Kit Review: Academy 1:48 MiG-29A Fulcrum A

Academy's MiG-29A Fulcrum A comes in a variety of boxes but are all the same kit (as far as I know). As my fetish for MiG-29's deepens and I have already purchased the Revell USA 1:48 kit, which is a pretty Ho-hum kit, I went in search of something with more detail and "drama". Great Wall Hobby (GWH) has, what appear to be some nice kits, but I can't justify spending $80 USD on a kit, given my current skill level. That leaves me looking for something between the Revell kit, which I got with a 55% off coupon for $10 USD, and the Great Wall kits at $80+ USD. I stumbled across a couple of Academy MiG-29 kits; specifically the MiG-29A Fulcrum A (no. 12263) because it appears to come with the Luftwaffe decals which I have a difficult time finding in the aftermarket. Anyway as part of my usual research I collected some video reviews and other assorted online resources to try and learn more about the kit and  what to expect.

Playlist Home: Kit Review: Academy 1:48 MiG-29A Fulcrum A
Number of Videos: 3
Duration of Playlist: approx. 30 mins

Additional Online Resources

Vodnik's MiG-29A Review

Vodnik's MiG-29A Build Log

Review and build log containing detailed breakdown of a lot of the deviations from the actual airframe. Personally, as I am largely just a beginner, I don't hang up on this level of detail, contenting myself with OOB builds. But if YOU are then this might provide some useful information, and if nothing is inspirational to review whilst building your own.

Modeling Madness (Spyros Vakatatsis &  Kyriakos Labropoulos)

Review and build log containing impressions of model and build-ability.

ModelVersium.de 
A very brief review of the kit. It's in German but if you speak the language then no problem. If not, then Google translator makes short work of it and translates it into comethign legible for us non-speakers :)

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Video Attributions ...

FFS Models
Ivan the Terrible
Chrizlys Modellbau Werkstatt

Kit Review: Revell 1:48 F-15E Strike Eagle

I have built several 1:72 scale F-15's. Lately, I have been deciding whether or not to buy a larger version of the F-15E Strike Eagle and I am definitely excited at the prospect. Without driving 30 minutes through the snow to the nearest hobby store however, I am limited to whatever I can find in my local Michael's or AC Moore craft stores. Both of whom have plastic scale modeling sections that leave very much to be desired.

Stocked with only Revell America kits the selection is tragically limiting, however I have found this Revell 1:48 scale F-15E Strike Eagle that by all accounts ... looks pretty good.

The number of you tube videos published on this specific kit is pretty limited but I have managed to discover a few in-box reviews as well as some useful links to articles on scale modeling sites which provide first impressions of not ony the kit but their own experiences building the kit.

Now what I have learned is that this kit is provided by both Revell America as well as Revell Germany and they appear to be, build-wise the same kit. So the links and videos include information on both.

Revell Germany kit box

Currently, at my local Michael's craft store the kit is retaining for about $40 USD, but there are always coupons available so I am hoping that I cross paths with a 50% off coupon and land one for about $20. That would be a great deal indeed!!

Online Kit and Build reviews

It seems that the only reviews I can find relate to the Revell of Germany version. I am assuming that these two versions of the kits are the same so I am posting links to them here.

AircraftResourceCenter.com
Hyperscale.com (Dieter Wiegmann)
TheModelingNews.com
ScaleModelingNow.com
JonBryon.com
Hyperscale.com (Jonathan Chuck)

Video Attributions

JJ Modeling
Joey N
Chrizlys Modellbau Werkstatt