I've got a specific situation in mind, but feel free to generalizze as well.

Here's the situation: You either built your whole stash (yeah right) or you're just not turned on by anything in it at the moment.
After some thought you narrow it down to an aircraft at a particular scale that is made by several kit makers.
How do you choose which to build?
I would guess you look for reviews first.
Then look at what's in the box for each, maybe.
But what of third party stuff? Do you look at third party enhancements made for particular kits first, or decide on a kit before hunting down enhancements? It almost seems easier to see if, for example, Eduard makes a PE detail set for an aircraft before even looking to see who makes that aircraft kit.

Hi Scott.

This is a problem that does not worry me at all. You see, I build only 1/32 WW1 aircraft so what next to build is easy. My only problem is the availability of 1/32 WW1 planes. Roden has a fair range and now WNW has hit the market, hopefully more manufacturers will see the benifits and follow suit.
So, what next to build is entirely up to the model companies, if they make it I will build it, simple as that.
Hope you get over your little dilemma and find something really good to build.
What ever you decide on just have fun doing it.

Cheers

Des.





Current projects.
WNW LVG C.VI
WNW Junkers J.I
WNW Bristol F. 2b
and in the mail is a Roden DH-2

at the minute I've got about 20 planes in the "stack"
This is very naughty and not at all the way I'd thought
i'd be when I started back in the hobby but there are just so many good
kits out there.

Recently I've noticed folk getting good results from Accurate Miniature kits
so I've picked up a couple of them. And they are very nice indeed.

Must admit i looked at the verlinden detail set for the AccMin avenger without having the kit.
Maybe for Christmas though.

Usually I look to see what campaigns are running here and try to get inspiration
from that.

I decide what to build based on what I like and what I have learned from research online. Then I begin to research the individual kit, looking for reviews from every site I can find. I also look for completed photos of the kit just to see what it looks like and what else was/had to be used. Then I decide if I can actually afford the kit. I haven't gone with any aftermarket items other than decals, mainly because of cost and skill level.

I went with the Eduard F6F-5, because of reviews, accuracy, and the included photoetch. The price was too good to pass up. I went with the Tamiya P-47 based on reviews and detail, and comments on how well the kit went together. I bought my kid the Academy P-38 for the price and wished I had picked one up as well. I build primarily 1/48 aircraft.

I sometimes get inspired by what others are building and ongoing campaigns. The decision to purchase a certain kit from a specific vendor comes from reviews and what's available with the kit (i.e. pe details, canopy masks, ..). For example, with Eduard kits, they usually contain colored PE, masks and exquisite detail ..in other words, you get more bang for your buck!!

For me it can be very hard at times deciding on which kit to build from the stash . With well over a 100 kit's , just like my my shoes I find myself saying " what to build " It all comes down to if I want to build something OOB . I pick the best detail kit . But if I want a little more on the challenging side then I pick one accordingly to what I have for refs at that time . Subject matter also plays a big part as well . Favorites always have first choice though !

So in turn I really don't go by kit manufacture . We all have our favroites on which we stay with this coinsides with the subject matter . I do read reviews on a kit a kit , but I don't base my buying power on that .

I don't have a 'stash', mostly due to cost, and I base my next purchase on choosing a subject and finding the most cost effective way of building it! Then I check reviews and the 'net for reference material. So long as reviews and other builds on here indicate that the kit is basically accurate I'll go with it. The actual purchase is the last link in the chain!

Hi Scott -

Usually I don't concern myself with the kit quality. My interest is in early transport aviation, flying boats and early WW2 aircraft ('tween the Wars stuff) and the selections are relativily limited - you take 'em where you find 'em. For the same reason I don't pay much attention to third party upgrade stuff cause there usually isn't any.

As for what to build next - it is often the result of something I read, or saw on History channel.
For instance, I'm currently working (slowly) on an SBC-4 because I recently read a book about early carrier aviation.

Sometimes, I just pick one out to build cause I feel like it.

First i get interested in one or another subject which has something to do with airplanes

this draws my attention to not yet built kits and of course I then MUST build these

Then i search for the best kit on the market in 1/48 scale.

I never buy poor quality kits; if a manufacturer can't bother to offer me good quality, i can't be bothered to spend my hard earned money on their product. Or maybe my modelling skills are just to limited

In the best (or worst) case scenario, this leads to a feature on aeroscale where model pictures are used as illustration to a story that triggered making them

as an example:

Seeing RED

Going always for the best kit on the market does not make me pay a lot of attention to aftermarket enhancements. And I am very selective; why e.g. add a brilliant cockpit to a kit when this thing will become invisible in the finalised product?

But hey, I do recognise the huge positive impact that the aftermarket manufacturers have. Not only are they pushing quality in the right direction, they also offer parts and pieces to convert a standard model to a an exceptional model.