Kit: No. 04568
Scale: 1/48
Manufacturer: Revell Germany, www.revell.de
Price: $29
Comments: Injection-molded, 169 parts; decals for British (three RAF squadrons), German, Austrian, Italian, or Spanish markings
Pros: Excellent molding and fit, great selection of markings and ordnance, multiple construction options
Cons: Difficult iconic instructions, color references for Revell paints only
Developed by aerospace companies in Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom, the Eurofighter Typhoon will give these nations' air forces a world-class "swing role" aircraft well into the 21st century. Current orders for the Typhoon have exceeded 630 aircraft, with Austria being the first export customer.
Revell Germany's latest release of the Typhoon marks the first time this fighter has been kitted in 1/48 scale.
The kit comes molded in a light gray/ green plastic with sprues in individual bags. Transparent parts were thin and clear. However, the front canopy, molded 90 degrees from the sprue, had separated in transit and had a fine crack at one of the attachment points. Panel lines are finely engraved, though the aft top fuselage panel lines were not quite as fine as those on the underside. The wheel wells are realistically deep with plenty of detail.
The parts breakdown is conventional, with the fuselage molded in halves, separate fuselage spine, rear cockpit decking, and separately molded wings.
Modelers have plenty of construction choices - open or closed canopy; speed brake up or down; refueling probe open or closed; landing gear up or down; exhaust nozzles open or closed; with or without IR sensor - as well as underwing options: 1,000-liter drop tanks; Meteor, IRIS-T, AMRAAM, ASRAAM, Storm Shadow, Taurus, and Sidewinder missiles; a pair of GBU-24B Paveway III bombs; and a reconnaissance pod.
The decal sheet, which includes markings for all five air forces flying the Typhoon (including three RAF squadrons), is well-printed and features several small, realistic stencils for both the aircraft and ordnance.
Construction was straightforward, though I found the instructions difficult to follow. The drawings did not always clearly place parts or indicate national options.
Cockpit detail was adequate, providing the choice of painting the cockpit or using decals for the side consoles and the instrument panel. (I chose to paint and drybrush.) The ejection seat is a nicely detailed molding that includes seat belts.
Be careful separating the aft cockpit decking (part 43) from the sprue. The part has thin spots and flash that needs trimming to fit the fuselage and avoid problems fitting a closed canopy.
The speed brake would not sit flush, so I left it unglued. This let me install the speed-brake actuator and pose it open.
Another minor fit issue was the intake assembly, a complex shape that requires several test fits. I did get it to go together seamlessly, but I was not able to bring the center splitter plate flush with the top of the intake duct. If I were to build it again, I would deviate from the instructions to ensure the center splitter plate is attached to both the top and bottom of the intake duct before the duct goes into the fuselage.
However, I had no real complaint about the kit until it was time to paint. Revell Germany's instructions are limited to mixing Revell paints! So, it was off to the Internet for research. I ended up using Model Master British dark sea gray for the main color and light ghost gray for the radome and leading edges of the canards and vertical fin.
After a wash of black sludge, followed by a coat of Future, the Typhoon was ready for decals. I choose British markings and found the centers of the roundels were slightly askew. However, the decals needed only a quick dip in water to slide right off the sheet, and they dried with a nice, flat finish, although I did have to use Mr. Mark Softer to get them to conform to some of the panel lines. I followed decaling with a coat of Model Master enamel flat clear.
Overall, the molding of this kit is exceptional: With careful test-fitting, I did not need any seam fillers! The finished model sure looks like a Eurofighter Typhoon, and, comparing it to data on the Eurofighter Web site (www.eurofighter. com), it scales out almost right on the money. The fuselage is all of four scale inches short, and the wing span one scale inch too wide.
I spent only 20 hours on my model, and I'm quite happy with the results. It's obvious from the fuselage moldings that a two-seater will be offered in the future - and that will be a welcome addition to my ever-growing collection of modern jets!
- Jon Hergenrother