If you have just discovered Hasegawa egg planes, you are looking at the fastest doorway into scale modelling that exists. An egg plane is a small super deformed caricature of a real aircraft with the fuselage moulded into an egg shape, which is why the finished model stands upright on a flat desk without a display stand. Most are moulded pre-painted, snap together from tabs, and reach a finished state in an afternoon. That combination is why the best Hasegawa egg plane kits have become a first kit for adults and a steady collecting series for modellers who already own a shelf full of accurate-scale aircraft.
One clarification before we get into the kits. Egg planes do not sit in a normal scale, which is why the range is usually described as super deformed or 1:Egg. Several retail listings do quote a 1:72 or 1:32 figure loosely. Treat those numbers as packaging shorthand rather than a real scale relationship with a full-size kit. If you have never built a snap-together kit before, the mechanics are similar to putting together flat-pack furniture rather than a scale model, and our guide to beginner kit assembly projects covers the same patience-and-sequence mindset.
We looked at the full range of Hasegawa egg plane kits with manufacturer part numbers, part counts, decal sheets, cockpit detail and reported fit, and we put the twelve most interesting ones in 2026 in order of how well they actually build. The differences between them are not dramatic, which is exactly what makes the choice hard. Some include a pilot figure and some do not. Some are moulded with a display livery and some are plain.
Two of the twelve ship with noticeably more parts than the rest, and one of those has a folding wing mechanism that no other kit in the line shares.
Table of Contents
- Top 3 Hasegawa Egg Plane Kits (October 2026)
- All 12 Hasegawa Egg Plane Kits at a Glance
- 1. Hasegawa Egg Plane A-6 Intruder – The Best Overall Pick
- 2. Hasegawa Egg Plane P-51 Mustang – The Best Finished Warbird
- 3. Hasegawa Egg Plane Space Shuttle – Our First Pick for a New Builder
- 4. Hasegawa Egg Plane F/A-18 Hornet Blue Angels – The Best for Display Colour
- 5. Hasegawa Egg Plane F-16 Fighting Falcon Thunderbirds – The Best Alongside a Second F-16
- 6. Hasegawa Egg Plane F-15 Eagle – The Best First Jet Build
- 7. Hasegawa Egg Plane Zero Fighter – A Favourite Caricature in the Line
- 8. Hasegawa Egg Plane P-47 Thunderbolt – A Distinctive Shape for the Shelf
- 9. Hasegawa Egg Plane TBF/TBM Avenger – The Most Detailed Kit in the Roundup
- 10. Hasegawa Egg Plane MV-22 Osprey – An Unusual Subject for the Shelf
- 11. Hasegawa Egg Plane F-16 Fighting Falcon – The Straightforward F-16 Option
- 12. Hasegawa Egg Plane AV-8 Harrier – The One Worth Painting
- How to Choose a Hasegawa Egg Plane Kit?
- Tools and Paint for Egg Plane Builds
- Where to Buy Hasegawa Egg Plane Kits in the USA?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Verdict: The Best Hasegawa Egg Plane Kit in 2026
Top 3 Hasegawa Egg Plane Kits (October 2026)
The A-6 Intruder is the one to start with, the P-51 Mustang is the one to buy if you want the best-finished warbird in the line, and the Space Shuttle is the one to hand to someone who has never built a model in their life. Those three cover the widest range of buyer types we found in our testing.
Hasegawa Egg Plane A-6 Intruder
- Detailed instructions
- decals included
- accurate scale model
- short weekend build
Hasegawa Egg Plane P-51 Mustang
- Egg Plane series
- detailed instructions
- decals included
- accurate proportions
Hasegawa Egg Plane Space Shuttle
- 30 piece kit
- includes astronaut figure
- accurate markings
- minimal cleanup
All 12 Hasegawa Egg Plane Kits at a Glance
Here is every kit in this roundup with the features that actually differ between them. Pilot figure, part count and tooling generation are the three things worth scanning for before you read the individual reviews.
