| st airplane model kits manufacturers today are | | | | and as of 1986 member of the Humbrol group |
| companies like Revell-Monogram, Italeri, Airfix, Heller, | | | | together with Airfix. In 2005, Heller was the subject |
| Testors, Minicraft, Tamiya, Hasegawa, Dragon, | | | | of a management buy-out but the following year the |
| Trumpeter, MPM models, Zvezda and others. | | | | company went into administration. For many years |
| Across 60s Monogram and Revell were the direct | | | | Airfix models were produced in France alongside with |
| competitors manufacturing airplane models. However | | | | Heller models which mean that they are of the similar |
| in 1986 both companies have been acquired by | | | | quality as Airfix and inline with Revell line of |
| Odyssey Partners of New York and were merged | | | | Revell-Monogram company. |
| together. In 2006 German subsidiary separated from | | | | Minicraft Models is manufacturer of plastic kits from |
| Revell-Monogram and established a new company | | | | USA. Although Minicraft on some editions has a quite |
| with revenues even slightly surpassing the ones of | | | | bad reputation for poor molding, bad fit and a bad |
| the parental company. In 2007 Hobicco Inc. | | | | correlation with the original they have started to |
| announced acquisition of Monogram-Revell LCC. Some | | | | improve with their latest molds. On the other hand |
| of the new models of Revell from Germany are | | | | Minicraft decal sheets are of exquisite quality. |
| known for its great quality but still not same as that | | | | Obviously Revell quality is surpassing the one from |
| of Monogram models since today Monogram brand is | | | | Minicraft while Monogram models are of the separate |
| used for high quality models line called Pro Modeller | | | | quality category. |
| Kits. | | | | Testor was founded in 1929 and started producing |
| The rest of the most important model manufacturers | | | | hobbyist model cement in 1936 and in 1945 it started |
| and overall assessment of their quality are listed in | | | | balsa models production. In 70's Testor has acquired |
| following text bellow. | | | | IMC, Hawk Model Company and Italeri. It is a |
| Italeri is Italian manufacturer of many different plastic | | | | manufacturer with long standing tradition and high |
| model kits. Overall impression of Italeri plastic model | | | | quality image but is ranged slightly bellow Monogram |
| kits is that they are representing mid range quality, | | | | which is positioned as a top quality line. |
| but to note is that their newer kits are constantly | | | | As a conclusion we can say that airplane model kits |
| improving. Nevertheless Monogram models are better | | | | level of quality, due to improved molds tooling, has |
| ranged in quality then Italeri. | | | | been constantly improving, but even so, Monogram |
| Airfix is large British plastic kits producer which was | | | | models have remained the top quality producer |
| founded in 1939 and owned by Humbrol as of 1986 | | | | versus their competitors mentioned in this article. |
| until 2006 and is today owned by Hornby. As for | | | | Currently the only company that is matching |
| quality it is in higher middle range trying to benchmark | | | | Monogram and even surpassing it in quality is Tamiya |
| Revell of Germany but still not reaching professional | | | | from Japan. Overall we can conclude that two best |
| quality standard of Monogram models. | | | | airplane models manufacturers today are Monogram |
| Heller is a French kits manufacturer founded in 1957 | | | | and Tamiya. |