the modeller with two motors
to spin the propellers and micro
LEDs to illuminate the cockpit,
landing light, and wing tip
and tail navigation lights.The power pack of four AA
batteries (not included) is external
and has a power jack that allows it
to be disconnected for transport.
The various elements all connect
together with push fittings and
are colour-coded to ensure that
even a technophobe like me can’t
get it wrong. Supposedly...!
The plastic parts are supplied
on thirteen light grey sprues and
two clear ones. All the panel lines
are engraved and feature some
rather fine detail. There is a fair
amount of flash, but fortunately
all the mould ejector pin marks
are away from any visible areas.
The transparencies are thin
and clear, and while there is also
some flash on these pieces, it is
very easy to clean up. Two colour
schemes are provided: the first
is for a European-based machine
with an RLM70 over RLM71 splinter
pattern and an RLM65 underside.
The second scheme is for a
Sicilian based aeroplane, which
features a desert sand colour over
an RLM65 underside – but it’s
not quite that simple! The top
colour has bands of RLM70 and
white over it, while the underside
is covered in sand-coloured
squiggles (which are guaranteed
to set even the most expert air
brusher’s hands quivering).
The kit’s instructions are in
a twenty-four page booklet with
116 assembly stages, plus two
monochromatic painting anddecaling guides. All paint references
are for Revell’s own range of paints,
though they are cross-referenced
to RLM colours where appropriate.
Even without the electronics,
this would be quite an involved
build, with one of the best cockpits
I have ever seen in a mainstream
kit. However, the Editor was not
satisfied with the complexity ofthe kit out of the box, so he threw
in a whole lot of aftermarket!
First off was Eduard’s Big Ed
set, which includes their exterior
set, self-adhesive interior set,
placards, seatbelts and thankfully,
a set of pre-cut canopy masks.
The Editor also provided a set of
Master Models turned-brass gun
barrels for the defensive machine
guns, a brass pitot tube from
Profimodeller, some resin wheels,
and a beautifully printed decal sheet
from Eagle Cals, which supplied
another three colour options.Assembly Stages One to
Thirty-two takes you through
the assembly of the impressive
cockpit. Just out of the box, the
cockpit is sublime. Add in Eduard’s
etch and the level of detail is just
ridiculous! Eduard provides a
multitude of pieces to turn the
kit’s plastic into an incredible
work of art, with replacementparts in brass to provide a finer
look or provide missing details.
For example, the A4 variant’s
defensive armament moved away
from the saddle-drum magazines
used in earlier models to belt-fed
ammunition from large tanks.
The kit does not provide any of the
ammunition feeds, so Eduard have
included them as very delicate brass
items which, once folded into shape,
can be flexed (as per the real item)
to connect the machine guns to
their ammunition supply.“THE TECHNIK BOXING ADDS THE
MAGIC OF LIGHT AND MOTION,
WHICH LOOKS VERY EFFECTIVE”
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