Small Scale Military Headquarters

Are the 1/32 BBI Dauntless and Wildcat worth buying? How is the quality?
What are the pros and cons? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Bill

i think they are great! i have both, details are very good and the fact that they have really done something that the rest of the industry hasnt makes a big differance. i believe a must have!

BILLGIFF:

I've got the BBI 1/32 Dauntless, Wildcat and F-4 Phantom II. The F-4 is the best of the three. I'm mildly disappointed with the Dauntless and Wildcat in that they lack the detailing of the F-4 such as warning stencils, etc. My Wildcat has no quality problems, but the Dauntless has a gap between the middle canopy and the fuselage---this isn't a problem because I have the front canopy open which covers up the middle canopy---apparently this was a standard practice in the Pacific in WW II. My Dauntless also has small white "footprints" on the left wing, but that's not a big problem. The horizontal stabilizers "droop" on the Wildcat, but that appears to be a design flaw and not a production line problem.
I recommend all three BBI 1/32 planes---particularly the F-4 and Dauntless.

I can't say enough good things about the BBI Wildcat and Dauntless. These are great looking models, and I really like the pilot figures. Love those models..

I have both a Wildcat and an F-4.
I would agree with dragon53 that the F-4 is the best of the BBI planes.

Now, I can live with the detachable landing gear, but I have mixed feelings about the Wildcat.

PROs:
The detailing is excellent.
The painting & weathering are excellent
The sliding canopy looks & works the way it should.

CONs
No folding wings
No working flaps or rudder

It's a nice addition to my 1/32 collection.
Granted, it's not my favorite plane, but it honors the memory of Lt James Swett which IMO, makes it worth the money.

Thanks for your replies. I know it's pricey but has anybody bought the 1/32 Hobby Master Dauntless? Is it worth the $$$$$$$$$?
I recently purchased the 1/32 Corgi Hurricane and Mustang and they are very nice.

Well, I finally took possession of the Wildcat. It's great. I already had the Dauntless, which is also fantastic. My WWII Pacific planes look good hanging: Wildcats, BBI and Revell kit, Dauntless and a Corsair from 21st. To make my Pacific 'airforce' complete I have a P40 also hanging.

I almost forgot to mention my P36 Hawk is also hanging. One of these days I'll get around to building a P38 since it appears one isn't going to be produced by any of the manufacturers: BBI, 21st, FOV, etc.

I'm currently building a 1/32 P-38J.

I recommend going with a kit other than the Revell as mine has many blemishes in the plastic and if you want it as a flying model the landing gear doors do not line up properly in closed position at all.

Thanks Cat. Sadly I already have the Revell kit...

One more aircraft I have hanging is th prewar Curtiss BF2 fighter bomber.

yea Revell is hit or miss.

My 110C-4/B is very good.
but on the other hand,
the Beufighter Mk. IF isn't great molding wise(but then it's from the 70's)

My Ju88...is even as sprues in a box, kit has a few sinkmarks, that will need to be looked at..but overall is still a very detailed very big very very nice kit, Hey it's a Ju88 in 1/32 scale..and for less than 100$ how can you NOT love that.

Love my Wildcat and Dauntless. Both are as close to flawless as I've ever seen in 1:32. I also really like optional position gear versus retracts. They just never look/work the way they should unless they are as simple as the Dauntless' gear arrangement.