Yes, very helpful thanks. This kit is on my to buy list because I like PT Boats operating in the Pacific theatre during WW2. But the no cigar rating has me questioning my earlier decision to buy and built this kit, mainly because my skills are not quite what they once were. Yet, I like the PT and it's history when they operated in my back yard- the South Pacific during WW2. Being fore warned is to be fore armed, so with your candid description of your own experience with this kit I will give it a shot. Many thanks for your video.
The cigar rating system is genius and hilarious! Showing the fixes you did really helps show less experienced modelers how to approach problem-solving the issues that every kit inevitably presents. There are lessons there that can be applied to any kit. Thank you for this excellent review.
Through the previous video and this one I was thinking, "What a trainwreck of a kit. I haven't seen one this bad since the mid 1980s." Yet I could still see the bones of a good result in there - and you brought them out with relatively minor and straightforward fixes. In light of that, I think the cigar rating system was perfect, as it seems to sum up the project perfectly. It builds into a nice kit, but know what you'll be taking on to get it there. Good for when you feel like taking on a bit of a challenge but don't quite want to scratch up a subject - but not so good when you just feel like a straightforward, relaxation build. It seems like it earned the 'skill level 4' rating on the box more due to tooling and manufacturing issues than any inherent complexity in the kit itself. In any case, that was a great review, thank you for sharing it.
I did the same as you with Tamiya's 1/48th P-47 kit. Many, Many of each type. But it is my favorite AC, and no one has come out with a better kit in 1/48th. Beautiful Pt, always a pleasure to watch your vids and learn. Thanks
Revell-Germany sometimes buys molds from other manufacturers. It is possible that the mold for this kit is quite old even though it may have been marketed as a newer release. I never have completely understood the Revell-Germany & Revell-Monogram business model, Revell-Monogram markets models from molds that I know were around when I was a kid. I have stayed away from anything Revell. Because of exactly the problems you encountered. There comes a time when the molds just don't cut it anymore. Good effort on your part to make something out of a less than stellar kit. My compliments!
Stephen I used to think the same about Revell USA but Monogram produced some astonishingly detailed kits in the 60's. Revell never had that penchant for details. Revell Germany however does but doesn't go all the way. I suspect they didn't give this kit their best effort. They can do better but maybe it wasn't cost effective?
I've built the original Revell kit of PT 109. I followed the paint scheme on the box as it was my first 109 kit. I did purchase a second kit later on. My plan was to use a camouflage paint scheme to change the appearance of the boat. I'm planning on using a blue/grey/black/ green deck color scheme leaving the bottom of the hull light grey as with the original. I think this will bring the 109 into a more modern Naval camo color scheme similar to the fatigue camo worn presently. I'm thinking it will be quite unique and still highly functional. Thanks for the video.
I want to turn the new 109 kit into a 1942-‘43 New Guinea type early 80 footer. Is there a rhyme or reason as to how the hulls below the chine was painted. Your remark indicated your hull bottom would be light grey “as in the original”. Was it the 109 boat and some others of circa 1943 that had grey hulls whilst others sported the ‘dilapatory’ red color or was there a standard in that period? My Squadron book shows various schemes. Your help is appreciated. It is true that out-of-the-box, this kit, if you want a nice boat, it takes a lot of prep to just make parts fit- that’s where I am now. My long weekend looks like at least a fortnight.
@@papadopp3870 Sanding and prepping of the deck to the hull fit are as easy as making sure the fit is flush so it adheres to the hull better. Be careful not to over sand. Use liquid glue as it is neater and is readily hidden when dry. You might even use clear super glue for tightness. Good luck with your kit mate.
It's a shame that quite often Revell kits are dragged down by their own failing mould quality. It seems this kit could have been a little gem OoB, but quality control is apparently an alien concept to them. Thanks for the great pointers and tips and improving this model to the standard it should have had.
Thanks for this review. I was toying with the idea of getting this for a quick fun build.The standard of this kit is terrible.. Your review has saved me the disappointment, and money saved will go towards some aftermarket for my current project.Cheers from the U.K.
