What are AZ Model kits like? Vought Kingfisher Mk 1 1:72 scale model kit review 

Nice Work , build the Kingfisher today from an old Airfix Kit . Will make a small Pacific Campaign Diorama Greetings from Germany Ed

Unfortunately these smaller manufacturers are almost forced to lower quality to due budget. The price definitely reflects on the detail of this kit. You did it a justice for sure 👍 nice work

Nice review, lots of good information. Excellent build as well. Looking forward to more of these lesser know kit videos.

This is actually a rebox by AZ models of the old Pavla/Octopus kit. I have this kit in the Octopus boxing. AZ have updated the kit by providing an injection moulded canopy and new decals. The Palva/Octopus boxing has a vacform moulded canopy. Even in the AZ models re-release, it's definitely not a beginners kit, but does build into a nice little model with a bit of effort.

Nice build , really constructive and clear presentation and I applaud your skill as as a modeller. I look forward to seeing more of you helpful vids and skilful advice for the Modeling fraternity, well done that man.

Nice update you done thanks for sharing.

Like your direction on looking at other than the main line manufactures, thanks.

Enjoyed this a lot, great narration and walk-through.

Your work on building this former airfix kit was spectacular. This is the Type build that was very familiar and is probably the reason I never was satisfying early in my model building years. At the time the monogram kits were the premium kits and revel kits usually had the least amount of detail. The finished product looks very well, I applaud your work. Just a mention of the industry, the need for detail birth the aftermarket industry to complete the model with detail as the modelling magazines of the time period often centred on the professional modeller and the finished product. I use to spend hours reading and rereading the articles and often put my finished models against theirs and would end up trashing my attempt. Oh well

I bought my first AZ Model kit in 2006 and have been a "fan" of the company ever since. Some of their early releases were a little rough but much of their chosen subject matter has always appealed to me and their quality has been steadily improving over the years. This Kingfisher kit was originally a release by Pavla; AZ bought the Pavla molds several years ago whilst Pavla remained focussed on aftermarket accessories like resin detail sets and vac-formed canopies. AZ have re-released several ex-Pavla kits, sometimes with slight improvements to help the kits go together more easily.

You were very kind towards this kit. I would have found it very frustrating by your explanation. I remember building a Revell or Monogram Kingfisher kit in the 70s with none of those issues.

Great build , Interesting subject matter , got me scouring my aviation books looking for extra info 👍

Great build 👍

Good build/video!! I have the 1/48 scale Revell kit of the OS2U Kingfisher laying around somewhere. Think this video just might get me off my butt and build that bugger. Have always liked the look of the Kingfisher.

After making all the usual WW2 aircraft I also look for the less known aircraft. I did make a version of this with airfix that had two versions I made the USS Arizona, Pearl Harbor 1941 version the other one was Royal Navy west indies 1943 - 1944 version with wheels instead of the floats. You got this spot on.

Thats an interesting plane. Im sometimes tempted to start a "all RFAA planes" project but suspect there will be thousands lol. Nice build, great to see the problems and successes with these types of kit.

Afternoon! Hope all is going well!

That looks like a real nice kit..

Watching this kit go together brought back memories of kits from the 60's. It looks a little rough around the edges and there was some guess work on the assembly. An interesting kit though and a subject not seen before but I guess for these odd short run subjects the price will be a little higher. Great build but as you say not for a beginner.

I've built a number of Czech kits from AZ, Brengun and other manufacturers and they all suffer from the same issues that you identified, to a greater or lesser extent. But what I found most frustrating was the absence of part numbers on the sprues, meaning that you have to keep turning the page to find the part you want. It doesn't help that in some cases, there are left and right parts with the same part number. It's good that there's a wide range of subjects that nobody else makes, but they don't make things easy for the builder!

I made the Airfix Kingfisher more than 50 years ago.

*A lovely little kit, i love seaplanes so your Kingfisher is perfect! As you noticed AZ model kits are not for beginners but they provide "exotic" models so why not?*

You are very forgiving but it is good attitude. Fair number of issues given the price. However, thanks for introducing an unusual and distinctive subject. It might persuade me to get back into aeroplanes.

It's a brand i've never heard of, but damn do they have a wide selection. Just browsing Model hobbies Bf109s in both German, Romanian, Spanish, Japanese, Swiss and captured schemes P40s in Russian Lend Lease, RAF, RAAF, USAAF, and captured schemes Spitfires in just about every nation ever Hawk H75s in Finnish, Chinese Kuomintang, French, American and Dutch schemes P51s in American and British schemes And a hurricane MkIV tank buster with the 40mm cannons...4 Oh god It's going to be a fun summer Really going on a P40 binge this summer... Don't know why, I just want to build a few P40E Warhawks and Kittyhawks

AZ and Special Hobby Kits are a challenge, no doubt about it (especially if they contain resin and photoetch too). You've done a great job on this though!

