Hasegawa Releases All New 1/72 MV-22B Osprey

Now Available At King's Hobby Shop!

Hasegawa 1/72 MV-22B Osprey USMC

Stock Number:  3260-01571

Price:  $64.95

Fans of the tilt-rotor Boeing / Bell Textron Osprey will be delighted with this all new tooling 1/72 MV-22B from Hasegawa.  Kits of Ospreys are few and far between and with this new release, Hasegawa has set a high mark for a model in any scale of this unique aircraft.

The kit is comprised of 158 parts which are molded in Hasegawa standard light gray plastic.  A typical but extensive Hasegawa water slide decal sheet is provided with markings for two different aircraft and complete technical stenciling.  Subject aircraft are from VMM-165 and VMM-265.  Both birds appear to be in standard low visibility MV-22B Camouflage except for the tails which feature colorful high visibility markings.  The VMM-165 tail is black with yellow trim and features the squadron's unit patch.  The VMM-265 is red with black codes and squadron patch.  Instruction sheet is standard Hasegawa bi-lingual format with Japanese and English.  Illustrated diagrams guide the modeler thru the building sequence with part numbers, painting color call outs, and decal placement.

Exterior details for the model are good and feature engraved panel lines.  I don't have scale drawings for this aircraft so I can't say positively that the kit dimensions are 100% correct, although they appear to be from published dimensions.  Close examination of photos seems to indicate that most external features are present and correct.  Features include FLIR pod, retracted refueling probe,  missile launch detection units at four points for 360 degree coverage, various antennas, and bulged cuffs near the base of the prop-rotors.  The only interior detail in the kit is the cockpit and it is somewhat abbreviated.  Instrument panel, consoles, control sticks, and seats are provided.  Decals provide details for the otherwise flat instrument panel and consoles.  Hasegawa includes two crew figures to fill pilot and co-pilot seats.  The kit is completely devoid of interior detail aft of the cockpit.  No cargo bay detail is included so the rear cargo door can only be displayed up or closed.

Kit options include positionable engine pods, positionable landing flaps, and retracted or extended landing gear.  A flight display stand is included if the engines are displayed in horizontal configuration.  Modelers can easily modify the refueling probe to the extended position by adding appropriate diameter styrene plastic rod or tube.  The kit cannot be built out of the box with folded wings or prop-rotors as would be seen while stored aboard ship.  Modelers may wish to modify the kit to do this, but this would be challenging.

This is a very nice no frills model.  Fans of the MV-22B, or modelers looking for a change of pace will enjoy building and displaying this replica of the first operational tilt-rotor aircraft.  I recommend this kit as the best Osprey to date.

Brad Perry

http://www.bellhelicopter.textron.com/en_US/Military/Bell-BoeingV-22/1291148374339.html#/?tab=highlights-tab

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V-22_Osprey

New Revell Germany 1/32 Bf 109G-6 Best In Scale.

Kit:  1/32 Scale Bf 109G-6 Early or Late Version

Manufacturer:  Revell Germany

Stock Number:  3471-4665

Price:  $29.99
Status:  Available at King's Hobby Shop Now!

Revell Germany now has the best 1/32 scale Bf 109G on the market.  Overall accuracy combined with its low price, makes this new Messerschmitt a particularly good value.  The kit includes 14 parts trees, one sheet of water slide decals, and instructions for building and painting.  Optional parts will allow the builder to complete one of almost any non DB 605AS engined Bf 109G-6 variant.

Kit cockpit interior detail is very good.  Purists will want to add sidewall wiring and control stick detail.  These tasks will be simple for any modeler with intermediate skills and good picture references.  Kit instrument panel has good detail and correctly represents the bi-level panel on the real aircraft.  Instrument bezels are sharply defined and instrument faces are provided on the decal sheet.  Seat-belts are molded on seat components, but have fairly good definition.  They should paint well if proper wash and dry brush techniques are used.  The prominent fuel line with fuel flow sight glass easily seen on the right cockpit sidewall is provided as a separate clear part.  When painted properly, it will correctly represent the fuel line with clear glass tube and hose clamps.  Also, early and late gun sight options are included.

