Best Star Wars Imperial Model Kit?

[Darth Kahnt]

I am having a model made for me by a local model builder. I want to get an Imperial Model done and was wondering if some people could shed some opinions on what they think the best Star Wars Imperial/Empire kit is. I know of several but would like to hear the opinions of people who actually build them.

Thanks.

 

[cobywan]

I kinda like the Tyderium shuttle myself. But the AT-AT's can be done well too.

 

[Hand Solo]

For pure kits, my favorite was always the Darth Vader TIE, otherwise and more correctly known as the TIE X-1 Advanced.

A little inaccurate, but not a bad likeness overall. And the scale is just right if your display real-estate is at a premium.

 

[Darth Kahnt]

Any other makers besides the ERTL kits?

 

[Hand Solo]

Kahnt....there's the FineMolds stuff to consider. Beyond the big kit manufacturers like these companies, we enter the realm of garage kitters, of which there are more than a few great examples.

If your field is simply narrowed to mass producted SW kits, then ERTL and FineMolds is about it.

 

[Darth Kahnt]

Im willing to pay for a garage kit as long as the price is not outrageous.

Anyone know what the ERTL Death Star kit is like? Is it worth it if I plan to put lights and stuff in it?

 

[Jedi Dade]

I think you need to define "outrageous". for example the Fine molds Falcon is awesome but $200


Finemolds TIEs very good easy to make and paint look great when done.

Revell SD - awesome kit it looks very nice straight from the box but witha good bit of careful painting can look Awesome and there are quite a few really nice builds of it I've seen.

There are severl resin upgrade kits that make the ERTL SD a really nice build but again you'll pay a good bit for them.

I guess what I'm getting at the long way around is you can pay anything from a little to a lot - you usually get what you pay for - sometimes you get a bargain (fine molds TIEs).

If you go into the garage kit area there are some REALLY nice kits but they are usually fairly expensive the studio scale steve Niesen TIE or example - awesome kit (if you can get it) but it is pricey...

Another question - why only imperials?

Oh the ERTL death star only good for 1 thing ... planting an explosive inside and watching it go boom...IMHO

Jedi Dade

 

[PHArchivist]

<div class='quotetop'>(Darth Kahnt @ Aug 2 2006, 05:30 PM) [snapback]1292503[/snapback]</div>

Anyone know what the ERTL Death Star kit is like? Is it worth it if I plan to put lights and stuff in it?
[/b]

With a fair amount of custom work, the ERTL death Star can be made passable. You have to create the trench, redo the dish, some how smooth out at least the area above and below the trench, and to light it plan on drilling 10,000 holes.

 

[Talisen]

Would the Finemolds Slave 1 count, or are you thinking Imperial Navy only?

 

[Eagle]

SMT Probe Droid. :thumbsup :thumbsup :thumbsup

If you can find it...

 

[Darth Kahnt]

I am looking at the Fine Molds Tie Interceptor. Is that a good kit?

 

[Kuhn Global]

<div class='quotetop'>(Darth Kahnt @ Aug 11 2006, 10:27 PM) [snapback]1298904[/snapback]</div>

I am looking at the Fine Molds Tie Interceptor. Is that a good kit?
[/b]

From the collector stand point... I wouldn't mind seeing another Interceptor done.

As far as kits are concerned... Fine Molds holds the bar for me in it's detail work. Their Falcon is off the hook.

 

[Darth Kahnt]

Thanks to everyone for their help. I bought a Fine Molds Tie Interceptor. I will post pics when it is built.

 

[jedichef]

fine molds definintely has some of the best kits out there. the detail is amazing.

 

[tc-2917]

I agree, anything finemolds. I hope they decide to put out an ISD.

 

[LrdSatyr8]

Im willing to pay for a garage kit as long as the price is not outrageous.

Anyone know what the ERTL Death Star kit is like? Is it worth it if I plan to put lights and stuff in it?

I've done the ETRL Death Star Kit and even thou it's a SNAP-TOGETHER kit, if done and puttied properly and lit inside it makes a pretty convincing DS model... I ended up drilling millions of tiny holes in it and then used elmers glue on the inside to create a mini-fiber optic effect so the light would be transferred evenly. Then with one single grain of wheat bulb positioned in the exact center, I was able to light the entire model. Here's a few pics of what I did with it. The trench was the biggest problem. Took awhile to get it puttied properly. The raised surfaces aren't screen accurate of course but all in all, it didn't come out too bad once all the holes were drilled in it which took the longest (about 2 months and several .5 mm drillbits!)

 

[LrdSatyr8]

<div class='quotetop'>(Darth Kahnt @ Aug 2 2006, 05:30 PM) [snapback]1292503[/snapback]</div>

With a fair amount of custom work, the ERTL death Star can be made passable. You have to create the trench, redo the dish, some how smooth out at least the area above and below the trench, and to light it plan on drilling 10,000 holes.

You mean like I did? LOL!

 

[NAZGÛL]

2006, ouch.

Nice DS though. :thumbsup

 

[astroboy]

If I were to pay for someone to build a model for me. it would probably be a lit anigrand star destroyer....

 

[Zombie_61]

For pure kits, my favorite was always the Darth Vader TIE, otherwise and more correctly known as the TIE X-1 Advanced.

A little inaccurate, but not a bad likeness overall. And the scale is just right if your display real-estate is at a premium.

I'd say the AMT TIE Advanced x1 kit is more than a little inaccurate. Surface details aside, the dimensions are a mess (particularly the cockpit, which is too small, and the wing pylons, which are too long/wide), and the Revell of Germany kit is only marginally better. The TIE Advanced x1 is the one kit I hope Fine Molds eventually gets around to, preferably in 1/72 scale.