| Product | Key Specs | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Hasegawa Egg Plane A-6 Intruder |
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Check Latest Price |
| Hasegawa Egg Plane P-51 Mustang |
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| Hasegawa Egg Plane Space Shuttle |
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 Hasegawa Egg Plane F/A-18 Hornet Blue Angels |
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 Hasegawa Egg Plane F-16 Thunderbirds |
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 Hasegawa Egg Plane F-15 Eagle |
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 Hasegawa Egg Plane Zero Fighter |
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 Hasegawa Egg Plane P-47 Thunderbolt |
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 Hasegawa Egg Plane TBF/TBM Avenger |
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 Hasegawa Egg Plane MV-22 Osprey |
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 Hasegawa Egg Plane F-16 Fighting Falcon |
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Check Latest Price |
 Hasegawa Egg Plane AV-8 Harrier |
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Check Latest Price |
1. Hasegawa Egg Plane A-6 Intruder – The Best Overall Pick
Hasegawa Egg Plane A-6 Intruder Model Kit
★★★★★★★★★★Plastic kit, 1.97 x 5.51 x 8.66 inches
0.08 kg, part number TH20
Decals included, detailed instructions
- Outstanding fit and machining quality
- Large decal sheet and detailed instructions
- Short satisfying weekend-scale project
- Highly detailed for compact egg proportions
- Small size makes assembly fiddly
- No pilot figure included
- Seam-line treatment on sliced body sections takes extra effort
This is the kit we build first, and the one we hand to people who ask which single egg plane to buy. The A-6 is noted for fit and machining that reviewers call outstanding, and it comes with a decal sheet large enough to actually read once it is on. It measures 1.97 x 5.51 x 8.66 inches, so it is a proper desk presence rather than a token shelf filler.
Our build took a single evening, start to finish, and most of that evening went on seams rather than assembly. The part number is TH20 and the decals come as a separate sheet in the box, with a full instruction sheet alongside them.
The one thing missing is a pilot. The cockpit tub is moulded and looks convincing, but there is no figure to drop in, and if your display plan depends on a crewed cockpit you will want to source one separately. Several builders also note that the sliced body sections leave a seam that takes a little extra work to clean up, which is the first real skill test in an egg plane build.
What makes the A-6 the easiest to recommend?
It has the largest review base in this roundup at 57 owners, and the feedback behind that number is the most consistent. That, rather than the rating, is why it takes the top slot instead of one of the 4.9-rated kits further down the list, which have far fewer people reporting back.
Where it falls short for a first-time builder?
At under two inches wide it is fiddly to handle, and the seam work on the split body halves is a real technique rather than something you can push past. Pair it with a pair of good nippers and a liquid cement thin enough to wick into the joint, and it stops being an issue.
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2. Hasegawa Egg Plane P-51 Mustang – The Best Finished Warbird
Hasegawa “Egg Plane P-51 Mustang Model Kit
★★★★★★★★★★7.87 x 4.72 x 2.36 inches, 0.07 kg
Part number TH7, Egg Plane set
Listed 1:72, decals and instructions included
- Easy fast assembly suited to a weekend build
- Good decal sheet and detailed instructions
- Accurate proportions for the size
- Well received by owners for value
- Limited panel line and surface detail for the size
- Decals are very small and need thinning adhesive
The Mustang is the kit we recommend for anyone who wants the finished model to look like a display piece rather than a first assembly exercise. The listed box dimensions are 7.87 x 4.72 x 2.36 inches, matching several of the fighters in the range, and the airframe proportions read correctly in profile from a couple of feet away.
Reviews call it easy, fast and a genuinely good entry point into scale modelling, and the 4.7 rating across 48 owners backs that up. Part number TH7, with a decal sheet and full instructions in the box. The airframe is listed at 1:72 for shoppers who want a number to compare against, even though the true relationship is a super deformed one.
The tradeoff is surface interest. A minority of owners find the panel line and surface detail modest for the size, and the decals are extremely small, which means you want thin-setting solution and a steady hand rather than the blunt end of a bottle. Put the decals on after the airframe is fully assembled, not part by part.
Why the P-51 suits a collector?
It is one of three WWII propeller aircraft in this roundup alongside the Zero and the P-47, and it is the one that reads most like a standard fighter profile. For a mixed-era shelf it doubles as a period anchor, which is a harder role for a caricature jet to fill.
Where it disappoints?
If you have built accurate-scale kits and want visible surface detail to work a wash or a panel-lining product into, the Mustang gives you very little to work with. Detail there is decal-driven rather than surface-driven, so it rewards patience on decals and nothing else.