Hello, would you please kindly let me know how/what to use for producing Camouflage patterns you mentioned and briefly shown in the amazing video. Many thanks.
Pretty common Revell quality... they have a few decent kits, but so many bad ones. It often feels as if they engineer these things with the idea that a clever 12 year old is looking to build a toy to put on the shelf, and they put the commensurate quality control into it. But there are few that are worth taking on anyway, as you mention. I've got the 109 version of this kit on the shelf and will be building it later this year if I can. Thanks for the walk through of what I can expect.
Unless this is a kit from Revell Japan, it is in fact a 1963 tooling, which would explain the quality of the whole thing. But, as always, the master modeller will manage to rise to the challenge and produce a beautiful result. Definitely no shake-and-bake kit, so best left to modellers with good skills and lots of patience.
Yes i think your right if you look at the 1,72 revell shnellboat produced some years before it was miles apart in quality moulding compared to this kit anyway I hope the after market boys bring out things for this one untill then I will keep it in my stash.
Could you perhaps do a high quality kit for a change? I'm really curious as to how you would go about it. Unless they're not enough of a challenge for your skills!
I bought this thinking it would be on the same levell as the german shnell boat produced some years before how wrong, I can't understand why with it being a modern tooling anyway I am waiting for an upgrade for this kit, the guns to me are the worst, it's a buildable kit but i think it needs an upgrade with aftermarket to get the best out of it.
It is a shame the quality of this model is so bad. I'm looking into purchasing this, but a little hesitant. I enjoy a challenge, but for what you end up with, I could keep looking. Cheers
Felipe Zuñiga I’m just saying you can use that to make a stencil to airbrush the pattern. Not that he did that. But he did use what looks like a plotter.
I mainly build Bandai Gunpla kits. Seeing this, I realise how spoiled I've been with the quality of those kits. Still, tackling a pig of a kit like this is how you get those god like modeling skills.
I've built Revell's Audi Le Mans car and a DTM Mercedes. Both had horrible sink mars requiring something like a cc of filler each. Not happy to see your similar experience. Come on Revell, do better.
I built this 1.72 scale first it was so so bad! And I love my PT boats I went and got a 1.48 and then the .1.35 elco 80 and PT 109 and the Schell boat the difference In detail it's just outstanding to the revell kit! The detail is poor and mould is rubbish
What a horrendous kit, looks like it was tooled in the 60’s. You deserve a medal for doing battle with it!
Instablaster...
Two videos in a day!?
I am STOKED!
You sir, on the other hand deserve a full box of Havanas.
Yes, very helpful thanks. This kit is on my to buy list because I like PT Boats operating in the Pacific theatre during WW2. But the no cigar rating has me questioning my earlier decision to buy and built this kit, mainly because my skills are not quite what they once were. Yet, I like the PT and it's history when they operated in my back yard- the South Pacific during WW2.
Being fore warned is to be fore armed, so with your candid description of your own experience with this kit I will give it a shot.
Many thanks for your video.
Thanks Bruce ... you might find some other tips to improve this kit in the videos on building PT 489 th-cam.com/video/zQLlj8nk22M/w-d-xo.html
The cigar rating system is genius and hilarious! Showing the fixes you did really helps show less experienced modelers how to approach problem-solving the issues that every kit inevitably presents. There are lessons there that can be applied to any kit. Thank you for this excellent review.
This is why you are on another level. Buying 6 kits to build with the cameras off so you can perfect it. I mean who does that ??
PERFECTIONISTS
You mean why would you buy 6 just to get it right?
@@nigelsmith7366 right who would buy 6 ships since they're the same molds used and the ships are the same
The cigar scale is genius, I love it 😀
I have a nastalgic soft spot for Revell. I hope they acknowledge your fair and balanced review.
Through the previous video and this one I was thinking, "What a trainwreck of a kit. I haven't seen one this bad since the mid 1980s." Yet I could still see the bones of a good result in there - and you brought them out with relatively minor and straightforward fixes.
