A Vac Formed kit is substantially different from the "polystyrene" or "resin" type. Those marketed by Companies like Airfix and Tamiya etc. are really complete save for "glue" and paint enabling one to build a pretty good model without any further purchase or accessories.
The vac form kit is, in comparison, pretty crude and basic. It entails the purchase of additional items such as plasticard in varying thicknesses from which the "details" can be fashioned. Although "mouldings" of wheels might be supplied, sometimes these are rather artisan and lacking detail. It does depend upon the "quality" of the kit. And there are few manufactures now - the best in my opinion were manufactured by a small company in Japan, but they are no longer doing so. Sanger is probably the most well known in the UK. But all are rather the "cottage industry" type.
That said there have been many good models produced from very basic V/F kits. I would suggest that they are not for the "beginner" - one could easily become discouraged - bin the effort and avoid modelling for all time.
I have built one or two V/F kits - one was a "modern" jet (Gloster Javelin) which having no connection with our Forum, the picture will not be posted here.
However I do have the "kit" of the Sanger Halifax at 1:48 scale and can post some pictures. I think this is one of Sanger's better kits - some are not so good. Sometimes you get some parts cast in "white metal" which is a rather soft metal material and is easily mis-shapen and although it can be straightened easily it will bend again! So not awfully good for anything that is in a vulnerable position - or even under any load!The casting is sometimes a bit agricultural too!
I have only made a little inroad into the Halifax kit, but I hope that the following will give an idea as to whether or not V/F is for you, at the moment. I would say that if you have had little or no experience in building small plastic models get some time in with the more conventional user friendly kit.
The first picture shows what you get - a sheet of plasticard with the parts all moulded. Note the panel lines etc. These are too pronounced to look right and need to be dealt with! Then the "wheels" in halves that need joining - and the flying surfaces - the ailerons and elevators are in one peice and to look any good will need separating and a substantial bit of work\
Note too there is no interior detail - at all. This has to be made from "scratch" entailing quite a bit of research.
The second picture shows my progress so far (and I have to admit to being far from committed on this project or any other modelling project at the moment).
The second picture shows some of the initial interior detailing on the interior - the formers or frames and stringers. You can see towards the right of the picture the "smooth" area of the interior which is what you start with. I am not enhancing this as it will not be seen.
Picture 3 shows a bit more progress - the two fuselage halves and the initial work on the pilots compartment, and behind the F/E station. The nav. and Wop were on the lower floor forward. You can also se the "main spar" which will in fact he an integral part of holding on the models wings!
Finally the instrument panel - partially completed - again completely rom scratch. Scratch being the operative word - the dials are scratched onto black painted white plasticard and then given a couple of coats of clear varnish to simulate glass.
Clearly this only touches the surface but I hope it will be sufficient to reveal some of the mysteries of V/F modelling. I will attempt to answer questions of course but I am no "authority". Some of the "after market" people" produce parts that will assist as well.
Please note here that this image is more than a few times the size of the panel for the model and distance will lend enchantment.