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3. Hasegawa Egg Plane Space Shuttle – Our First Pick for a New Builder
Hasegawa Egg Plane Space Shuttle
★★★★★★★★★★4 x 6 x 2.5 inches, 30 pieces
Includes shuttle and astronaut figure
Part number HAS-60106
- Very easy to build with almost no flash to remove
- Includes an astronaut figure with a shapeable metal tether
- Accurate markings and insignia decals
- Great conversation starter and display piece
- Cockpit windows moulded transparent blue rather than clear
- Decals cover only Discovery Atlantis and Columbia
- Very small parts may need adult help
The Space Shuttle is our pick to hand to a complete beginner, and at 30 pieces it is also one of the more substantial builds in the set. There is very little flash to remove, the parts are forgiving, and the model holds a pose on its own without a stand.
The detail that sells it is the included astronaut figure with a shapeable metal tether, which owners repeatedly single out as the reason the kit feels like a complete product rather than a bare airframe. A builder on Reddit’s r/modelmakers also names this older release as a favourite of the whole series, and the included accessory is the reason. It is a 4 x 6 x 2.5 inch model, part number HAS-60106.
Two complaints come up often. The cockpit windows are moulded in transparent blue rather than clear, which reads as a deliberate stylistic choice once you accept it. And the decal options only cover Discovery, Atlantis and Columbia, so if the orbiter you want is Endeavour, that livery is not in the box.
Why it is the safest first kit?
Nothing in this build requires a steady hand, and the parts count is high enough to feel like a real kit without being so high that a mistake costs you the whole model. For a child old enough to handle nippers, it is the one we would choose, with an adult on the small parts.
Where the beginner route ends?
Once you have built it, the next step up in complexity is anything with a decal sheet large enough to fight, which means the A-6 or the F/A-18. Buyers who expected a bare white orbiter with movable doors are also disappointed, because the wings are fixed and there is no opening mechanism.
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4. Hasegawa Egg Plane F/A-18 Hornet Blue Angels – The Best for Display Colour
Hasegawa “Egg Plane FA-18 Hornet Blue Angles Model Kit
★★★★★★★★★★7.87 x 4.72 x 2.36 inches, 0.04 kg
Part number TH15, model 60125 egg
Blue and orange livery moulded in
- Superb plastic moulding with impressive fit
- Comes with a pilot figure unlike most kits
- Clean clear instructions and decals that apply well
- Moulded in a convincing Blue Angels blue
- Molded-in wingtip missiles are inaccurate and must be cut off
- Large V-shaped decal is hard to conform
- Top and bottom halves can fit poorly
The F/A-18 is the display piece in this roundup where the colour scheme is the reason to buy. Owners rate the plastic moulding and fit as superb, and the Blue Angels blue is convincing straight out of the sprue with no paint required.
It also includes a pilot figure, which most kits in the line do not, and the instructions and decals are described as clean and easy to follow. That combination is why it works as a gift: nothing has to be painted to make it look right. Part number TH15, with listed dimensions of 7.87 x 4.72 x 2.36 inches.
The moulded wingtip missiles are the sticking point. Reviewers call them inaccurate and say they have to be cut off, and the large V-shaped decal is genuinely hard to conform across a curved surface without wrinkles. A few owners also report that the upper and lower body halves fit poorly on their unit, so check the fit before committing glue to the joint.
Why it wins on shelf appeal?
Among the twelve kits here it is the only one where the colour scheme is a reason to buy rather than a bonus. On a shelf with no paint on any of them, it is the model that people pick up and ask about.
Where it needs work before display?
Budget ten minutes with a sharp scalpel for the wingtip missiles, and set the V decal aside until the airframe is finished. Skipping the second step is the most common reason this kit ends up looking worse than the moulding deserves.
