Post by fishplanebeer on Apr 14, 2013 22:44:38 GMT
Just bought this new kit and seriously impressed, even if it is a bit pricey at ten quid more that the Revell equivalent.
Seems to have all the bits to build a standard BI/III as well, including a choice of tail turrets as in the Tamiya 48th scale plus needle blade/paddle blade props and shrouded/un-shrouded exhaust options, so really comprehensive.
Haven't fully checked against any scale plans as yet, other than the fuselage shape, but it looks spot on, and if you are not obsessive about the depth of the panel lines (a debate for another day), then this has to be the best option out there. It even has the three nav lights for the underside of the fuselage and actual propeller hubs, along with the Type-E bomb trolley for the Upkeep weapon.
With a modicum of sprue work and maybe PE seat belts and resin replacement gun barrels (not that the kit ones are too bad) then it could be built straight from the box without spending a fortune on after-market extras. This is the true test in my view of how good any kit is. The fact that the forward fairing ahead of the bomb can be modelled as split/open, which was required to load the bomb, along with a Coles 10-ton crane to lift the tail, means the diorama possibilities are enhanced as well (the actual clearance between the bomb and the fuselage was just 3 inches!)
All in all a superb kit and akin to the recent Revell Ju88A4 in terms of the level of detail, so in my view definitely worth the extra cost as no other kit comes close. No, I don't work for Airfix but I've bought and built all the others over the years and this is a real step up in terms of quality and detail, so let's just hope the BII is similar.
Let me know if I've missed anything in my enthusiasm and albeit hasty review of the kit.
Regards
Colin.
Ps. the one minor criticism given the level of detail throughout the kit is the surprising omission of clear parts for the wing tip nav lights and the solid moulding of the two upper fuselage vision/hatch windows?
Seems to have all the bits to build a standard BI/III as well, including a choice of tail turrets as in the Tamiya 48th scale plus needle blade/paddle blade props and shrouded/un-shrouded exhaust options, so really comprehensive.
Haven't fully checked against any scale plans as yet, other than the fuselage shape, but it looks spot on, and if you are not obsessive about the depth of the panel lines (a debate for another day), then this has to be the best option out there. It even has the three nav lights for the underside of the fuselage and actual propeller hubs, along with the Type-E bomb trolley for the Upkeep weapon.
With a modicum of sprue work and maybe PE seat belts and resin replacement gun barrels (not that the kit ones are too bad) then it could be built straight from the box without spending a fortune on after-market extras. This is the true test in my view of how good any kit is. The fact that the forward fairing ahead of the bomb can be modelled as split/open, which was required to load the bomb, along with a Coles 10-ton crane to lift the tail, means the diorama possibilities are enhanced as well (the actual clearance between the bomb and the fuselage was just 3 inches!)
All in all a superb kit and akin to the recent Revell Ju88A4 in terms of the level of detail, so in my view definitely worth the extra cost as no other kit comes close. No, I don't work for Airfix but I've bought and built all the others over the years and this is a real step up in terms of quality and detail, so let's just hope the BII is similar.
Let me know if I've missed anything in my enthusiasm and albeit hasty review of the kit.
Regards
Colin.
Ps. the one minor criticism given the level of detail throughout the kit is the surprising omission of clear parts for the wing tip nav lights and the solid moulding of the two upper fuselage vision/hatch windows?