Most accurate kit(s) ever (1/24-25)?

[Harry P.]

We do a lot of talking here about kit accuracy, which of course is perfectly ok. So I pose the question to you guys: In your opinion, what is the most accurate kit (or kits)? I do NOT necessarily mean most detailed. I mean most accurate... that is, visually the most correct and faithful depiction of the 1:1.

I'll start the debate by citing the JoHan Gold Cup Series.

[cobraman]

I look forward to the responses given here. As for ones I have built I would have to say one of the Tamiya 1/6 scale motorcycles.

[MrObsessive]

Yup! That's the first thing that came to mind Harry when I saw your question. JoHan's Turbine Car to me is at the forefront of that series. Line for line, they pretty much nailed the shape, 'cept for a very tiny detail in the DLO.

Some others may come to mind later on........;)

[Chuck Kourouklis]

At the risk of overplaying it, here's one of my favorite recent ones to point out:

- 'cause it's documented as based on 3D SCANS of a 1:1, and older scans at that. Sho' 'nuff, it ain't obviously wrong in any gross proportion I can make out.  How that jives with "accurate scaling doesn't always look like the real thing", I dunno.

Also think Aoshima's Countach series represents the most accurate ever of those in body shape (LP400 most particularly).

AMT's 2010 Camaro is a trainwreck to build relative to the Revell kit, but it sits there and looks more like the 1:1 once you've beaten the parts together.

Revell's 2nd-gen 197 Mustangs look more accurate than their '06 - '09 kits, Moebius's big rigs are generally more accurate than their vintage cars. Current C7 'Vette snapper?  Looking really good so far.

Wonder what all the better examples might have in common...

[Petetrucker07]

I have to agree with the Moebius trucks and trailers. They are very close to the 1:1s. As far as cars, I don't have an opinion. If it looks the part, it's good enough for my shelf.

[XJ6]

Just to keep it simple this one comes to my mind has for a Accurate Body and what have ya. 

This is based just what I have read and heard about this kit, I have not built this kit yet ?

I think think is the Best of the Ferrari 250 GTO Kits with out spending a Fortune $$$

Edited September 18, 2015 by XJ6

[Jon Haigwood]

I remember seeing the Batmobile on display at a car showback when the TV series first started. And remember that I was a bit surprised that it was not shiny but more like a satin black 

 

edit: just read were they were "Bat-Flocked" at one time. (there were also 3 replicates made by Barris)

Edited September 18, 2015 by Jon Haigwood

[Dave Van]

Endorsed by many of the worlds Hudson experts.....Moebius' 52-53 Hornet.

I took late test shots to the International HET meet and had experts from all over the world look at the kits. Got about a 100% thumbs up on them for accuracy.  I, along with a  number of HET club members, have built a good number of the kits. Fit, finish and accuracy are tops.

Dis-claimer....I have helped out on the Hudson and other Moebius kits.....but worked with RM and  RC2 and feel I am being even handed. 

[Daddyfink]

[cobraman]

Sorry for my response about the Tamiya motorcycles. I missed that it was directed at 1/25 and 1/24 kits. ; (

[Snake45]

A few that have always impressed me in accuracy of shape are the AMT '66 Nova, the JoHan '69 Road Runner, and the Revell '69 Camaro (non-RS front end--their RS front end isn't accurate).

The Monogram '65-'66 Mustang fastback kits are pretty good, too.

I'll probably think of others as we go.

[Chuck Most]

Moebius International LoneStar and ProStar, but that probably shouldn't be a surprise because Navistar pretty much gave Moebius full access to the CAD files used on the 1:1. Quite a few of the newer kits of "late model" vehicles hit the mark pretty well, but the Internationals are the first thing that come to mind for me.

[StevenGuthmiller]

I'll just say pretty much anything from Johan.

 

Steve

[GlueTube]

My vote goes to the Accurate Miniatures Mclarens and Corvettes.