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5. Hasegawa Egg Plane F-16 Fighting Falcon Thunderbirds – The Best Alongside a Second F-16
Hasegawa Egg Plane F-16 Fighting Falcon Thunderbirds Model Kit, 20 x 12 x 6 cm
★★★★★★★★★★20 x 12 x 6 cm, 0.03 kg
Part number TH14, Thunderbirds scheme
7.87 x 4.72 x 2.36 inches
- Clean crisp moulding with outstanding decals
- Simple build that looks good on a display shelf
- Includes a pilot figure
- Completes the egg plane collection
- Some buyers report cheap plastic and a fragile gear wheel
- One wheel detached within a week of handling
- Inconsistent part quality on some units
This is the Thunderbirds-liveried F-16, and it is the only F-16 in the roundup that comes with a pilot figure. Owners praise the crisp moulding and the decal quality, and the build is simple enough that it makes a good second kit once you have done the Space Shuttle.
Its value is really in combination. Set alongside the standard grey F-16 later in this list, it forms a matched pair on the same tooling generation and a comparable footprint, which reads well on a shelf. Part number TH14.
Its 4.3 average sits in the middle of the ratings in this roundup, and the marks it does lose are physical rather than cosmetic. Several buyers report cheap plastic and a fragile landing gear wheel, with one describing a wheel detaching within a week of ordinary handling. Handle it by the fuselage and avoid setting it down on its gear.
Why it works as a pair?
Two F-16s in two different display schemes is the closest thing the egg plane range offers to a matched set. If you are building a collection rather than a single model, that is worth more than any individual kit’s rating.
Where quality varies?
If the gear legs are already loose in the box, superglue them before assembly. And expect a lower finish standard than the A-6 or the F/A-18, which reviewers consistently hold up as the better moulded kits in the line.
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6. Hasegawa Egg Plane F-15 Eagle – The Best First Jet Build
Hasegawa “Egg Plane F-15 Eagle Model Kit
★★★★★★★★★★7.87 x 4.72 x 2.36 inches, 3.5 ounces
Part number TH1, Egg Plane series
Includes metal barrels and seat belts
- Fun afternoon build that assembles quickly
- Decals are enjoyable to apply and give a detailed finish
- Owners report the kit arrives intact
- Cartoonish egg design appeals to off-beat modellers
- Around a 1mm gap at the rear of the canopy
- Older tooling and fit below modern standards
- Moderate surface detail for experienced modellers
The F-15 is the kit we recommend to someone moving up from snap-together aircraft toys into a real modelling build. Reviewers call it a fun afternoon that assembles quickly, and the decal work is described as genuinely enjoyable rather than a chore, which is the main thing that separates it from the entry kits.
It is 7.87 x 4.72 x 2.36 inches and 3.5 ounces, part number TH1, and the box includes metal barrels and seat belts as small metal parts. Owners note the egg plane design itself appeals to modellers who find the caricature style off-beat rather than childish, which is a fair description of the whole line.
It is an older mould, and reviewers say so. The most consistent complaint is a gap of around 1mm at the rear of the canopy after the halves are joined, and the general fit sits below what modern Hasegawa tooling produces. Surface detail is moderate, so experienced modellers tend to run out of things to do after twenty minutes.
Why it is our value pick for jets?
It is the entry point where the eggs start to matter. Before the F-15 you are building a toy-shaped object, after it you are building a recognisable aircraft that you can line up on a shelf in formation with a second one.
Where the older tooling shows?
Fill the canopy gap with filler or a thin scrape of bare plastic, and treat the surface detail as final rather than a starting point. Owners who are coming from newer kits notice the difference immediately, and that is the honest trade-off for this one.
Owner photos of the finished F-15 show how much the decal sheet changes the finished read. Out of the sprue it is a grey cartoon, and after an hour with the decals and the metal parts it is a grey cartoon with a very well-marked grey cartoon on top of it. That contrast is exactly the appeal for anyone who likes the process as much as the result.
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7. Hasegawa Egg Plane Zero Fighter – A Favourite Caricature in the Line
Hasegawa Egg Plane Zero Fighter Model Kit
★★★★★★★★★★8.66 x 1.57 x 5.51 inches
Part number TH8, listed 1:32
EGG PLANE Zero Fighter, decals included
- Cute sleek caricature of the historic Zero fighter
- Simple quick build that goes together well
- Great value for collectors of WWII Pacific aircraft
- No pilot figure included
- Very few panel lines and surface detail
The Zero carries one of the two highest average ratings in this roundup, sitting at 4.9 across 27 owners, and the reasons behind it are consistent. It is a sleek, simple caricature that builds quickly, and owners describe it as cute and as good value for anyone collecting Pacific theatre aircraft.
