Archive for the ‘Kit Previews’ Category

Steve Budd (Agape forum member Dances with Wolves) provides us with this very thorough examination of Airfix’s newly released “Emil”. And it sounds like it is a great kit to build- if you can get your hands on one! Thanks so much for this review, brother Steve!

Review References
Histoire & Collections Messerschmitt Me109 Volume 1 ‘From 1936 to 1942 by Anis Elbied and Andre Jouineau. SAM Publications Modellers Datafile No 9 The Messerschmitt Bf109 Part 1: Prototype to ‘E’ Varients by Lynn Ritger.

Prologue
As iconic to the Germans as the Spitfire is to the British, Willy Messerschmitt’s compact and hugely distinctive little fighter remained in service throughout World War II, proving the durability of its core design principals. Read the rest of this entry »

Agape forum member Roy McKenzie (wyoroy) sent in this very thorough kit preview for Airfx’s new-tooling B-57B Canberra. Thanks so much Roy!

Some time ago I purchased the new Airfix 1/48 scale Martin B-57B Canberra.

Being 1/48 scale make sure you have plenty of shelf space as this bomber is a shelf hog.  When built the length from nose to tail is 406 -mm (16”) with a wingspan of 416mm (16.4”).  The large box contains 8 part trees 1 of with is the clear parts for a total of 120 pieces.  The large instruction booklet contains 36 steps with different options depending on which of the 3 versions you are building.  The color notes are for Humbrol paints only.

The overall look upon first inspection is that the parts are crisp with no flash, recessed panel line and a few ejector pin marks.  Some of the ejector pin marks are in some hard to remove places.  The bomb bay has 11 marks that will need to be cleaned up. Read the rest of this entry »

Airfix shows off their new style of box art- looks great!

If you’ve not read AgapeModels.com for long, I need to let you in on a minor detail about myself. I love Spitfires. Any scale, any make, any mark, any time, any place. And I get especially excited about Airfix Spitfires. Something about the iconic British model maker producing the iconic British aircraft just seems to fit.

And since Hornby rescued Airfix, I’ve been quite happy to see that not only have they continued releasing the “classic” Airfix molds of various Spitfires, they’ve also been tooling up new versions.

When I saw that one of the releases for 2009 would be a new-tool 1/72nd Spitfire Mk. XIX, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on one. Trouble is, it’s taken a while.

The kit was actually released several months ago, but up until now I could only find it for order on UK sites. And while the kit price was not a problem, the shipping was sky-high. So I decided to wait until it “crossed the pond” so to speak, and arrived at US distributors.

I waited and waited. And I never saw it in a US catalog. Now, I’m sure someone had it, but I never saw it. So I emailed my good friend and local salsa dancing legend, Mike Starling, at the best model shop on the planet, Hayes Hobby House. His reply came back quicker than 3 jumbo chili dogs on a roller coaster- “Stop bothering me, you pest.”

OK, he didn’t say that, exactly. I think his exact words were “It’ll be here Wednesday.” Read the rest of this entry »

Brian McClatchie send in this preview of Czech Models’ recently released “Bamboo Bomber”.

History
The Cessna T-50 Bobcat was designed as a commercial light transport that first flew in 1939. It is a twin-engined, low wing monoplane that seats 5. Construction is of wood and tubular steel frame covered in fabric. In 1940, the U.S. Army ordered a military standard (the AT-8) that gave rise to several additional models with various changes in equipment and engines. It performed the roles of civil and military transport, multi-engine trainer and general utility aircraft. It also served the Brazilian and Nationalist Chinese Air Forces during the post-war years. It appeared in at least 18 variants and sub-variants, like the civilian T-50, U.S. Army AT-17 and UC-78, U.S. Navy JRC-1 and the RCAF Crane I, with a total production exceeding 5,400 aircraft. A handful still fly to this day. It’s most well known role was that of the Songbird, flown by Sky King (Grant Kirby) in the 1950’s TV show of the same name. Other nicknames for the T-50 include the Bamboo Bomber, Useless-78, Brasshat, the Double-Breasted Cub, Rhapsody in Glue, the Wichita Wobbler, Boxkite and the San Joaquin Beaufighter. Read the rest of this entry »

Steve Budd received his recently ordered Bristol Fighter from Wingnut Wings …. you may have heard of them recently? He shares this in-depth kit preview.

Genesis of a Fighter
Of all the British aircraft designs that took to the air during the Great War, only the Bristol aircraft company’s F.2b was universally both loved and respected by its crews – other British types varied in their reception; ranging from outright hate to love; certainly the latter in the case of Sopwith’s brilliant Camel, which was nonetheless qualified affection by carrying with it an aura of fear prompted by its propensity to fatally bite those who failed to operate it as the design demanded.

