Top 5 Desired Model Kits for 2025

Wow did 2024 ever pass by in a hurry. I swear I was writing one of these not so long ago. They say time flies when you are busy and this year I certainly was. Not so much on the hobby front, mind you. No, it was various home projects, work, courses, and that so-called life. Then again, I finally did get my hobby room built and fitted up. So, at least there was that. And yes, I am already breaking it in with various hobby projects. There will definitely be more on that in the coming weeks. But for now, this is all about my annual wish list.

Ask any regular to the Model Airplane Maker blog and they will tell you that I’ve gotten lucky with my past lists. And that trend continued for 2024. I’ve gotten my Blackbirds, my Lightnings, my U-2s, and my Japanese Twin engined bombers. I got my Warthog, my big Val, and a new Corsair. Most recently I got my new tool Sabre from Clearprop. Now, they just have to expand that Sabre line a wee bit to get the Canadian variants. Then again, Kinetic seems to like Canadian subjects…. I’m just sayin.

But I am still waiting on a few kits I have wished for in past posts. So, tell you what. Instead of me relisting them and boring you with what you already know, I am going to be keeping the following wishes as my permanent RSTLNE of ‘wished-for’ models. At least until someone makes these wishes come true:

• 1/48 Canadair Sabres
• 1/72 PB4Y Privateer
• 1/72 F-111A
• 1/48 Perfect Grade Corsairs (especially the F4U-4)
• 1/144 Space Shuttle

Those will be just pinned there until we are blessed with more model goodness. This will allow me to focus on a new list for 2025. Here they are, in no particular order:

The North American X-15 in 48th Scale

The main hall of the Smithsonian features a wonderful collection of record setting air and space artifacts. There is the first plane, the plane that first crossed the Atlantic, the first American jet fighter, and the capsule that took the first astronauts to the moon. Right there, seemingly flying past them is this brutal black beauty:

The X-15 flew in the 1960s and set all the speed records. Records that stand to this day. I suppose the only thing faster than the X-15 was the Space Shuttle but that was a different sort of flying. The X-15 was designed to punch the air, get to the edge of space and to give NASA the information needed to train astronauts and design future space craft. And boy, did they ever make this one look tough. Its got bolts and rivets and in places it looks hammered together. Check the canopy. And that wedge tail. This was a brute and one tough bird.

Now, when it comes to getting models of the fastest airplane that ever was, well, the X-15 is no Me-109 or Spitfire. According to the Scalemates, there is more choice in 72nd, albeit with some ancient kits. In 48th scale, we have the 25-year-old Special Hobby kit that is somewhat of a unicorn around these parts. I have read that it can be a bit of a bear to put together. Nevertheless, it is commanding some impressive prices on the secondary market.

So, yeah, I think it would be great for someone to treat us to a modern kit of this record setting aircraft. It would have broad appeal with those who love to weather, those that like record setting aircraft and it would even get some interest in the real space crowd.

The A-7 Corsair II in 48th Scale

Fugly bomb truck. At least that is how I always thought of the Corsair II. Growing up I only saw pictures of A-7s lugging bushels of green 500 pound bombs under their sagging wings. I wasn’t a fan in the least. But you know something? It got the job done. Actually, it got the job done so well for the Navy that the Airforce eventually bought them.

And they used them until the 1990s.

To be honest, I have never built one. It was too pug nosed. Too squat. Too slow. Too old. However, I have been on a bit of a Vietnam Air War kick these last few months and this has led me to rethink the A-7. Oh for sure it’s still ugly. But it is so ugly that it’s kinda cool looking. When it is fully loaded up, it looks menacing.

And when it is all weathered and beaten to a pulp? Yeah, that looks like a fun one to try and replicate.

When it comes to kits of the A-7 in 48th scale, it would seem the best of the bunch is the Hasegawa kit from the mid 1980s. I’m told this is a solid kit when it can be found but it is a product of its time and could use some updating. As well, Hasegawa didn’t include ordnance with their A-7 kits. So, if you want bombs and such, you will have to get a separate weapons set.

There was a Hobbyboss Corsair II that was released in 2009 but despite being 20 years newer, there are a great many accuracy and shape issues with these kits.

I am thinking we need a newly designed kit with weapons and high visibility markings from the 1960s. And given the size of the canopy, it would look great with a new tooled cockpit and ejection seat as well. Yeah, I’d sign up for one of those.