The Zero is the easiest of the three to look at from across a room, because that thin profile is what makes it read differently from every other egg plane on the shelf. The listed scale is 1:32, part number TH8, and the decals are included in the box.
There is no pilot figure, and the panel line and surface detail is minimal to the point that there is almost nothing to work on. Builders who want an egg plane they will spend an evening detailing should skip this one. Builders who want something that goes together fast and looks charming on a desk should not hesitate.
Why the rating is as high as it is?
It sets itself the easiest brief in the roundup. Nothing needs fixing, nothing needs cutting, nothing needs filling, and the result is recognisable as a Zero from across a room. Low expectations meet a high execution.
Where the charm stops?
The absence of a pilot and of any surface detail means there is no second session to be had. Once it is assembled and decaled, the build is finished, which is a virtue if you have eight more kits to get through and a limitation if you like a long evening with a kit.
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8. Hasegawa Egg Plane P-47 Thunderbolt – A Distinctive Shape for the Shelf
Hasegawa Egg Plane ~ P-47 Thunderbolt
★★★★★★★★★★4 x 6 x 2.5 inches
Part number HAS-60120, TH10
Easy assembly with decals and instructions included
- Fun uncomplicated build
- Distinctive design that stands out in a collection
- Looks good once finished
- Only a small number of customer reviews available
- Paint and glue are not included and must be supplied separately
The P-47 is the kit that gets asked about when someone walks past your desk. Reviewers repeatedly describe it as different from the usual kits in the line, and the reason is the shape. The Thunderbolt’s heavy fuselage and short wings translate into a silhouette few other egg planes match.
It builds without complications, comes with decals and instructions, and the 4.7 rating across 21 owners reflects a straightforward satisfaction. Part number HAS-60120, at 4 x 6 x 2.5 inches.
The main limitation is the amount of evidence behind it, not the build. It has the third-smallest review base in this roundup at 21 owners, so the 4.7 rating tells you less than the ratings on the A-6 or the Mustang. Buy it for the silhouette rather than for a long build.
Why it earns a place in a collection?
A shelf of egg planes all look broadly similar until something with a genuinely different outline arrives. The P-47 is one of the few kits here that fills that role, and it is the one people reach for when they want a model that is not another fighter.
Where the thin review base matters?
With 21 owners, a single unusually enthusiastic batch of reviews can move the number. The listing also notes that paint and glue are not included, so add a cement and a thinner to the parts list before you start.
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9. Hasegawa Egg Plane TBF/TBM Avenger – The Most Detailed Kit in the Roundup
Hasegawa TH28 Egg Plane TBF/TBM Avenger Model Kit
★★★★★★★★★★8.66 x 5.51 x 1.97 inches, 60 pieces
Part number TH28, Egg Plane series
Features a compound wing folding mechanism
- 60 piece kit
- largest part count in this roundup
- Easy to build with plenty of detail
- Full colour decals and easy to read instructions
- Longer build than most kits in this roundup
- Listed item weight does not match the model dimensions
The Avenger is the only kit in this roundup with a genuine mechanism to work on. At 60 pieces it carries the largest part count of the twelve kits here, well ahead of the simple fighters.
Owners rate it highly for the detail it offers, and the instructions are called easy to read with full colour decals, which is unusual and helpful. It is 8.66 x 5.51 x 1.97 inches, part number TH28, and the build is still described as easy. It is the pick for an experienced modeller entering the hobby who wants a bit more to do than an evening of pressing tabs.
The listed item weight is inconsistent with those dimensions, which tells you the packaging data is not something to plan around. There is also a longer build here than a simple fighter, so if you want a single-sitting evening this is not it.
Why it is the detail pick?
Everything else in this roundup is a stylised single-shape model. The Avenger is the one that rewards a builder who wants to spend time on it, and the folding wings are the detail that makes the extra length worth it.
Where it is not the right choice?
It is the longest build commitment in the roundup at 60 pieces and it has the second-smallest review base, at 18 owners. A brand new modeller starting with it is asking for a first project that is meaningfully longer than the average kit in the line.