In light of that, I think the cigar rating system was perfect, as it seems to sum up the project perfectly. It builds into a nice kit, but know what you'll be taking on to get it there. Good for when you feel like taking on a bit of a challenge but don't quite want to scratch up a subject - but not so good when you just feel like a straightforward, relaxation build.
It seems like it earned the 'skill level 4' rating on the box more due to tooling and manufacturing issues than any inherent complexity in the kit itself.
In any case, that was a great review, thank you for sharing it.
I built this model in the 1970's, it was never a favorite, and met its demise when a Japanese 8" shell (M-80) blew it to smithereens.
I did the same as you with Tamiya's 1/48th P-47 kit. Many, Many of each type. But it is my favorite AC, and no one has come out with a better kit in 1/48th. Beautiful Pt, always a pleasure to watch your vids and learn. Thanks
Revell-Germany sometimes buys molds from other manufacturers. It is possible that the mold for this kit is quite old even though it may have been marketed as a newer release. I never have completely understood the Revell-Germany & Revell-Monogram business model, Revell-Monogram markets models from molds that I know were around when I was a kid. I have stayed away from anything Revell. Because of exactly the problems you encountered. There comes a time when the molds just don't cut it anymore. Good effort on your part to make something out of a less than stellar kit. My compliments!
Stephen I used to think the same about Revell USA but Monogram produced some astonishingly detailed kits in the 60's. Revell never had that penchant for details. Revell Germany however does but doesn't go all the way. I suspect they didn't give this kit their best effort. They can do better but maybe it wasn't cost effective?
Thanks for putting the effort into making these wonderful videos for all the world to watch! 😀
Your "cigar matrix" had me in stitches, though! 😂 🤣 😅
I thought it would be a good chuckle ... I don't like to take things too seriously.
I see the same issues with my kit but I still will built it. Thanks for insights on this kit.
I've built the original Revell kit of PT 109. I followed the paint scheme on the box as it was my first 109 kit. I did purchase a second kit later on. My plan was to use a camouflage paint scheme to change the appearance of the boat. I'm planning on using a blue/grey/black/ green deck color scheme leaving the bottom of the hull light grey as with the original. I think this will bring the 109 into a more modern Naval camo color scheme similar to the fatigue camo worn presently. I'm thinking it will be quite unique and still highly functional. Thanks for the video.
I want to turn the new 109 kit into a 1942-‘43 New Guinea type early 80 footer. Is there a rhyme or reason as to how the hulls below the chine was painted. Your remark indicated your hull bottom would be light grey “as in the original”. Was it the 109 boat and some others of circa 1943 that had grey hulls whilst others sported the ‘dilapatory’ red color or was there a standard in that period? My Squadron book shows various schemes. Your help is appreciated. It is true that out-of-the-box, this kit, if you want a nice boat, it takes a lot of prep to just make parts fit- that’s where I am now. My long weekend looks like at least a fortnight.
@@papadopp3870 Sanding and prepping of the deck to the hull fit are as easy as making sure the fit is flush so it adheres to the hull better. Be careful not to over sand. Use liquid glue as it is neater and is readily hidden when dry. You might even use clear super glue for tightness. Good luck with your kit mate.
Well. That's epic. Never seen a modeler like this.
Really like to Cigar Awards.... thank you for producing this video Doc!
GREAT VIDEO, GREAT TEACHING AIDE.
Instructive and insightful. A beautiful build of a difficult kit. Well done.
Thank you, a great review and build. I think you should keep this kind of format with your future reviews, really helpful
Awesome work as usual!
It's a shame that quite often Revell kits are dragged down by their own failing mould quality. It seems this kit could have been a little gem OoB, but quality control is apparently an alien concept to them.
Thanks for the great pointers and tips and improving this model to the standard it should have had.
Thank you once again for a great video Doc.
Thanks Paul excellent video George in uk
I hate Revell kits. You are a trooper to build this.
Again a complete masterclass.!..Thank you.👍
Great informative video - thanks for the effort
Haven't heard from you in a while. Hope you're doing well.
Thanks for this review. I was toying with the idea of getting this for a quick fun build.The standard of this kit is terrible.. Your review has saved me the disappointment, and money saved will go towards some aftermarket for my current project.Cheers from the U.K.