Regards

Brian Kroon

[59 Impala]

I agree about the Johan kits.  AMT's 53 Studebaker is a very good kit.  Lindberg's 53 Ford is one also.  It has the best flathead in any kit as far as I'm concerned.  There's more, but I can't think of them right now.    Dan

[Art Anderson]

The Round2 Batmobile would be easy enough to get reference material on, given that the very accurately done reproduction Batmobile is built in an Indiana city about 70 miles due south of South Bend IN.

Art

[Agent G]

I found Lindberg's Crown Victoria police car to be quite accurate and faithful to the 1:1.

Their later Dodge Charger police car glue kit builds to a fine looking replica as well.

Revell's Chevrolet Caprice cop car/taxi/fire chief car as well as it's later iteration as an Impala SS is a well proportioned replica.

Hmm, that's two snap kits and one glue kit, the most recent of which is about 7-8 years old now.

 

G

 

Edited September 19, 2015 by Agent G

[charlie8575]

I agree with Harry about the Gold Cup kits- excellence at its best, and the Turbine Car is my personal pick for best of the best.

A lot of the 1990s Lindberg kits are very nice, the '53 Ford, '61 Chevy after they fixed the windsheild, and '66 Chevelle are superb. I like the '64 Dodge and Plymouth, too. Some say the roof might be a bit flat, but they look very good to me. 

Monograms capital-C Classics are also excellent models that, to my eye, depict excellent mold-machining, design and very good reproduction of details. 

As Dan mentioned, the '53 Studebaker is a winner, too. 

Galaxie's postwar Chevies and Moebius' efforts, even if not 101% there on a detail or three, still look superb when assembled and their flaws are comparitively minor, and do not, in any way, shape or form, detract from the finished product. 

What is perhaps most unsettling is that so many of those kits are from 40-50+ year-old molds. Almost a 60/40 split in favor of the older tooling, once all the Monogram Museum Pieces are counted.

Charlie Larkin

 

[Chuck Kourouklis]

Well, just did some more digging on the Round 2 Batmobile, and I gotta stand corrected - despite the initial insistence of several Batmobile fans in the know, Jamie Hood from Round 2 has gone on record saying they did not in fact lease the Mattel scans (even though the P/L body shell breaks down in just about the same way).  They managed to get that one with photo reference, through the language and cultural barriers, etc. Still looks really good, except for the beacon.

That said, of course, there's still the matter of Mattel's 1/18 die cast that looks just like the 1:1 it was scanned from.  And one might also be curious about exactly what Ford has done to "fudge" these into looking "right" in scale:  3d.ford.com.

[charlie8575]

At the risk of overplaying it, here's one of my favorite recent ones to point out:

- 'cause it's documented as based on 3D SCANS of a 1:1, and older scans at that. Sho' 'nuff, it ain't obviously wrong in any gross proportion I can make out.  How that jives with "accurate scaling doesn't always look like the real thing", I dunno.

 

From what I've seen of 3-D scanning/modeling, the scans will accurately scale down all details to exact reductions. For example, you might need to make a small tweak or two for things like scripts, so they're big enough to see or foil.

But yes, the scanner will capture everything exactly as you see it, provided it's operated correctly. 

Charlie Larkin

[chitownbri]

Monogram's Chevy S10 and GMC Syclone kits are pretty good.

[Snake45]

As promised, I thought of a few more:

Revell '68-'69 Corvettes, and AMT '70-'72 Corvettes. Both are darn nice kit families.

And an often overlooked gem, AMT's '69 4-4-2.

I'm no expert on the subject matter, but the old AMT Trophy 260 Cobra has always looked accurate to me.

[Atmobil]

How about Tamiya 1966 Volkswagen 1300. I have not built one personally but I have a couple of the kits and from looking at the parts and looking at pictures of built ups they do look very close to accurate and I own a 1:1 69 VW 1300 and I'm an active member in the vw-club and scene so I have seen many 1:1 bugs from many angles and i many ways over the years.

[Tom Geiger]

The newer Revell of Germany kits are very well done.  I mean the Trabants and the Beetles.  They are very detailed, some tiny parts smaller than Americans are accustomed to, and go together very well. 

[Jordan White]

Monogram's Chevy S10 and GMC Syclone kits are pretty good.

Other than the 4wd wheels used on the 2wd version of the S10.