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10. Hasegawa Egg Plane MV-22 Osprey – An Unusual Subject for the Shelf
Hasegawa “Egg Plane MV-22 Osprey Model Kit
★★★★★★★★★★20 cm long, 0.15 kg
Listed 1:72, part number TH25
Includes a small remote accessory
- One of the highest rated kits in the range
- Simple quick assembly with accurate proportions
- Novel tiltrotor subject gives real shelf presence
- Good value for a quick satisfying build
- Small number of customer reviews for the kit
- No surface detail to work with
The Osprey earns its place because no other aircraft in the egg plane range has a silhouette like it. A tiltrotor with two vertical nacelles is instantly recognisable, and owners say exactly that when they describe the shelf presence it gives.
It carries one of the two highest average ratings in this roundup at 4.9, with clean fit and accurate proportions reported against its listed 1:72 scale. It is 20 cm long and part number TH25, so it is a long model by egg plane standards and it builds quickly.
Sixteen owners is a small review base, and the rating should be read with that in mind. There is also little surface detail to work with once it is assembled, so the appeal is the shape and the clean build rather than the assembly itself.
Why it breaks up a collection?
A row of egg planes starts to blend together. The Osprey breaks that pattern, and because it is a post-Cold War aircraft rather than a warbird, it also gives a shelf that mixes eras a modern piece to balance against the Mustangs and the Thunderbirds F-16.
Where the small sample shows?
With the second-smallest review base here, there is less consensus on finish quality than the A-6 or the Mustang enjoys. Inspect the wings and nacelles for flash on arrival, because the protruding tips are the most likely place for it to hide.
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11. Hasegawa Egg Plane F-16 Fighting Falcon – The Straightforward F-16 Option
Hasegawa Egg Plane F-16 Fighting Falcon
★★★★★★★★★★4 x 6 x 2.5 inches, 0.2 kg
Part number HAS-60103, TH3, listed 1:72
Accurate markings and detailed instructions
- Easy to assemble with glue-on construction
- Highly detailed plastic with accurate markings
- Clear detailed instructions
- Approachable for beginners and nostalgic for adults
- Smaller than some buyers expect at the stated scale
- Paint and glue are not included and must be supplied separately
- A portion of buyers rate it 3 stars on size expectations
This is the plain grey F-16, and it is the version to buy if you want an F-16 rather than a display team. Reviewers describe it as fun, easy to build and highly detailed, often citing nostalgia for the Egg Plane line specifically, which is the clearest signal we found that the series still appeals to adults who built them years ago.
It is 4 x 6 x 2.5 inches and 0.2 kg, part number HAS-60103. The rating distribution is strongly positive, with 73 percent of ratings at five stars and no ratings at one or two stars, which is a healthier shape of feedback than several kits in this roundup have.
The recurring complaint is size. Owners say the finished model is smaller than they expected against the stated scale, and that is why a portion of buyers land on three stars. The listing also flags that paint and glue are not included, so budget for a cement and a thin-setting solution for the decals.
Owner photos of this kit tend to show it next to something full size, which is the only reliable way to judge it. It is a desk model rather than a display cabinet model, and the decals and markings do most of the work at that size.
Why it pairs with the Thunderbirds F-16?
Two jets make a convincing pair. The Thunderbirds F-16 in this roundup shares the same aircraft on a comparable footprint, and the display team version adds the pilot figure the plain kit lacks.
Where the size expectation bites?
Measure your shelf space first. At four inches by six inches it is the smallest airframe in this list, and buyers who ordered expecting a full 1:72 scale fighter were the ones who rated it lowest.
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12. Hasegawa Egg Plane AV-8 Harrier – The One Worth Painting
Hasegawa “Egg Plane AV-8 Harrier Model Kit
★★★★★★★★★★7.87 x 4.72 x 2.36 inches
Part number TH19, listed 1:72
Egg Plane series, manual assembly, no battery
- Accurate representation of the real AV-8 Harrier
- Fun quick build for model kit hobbyists
- Well received for value
- Pairs well with the rest of the Egg Plane series
- Some components must be painted on the sprue to reach engine areas
- Recommended for ages 14 and up
- Some buyers cite unfinished-looking detail in low reviews
The Harrier is the kit in this roundup where the listing’s own advice matters most, and the advice is good. Several components have to be painted while they are still attached to the sprue so you can reach the engine areas, and owners who follow that tip report a much better result than those who assemble first and try to paint afterwards.
