Since many on these boards have years of experience when it comes to building, they have tried, and bought different things. I’ve recently learned that cheaper really doesn’t mean better. I recently bought a model from HobbyCraft that was problematic. The instructions are hard to read, parts don’t fit well and I have had to use a ton of putty to even it out. I hope they are not all like that.
I've been partial to everything Testors since that was the first brand I picked up.
So my question to you: What’s is the best out there (in your opinion)?

Best Manufacturer of models?
Best paints (bottle and spray)?
Best airbrush?
Best brushes?
Best cement?
Best putty?
And any other category I have missed.

TGY

That would be tough to say because every manufacturer has evolved in quality. Some that were bad have started putting out SOME good kits. Others that were good are putting out mediocre kits. Then some newcomers have risen rapidly.

I don't own an airbrush but it would seem from many of the threads that the quality of the paints would depend on the specific airbrush. Some airbrushes (manufacturer doesn't even matter) seem to like certain paints. It doesn't even matter who is the manufacturer.

1) Tamiya ( but was surprised sink holes in expensive 1/32 AC) Academy, Trumpeter after 2003 (ouch sinkhole city)
2)Acrlic Tamiya, enamel Model Masters
3)My old perhistoric Binks Wren with 3 tips!
4)anything bought except at a place like wal-mart!
5) Tenax, good old Testor, Zap a Gap
6) Bondo, Squadron geen putty, MR Surfacer 1000!

Yes everyone is different
Have fun~
Ron Hoover

My little experience tells me that Tamiya seems to be the most consistant for detail/fit/sink/holes and revell seems to be on the other end of the modelling scale. But don't limit yourself to one company for instance Italeri makes a dog of a schwimmwagen but do a fine job of a Opel Blitz or Zis-5. See if you can fine reviews of a particular model of interest and go from there.
Paint: again is a matter of choice I use Tamiya/Humbro
Brushes: You can't go wrong with Winsor & Newton, polyester for water base, sable hair for oil base. I buy cheap ones for "general" work
Airbrush: I use a Iwata HP-C, great for med to fine work, easy to clean (gravty feed)
Cement: I think here the choice is based on the applicator something that gets the glue where you want it', I use Humbrol Precision Polly
Filler: I use "Utility paste" "spot putty"(the kind for cars)and "white out" the kind for paper
I don't use much putty. I use "wall filler" for this kind of stuff (mud)
It won't take you long to pick out your favorites and if you search through some old threads(here at Armorama) you'll get some real incites

Hope this Helps
Bruce

I can agree with the general consensus on brushes. I know that as I go further into the hobby I find that things became more exspensive like some kits. One of the problems I have is that local shop doesn't stock a lot of anything. This turns me to the web and I get skidish when I can't see what I am buying.

TGY

Best Manufacturer of models?

Dragon still is my favorite

Best paints (bottle and spray)?

Humbrol Enamels

Best airbrush?

Tamiya's HG superfine airbrush works great!

Best cement?

Haven't tried any other cement than Revell's before...anyone any suggestions?

Best putty?

Milliput

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Greetings

When I got back into the hobby this past summer after a very long hiatus, I faced alot of the similar choices and decisions. So far, these have become my favorites:

Best Manufacturer of models?
- Depends on the kit. I've found that research on the 'net and reading reviews outweighs any blind loyalty to a manufacturer.

Best paints (bottle and spray)?
- Let me preface this by stating that I use only spray cans and brushpainting at this time. I love the Tamiya spray lacquers, both the TS and AS series. Nice range of colors, dry quick, easy to use. As for bottle paints, I use acrylics for the most part and lean towards Pollyscale and Model Master. Tamiya has some good colors, but because of their properties, they only work well for smaller areas.

Best brushes?
- I've found that better quality brushes do make a difference. But, I have to say that the old Testors white brushes have done pretty well by me. I do have a few nice detail brushes that I picked up at the art store. Windsor & Newton seems to be a good bet.

Best cement?
- I use a mix of cements, depending on the need. The old standby of Testors (orange tube) gel is my primary (apply with a toothpick). For long straight attachments, I use Tenax and Ambroid Pro Weld. Getting into resin and PE will require superglue. I just picked up some Zap and it seems to work well.

Best putty?
- Still searching. I have both Squadron white and green, as well as Model Master Red. They've done the job, but none are what I'd call revolutionary. I've also used White-Out for tiny seams and scratches. When I finally get a chance, I plan to pick up some 3M Blue Acryl body filler from the NAPA down the street. A lot of the aircraft guys seem to like this stuff. Seems to be easy to work with and sands up nice.

