GHQ Models Forums

For my aircraft ive only used ghq and cinc. I only use them because of the quality and detail. I wanted to know about heroics and ross aircraft and quality. PICTURES WOULD BE AWESOME!! For example I cant stand their MIG-29!!!!

Specifically:

MIG-25
MIG-31
F-5 tiger

You'll be disappointed. Detail is nowhere near GHQ or CinC, casting quality is variable and scale is variable. The molds are getting old, which doesn't help.To make matters worse the current owners of the molds (Navwar I think) have stopped supplying stores and are now primarily dealing through postal orders. And I mean postal as in download a copy of the order form and post it to them. They have no internet sales set-up. I've been looking for a decent alternate supplier as I'd like a few B24's. Raiden aren't too bad with some of their models, and at a pinch I'd look at Scotia (Scotia re on the web, Raiden sell a lot through e-bay.

Good luck. BTW, I don't have the a/c you mentioned, so no pics I'm afraid.

P

Apology up front: This won't help you 88cyborg because none of the aircraft you are interested in are currently made but for everyone else...

Raiden Miniatures makes some awesome 1/285th scale aircraft, as detailed as GHQ and CinC. And their website has pictures. Primarily they have WWII aircraft but the do have some "modern" offerings. Awesome A-4, F-4, F-8, MiG-19, MiG-15, FH-3, F-9 Cougar and the list goes on. Its definitely worth a look. If there is something you want them to make they will but there is a waiting list.

Paul

added on edit:
OBTW they also have a 1/285 scale USS Enterprise flight deck and they're working on Shokaku.

Be fair av8rmongo, Raiden make some awesome models. None are up to GHQ or CinC standard, but I will admit I'd have no hesitation in buying them if the model isn't available from "the best" sources. I love the Raiden C47, and if you're interested in Israeli forces up to 1956, they can't be beat... Mysteres no less!! I just wish they made a large range... or GHQ or CinC for that matter.

P

Okay, maybe they're not all up to GHQ standard but the F-8 is simply superb.

Muesuem miniatures sales a limited number of WW2 aircraft. The detail is better than most, but not as good as GHQ.

The detail is no where near as good. The only advantage is that they are usually only one piece so no gluing required.

I have purchased a number of aircraft from Raiden Miniatures, I like them a lot and their detail is almost as good as GHQ. I've bought Re.2005's and C-47s and both are very good, much better than CinC I think. They also have some larger aircraft such as the B-29 which no one else makes (can't think of a way to use a B-29 but they look cool). That said, if I had to choose between GHQ and Raiden on the same model, I'd go with GHQ hands down. My favourite model is still my big Ju 52. On the other hand, Raiden does have the Fokker DXII for my Finnish forces(with skis), which I dont' foresee GHQ making anytime soon

Skyraider makes both the F-5 and the MIG-31.

While GHQ makes the highest quality models in 1/285 - 1/300 scale gamers need to be able to obtain the aircraft they require from other sources until GHQ is able to offer their own version, which in every case thus far has been superior in my opinion.

In our company collection we have a wide variety of manufacturers and conversions to fill the needs of those that participate in our games.

I would be to your advantage to look closely at all the current suppliers.

Will

I've got aircraft from just about every company out there, including some really rare ones, though I've not painted them all up.

GHQ has the best aircraft, hands down. This isn't pandering to the site owner; it is a simple fact. I have many of them (A-10, SU-25, Tornado, F-16, F-4s, etc) and I've found them to be sturdy, well-detailed, and, as important as anything else, equipped with realistic loads of bombs and missiles.

Other manufacturers, in my experience:

CinC: Very well detailed and proportioned, perhaps even more so than GHQ. Also generally come with a wide variety of missiles and bombs. However, there is one huge drawback -- they require assembly, which can be very difficult (three tries and I can't keep the F-14 together...) and they are quite fragile once assembled (though there are some exceptions, such as their F-16). For that reason alone, they make good display models but are of limited utility on the table top.

Museum Miniatures: Generally good detail, though not as much as the previous two, and sharp lines that are proportioned correctly. I have all there Italian aircraft and some of their British WWII ones.

H&R/Navwar: Decent miniatures, and inexpensive. However, proportions can be off, detail is often fuzzy, and casting is not particularly crisp. The line is extensive, however, and they are damn near unbreakable.

Skytrex and Scotia: Detail is less good than H&R/Navwar, often downright poor. Proportions are sometimes odd. They are cheap though, and also indestructible, but AFAIK, don't come with bombs etc.

Skywarrior: Don't know if these guys are even still around; I have a big pile of these their models. Detail is minimal, casting quality often dodgy, with a fair bit of pitting. Proportions seem right, however. (except for their A-37 Dragonfly, which seems way, way too big)

ISM: Out of business, but I have about 150 or more of their aircraft. Quality can vary wildly; generally have weapons molded on. Tornado (probably a GHQ knockoff) is good, as is their F-4 (a Nichimo knockoff). Others, less good.

Nichimo: Had an extensive range of plastic 1/300 Imperial Japanese and modern USN/USMC aircraft, still regularly available on eBay. Quality is generally quite good, but range is limited. They do come with excellent decal sets.

I don't have any Raiden miniatures, but intend to order some.

Some of Raiden's casting are not perfect. For example, the Mig-19 wings are not evenly casted. One wing is longer than the other by 1 to 2 millimeters. I have to trim the wing to look even with the other. It suffered from mold expansion either from the mold squeezing or during over casting the same mold. I puchased a good amount of aircraft from them. Variety and detail is good. But better qaulity checks would help a bit. Horoics models definitely need better improvement. Although giving a large sellection. Again qaulity control lacks. The HR line was recently sold and from news over the grapevine. The new owner is reworking some of the models. It will take some time though. As long as GHQ produces best quality products. They still are ahead of the rest.

Finally got back on line after my old computer crashed.

I've got to say that Heroics Aircraft have been very hit and miss. A few planes have been good. Not to GHQ standards but at a fraction of the price not bad at all. On the other hand some have been absolutly horid. I bought 2 A7's that are only good for praticing painting.

All in all my satisfaction is only 30%[/list]