Review Topic: Aircraft
-
Kitty Hawk 1/48 scale F-35B Lightning II
This 1/48 scale F-35B, only the second kit from a new model company, Kitty Hawk, is a welcome release. Opening the box reveals 208 pieces, all of which (except the six clear parts) are molded in a dark gray, oily, soft yet brittle plastic that likes to tear as you remove it from the sprue.…
-
Meng 1/72 scale Convair F-102A
Meng surprised me with its brand-new 1/72 scale Convair F-102A plastic model kit. What pleased me is that Meng recognized there were two wing designs, and I was thrilled with the two-part clear canopy. The cockpit detail is good; the tub comes with the special “two-fisted” control stick and a mount for the open canopy.
-
Academy 1/35 U.S. Army RQ-7B UAV
Academy has released a 1/35 scale U.S. Army RQ-7B UAV plastic model kit. Inside the box, there there aren’t a lot of parts — no clear parts, no photoetched metal or resin. But sometimes less is more. Included are the RQ-7B, two figures, and a display stand — everything you need to make a diorama…
-
Kitty Hawk 1/48 scale SEPECAT Jaguar
The Kitty Hawk 1/48 scale SEPECAT Jaguar plastic model kit is packed into a deceptively small box. I thought there was no way a 1/48 scale Jaguar could come in such a small box. But Kitty Hawk proved me wrong; inside, there are 313 injection-molded pieces on nine sprues. There is also a small fret…
-
Gallery Models 1/48 scale H-34 U.S. Navy Rescue helicopter
Gallery Models’ 1/48 scale H-34 U.S. Navy Rescue helicopter plastic model kit features fine panel lines, two photoetched frets with all the screening on the forward fuselage and the housing at the hop of the tail for the rotor. You also get seat bels for the pilot and copilot, and seats in the cargo bay.
-
HobbyBoss 1/48 scale An-2 Colt
It seems as if the modeling world is starting to produce as many An-2 Colt kits as the Soviets did in real life. (Well, OK, maybe not more than 18,000.) HobbyBoss now enters the fray with its 1/48 scale plastic model kit, which offers some options not yet seen. Included are skis and a cropdusting…
-
Zvezda 1/144 scale Tu-134
Being a big fan of Russian airliners, I was really excited to hear Zvezda was releasing a newly tooled 1/144 scale Tu 134 plastic model kit. The gray styrene molding includes a sturdy display stand. Surface detail is outstanding, with finely engraved panel lines that are among the best I have ever seen. Unlike some…
-
Sword 1/72 scale Harrier Mk.2/2A-TAV-8A
Sword’s new 1/72 scale Harrier I Mk.2/2A-TAV-8A plastic model kit is a welcome addition to fill a weak spot in the hobby market. The fuselage (except for alternate two-piece nose cones) is molded in halves. Optional short and tall vertical fins are also provided, as are a pair of Aden gun pods for the aircraft’s…
-
Airfix 1/72 scale P-51D
Airfix’s all-new P-51D Mustang plastic-model kit includes optional parts for raised or lowered flaps and extended or retracted gear. Posable items include the rudder, canopy, and radiator belly-scoop-outlet door. Airfix omitted a few details in the kit’s beautiful scribing — the elevator mass balances and the dzus fasteners along the length of the upper cowling…
-
Hasegawa 1/200 scale Boeing 787-8
Hasegawa has released a newly tooled 787-8 Dreamliner plastic model kit in its infrequent 1/200 scale series of airliners. Hasegawa’s Dreamliner may not have many parts (67), but it doesn’t lack detail where it counts. There are no cabin or cockpit windows included, but these are ably covered on the decal sheet. Only one scheme…