Owners like how closely the finished model resembles the real Harrier, and the build is quick. Part number TH19, listed at 1:72 and measuring 7.87 x 4.72 x 2.36 inches. For anyone collecting the range it is a natural fit alongside the other jets.
It has the lowest average rating in the set at 4.0 across 14 owners, and the reason is a rating tail rather than a consistent complaint. Most of the feedback sits at five stars, but a noticeable number of one and two star ratings cite unfinished-looking detail, which is a fair criticism of a kit that is clearly a stylised caricature rather than a finished product.
Why it is worth the extra step?
It is the only kit in this roundup that actively benefits from paint, and for a modeller who wants a reason to open a paint pot, that turns a limitation into the most rewarding part of the build. The engine areas are the reason to try it.
Where the low ratings come from?
If you are buying this expecting a display-ready model on opening the box, you will be disappointed. If you are buying it as a painting exercise, the same unfinished detail becomes the reason to open the kit at all.
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How to Choose a Hasegawa Egg Plane Kit?
Choose on subject first, then on what is in the box. Every kit in this roundup builds in an evening or two, so the differences that actually change your experience are the pilot figure, the part count and the tooling generation, not the difficulty of assembly.
Start with the aircraft. The subject matters more than anything else here. A P-51, a Zero and a P-47 give you a coherent propeller-era set, while the F-15, F-16 and F/A-18 give you a modern jet set. If you already own one era, the other is the better buy.
Check for a pilot figure. Only the F/A-18 Blue Angels and the F-16 Thunderbirds include one in this roundup. The Space Shuttle ships an astronaut figure instead, with a shapeable metal tether.
Check the part count. The Avenger has 60 pieces and a folding wing mechanism; the Space Shuttle has 30; the other kits are far simpler. A higher part count means a longer sitting, not a harder build.
Check the tooling generation. Older kits such as the F-15 Eagle carry older tooling and a fit that reviewers describe as below modern standards, including a canopy gap that needs attention.
Set your size expectation. The plain F-16 measures 4 x 6 x 2.5 inches and is the model buyers most often describe as smaller than expected. The A-6, the Avenger and the Zero have the largest airframes in the set.
Decide how many you are building. If the answer is more than one, buy across eras and liveries. If it is one, buy the aircraft you would enjoy looking at for the next ten years.
Two habits make the difference for a first-timer. Read the whole instruction sheet before clipping anything, because the order of assembly matters more in a snap-fit kit than intuition suggests. And lay the parts out in a line beside you, in the order they are used, so you are not hunting through sprue nubs with a scalpel at the halfway point.
If you enjoy the satisfaction of a project that goes together cleanly from a set of parts, our picks on the best terrarium kits apply the same logic in a different medium, and it is worth checking what tools you already own before starting. If you would rather practise a finishing step before committing to a decalled airframe, our guide to the best cerakote kits covers the coating side of a careful build.
Tools and Paint for Egg Plane Builds
You need very little, and that is the point of the format. A sharp pair of side cutters, a liquid cement thin enough to wick into a joint, and a decal setting solution covers every kit in this roundup except the ones that need paint.
Side cutters. A cheap precision pair is fine. The gear legs on the F-16 Thunderbirds and the wingtip missiles on the F/A-18 are the two places where a flush cut matters, and cheap cutters snap thin parts.
Cement. Thin, fast-drying liquid cement is better than thick glue for tab-and-slot construction because it flows into the joint instead of squeezing out around it. The listings for the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the Space Shuttle both note that glue is not included, so buy your own.
Decal tools. The P-51 decals are very small and the F/A-18 has a large V-shaped decal that fights curved surfaces. Setting solution plus a clean pair of tweezers is the difference between a neat finish and a wrinkled one.
Paint, if you want it. Only the Harrier benefits from paint out of the box, and its engine areas have to be painted on the sprue. A single satin grey, satin black and a light grey covers it.
Where to Buy Hasegawa Egg Plane Kits in the USA?
Hasegawa egg planes are Japanese-manufactured and most of them reach the United States through import sellers rather than mainstream hobby chains. The retailers that consistently stock the range are HobbyLink Japan, Discovery Japan, Japan Figure, Sprue Brothers Models, Hobbylinc, rcjaz.com and gundamplanet.com.
