ProModeller/Accurate Miniatures Helldiver - Aircraft of World War II

Catch22 · 06-02-2009, 09:04 PM

What do you guys make of this 1/48 kit? I'm currently watching one, and am leaning towards getting it. The reviews I read said it was good.

Airframes · 06-03-2009, 12:08 AM

From what I've seen of Accurate Miniatures kits, and using my Avenger as an example, I'd say it should be bl**dy good! However, have a read of the thread by Sweb, concerning fit issues and such on an AM kit. I've had a few problems, and I know Chris had some with the fit, or more correctly, the method of fit, on his Dauntless. I have to admit though, I think this is more due to having to adapt techniques, due to the way the kits have been designed and engineered to obtain and maintain scale accuracy. Hence their name I suppose Accurate Miniatures!

Catch22 · 06-03-2009, 12:12 AM

Thing is Terry, it's a reboxing of the 1997 (?) ProModeller kit! I don't have any experience with those kits, so I don't know if they're good.

Airframes · 06-03-2009, 12:36 AM

Ah, me neither, apart from the Revell/Monogram 'Pro Modeller' Bf110. If it's 1997, it shouldn't be too bad. The last 1/48th scale Helldiver I experienced was about 43 years ago! It was the original Monogram kit, with folding wings, sliding canopies, retracting gear and opening bomb doors etc! Putting aside some of the gimmicks, for the time it was very good, and I vaguley remember removing such things as the tabs that were moulded on to help open the landing gear and on, and adding detail to make a very nice model. I doubt very much that it'll be that kit though!
I saw a review of a 1/48th Helldiver not too long ago, with a photo build, and it looked very good. If the reviews you've seen are encouraging, and the price aint 'stupid', then go for it.

Catch22 · 06-03-2009, 12:53 AM

After looking into it a bit more, it is indeed from '97 or perhaps even after, as it was announced in '97. I'm looking at a few, one of which is in my province! He's charging $15 for shipping though, which is preposterous and he doesn't seem to want to budge. There's another one I'm watching that ends in a few days that's a great deal, so if that gets stupid or I lose, I'll get the one from the guy here in Alberta, so I have options!

Wayne Little · 06-03-2009, 09:01 AM

Got one Cory, a Pro-Modeller, not built yet....but it is a nice looking model, mine even has photo-etch dive flaps!

Airframes · 06-03-2009, 02:32 PM

Are these the 'Pro Modeller' that were in partnership with, had something to do with, or became Accurate Miniatures? It's the same sort of time period when Accurate Miniatures caused a stir with their new kits, setting extremly high standards of detail and finesse. Not to be confused with the Revell/Monogram 'Pro Modeller' series.

Catch22 · 06-03-2009, 03:07 PM

It's Revell Monogram.

I think I'm going to get it, as it's been said it's up to the quality of Tamigawa.

Airframes · 06-03-2009, 05:52 PM

I'd go for it mate. That old Monogram one I mentioned could still be good today, and that was a 1960's kit! It might be based on that kit, but with the 'Pro modeller' tag, it'll be a heck of a lot better, or might even be an Accurate Miniatures moulding, under the Revell/Monogram 'Pro Modeller' flag. Whicehever, it sounds worth it. Big beastie too, from what I remember.

syscom3 · 06-03-2009, 06:12 PM

[QUOTE=Airframes;508233]..... The last 1/48th scale Helldiver I experienced was about 43 years ago! It was the original Monogram kit, with folding wings, sliding canopies, retracting gear and opening bomb doors etc! .....QUOTE]

Me too! Built mine around 1969.

Wayne Little · 06-05-2009, 12:15 AM

Come to think of it, I built one of those "Oldies" many years ago too!

