Meng AIR Modeller – April-May 2019

Can you believe it’s around five years since Italeri introduced the

exciting large scale F-104 with a few options of single seater

versions, we now are offered the natural follow-up with the two

seater / trainer TF-104G. We’re reminded instantly what a huge

model this kit produces with some pleasing detail as you’d expect

from an expensive kit in this scale. A small photoetch fret is as

‘fancy’ as Italeri usually get; this is included again along with the

option of displaying the tail removed and / or mounting the fully

rendered engine on a dolly / stand. More options include main

wheels, Lockheed or Martin Baker seats (with photoetched seat

belts provided), posable canopies, posable control surfaces and

avionic bay doors. Ordnance is left over from the previous kit but

the wing-tip and under-wing fuel tanks can still be used. The

instructions are very well done and a separate colour booklet

shows the superb marking options in full detail. The decal sheets

are poster sized! Printed by Cartograf we’re assured of quality

along with the quantity, no less than eight options cover two

Italian, German, Spanish, Canadian, U.S., Belgian and Dutch air

forces. No doubt these Italeri Starfighters are impressive display

pieces and a significant step-up from vintage kits of the subject

but at the price-point we’d expect a slightly sharper degree of

moulding finesse to match the best in the business.

Italeri 1:32 TF-104G Starfighter

A real blast from the past here from Italeri with the lesser known

(well, lesser than the He111) Ju 86 bomber. The typical 1930s

design is distinctive and full of character, from memory this is still

the only kit of the subject in 1:72 which has been released in many

guises since the mid '70s. So with no option you're stuck with

raised panel lines and basic detail, not a bad kit but certainly

dated by modern standards. A big bonus with this release is the

usual Italeri 'Super-decal' sheet which is well printed (if not a little

thick around the carrier film) offering six fetching schemes

including a Portuguese and South African version.

Italeri 1:72 Ju 86 E1 / E2

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