I’ve just done the wheeled Kingfisher in FAA colours. I struggled a bit with the undercarriage to be honest but I suspect that’s just me, I have the AIRFIX kit so will be interested to see how that compares. I’ve also done the AZ TBF Avenger, again I struggled a bit with the mid upper turret but I think that was me…again… Last point, and I’m sorry to nag but don’t;t forget it’s a Royal Navy, Fleet Air Arm aircraft, not an RAF one.

I have the same kit. It was my first AZ kit and had no idea of the quality. Having seen your video, I am a bit disappointed but I commend your talent in turning a below par model into something quite acceptable. I might give it a go now myself, as i have always had a soft spot for the Kingfisher.

It was many years ago, but I do remember building that plane in 1/48th scale. I wish I still had it. It was destroyed in one of my many moves in my life.

I've built a few of their kits and found the detail pretty basic, BUT the marking options provided are unbelievably better - being aftermarket quality in subject modelling - than that provided by mainstream manufacturers. A case in point being their offering of 2-seat Spitfires in Russian military/civilian markings, and also for Spitfires (single and 2-seat) in civillian use. Outstanding subject material!! I also like their focus on those subjects missed by mainstream manufacturers. Attachment points for wings and tail could be better (such as at least providing tongue and groove mating surfaces) as the flush mating surfaces in common with these kits is very weak. I usually scratch build the cockpits to make them look "busy" - which is easy enough in 1/72 scale. But when alongside other 1/72 kits AZ's offerings are outstanding based upon providing the modeller with some truly outstanding, and striking, colour schemes!! 👍

Although it may have its numerous faults, you made a decent go with this kit.......even in such a small scale so well done, MN. I suppose the quality isn't there compared to so many other big companies but the fact that they provide very unusual kits is a plus. Short run kits are not for the faint hearted (that's me now, having had failures with them in the past so I stick to the big known producers) so thanks for showing us what is possible with care and perseverance.

I had a PM models kit of about this quality. Annoyingly after wrestling with it for a few days I realised it was not a particularly good rendition of the subject matter (a fokke wulf ta 154 moskito) and was perversely very pleased when my cat knocked it off the side and broke it more than I could be bothered to fix it. It's a shame but it scotched it for me when it comes to the majority of short run kits.

I wish somebody would do a new 1/48 kingfisher..Tamiya?

👌

Valom do some obscure aircraft no one else produces, not built one myself however. I did like the use of oil paint in your build, I'll have to give it a try.

Silk purse from a sow’s ear!

Must admit i had not heard of the brand or the plane before, looks great though

Poor engineering but great modelling and skills to produce a lovely result. Great job buddy

🤝👍

Hadn't heard of Mona Models either

can you do the plane in Murphys war

Seems a cool kit. I'm just curious: you're English (British), so why pronounce a Czech company's name the American way? The rest of the world knows it as "Ay-Zed" Models LOL

Interior U S color Chromite yellow

I've bought a couple of AZ aircraft kits because they seem to some rather unusual subjects. The shapes seem to be pretty accurate but the quality is poor.

From all the model kits manufacturers here in Czech Republic, the AZ / KP is the less respectable. The quality of their kits is not generaly limited by their technical possibilities but more with their sloppiness and the fact that they simply want to throw as many kits on the market as possible in the shortest possible time and at the lowest possible cost. Their communication is terrible, there have been a cases where they "borrowed" small parts and/or the manuals/schemes from the kits of the other manufacturers not very officialy. Without them knowing... It is possible to count dozens of silly mistakes caused not by technological limits but by their laziness, unknowing or simply ignorance on nearly all of their kits. Comparation of the prices of AZ kits and kits of some other manufacturers who put a lot of effort in them speaks for itself. Although the fact is that they produce the model kits of some planes which nobody else does. So it might be the only way to go in some cases. I personaly would never buy any other AZ Model kit. If for no other reason than just on principle, because I don´t want to support the way the are doing this business.

Альтернативы этой модпли нет...😢

Ay Zed?

Just a comment for the algorithm.

I think you were very generous with your evaluation of this kit. I saw poor molding, fit and instructions. I would not recommend this kit, especially at that price.

18 pounds for a simple 1/72 model seems a lot.

A fucken nother one that says deck cak it’s dekals get it right

Thanks for showing. Very poor modelling of plane, too expensive for what it is. I won't be buying.

I was hoping you would do this one sooner rather than later. You did a very comprehensive review of the kit. It seems like it is part model, part puzzle. I like the way the varnish 'mottled' the finish. I think it's very effective. I would love to give it a go. Thanks as always for an enjoyable and informative video. See you in the next one MN.