Tamiya vs. Revell - Let's get it on!!

[Jay!]

In what scale?

Originally posted by Murco
Here's another Revell engine, albeit with some added detail. Wipe the drool from your chins!

[Murco]

Originally posted by jay@af
In what scale?

1/12, it's a Grand Sport conversion on a '67 Vette being built by Jim Drew - master builder! The heavily modified block and heads are the only kit pieces on the whole engine!

[Jay!]

Wow! Did he have a hard time teaching ants how to polish?

[ales]

Originally posted by Murco

Most Revell-Germany kits are former Fujimi or Tamiya kit molds!

Not F1 kits - no one else (AFAIK) makes 1/24 Formula 1 kits. And I cannot agree that most Revell (G) kits are former kits of other companies. There are some, but the majority of cars in 1/24 is their own tool (unfortunately). Trucks is another matter.

But I posted in this topic soooooo long ago and I sooooo don't want to argue. Just sharing information.
Alex

[erix7]

Originally posted by Murco

Most Revell-Germany kits are former Fujimi or Tamiya kit molds!

Revell G reboxed some Fujimi and Aoshima kits and currently some Hasegawa kits as well,
but never reboxed any Tamiya car kits !

In fact it is the opposite: Tamiya sold some original Revell G kits in Japan ! (BMW 850i ao)
The only former Tamiya kits ever sold by Revell G are the 1/100 aircraft series that
sold through BEN.

Revell G can produce some very fine models, the BMW 850i series
being the finest examples I can think of.
Just wait until their new Polish factory is capable of making car kits, they already did
some of the best aircraft kits currently available.

-- Eric.

[JBarry]

I have to give Revell credit for the tires on the 94 Impala SS Lowrider kit. I was amazed at the quality of the tires. The kit comes with 2 sets of tires and both sets were sweet. The tires were 'directional' having the need to install them with the thread going in the right direction. The rubber that they were made out of 'feels' like rubber to me. Maybe I picked the right kit. Revell tires rock.

In the wire,
J. Barry

[hypertek]

When I was a kid I built Revell and Monogram models. Untill I discovered Tamiya models, I thought htey where the best thing in the world. Fujimi is cool too, I like the easiness of wheel options, but they lack engine/drivetrain/interior details.

Since im a import car nut, I perfer Tamiya/Fujimi. But I do got my eye on picking up the Revell Datsun 240Z and Datsun 510, but otherwise, any "import tuner" car that comes from Revell/AMT has to be "Americanized riced" out.... which makes me turn my head away.

[StephenDeli]

I have recently built revells 2002 Camaro Anniversary Edition. The Body parts were so hard to fit. The Front fascia was way to big. Overall the model was a real pain.

I have never built a tamiya model yet. Although I do have an Enzo in stock. From what I hear Tamiya body parts fit better.

[VnnyDaPooh]

Originally Posted by Murco

Here's another Revell engine, albeit with some added detail. Wipe the drool from your chins!

Hmmm, must be the builder!!

I bow to the man who made this. Utterly superb!!!

And Murco, your engine was pretty bad ass too.

[Renegade]

you guys are so funny. You all have the chance to get Tamiya model. But some of you cry over for Revell. But the wierdest thing is that I live in Slovenia, where we can get almost every Revell kit there is. And guest what. Some of us gather together and order for about 40 Tamiya and Fujimi kits from Japan. In the end one we must pay twice price for one kit - postage and things. The Revell kits here have normal prices.
Here the Revell doesn't sell much/any of Japan exotic cars. So the only way is Japan.

Although Revel makes clear and red plastic for lights. I know at least for Fujimi, that I must paint the lights.
Also I think all Revell kits have engine detail.
Revell have some spooky putty and some colors. I thing Tamiya or even Model Masters rule here.

I had many laughs when reading this thread. You have Tamiya and want Revell (not all of you, of course ), and we got Revell and want Tamiya.

Good thread though!

[supermod04]

i have never had the 30$ some $$$$ to spend on tyamia or japanesse kit, revell, number one, i like them, detail is good, the ease to assemble is nice, they make a large variety at a nice price. i have pretty much stuck to revell, i have had a few AMT they ;ack some detail, i have a 70s AMT elcamnio and i was surprosed int he detail, it has a 402 big block supercharged, nice suspension, i have had the kit for about 5 years and it was assembled but it has been in boxxes so it was time to fix it, it has some nice mufflers those were first to go! got some chrome tips and strait piped it out the side. shaved handels ect, minor body work.