06-02-2009, 09:04 PM	#1
Catch22 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 4,293	ProModeller/Accurate Miniatures Helldiver What do you guys make of this 1/48 kit? I'm currently watching one, and am leaning towards getting it. The reviews I read said it was good. __________________

06-03-2009, 12:08 AM	#2
Airframes Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 9,062	From what I've seen of Accurate Miniatures kits, and using my Avenger as an example, I'd say it should be bldy good! However, have a read of the thread by Sweb, concerning fit issues and such on an AM kit. I've had a few problems, and I know Chris had some with the fit, or more correctly, the method of fit, on his Dauntless. I have to admit though, I think this is more due to having to adapt techniques, due to the way the kits have been designed and engineered to obtain and maintain scale accuracy. Hence their name I suppose Accurate** Miniatures! __________________

06-03-2009, 12:12 AM	#3
Catch22 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 4,293	Thing is Terry, it's a reboxing of the 1997 (?) ProModeller kit! I don't have any experience with those kits, so I don't know if they're good. __________________

06-03-2009, 12:36 AM	#4
Airframes Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 9,062	Ah, me neither, apart from the Revell/Monogram 'Pro Modeller' Bf110. If it's 1997, it shouldn't be too bad. The last 1/48th scale Helldiver I experienced was about 43 years ago! It was the original Monogram kit, with folding wings, sliding canopies, retracting gear and opening bomb doors etc! Putting aside some of the gimmicks, for the time it was very good, and I vaguley remember removing such things as the tabs that were moulded on to help open the landing gear and on, and adding detail to make a very nice model. I doubt very much that it'll be that kit though! I saw a review of a 1/48th Helldiver not too long ago, with a photo build, and it looked very good. If the reviews you've seen are encouraging, and the price aint 'stupid', then go for it. __________________

06-03-2009, 12:53 AM	#5
Catch22 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 4,293	After looking into it a bit more, it is indeed from '97 or perhaps even after, as it was announced in '97. I'm looking at a few, one of which is in my province! He's charging $15 for shipping though, which is preposterous and he doesn't seem to want to budge. There's another one I'm watching that ends in a few days that's a great deal, so if that gets stupid or I lose, I'll get the one from the guy here in Alberta, so I have options! __________________

06-03-2009, 09:01 AM	#6
Wayne Little Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Adelaide Sth. Aust. Posts: 12,511	Got one Cory, a Pro-Modeller, not built yet....but it is a nice looking model, mine even has photo-etch dive flaps! __________________

06-03-2009, 02:32 PM	#7
Airframes Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 9,062	Are these the 'Pro Modeller' that were in partnership with, had something to do with, or became Accurate Miniatures? It's the same sort of time period when Accurate Miniatures caused a stir with their new kits, setting extremly high standards of detail and finesse. Not to be confused with the Revell/Monogram 'Pro Modeller' series. __________________

06-03-2009, 03:07 PM	#8
Catch22 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 4,293	It's Revell Monogram. I think I'm going to get it, as it's been said it's up to the quality of Tamigawa. __________________

06-03-2009, 05:52 PM	#9
Airframes Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 9,062	I'd go for it mate. That old Monogram one I mentioned could still be good today, and that was a 1960's kit! It might be based on that kit, but with the 'Pro modeller' tag, it'll be a heck of a lot better, or might even be an Accurate Miniatures moulding, under the Revell/Monogram 'Pro Modeller' flag. Whicehever, it sounds worth it. Big beastie too, from what I remember. __________________

06-03-2009, 06:12 PM	#10
syscom3 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 10,283	[QUOTE=Airframes;508233]..... The last 1/48th scale Helldiver I experienced was about 43 years ago! It was the original Monogram kit, with folding wings, sliding canopies, retracting gear and opening bomb doors etc! .....QUOTE] Me too! Built mine around 1969. __________________ "Pilot to copilot..... what are those mountain goats doing up here in the clouds?"

06-05-2009, 12:15 AM	#11
Wayne Little Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Adelaide Sth. Aust. Posts: 12,511	Come to think of it, I built one of those "Oldies" many years ago too! __________________

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