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Eurofighter TYPHOON (Twin seater) Revell 1:144 The Eurofighter EF2000 Typhoon started out as the EAP programme in the 1970s engineered entirely by BAe, but was later joined by a number of international partners due to an allegedly common requirement, with the partnership changing over time to end up with Britain, Germany, Spain and Italy remaining, while France went their own way with the Aerodynamics data to create the Rafale, which has a similar general arrangement. Delays and cost overruns seem to be a common factor in modern military procurement, and the Typhoon suffered many, resulting in the Germans taking delivery of the first airframe in 2003, Italy in 2005 and the UK in 2007. Operational airframes have since taken part in operations in Libya and under Italy's control in Albania. After the British Typhoons were initially ordered without guns, then with guns but without ammo, which was again overturned in due course, they were grounded in 2011 due to a lack of spares, which required the RAF to cannibalise grounded airframes to keep flying. The two-seat variant is used for training and conversion, although it is capable of going to war if needs required it, having all the systems in place to make it viable. The Tiffie is a great airshow crowd pleaser due to its agility at all speeds, and the impressive tearing roar of its twin EF2000 jet engines that propel it forwards with an impressive 20,000lbf of power per engine with reheat engaged. The Kit Revell have already given us Two Seat Eurofighter Typhoon in 1/32, 1/48, and 1/72; now its time for this excellent kit to be available to the 1/144 scale modeller. The kit arrives in a standard open end Revell Box (same size as their 1/72 Spitfire sized kits), inside you get 5 sprues of grey plastic and one small clear sprue. The parts are well formed with great detail for this scale. There is no flash on the parts that I can see. Construction starts with the cockpit, and as this is the two seater you get two. As the kit is obviously set up for both a single & double seater you do have to make both cockpit tubs. They are not difficult though. There is an instrument panel, control column and ejection seat to add to each. The seat can not be described as the best, and only bears a passing resemblance to an MB.16 even in this scale. All detail on the instrument panels and side consoles are provided as decals. Once the cockpit tubs are assembled, they are glued into the fuselage, and then the fuselage halves can then be joined up to complete the top section of the main fuselage. The next step is to install into the now completed top fuselage, the large plate section which forms the roof of the engine intakes. The lower section of the intakes can then be placed inside the lower fuselage section. This can then be joined to the top section to complete the main fuselage. The engine exhausts can then be attached to the completed main fuselage, as can the main wings which are single parts in this scale. The radar dome and pirate sensor (If building the RAF version) are then added, along with the console which separates the two cockpits. The aircraft spine is then added next, along with the front canards. The next steps involve flipping the model upside down and concentrating on the underside. The main gear, front gear and gear doors are all added at this stage. They appear quite fine in the sprue and care will need to be taken. Even though no stand is included the gear doors can be placed in the closed positions with the removal of a couple of mounting tabs. The last section involves the addition of the underwing pylons and flap actuators. Revel have done a good job here in providing the modeller with an array of weapons to fit, even if they have the names wrong (AIM-7L Sidewinder anyone?). You are provided with 2 x Fuel tanks, 4 x AMRAAM, 2 x AIM-9L Sidewinders, 2 x IRIS-T, 2 x Tarus Pods and 2 x Stormshadows. Once you have fitted your Eurofighter out the last thing to do is add the canopy and your model is complete. Canopy The canopy is clear and molded with no flaws. It can be posed open or closed as needed. Decals The decals are printed in Italy for Revell and its no surprise in this scale that the sheet is small. It is however packed with markings & stencils for both the airframe and the multitude of weapons supplied in the kit. It is good the weapons markings are there as a lot of manufactures miss these out. Decals are supplied for two aircraft. Typhoon T.3 of No.3 Sqn Royal Air Force, RAF Coningsby 2013. Eurofighter Jagdbombergeschwader 31, Luftwaffe, Norvenich, 2009 Colour call outs are given in Revell colours colourmixes. Its worth noting that the German aircraft have the radome and dielectric panels in the same colour as the RAF & Italian machines (British Colours) as these were moulded in that colour. Not as per the Revel instructions. Conclusion This should make upto a good looking model of the Eurofighter Typhoon. Its good to see a small scale kit packed with detail and weapons. Overall highly recommended. Revell model kits are available from all good toy and model retailers. For further information visit