[chacal]

Can I add a new opinion to an old thread?

I have never built any Revell USA model. I've built Revell-G, Tamiya and Heller and I think Revell and Tamiya have good and weak points.
Heller is the worse: prepare to use your hair drier a lot... large pieces are awful, you have to twist and turn them to fit. Also, prepare the putty!
Revell-G is releasing models from companies it bought, like ESCI. OK, maybe poorer quality, but if it wasn't this re-release I would never be able to buid the 131 Abarth I've bought today!
So I tend to agree you must buy the car you want and take your time building it and improving it's details.
Of course, some of us haven't got the time (or is it the skill ?) to build a good model... and what do I get? A bad model from a so-so base and a so-so model from a good base! I will keep on buying the cars I like, building as I can, improving my techniques and having fun... regardless of T-R fan wars!

[Chuck Kourouklis]

Y'know, here it is like, um, 3 years after the fact - why am I still hearing Marvin Gaye?




On a couple of the points raised in this thread (some of them, years ago) -

Revell established a 1/25 scale tendency by the early sixties. A bit earlier, Monogram settled on 1/24 as its standard scale. There's a certain elegance to 1/24 as it applies to the English system of measurements; a foot scales down to a nice, neat half-inch, and the early Monogram boxes remind you of this. Which makes it all the more curious that 1/25, which makes more sense as a metric conversion, would become America's scale of choice - while the more English-friendly 1/24 has worked out to be the international scale.

Anyway.

Odyssey Partners united Revell and Monogram under one organization in the late '80's. Suddenly, you saw the talent that had brought you all those defining '80's Monogram kits developing new 1/25 tooling for Revell. Not to mention that Revell had been repackaging some Fujimi tooling around that time.

Add to this Revell/Monogram's tendency to mix and match tooling under each other's masthead, and no wonder it's perceived as an inconsistency - particularly now that Revell heritage pieces like the old Lincoln Futura and Austin Gasser are now boxed as Monogram kits while definitive Monogram efforts like the Big Deuce and NASCARs are now sold as Revell kits.

There are exceptions (especially with post-1992 Monogram tooling), but the general rule of thumb is that Revell's 1/24 kits have roots in Monogram (or German Revell) tooling, while the 1/25 kits are Revell originals. For certain, American scale-fascists have cowed Revell/Monogram to such a degree that any new Revell tooling is cut in 1/25 scale (and apparently, new Trumpeter tooling, too!). As a 30-something modeler who grew up when Monogram was the only serious game in town, it doesn't make much sense to me, either. But me that as it bay.

Also note that Revell/Monogram is no longer a Binney & Smith company. Rumor has it that it's now under the guidance of some hobby industry veterans and enthusiasts, and the new Revell kits reinforce this.

I thought the opening post, from all those moons ago, was excellent, but I would nitpick a point or two - mostly in the parts count of Tamiya kits. Stuff like the street WRX, 350Z and Honda Fit are the occasional 70-piece exceptions, but even their curbside comp cars push 120 parts or more these days. That had a bit to do with why a Tamiya curbside took the SA ranking in 2002; a curbside with parts more numerous and better engineered will defeat a relatively simplified kit with an engine and fit issues.

There was a nice, polite thread about Japanese manufacturers a couple weeks back, but when Layla's Keeper and I, um, sorta hijacked it, it took a turn highly germane to this thread. If you've been reading this thread, you might find this link interesting, too.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...=332210&page=2

[Ansel Marrow]

i belive also mainly its the builder of the model that makes it.

sofar, im going with tamiya. maybe all of their kits arent like this, but the hardtop skyline 2000 has an engine bay, and it comes with flat out lots of good stuff to make the model really convincing looking. Im comparing this to the datsun z revell kit, which, unless you modify it in some way, looks really bland. i like revell alot, but i think tamiya has a nicer finish.

[Chuck Kourouklis]

Agreed - but Revell's closing the gap. I've pointed out elsewhere that their new Focus is one of the most cleanly processed kits they've done. There were only modest parting lines and almost no sink marks on mine. Now if only the damn thing sat down on its suspension a little better...

One other irony I forgot to point out, relative to a point raised in the first post - Jim Drew's stupendous, awe-inspiring, legendary Grand Sport lost out to a Tamiya Xanavi Skyline in a recent (I)PMS gathering. This may be a case where the kit manufacturer might have swung a decision in the opposite direction, because the photos certainly don't communicate any other area of superiority in the winner.

I'm not the only one who thinks the (I)PMS's credibility in automotive judging has suffered as a result...