Karma

hey guys, new to the forum. i've been browsing and getting a lot of useful information from all of you. i collect WWII 1:48 scale. a few years back i got the memphis belle by franklin mint from my parents and that pretty much started a collection that has grown to 31 planes.

my question to all of you is, should i not be collecting franklin mint? most of you seem to prefer just about anything but the franklin mint.

i own several armour planes, before franklin mint bought them. i do notice i pay slightly more for non FM armour planes, as they are all retired.

cost is not a factor, i just want the highest quality scale military models out there...where should i look??? any help is much appreciated.

blueangel_78

Well, welcome to the boards! As far as highest quality, it is all relative. Depending on the scale, you'll find various manufactures with wonderful models, and it'll go as far as individual aircraft types where the quality will vary also.

But that being said, I love the Amour / FM series. I have over two dozen; including a B-17 (mine is Nine-O-Nine, since I flew on her recently). I think the deal w/ this scale is presentation, and that keeps the collectors to a minimum. I've recently started collecting 1:400 just for the fact I can display them easier. But if I had my choice, I would have my 1:48 scale on display too.

So if you check the boards, you will see a couple of threads that will help identify which brands are the best for a particular aircraft type. If not, let us know what you are looking for and we'll give you our opinions.

Sagar

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planenutsfrog

Hello Karma, and welcome to the asylum !

If you intend to stick to 1/48, then the best brands to consider are :

1) Eagle Intl.
2) Carousel 1
3) Hobby Master (outstanding value for money !)
4) Corgi

All are generally far superior to FM, even more when taking the price into account, with a special mention to HM !...

Christian

G'day Karma,

Welcome.

I'm fairly new to the forum myself and asked a similar question.
I have been in the past a big collector of 1/48 Armour/Franklin Mint and noticed that the forum rarely discusses them.
Being from Australia I find FM very easy to find. FM generally look after Aussies with thier Aircraft so I guess that is one of the reasons they are popular with me (Corgi is ridiculously expensive in Australia)
However recently I have been much more keen on 1/72 inparticular HM and Century Wings. I must be honest even though FM release many planes in RAAF livery (I have just recieved a Mirage lll) I am a bit disapointed with them at the moment. HM and the others are releasing many different types of aircraft and the quality is oresome. I just think FM should take it up the new guys and be daring with their aircraft type releases (I am a little non-plussed with the new Junkers F13).
HM Panther F9F2 1/48 is just going to be great for my collection.
Anyway I have dribbled enough.
Welcome.

aradrom

Welcome to the forum,
Here's my short story...
Years ago I was a big FM/Armour collector.
Over 120 models were in my collection at one point.
They were impressive to me at that time as nobody made 1:48 die cast models.

Witty Wings/Hobby Master/Gemini Aces/Gaincorp & Century Wings came along redefining the quality & detail standards leaving FM/Armour models far far behind.

It took me one week to decide to switch scales...so I sold ALL my FM/Armour models. I remember having tough time doing that as the interest among collectors was very weak.

Now I collect only 1:72 scale (Corgi/WW/HM/GA/Gaincorp/CW) as their quality/details and selection is far superior to the FM/Armour models.
I never regreted selling all my 1:48 scale models,in fact I'm glad I made that decision.

I recently started collecting 1:200 airliners & fighter jets and I'm very impressed with them. The details and quality is outstanding.
Interesting to see a 1:200 scale fighter model having the same amount of detail as a 1:72 scale model (Herpa's 1:200 Eurofighter Typhoon compared with Corgi's release)...

Happy collecting...

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Karma

i appreciate all of you welcoming me and giving your time to answer my questions. i don't think switching to another scale interests me. i have plenty of room to display them and having grown up building dozens of monogram and revell 1:48 models, i just "feel" like that's how model planes should look.

can anyone post some good sites where i can take a look at corgi/hm/gemini 1:48 wwII planes? Again, your help is much appreciated.

aradrom

Here's Corgi
Unofficial Corgi Aviation Archive

Here's Hobby Master
Hobby Master Collector Home Page

Enjoy...

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aeroeng

Hi Karma and welcome to the forum. There's a lot of talk about the new release Franklin Mint products going on at The Model Hangar site The Model Hangar Diecast Forum today. Between this site and the model hangar there are several guys that collect 1:48 scale and have a lot of different opinions of FM products. I use to only collect FM 1:48 scale, but recently purchased a Hobby Master 1:48 scale Buffalo which looks really cool.

aeroeng

Ps. also the UK die-cast site has a lot of military die-cast collectors
The Diecast Aviation Web Site and Forum - Powered by vBulletin

Christian

I could'nt do what you have done and sold all my Armour/FM. I own about 90 and I am going to keep every one. One thing about FM they may not be accurate as the purists like but the heftyness, size and artwork are just great.
But I agree FM needs to lift its game as I am going to 1:72 HM and CW.
What is going on with the Junkers F13? What is all that about? Never have I seen any wanted list from any collector for the F13 on it.
There are so many aircraft to choose from that have not gone diecast or are limited in manufacture.
I reckon FM have missed some great opportunities and that HM and CW have taken the lead in diecast variety and manufacture at a reasonable cost particularly HM.
Corgi is to expensive in Australia. I occasionally get one on ebay.
For example who would have thought that an A4 Skyhawk in Australian Navy livery would be available in diecast. The Australian Navy only operated around 16 of them and never on operations. Not to mention John McCain's Vietnam A4.

Cheers