Thanks for sharing your build a friend from canada Rob ✌
Hello, would you please kindly let me know how/what to use for producing Camouflage patterns you mentioned and briefly shown in the amazing video. Many thanks.
It's like Revell wanted to do a New kit tribute to good Old Revell quality & fit!😘
Thanking you sir . Your review was het. I may try this one.
Pretty common Revell quality... they have a few decent kits, but so many bad ones. It often feels as if they engineer these things with the idea that a clever 12 year old is looking to build a toy to put on the shelf, and they put the commensurate quality control into it. But there are few that are worth taking on anyway, as you mention. I've got the 109 version of this kit on the shelf and will be building it later this year if I can. Thanks for the walk through of what I can expect.
Unless this is a kit from Revell Japan, it is in fact a 1963 tooling, which would explain the quality of the whole thing. But, as always, the master modeller will manage to rise to the challenge and produce a beautiful result. Definitely no shake-and-bake kit, so best left to modellers with good skills and lots of patience.
Yes i think your right if you look at the 1,72 revell shnellboat produced some years before it was miles apart in quality moulding compared to this kit anyway I hope the after market boys bring out things for this one untill then I will keep it in my stash.
One thing that comes to mind is, does Revell / Monogram have stock in the filler putty manufacturers ? 🤔
Could you perhaps do a high quality kit for a change? I'm really curious as to how you would go about it. Unless they're not enough of a challenge for your skills!
Is this kit unlike the PT-109 1/72 kit? I don't recall these issues with that build.
I’m curious about the lathe/mill setup in the background. Any fancy techniques the milling attachment allows you to do?
What made you go with the silhouette over a cricut? I've heard mixed reviews on both, so I'm curious on your take.
Just a recommendation from a friend. So far is does everything I want it too.
When is someone going to market a 1/72 scale 78-foot Higgins PT boat?
Yeah! When will there be a late war 78' Higgins? My father served on a Higgins.
hi sir. im wondering if phingst accepts orders that aren't wholesale? id like to order some fine blades !
Yes they do
@@scale-model-workshop Awesome thanks for the reply sir!!
What Lacquer primer did you use?
good job!
I bought this thinking it would be on the same levell as the german shnell boat produced some years before how wrong, I can't understand why with it being a modern tooling anyway I am waiting for an upgrade for this kit, the guns to me are the worst, it's a buildable kit but i think it needs an upgrade with aftermarket to get the best out of it.
It is a shame the quality of this model is so bad. I'm looking into purchasing this, but a little hesitant. I enjoy a challenge, but for what you end up with, I could keep looking. Cheers
Please please please explain how you do the stencils, the machine and which masking paper you use, please 🙏🙏🙏
I’m pretty sure he’s using a plotter. I could be wrong. But a plotter is good to use for camo. The blade cuts through vinyl and you use as stencil
@@colossalbigfoot256 viniyl? That is safe for the paint in the model? Dont gonna peel off the paint?
@@felipezuniga1682 Oramask 812, same stuff many of the precut mask use.
@@scale-model-workshop thanks!
Felipe Zuñiga I’m just saying you can use that to make a stencil to airbrush the pattern. Not that he did that. But he did use what looks like a plotter.
I mainly build Bandai Gunpla kits. Seeing this, I realise how spoiled I've been with the quality of those kits. Still, tackling a pig of a kit like this is how you get those god like modeling skills.
Well, NO cigar bout sums it up
I've built Revell's Audi Le Mans car and a DTM Mercedes. Both had horrible sink mars requiring something like a cc of filler each. Not happy to see your similar experience. Come on Revell, do better.
I built the PT109 last year and I have to say it was one of the most annoying models I have ever put together! molds must be VERY old and used!
I built this 1.72 scale first it was so so bad! And I love my PT boats I went and got a 1.48 and then the .1.35 elco 80 and PT 109 and the Schell boat the difference In detail it's just outstanding to the revell kit! The detail is poor and mould is rubbish
This kit needs some resin and photo-etch assistance.....