Fuselage components have recessed  panel lines and access hatches.  Revell provided all access hatches for all sub-variants.  You'll want to pay attention to your references because some will need to be removed depending on the version you choose. I'd rather do this than try to scribe one which isn't there.  The kit provides parts for early angled rudder tail as well as late wood straight rudder tail.  Separate rudder (3 types) and elevator control  surfaces will allow the builder to show them deflected as desired.   Clear parts for early heavy frame and late "Erla" canopies are included along with rear armored glass piece.  Engine cowl parts are for original DB 605 engine variants and feature the prominent and separately molded bulges which covered the back end of the cowl mounted MG 131 machine guns.  The kit bulges appear to be somewhat shallow.  If this is the case, I'm sure there will be an aftermarket resin correction.  On the positive side,  the kit's propeller spinner appears to have the most correct shape in scale when compared to other kits and photos of the real one.

The kit's wings also have recessed panel detail as well as separate control surfaces.  Ailerons, flaps, and leading edge slats can be positioned as desired.  Landing gear and landing gear bays are the best to date for a "Gustav".  Main gear bays assemble with multiple parts and include structural detail as well as open lightening holes.  Wheel bay detail in other Bf 109 kits has been very abbreviated.  Main gear struts are also multi part and appear to have more detail than other kits including separate torque link forks and retraction actuator rods.  Kit tires are outstanding.  The instructions have you use the classic German cross tread tires, but an optional set of no tread tires are included.  The kit also includes optional styles of wheel covers.  Revell also provides separate center-line drop tank and drop tank rack.

Kit decals include markings for two aircraft.  The first was flown by Hauptmann Franz Dorr who was the Gruppenkommandeur of III JG.5.  The aircraft's werknummer was 411960.  The second aircraft, werknummer 160717, was flown by Hauptmann Karl Rammelt who was Kommandeur of II JG.51.  Technical stencils common to any Bf 109G are also included.  The decals are well researched by AirDOC and appear to be accurate and in register.

This is a very nice kit out of the box.  There are tons of aftermarket options made for other 109s in both photo etch and resin which can probably be used in this kit.  Wait a few weeks, and there will probably be numerous options specifically for this kit if you wish to increase the level of detail already present.

I like this kit.  Overall, it appears to be the most accurate in dimension and contour.  At $29.99,  it is less than half the price of prior top dog.  Current list price for the 2001 release Hasegawa Bf 109G-6 is $74.00.  While no kit is perfect including this one, it provides more options, it is overall more accurate than the still very nice Hasegawa offering, and it is considerably less expensive.  I think it would look great sitting next to your Tamiya P-51D of Spitfire Mk.IX!
 

Brad Perry 

Stop the press!  This just in!

We just received Brett Green's new book specifically about this great new kit from Revell.  Projects in the book from Brett Green, Chris Wauchop, Marcus Nicholls, and Roy Sutherland.  Excellent coverage of this jewel with insights into simple out of the box construction to advanced builds utilizing aftermarket details.  Book is beautifully laid out with loads of clear color photos.  Also includes great walk around photos of Bf 109G-6s in museum collections.  I highly recommend this book to fire you up prior to diving into one of these kits yourself. 

Title:  How To Build Revell's 1/32 Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6

Stock Number: 6292-ADH32

Price:  $29.95


               

    

     

 

Interesting News From Kittyhawk And Great Wall Hobby!

Here are two new 1/48 kits coming soon from Great Wall Hobby and Kittyhawk.

Great Wall Hobby has announced a new 1/48 F-15C/D Eagle.  It is safe to assume it will be the first in a series of new Eagles for 1/48 modelers.  Release date is supposed to be November 2013, but the price is unknown at this time.  Also of interest is that the pre-release illustrations indicate that the kit will include U.S. as well as Israeli weapons.  It also looks like the kit will include complete Pratt and Whitney F100 engines.  This kit should prove to be the best pure fighter F-15 kit in scale.

Kittyhawk has announced a new 1/48 F2H-3/4 Banshee.  This aircraft has been very high on many modelers wish lists for a long time.  It's nice to see model companies respond to customer input.  Release date and price for this kit are unavailable at this time.

Check out these links for more information on these exciting new kits.


http://hyperscale.com/2013/reviews/kits/kittyhawkpreview_6.htm

http://hyperscale.com/2013/reviews/kits/gwhf15bdpreviewbg_1.htm 
 

Brad Perry