By mid-war, the Royal Flying Corp (RFC) realised that its reconnaissance capability was sorely in need of a much more capable and self reliant aircraft than the BE 2c then in service. So it was that Frank Barnwell, Chief Engineer at British Aeroplane Limited in Bristol, tabled his new design, the R 2A (‘R’ for reconnaissance I presume) as a direct competitor to the Royal Aircraft Factory’s BE 2c replacement – the RE 8, which essential swapped the pilot’s and observer’s positions so that the pilot sat in front (can you imagine being a gunner, sat partially under the top wing, trying to find any worthwhile field of fire and shooting in the broad direction of the pilot…). Read the rest of this entry »

Ken Judt submitted this kit preview of Academy’s F/A-18A Hornet. From the sound of it, this is a very nice kit! Thanks Ken!

History: (From Wikipedia.org)
The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F/A-18 Hornet is an all-weather carrier-capable multirole fighter jet, designed to attack both ground and aerial targets. Designed in the 1970s for service with the United States Navy and Marine Corps, the Hornet is also used by the air forces of several other nations. It has been the aerial demonstration aircraft for the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels since 1986. Its primary missions are fighter escort, fleet air defense, suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD), interdiction, close air support and reconnaissance. Its versatility and reliability have proven it to be a valuable carrier asset. Read the rest of this entry »

Jeff Adair (jeff8600) sent in this preview of Revell’s great big honkin’ Ju-88.

History:
Designed by Hugo Junkers’ Junkers company in the mid 1930s, the Ju-88 became one of the most versatile combat aircraft of the war. It was used successfully as a bomber, dive bomber, night fighter, torpedo bomber, reconnaissance aircraft, heavy fighter, and even as a flying warhead during the closing months of World War II.

The Kit:
My hats off to Revell Germany on this kit. Here’s what you get… 255 parts crisply molded in light gray and 26 cleat parts. I was only able to find a few injector marks over the entire kit and they were on the landing gear doors and not very noticeable. The cockpit is beautiful comprising of about 125 parts. Read the rest of this entry »

Shortly after Hornby purchased Airfix in late 2006, rescuing the iconic British model-maker, I had the chance to talk to Airfix’s product manager, Martyn Weaver. At the interview’s conclusion, I wrote “Mr. Weaver concluded his answers by saying that under Hornby Hobbies LTD., the ‘future looks bright for Airfix.’”

Since that time, Hornby has guided Airfix through some great releases, all stepping up the quality of Airfix kits. So when I heard they were releasing a 1/48 TSR-2, I was very excited.

Just before Airfix went into receivership under the Humbrol ownership, they had released a 1/72 scale TSR-2 that made quite an impact on the market. For an aircraft that never made it into production, it caused quite a stir. Every UK modeling magazine I read here in the US had articles about it. Various companies released aftermarket sets of resin and decals. Though the kit itself was met with only lukewarm  reviews, it sold quickly. And even after Airfix went through all it did in 2006, the 1/72 scale TSR-2 commanded very high prices on Ebay.

Obviously, the “new” Airfix took note of the interest in the kit, as well as the criticisms of it. And in releasing another boxing of it- as a 1/48 scale limited edition- I’d have to say they got it all right for the most part! Read the rest of this entry »

History
In September 1952 the United States Navy called for a carrier based supersonic fighter, Chance Vought answered the call.

In June 1953 the Navy made the decision for Chance Voughts V-383 design and the F-8 Crusader was born! On the 25th of March 1955 the Crusader made its maiden flight and set a record for being the first aircraft to reach supersonic speeds on its first flight.

During the Vietnam War the F-8 had the highest kill ratio of any other Navy jet. Its 19:3 ratio included 16 Mig-19s and 3 Mig-21s. The aircrafts achievements in Vietnam earned it the name of “Mig Master”

The Crusader was the last American fighter to be designed with guns as its primary weapon thus giving it the title of “The Last Gun Fighter”. The four Colt Mk 12 cannons had 125 rounds of 20mm each and could fire 1000 RPM at 3,300 ft/s.

The F-8 was used by the US Navy, US Marines, French Navy and the Philippine Air Force. It was in service with reserve squadrons of the US Navy until the 29th of March 1987 (RF-8) and until the 15th of December 1999 with the French Navy.

Read the rest of this entry »

The older I get the more nostalgic I get. I find myself longing for the simpler days of youth. Thankfully, I can still get a dose of it through this hobby. Hobby. HOBBY. More on that later…..

