HKD150-170) and the fairlady z nismo version at HKD158

older kits are especially cheaper, i think tamiya kits are slightly cheaper than fujimi's kit but it depends :)

one thing i didnt like bout the impreza kit is the wheel is quite small :shakehead

When you go to HK, be sure to check this store out: http://www.universal-models.com/

I recommend you to go to the one in Causeway Bay and the one in Waterloo st Kowloon. The Causeway bay one has 3 levels and I recall one level was just there for kits so it has an extensive range. As for the Waterloo st one it's because it's located next to other model shops so if you don't see anything you want you can still go to the other ones.

The other reason (also the main reason) for me to recommend this shop is because although their kits are normally 10%+ more expensive than other shops however they always have major discounts... last time I went there they had 45% off everything when I purchase anything over 500 HK dollars!! (excluding already discounted products... but those already discounted products were at least 40% off anyway lol) and if you can spend over 2000 HK dollars you get 65% off!! Now how cheap is that!! Bue you must ask because the sales are not too good in english so they won't be too active when you walk in~ But they will be friendly enough to tell you the offers they have when you ask~ Have fun

o one more thing... don't bother going to the other branches that is shown in the site because those other ones are just small local suburb shops so they will have a small range of items

Tamiya NIssan 350z - very nice kit.
But this subaru...well the worst plastic quality ever I got ( I mean a body ) - scribing panel lines is a nightmare! Really, Revell have somethimes better plastic quality, than this one..
About rx-8 - I don't know about fitting thiss one but I think that stock version is the best from all Rx-8. If You buy sport package You can build only sport - they don't have a stock bumpers

Impreza
It's one of the early kit "after" Fujimi's rebirth, so it's fairly good. The suspension is unusually detailed. I believe the differences are wheels and decals. A left hand steering version is also available.

Eunos Roadster/Miata
It's a decent curbside kit with the usual Tamiya quality. Revell USA also released the same car in 1/24 scale, and it comes with a complete engine.
Try this link:
http://shirobom.hp.infoseek.co.jp/mx-5/comparison.html
It's written in Japanese, but there're enough pictures to tell you how
those kits compare.


RX-7
Tamiya is the best one. Fujimi's FC is too old, and Aoshima's FC is based on the FD chassis, so it's not exactly accurate.
Anything related to RX-7 models, you'll most likely be able to find at Eric's site:
http://www.xs4all.nl/~erix7/eindex.html (http://www.xs4all.nl/%7Eerix7/eindex.html)
And click RX-7 Miniatures.

924
It's an old ex-LS tool, so the kit doesn't even compare to today's kits. LS also made a 924 kit with opening doors, and a racing version with the engine, but they are long discontinued. (The company LS doesn't even esist any more.) Monogram also made several curbside 924 kits, and as far as I know, there are the base, turbo and rally versions, and can be found easily on eBay.

RX-8
The kit was made before Fujimi's rebirth, so it's terriblly bad. Even
after the retool, the model still doesn't look quite right especially the front. The interior is a joke, and you'll be tempted to tint the window. If you want a good replica of the RX-8 in 1/24 scale, it's probably better rebuilding
either the Transformer or Hotworks diecast.