The practical difference between sellers is not the kit. It is what the same box costs you at the till, and the same part number can appear very differently between them. Kit numbers are stable across retailers, so searching by the manufacturer part number in the packaging data, such as TH7 for the P-51 or TH28 for the Avenger, is the most reliable way to find an exact match rather than a visually similar listing.
Two buying habits reduce the frustration. Check whether the listing names the manufacturer part number and the piece count, because generic egg plane listings often blur several aircraft together. And if you are chasing a complete set, buy the aircraft by number in one order where you can, because partial range coverage is the normal condition at any single seller.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who makes the best model plane kits?
For a first kit or a quick evening project, Hasegawa egg planes are the strongest answer, because the moulding quality is high, the instructions are readable and the builds finish in an afternoon. For accurate-scale detail work, you want a conventional 1:72 kit from a larger manufacturer instead, since an egg plane is deliberately a stylised caricature with very little surface detail. The two categories answer different questions rather than competing directly.
What is the best airplane kit to build?
The best airplane kit to build depends on your experience. For a complete beginner we would pick the Hasegawa Egg Plane Space Shuttle, because it has 30 parts, an included astronaut figure, almost no flash and forgiving joins. For a first jet build with a satisfying decal sheet, the F-15 Eagle is the better pick. For the longest single sitting, the TBF/TBM Avenger has 60 pieces and a folding wing mechanism.
Which airplane model is the best?
Within this roundup the A-6 Intruder is the strongest all-round choice. It has the largest review base, the highest rated moulding and fit, a large decal sheet and a build that finishes in one evening. The Zero Fighter and the MV-22 Osprey carry the highest average ratings in the group, but each has noticeably fewer owner reports behind it, so the A-6 is the safer recommendation.
Are Hasegawa egg plane kits good for beginners?
Yes, they are one of the best beginner options in scale modelling, because they are pre-painted, snap together from tabs and need no filler or paint to look finished. Two things catch first-timers out. The small parts need a sharp pair of cutters, and the decals on kits like the P-51 are very small, so a thin-setting solution and tweezers make a real difference. Read the full instruction sheet before you clip the first part.
Do Hasegawa egg plane kits need glue or paint?
The parts snap together and most kits do not strictly require paint, since the airframes are moulded pre-painted. A thin liquid cement is still worth having because the tab joints are far stronger with it and the listings for kits such as the F-16 Fighting Falcon note that glue is not included. The AV-8 Harrier is the exception: several components, including the engine areas, have to be painted while they are still on the sprue.
What scale are Hasegawa egg plane kits?
Egg planes are super deformed models and they do not sit in a true scale, which is why the range is sometimes described as 1:Egg. Some retail listings quote 1:72 or 1:32 loosely, and the P-51 and the F-16 Fighting Falcon are both listed at 1:72, but that figure is packaging shorthand rather than an accurate relationship with a full-scale kit. Never compare an egg plane to a standard model by the number on the box.
Where can I buy Hasegawa egg plane kits in the USA?
The range is mostly sold through Japanese import sellers rather than mainstream US hobby chains. Retailers that consistently stock it include HobbyLink Japan, Discovery Japan, Japan Figure, Sprue Brothers Models, Hobbylinc, rcjaz.com and gundamplanet.com. The same kit can vary a lot between sellers, so search by the manufacturer part number found on the packaging, such as TH7 for the P-51 Mustang or TH28 for the TBF/TBM Avenger.
Final Verdict: The Best Hasegawa Egg Plane Kit in 2026
The A-6 Intruder takes our top recommendation in 2026 because it combines fit and machining that reviewers call outstanding, a large decal sheet, the widest body of owner feedback and a build that finishes in a single evening.
Buy the Space Shuttle if the build is for someone who has never made a kit before, the P-51 Mustang if you want the best-finished warbird, and the TBF/TBM Avenger if you want the longest session and something with a working wing mechanism. For a matched shelf pair, the two F-16 Fighting Falcons in this roundup are the closest thing the range offers to a set.
Whichever you choose, put the cutters, the cement and the decal solution on the table before you open the box. That is the whole difference between a two-hour kit and a two-evening one.