I’ve been on an odd kick in my building lately. My friend Mike Grant sent me a couple of 1/72 Italian biplanes, a SuperModel CR.32 and an Italeri CR.42, and for some reason they sparked my interest in Golden Era and WWII biplanes. Which sparked others enthusiasm on the Agape Forums, and the subject of Monogram’s old F11C-2 Goshawk came up. Which prompted me to keep an eye out on Ebay for one of those kits.

Which brings me to the subject of this preview- a wonderful, three kit Monogram set from 1968 called “Fighting Planes of the Thirties”. I picked it up on Ebay for $9.00 or so. Not a bad price for an F4B-4, P-6E, and an F112C-2.

The memories were a bonus.

The kits themselves- individually- are classics. Accurate Miniatures recently re-released the F4B and P-6 as a set, and they sold like hotcakes. Sold out, in fact. And there is still a fairly brisk business on the Internet for these kits- both originals and re-releases. (Hint, hint, Revell…)

Read the rest of this entry »

The IPMS chapter I belong to, Lafayette Scale Modelers, recently held it’s annual show and contest. As at most shows, a raffle was held. Part of the raffle was a table full of Hobbyboss’ 1/72 scale Easy Assembly kits- the whole line of them.

As at most raffles, I came away with a good haul. For my $10 of tickets, I walked away with (among other things) Hobbyboss’ Spitfire Mk. Vb/Trop. (My son picked up 3 Hobbyboss Bf-109s!)

I’ve heard good and bad about thse Hobbyboss kits. I’ve already built one of their P-40s, and though it was quite simplistic in terms of detail, it was a fun build, and turned out pretty decent looking- especially given the fact that these kits cost less than $10.

So I thought I’d share my impressions of Hobbyboss’ Spitfire- my all-time favorite airplane.

Read the rest of this entry »

Drew Hatch sent in this preview of Czech Model’s JRF Goose, a fun looking kit that would certainly be a neat addition to any modelers’ display shelf.

Grumman’s Goose is almost instantly recognizable to the masses. It’s robust airframe and distinct design have allowed it remain flyable since 1937 to present. Although initially designed to fill a gap as an amphibious civilian transport, military applications were immediately recognized.

The coastal patrol, utility transport and air-sea rescue duties performed by the Goose were it’s mainstay. Later variants were capable of bombs and depth charges and was typically operated by a two man crew. In it’s civilian role it was able to carry up to 6 passengers, had a bar and a toilet in its 39’ 7” long fuselage!

Read the rest of this entry »

The Focke-Wulf Fw-190 is one of the “iconic” aircraft in the WWII modeling stable. While there are dozens of aircraft from the WWII era that hobbyists can choose from, the Fw-190 is usually at the top of the list when it comes to sheer popularity. No surprise there- it was a great looking aircraft, with lots of variants and marking schemes.

A few years ago when Eduard released a newly tooled Fw-190, it was welcomed by the modeling community and hailed as one of the great kits when it was first released. It did receive some criticism, principally that of a bit over-engineered and difficult to build. Still, it’s stood well, and Eduard has released several more variants.

But enough about them- let’s focus on Accurate Miniatures Fw-190A-8.

Yes, it’s a rebox of the Eduard kit. To that I say “great”. I enjoy building models, and I know anytime a company can release a kit- even a reboxing, it’s good for the hobby.

So let’s take a quick look at what Accurate Miniatures has packed into their box.

Read the rest of this entry »

Steve Budd sent in this great preview of Pacific Coast Models’ Spitfire Mk. IXc, an aircraft that you can never have to many of.

When I wrote my full build report for the 1:48 Airfix Spitfire MkI elsewhere on the site I commented: “Has there ever been an aircraft type modelled in plastic that’s been more heavily scrutinised with each release than Mitchell’s Spitfire? It seems that the many compound and subtle curves of this quintessentially British and uniquely beautiful aircraft have taxed the abilities of toolmakers to the limit and beyond. Launching a Spit at the modelling public has become something of a white knuckle experience for manufacturers, as they brace themselves each time for the jury’s decision on their product”.

A modelling friend spoke to Ken Lawrence (of PCM), when he first mooted the intention to release a big scale Mk IX, cautioning that he needed to ensure that the product was thoroughly researched and accurate. It’s apparent from what’s in the box that Ken certainly took that to heart and gave the designer of the superb Czech Master Resin 1:72 kits significant input in the creation of the PCM model.

Read the rest of this entry »

Will Nichols (“Spaced” on the AgapeModels.com forums) just received his order of Accurate Miniature’s F-4C/D Pahntom, and couldn’t wait to share it with us. And I’m glad he did- I’ve been waiting to see this one!