Hope that helps!

Best Manufacturer of models?
- I love my Hasegawa kits, but they are the new generation, which I hear is very different than 10 years ago.

Best paints (bottle and spray)?
- I love my Tamiya acrylics... very good and easy to clean up. I don't use enamels.

Best airbrush?
- I like my Badger Anthem 150... but that's all I've ever used.

Best brushes?
- I try to find the cheapest sable brushes.

Best cement?
- Tenax, baby.

Best putty?
- I like Milliput epoxy putty and then Mr. Sufacer 1000 or 500 for the small gaps.

I am somwhat surprised on the amount of people using acrylics. They are such a godesnd when it comes to cleaning up.
I'm trying to gain a foothold in this hobby again and these answers help see the quality out there. Like I said, I tend to go where the cheap stuff is but learned a lesson with the kit mentioned above.

TGY

Best Manufacturer of models:
I have a soft spot for Tamiya but I build anything that strikes my fancy (DML, Academy, ICM, Trumpeter, Alan ....... ) the only one I will never touch again is TOGA

Best paints:
I have pretty much used testors both MM Enamels and Acryl

Best airbrush: I Love my Aztek 470!!!!!!

Best brushes: I use so many but my Winsor Newtons are my Favorites

Best cement: Testors gel in the black bottle and Ambro Weld. (very similar to tenex)

Best putty: Dr Microtools putty

The above list is all IMHO. Just my preference.

Hmm, it's a difficult post to respond to, however...

Manufacturer - Depends what your building. German Armor it's DML or AFV Club. No competition there...

Paint - Enamel, Model Master. Acrylic - Vallejo

Airbrush - Personal taste...

Brushes - Windsor & Newton

Cement - Tamiya Extra Thin

Putty - Tamiya

Missing category - Most Re-issues and least respect for the modeller - Tamiya...

Best Tiger in 1/35th (this week) Tiger 1 initial type (DML)...Jim

Manuf: RoG new stuff, Trump newer stuff, Tamiya, Hase and Fujimi (generaly)
Paints: For me Humbrol enemel, MM Acryl, didn't have much luck with Tamiya
Airbrush: very satisfied with my MM (Aztek repackaged for the European market)
Brush: Humbrol, new Italeri from the known manufacturers, otherwise I also have a good selection of brushes from art stores...
Cement: I use exclusively Tamiya extra thin and Faller (german scenery manufactrer for model RR)
Putty: Superglue, Tamiya and mr. Surfacer

Cheers!

All I'll comment on is models, the Italeri models, cause I bought a bunch of them, and I've noticed all of them seem to have good detail, but some take little work, then I had one that took me a whole month just to clean it up, it looked really good, even better then the Tamiya one just like it, cause it has more detail, but it took so long cause it was fragile, that was the BMW R 75.

Then some of the others hardly had any mold lines what so ever, it was like they were made from different manufacturers. Some go together real easy, then others you got to do some trimming, and putty, but very few like that.
Kerry

Italeri, depending on the subject are frankly in the stone - age. The only saving graces (some) of their subjects have is that no-one else does them - pure and simple! Their are also very cheap....

Examples of this are their Chaffee, the (only) decent kit of a LAV, Crusader (ditto) and some softskins which no-one else did. Their German armor is WAY past its sell-by-date. Not bad if you have no other options but...Jim

That kind of left me confused, but the good thing you live in the US, and if you look, find deals, like I did where these Italeri go for next to nothing.
$3, $ 5, $ 8, $ 11, and $ 13.85 I had to pay for the real good ones, which this one I know I could sell for 50 if I wanted to, being OOP, but I'm not selling it, cause I only bought one, but it cost me $13.85 at the time which still was a good buy, cause it just became OOP a little before.

Demand went through the roof as soon as Italeri quit making them, the M109 E4/G/A1/A2. But that is why a lot of people go to these Russian manufacturers, cause they are real cheap, and a different subject. They try it out in the dark, cause it is cheap.

Shoot, I wanted to buy some Russian kits, for the savings, but the shipping would of eat up the savings of the low cost kit, but now they got them accessible to where the shipping isn't so bad at a few places.

Italeri are mostly cheap, outside of their newer ones, then some of them aren't bad priced compared, if you can compare.
Kerry