[b-huj]

The ultimate test:
Comparing the 1/200 model with the real plane. The Hogan M-Series little model is a recent addition to my collection, the real Superhornet as seen oboard USS. Kitty Hawk at the end of April, during a port call in Hong Kong.
Always remember one very important thing about the 1/200 models:
THEY ARE VERY SMALL
In fact, without supermacro and holding the camera around 2 cm to the model, you would probably not notice some details (or lose ends for that matter).
I was surprised to find out they actually printed the names of all the people (CAG, DCAG, AW) and didn't go "XASSEWTSXX..." like some 1/72 models do (all Witty Superbugs go with "DANGIE AYVESTING HOOK" for instance, and Hobbymaster even printed five blue pixels instead of a yellow sun in the Argentine Falklands A-4, there was always somebody coming out to defend those mistakes by saying "C'mon, the're like very small and you can never see them anyway.")!!

It is about time we had a Hogan subforum...

[b-huj]

more comparisons...
sorry if the pictures of the model are a bit blurry, but no camera can take such close-up pictures without focusing on 1 area only...

[b-huj]

a size perspective... the 1/200 Hogan model with a 1/72 Witty model...a placard on this one (reading DANGIE AYVESTING HOOK) would cover a significant part of the surface on the smaller one.
a bigger image will reveal that No Step is correctly written all over the small one!!, without flash the words would almost be invisible to my eyes.

[valkyrie]

That are some details in such a small surface area. Too bad, I am deep into 1:72 to switch to 1:200 now. It would have solved my space constraint. Paul, did you compare the 1:200 with the latest Dragon VFA-27 F/A-18E? The scheme should be a later one as compared to the Witty one but the name on the planes seem to be the same. Also, not sure what the letters ES near the nose of the plane stand for.

[b-huj]

Hey, there is nothing stopping you to switch, or complement your 1/72 collection.
Honestly, why pay more for less (detail) in a more space consuming model? I like the size of the bigger scale, but as these pictures show, the quality/detail of the small dudes is excellent and does solve my space constraints! I am VERY selective with large scale models now, but that does not mean I am splurging with 1/200 fighters, though I'd like to!

I have the impression people dismiss 1/200 fighters as "toys" because of their smallness, but the seriousness shown by Hogan and Gulliver in the design and manufacturing of these micro-scale models conviced me that they're just as good (or even better in some cases) than big models, and the expanding variety of toolings is catching up with other scales too (if you're into modern jets of course, no luck for you if you like props)

By the way, I just bought a copy of the Gaincorp Su-27UBK in PLAAF livery, it was compulsive buying, honestly, it cannot compare to the 1/200 Hogan version in accuracy and detail...but takes up 10 times more space

[chascbv]

I bought a couple WAC models about a year ago, just to give them a try, and I was immediately taken by their quality, detailing, and... sheer charm!

Since then I have bought many other WAC/Gulliver models, and also Herpa models (I find their F-16s, for instance, very good indeed), and I just can`t get enough of these small wonders. Too bad I still don't have any Hogan products, but I can't find an Ebay/Online shop stocking them and willing to ship them to my place with reasonable shipping costs (any clues, please?).

Regarding props, I do hope Hogan, Herpa, Gulliver, or any other manufacturer will offer them in the future; fighters will truly be "very" small (they could be offered in packs of two, with some different markings, for instance), but just imagine twin-engined planes or larger bombers!

Thank you very much, b-huj, for your detailed reviews. I do love my 1/200s very, very much, and can`t wait to get more of them.

[b-huj]

I am aware that Hogan M-Series is not easily found in the US. Somebody recommended House of Hobbies in Burbank, LA in this thread, a comparison of 3 different 1/200 F-4 Phantoms I made, Herpa, Hogan and WAC/Gulliver. Herpa, for some reason, is losing quality since they changed suppliers from Hogan to the same factory that makes Hobbymaster and Century Wings (1/72 and above: fine, 1/200 Herpa: lackluster). En España? no tengo ni idea de dónde puedas encontrar estos micromodelos...

[chascbv]

Originally Posted by b-huj

I am aware that Hogan M-Series is not easily found in the US. Somebody recommended House of Hobbies in Burbank, LA in this thread, a comparison of 3 different 1/200 F-4 Phantoms I made, Herpa, Hogan and WAC/Gulliver. Herpa, for some reason, is losing quality since they changed suppliers from Hogan to the same factory that makes Hobbymaster and Century Wings (1/72 and above: fine, 1/200 Herpa: lackluster). En España? no tengo ni idea de dónde puedas encontrar estos micromodelos...

Muchísimas gracias por la respuesta, B-Huj. By the way, I finally managed to order my first Hogan, a Chinese Air Force Su-27UB. I'm eagerly counting down...

So Herpa changed manufacturers... Now I see why their range is like the curate's egg -- good in parts and, well, not so good in other parts. However, even their "good" models have been plagued with an irritating issue: these planes have a nasty habit of dropping/launching their ordnance while en route. The offending parts may thankfully be retrived from the box bottom, but gluing them back in place requires a rock-steady hand and microscopic eyesight, the outcome being a bit of a mess more often than not. Interestingly, this has never been the case with WAC/Gulliver products (which, unfortunately, do not seem to be releasing new models of late... sniff!).

[vagm]

Great comparison b-huj!

Originally Posted by valkyrie

Also, not sure what the letters ES near the nose of the plane stand for.

Valkyrie, the ES stands for the following: The Battle "E" is for the most efficient and best overall squadron. (E markings) The Safety "S" award is presented for the squadron with the best safety record/most mishap free flight-hours. (S markings)

[valkyrie]

Thanks, vagm. The letters can be found in the latest Dragon F/A-18E and I was wondering what they stand for. It must for a particular year then.