Much can be said and has been said about the McDonnell F-4 Phantom. “Rhino”, and “Lead Sled” are two nicknames that come to mind, along with a corny old joke about two crows sitting on a wire when a Phantom flies overhead, but it’s not repeatable in polite company. A description of the Phantom has been given that if you strap a brick to a shingle, and give it big enough engines, it will fly super sonic. The introductory article alone in the kit instructions take a full page, and list no less than eight good books and magazine articles for further reading about the Phantom.

This is the Phantoms Phiftieth Anniversary, as celebrated by IPMS Phantom Phlashers and the Metro-Atlanta IPMS chapters this summer. Somewhere around the world, a Phantom is defending the skies of its homeland, from the Middle East to Asia, and points in between. Read the rest of this entry »

Drew Hatch has a new addition to the stash, the unique looking Draken, new from Hasegawa. I have to admit, I don’t know a lot about the history of this aircraft, though I’ve always thought it to be a pretty darn cool looking machine. Then again, knowledge of a kit’s history isn’t required for assembly! (Though it is part of the fun researching it!)

Hasagawas new J-35F/J Draken has been a long awaited subject in 1/48th. The kit comes with 109 parts molded in Hasagawas usual light gray & clear plastic. Paints are keyed to Gunze Aqueous and Mr. Color enamels. The instructions include a basic history, parts map and finishing guide. The 11 step assembly is fairly straight forward.

Read the rest of this entry »

Drew Hatch is back with one of the most talked about kits to come out recently, Eduard’s 1/48 F6F-3 Hellcat. It’s been the talk of many a message board. I guess it proves any publicity is good publicity, because as far as I can tell, it’s flying off the shelves like…. well like Hellcats off a carrier deck! Let’s see what Drew has to say, now that’s he’s held the plastic in his hands, and see how he judges it!

When Eduard announced they were releasing a new tooled 1/48 scale kit of the Hellcat, a collective ‘thump’ was heard over the modeling community. That “thump” was all the Hasegawa kits we had going back on the shelves. The anticipation was severe, as were our expectations for this kit following on the heels of their Me-110 series. Let me say, I’m not disappointed! Read the rest of this entry »

I don’t know if I’ll ever tire of modeling. It’s a hobby that relaxes me and clears my mind of the day’s work. And praise the Lord it’s the basis for my ministry! You can’t beat that with a stick.

One thing modeling can become is a search for something a little different. I love building the old standbys- most of us do or the shelves of the local hobby shop wouldn’t be filled with them. Still, every now and then it’s nice for something to come along that is just a bit different.

Into this “just a bit different” gap comes another racer from Accurate Miniatures, the 1/48 F2G Super Corsair. I’d seen on AM’s blog recently that the F2G was shipping (as well as their P-400) and was looking forward to getting one. I dropped by my favorite model shop, Hayes Hobby House in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and what do you know? It was right there on the shelf, hollering for me to take it home. (And the P-400 was there, too, but it didn’t holler loud enough.)

And when I got it home, I was quite pleased with what I saw in the box. Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m on a short run kick. I just recently finished a P-66 from Sword. I’ve picked up a P-43 from Pavla, and two Spitfires- a Mk. XI and a Mk. XVIII- from MPM.

And today, fresh from it’s recent appearance on Ebay (I bid victoriously!), LTD’s 1/48 Commonwealth Boomerang arrived in good order.

I’m not sure why I’m on such a kick. While short run kits are not really too difficult to build for a modeler with a few kits completed on the shelf, they do require some work. They typically have quite a bit of flash, require a fair degree of parts cleanup, and careful test fitting and patience are required.

They also really stretch your modeling muscles, and generally the subjects kitted are fairly rare. So they do have a nice upside.

Of course, tucked inside the box of most short run kits is also my nemesis and arch enemy, Mr. Vacform Canopy. The Red Baron to my Snoopy. The Dr. Evil to my Austin Powers. The Super Bowl Ring to my Dan Marino. (Ok, that was uncalled for, I know……) Still, I press on.

What were we talking about? Oh yeah- the Boomerang kit! Read the rest of this entry »

New contributor Kevin Johnson gives us this nice preview of a very eye-catching kit, Tamiya’s F-84G in the colorful markings of the US Air Force’s Demonstration Team, the Thunderbirds.

Everyone likes to build a sharp-looking model. As a relatively new model builder, I’m usually happy just with showing an improvement over my previous effort. I tend to shy away from popular kits chock full of hundreds of details, or a dozen different optional configurations. Instead, I gravitate toward kits that I can reasonably build without the finished product screaming out my amateur status. I also like to try new techniques and stretch my skills a bit… and, oh by the way, the kit needs to be relatively cheap so that if I totally screw it all up, I won’t feel like I flushed a big chunk of my modeling budget. Not a whole lot to ask, right? Read the rest of this entry »