Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bryce Rea on January 20, 2011 at 8:34pm

The best in plastic has to go to Hogan and Herpa.  Each have there own strong points.  Skymarks/Risesoon would be third on my list.  Hogan's A300, and MD-11 moulds are the best money can buy.  Better than any metal version.   And most newer releases from both Hogan and Herpa rival the attention to detail we see in metal.

 

So I'd rate them from best to worst like this:

 

The Best

Herpa

Hogan

StarJets (No Longer Made), but good if you can find the one you want.

 

Ok or The Middle

Skymarks/Risesoon

 

Bad or Don't Even Bother

Woosters

Flight Miniatures

Long Prosper

 

Hope that helps!

Permalink Reply by Bryce Rea on January 20, 2011 at 8:38pm

Oh and there was also a company called Aero Le Plane that I would put in the GOOD category too.

 

But we haven't seen a new release from them in over a year, so I fear the company may have gone bust.

Permalink Reply by Alexander Robert Tolentino on January 21, 2011 at 4:13pm

i've  check out some herpa models at our local  avaition hobby shop and from what i've notice is that most herpa's are or majority are military planes and just a few airliners???...hmmmm

Permalink Reply by Bryce Rea on January 21, 2011 at 9:42pm

Actually they split pretty even.  They do do a lot of military stuff, but they also do quite a bit of commercial airliners.  But some of there planes are made of metal.  Like I have a Herpa 1:200 ATR-72 and it's metal, but I have a Boeing 737-400 that's plastic.  Most are plastic though.

Permalink Reply by Tyler Hastings on February 3, 2011 at 4:52pm

I have three Hogans and Skymarks, Six all togather. I'd say that hogan makes great 1:200 Small planes like my 737-700 and A319. They both look great and the engine fan spins in each. Hogans make two types of tires, Rubber and metal.

The landing gear fixture is all molded plastic, but strong.

but for the rubber vs metal I'd like to go with metal for the long run yet I really dont mind because they both roll very smooth.

My hogan 747-400 Oasis Hong Kong on the other hand, I've had nothing but trouble with its main landing gear. The parts that make up the landing gear are more flimsy than Skymarks landing gear. If I try to roll it straght it will slide left or right. The trucks are very lose and don't go in a straight path, Thats what I get for 18 wheels.

Skymarks on the other hand, I have one Skymarks model with landing gear its an A330-300 and its landing ger are made allot stiffer and they roll very smothly and goes in a straight path, Once I get a skymarks 747 somtime soon. I'll see what there 747 landing gear is like.   

Permalink Reply by Miles Daniels-Pavich on February 3, 2011 at 7:10pm

IMOP Hogan all the way.  They look more refined  and sharp then skymarks and are a pretty good value.  They are the only plastic manufacture I buy (besides HE, but the vast majority of there plastic 1/200 models right now used the HG moulds)

Permalink Reply by Dave Uyeda on February 9, 2011 at 4:03pm

Until recently I have only collected diecast models. My main interest is all Canadian airliners and was not able to find this one particular plane in diecast so I was kind of forced to go "plastic". Turns out I ended up getting a Herpa Wings 200 CP Air DC-10-30 and was really impressed with the quality and detail. I must add that this was a fully assembled model compared to "snap fit" configurations that I know Hogan and Herpa offer. I would certainly recommend Herpa for sure.

Permalink Reply by Antonio on February 12, 2011 at 6:58pm

I'd have to agree from what I've seen both Hogan and Herpa should be the "Top Two" on anyone's list...

I prefer die-cast metal models and at the present time my entire collection (1:200 scale) is metal.  I went to a local Hobby store and checked out some Plastic Hogan and Herpa airliner models in 1:200 scale and they looked great.  I picked up a Lufthansa A380-800 Herpa in 1:200 scale and it looks awesome parked next to my metal airliner die-casts.  If InFlight200 or Gemini 200 doesn't make a model in the Livery that your looking for, don't hesitate to get one in plastic from either of these two manufacturers.

 

Hanger56