The Lockheed A-12 or YF-12 in 72nd Scale

Now, I know. I wished for a 48th Scale SR-71 just a few years ago and I got mine. I loved making that kit. So, am I being greedy for going back to this wishing well? I don’t think so. The Blackbird was in dire need of a re-do in every scale because son, them molds were old. It was also a fascinating airplane that could do amazing things.

But the A-12 and YF-12 are just a little cooler.

The A-12 was the older, faster and sleeker version to the SR-71. A-12 drivers describe the difference between A-12 and the SR-71 as the difference between a Formula 1 race car and a comfortable family sedan. Who am I to argue with them? It was used by the CIA (not the Airforce) but eventually the CIA got out of the spyplane business. For whatever reason the A-12s were shelved. Sure, the SR-71 borrows heavily from the A-12 but there are many differences starting with the single-seat cockpit.

Now, the YF-12 is the ultimate bad-ass Mach 3 interceptor concept. The nose houses a massive radar to guide its massive missiles. I believe the idea was not very different from the F-108 Rapier or the Avro Arrow concept. A big plane designed fly very quickly in straight lines to destroy bombers flying over the North Pole. This concept being largely dreamed up by defence contractors working with airforce officials and 1960s dreams of endless big budgets.

We all know how that ended

Despite it never being anything more than a capable demonstrator, the YF-12 was the meanest looking Blackbird of them all.

As for models of the A-12 Oxcart or the YF-12…. We don’t have much. Actually, there are scant A-12 models anywhere aside from a short run kit in 48th by Modelcollect. When it comes to the YF-12, we have some decades-old Testaleri kits with raised panel lines and chunky detailing in both 72nd and 48th.

That makes me sad.

The Dassault Mirage IV in 72nd

Would you trade New York for Paris? That was the central question for the US and Nato in the 1950s. And it was the answer to that question that led France to its independent nuclear weapons program. Being invaded twice and occupied once, the French had enough of that business. Joining Nato was the sensible move. But the French have always been a pragmatic bunch and they were not going to pin their existence on a vague promise of mass retaliation and theories of mutually assured destruction.

Eventually France developed ballistic missile submarines, land-based missiles and the Mirage IV. You can say the Mirage IV is a scaled up Mirage fighter because that is essentially true. And yeah, it was big:

Yet despite its massive size, it was also a graceful design. I am so-so on Mirage fighters but I always liked the big Mirage. Like, a lot.

So what are my options for this Force de Frappe bomber? Well, not many. In 72nd we have the Heller Mirage IV from the disco era and we have a much newer short-run kit by A&A models. From what I have read, both have their quirks and issues.

And I think I am being rather kind with that assessment.

So yes, we need someone to pop out this big beautiful plane for us.

The Boeing B-47 in 72nd

For its time it was big, it was fast, and it was advanced. The B-47 was the first all-jet bomber. It was designed to fly high over anti-aircraft defences and drop bombs with impunity. But then there was this little incident involving a U2 flying over Russia and well, that pretty much shut the door on high-altitude bombing for planes like the B-47. The Airforce tried to re-purpose the plane into a low-altitude, toss bombing platform. But that was one of those “just because you can doesn’t mean you should” situations. The wings were never designed for those stresses and those maneuvers likely led to some horrific win shedding accidents before the plane was retired in the early 1960s.

So, not a long career but who cares? Those early Strategic Air Command paint schemes were gorgeous. This plane had all sorts of bare metal bits mixed with white and black. It sure was a looker. Bombers, by and large, are rarely described as “elegant” but have a look at this plane. It is gorgeous.

Want to build one? Well, I have some good news and some bad news for you. Yes, there is a B-47 model in 1/72 and since Hasegawa made about half a million of them, they are not hard to find. But, well, this kit is older than me! Hell, the molds date from before the first Moon landing. There were hippies building this kit instead of showering at Woodstock.

Those who have braved the kit say it is definitely a product of its time but a good result can be had if you put the time in to get it.

That, and likely a whole lotta aftermarket.

I think its time we see this kit refreshed with some new molds with some colourful SAC markings. Yes, please!

Want to see a Video? Hell yes, you do!

So, let’s Hear from you: What do you want?

Sorry to be posting this a little later in the month than I have in the past. As usual, I wish everyone a happy, healthy, and fun 2025. Now that my hobby room is up and running I expect that I will be far more productive at the bench with some excellent models and I have got some fun video planned.

This time I switched up my list to make it less predictable. And, as always, I’d like to see what you want to buy and build. Do you like any of my top 5? What would you add? Do you have a permanent RSTLNE of model kits? Or is there just one you really REALLY want to see someday?

Let me know what you think in the comments.