Airfix have made good use
of their Light Detection and
Ranging (LIDAR) surface mapping
technology to capture the contours
of the British Phantom, scanning
the FGR.2 airframe at Duxford to
create what ought to be the most
accurately shaped example around.
Their translation of the computer
model into a plastic model appears
to have been achieved successfully.
The kit arrives in the usual
strong red box with lots of pale
grey plastic parts, and a single
clear sprue with optional open
or closed canopies. There’s a
single decal sheet that bears the
main markings and around 300
stencils. Three marking options
are provided, all in Extra Dark
Sea Grey (EDSG) over white:- XT864, 892 Naval Air Squadron,
HMS Ark Royal, 1974-1975. - XT864, 767 Naval Air Squadron,
RNAS Yeovilton, 1971. - XT867, Naval Air Support
Unit, RNAS Yeovilton, 1969.
At the time of this build the
aftermarket hadn’t quite caught
up with this release, and there are
few specific upgrades available –
no doubt a situation which will be
remedied quickly. The only extra
I planned to use was Xtradecal’s
sheet (X72268), covering other
892 Sq airframes, and specifically,
those used for cross-decking
with the USS Saratoga in 1978,
sporting Colonial Navy lettering
and variants of the US star.INITIAL LOOK-SEE
The moulding appears typical of
recent Airfix issues, presented
in a pale grey, rather soft plastic,
with noticeable mould release
lines, some minor flash, and
some small sink marks. Whilst
looking fit for purpose, the overall
impression is that the parts aren’t
quite as crisp as some Far Eastern
or European competitors.
The cockpit is a slight
disappointment: the seats are
reasonable albeit quite simplified,
but the consoles and instrument
panels are only presented as flat,
monochrome decals. Given thatthere is the opportunity to open
the canopies, some texture to
the panels and some colour for
the instruments and switchgear
would have been beneficial.
The weapons sprue is the least
refined, the missile bodies being
devoid of detail, and their wings
and canards being quite thick.
The quality of the plastic
notwithstanding, the kit has
some very desirable features. The
airframe can be modelled in a
number of configurations, from
clean in-flight, through ready- to-
launch, to parked and undergoing
maintenance. Each of these has
the appropriate arrangement of
folded or deployed wings, extended
or shortened nose wheel strut,deployed or stowed flaps, slats, tail
hook, and air brakes, and open or
closed canopies. If these choices
aren’t enough, the kit includes
a very comprehensive potential
weapon loadout of Sidewinders,
Sparrows, Mk 117 bombs, and rocket
pods, together with their single,
double, or triple launcher racks.
There are some nice design
features scattered through the
components: in a number of
places mating faces are provided
with cut-outs so that liquid poly
cement can be run in without the
risk of marring the outer surface;
there’s also a separate spine piece
which joins at panel lines, thus
avoiding the need for a vertical
seam. Surface detailing is pretty“AIRFIX APPEAR TO HAVE HIT
SOMETHING OF A JACKPOT
WITH THIS KIT”
1/72
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