Any opinions on Lockheed Ventura kits?

[ohbejuan]

I have always wanted to build a Lockheed Ventura since the scene in Jaws where Robert Shaw says "Next morning a young pilot, much younger than Mr Hooper anyways, in a Lockheed Ventura..."

Revell has this kit which looks perfectly nice


BUT ICM is working on a new Lockheed Hudson, and I am trying to decide is I just want to wait for that.
ICM Lockheed Hudson

 

[the Baron]

I wouldn't hesitate to get the Revell kit. Though the label is Revell, it is classic Monogram quality. It builds into a very nice model of the subject.
I would also get the ICM kit when it is released, too, just to see. Especially since it's a different aircraft. No reason you can't build both, eventually. I've found ICM kits to be of good quality, too. You can put them side by side and show the evolution of the Ventura from the Hudson. Like building the P-35, P-43, and P-47.

 

[the Baron]

I'll add that the only complaint I might make about the Ventura kit is the lack of crew figures. But that is a very specific prejudice of mine, since I grew up in the 70s, when companies still included at least a pilot in their aircraft kits. Monogram reached a peak of quality with its crew figures in its kits back then, and I still love those kit figures. I have a stash of figures from the B-17, B-24, B-26, and B-25 kits from back then. I wish they had done more USN aircrew. There are 5 figures from the ProModeler release of the PBY, and there is the great USN pilot from the TBD. But I really wish they had produced more.

 

[ohbejuan]

I'll add that the only complaint I might make about the Ventura kit is the lack of crew figures. But that is a very specific prejudice of mine, since I grew up in the 70s, when companies still included at least a pilot in their aircraft kits. Monogram reached a peak of quality with its crew figures in its kits back then, and I still love those kit figures. I have a stash of figures from the B-17, B-24, B-26, and B-25 kits from back then. I wish they had done more USN aircrew. There are 5 figures from the ProModeler release of the PBY, and there is the great USN pilot from the TBD. But I really wish they had produced more.

Yes! I am fairly new to this hobby but i like to have pilots. I also like to do "wheels up" builds some times. Only Airfix still has dedicated parts for that. Though even their new Phantom does not include a pilot or wheels up option.