Jump to content

Search the Community

Showing results for tags 'AvantGarde Model Kits'.

  • Search By Tags

    Type tags separated by commas.
  • Search By Author

Content Type


Calendars

  • Community Calendar
  • Group Builds
  • Model Show Calendar

Forums

  • Forum Functionality & Forum Software Help and Support
    • FAQs
    • Help & Support for Forum Issues
    • New Members
  • Aircraft Modelling
    • Military Aircraft Modelling Discussion by Era
    • Civil Aircraft Modelling Discussion by Era
    • Work in Progress - Aircraft
    • Ready for Inspection - Aircraft
    • Aircraft Related Subjects
  • AFV Modelling (armour, military vehicles & artillery)
    • Armour Discussion by Era
    • Work in Progress - Armour
    • Ready for Inspection - Armour
    • Armour Related Subjects
    • large Scale AFVs (1:16 and above)
  • Maritime Modelling (Ships and subs)
    • Maritime Discussion by era
    • Work in Progress - Maritime
    • Ready for Inspection - Maritime
  • Vehicle Modelling (non-military)
    • Vehicle Discussion
    • Work In Progress - Vehicles
    • Ready For Inspection - Vehicles
  • Science Fiction & RealSpace
    • Science Fiction Discussion
    • RealSpace Discussion
    • Work In Progress - SF & RealSpace
    • Ready for Inspection - SF & RealSpace
  • Figure Modelling
    • Figure Discussion
    • Figure Work In Progress
    • Figure Ready for Inspection
  • Dioramas, Vignettes & Scenery
    • Diorama Chat
    • Work In Progress - Dioramas
    • Ready For Inspection - Dioramas
  • Reviews, News & Walkarounds
    • Reviews
    • Current News
    • Build Articles
    • Tips & Tricks
    • Walkarounds
  • Modelling using 3D Printing
    • 3D Printing Basics
    • 3D Printing Chat
    • 3D Makerspace
  • Modelling
    • Group Builds
    • The Rumourmonger
    • Manufacturer News
    • Other Modelling Genres
    • Britmodeller Yearbooks
    • Tools & Tips
  • General Discussion
    • Chat
    • Shows
    • Photography
    • Members' Wishlists
  • Shops, manufacturers & vendors
    • Aerocraft Models
    • Air-craft.net
    • Amarket Model
    • A.M.U.R. Reaver
    • Atlantic Models
    • Beacon Models
    • BlackMike Models
    • Bring-It!
    • Copper State Models
    • Freightdog Models
    • Hannants
    • fantasy Printshop
    • Fonthill Media
    • HMH Publications
    • Hobby Paint'n'Stuff
    • Hypersonic Models
    • Iliad Design
    • Hobby Colours & Accessories
    • KLP Publishing
    • L'Arsenal 2.0
    • Kingkit
    • MikroMir
    • Model Designs
    • Modellingtools.co.uk
    • Maketar Paint Masks
    • Marmaduke Press Decals
    • Parkes682Decals
    • Paulus Victor Decals
    • Red Roo Models
    • RES/KIT
    • Sovereign Hobbies
    • Special Hobby
    • Test Valley Models
    • Tiger Hobbies
    • Ultimate Modelling Products
    • Videoaviation Italy
    • Wingleader Publications
  • Archive
    • 2007 Group Builds
    • 2008 Group Builds
    • 2009 Group Builds
    • 2010 Group Builds
    • 2011 Group Builds
    • 2012 Group Builds
    • 2013 Group Builds

Find results in...

Find results that contain...


Date Created

  • Start

    End


Last Updated

  • Start

    End


Filter by number of...

Joined

  • Start

    End


Group


AIM


MSN


Website URL


ICQ


Yahoo


Jabber


Skype


Location


Interests

Found 11 results

  1. Avantgarde Model Kits (AMK) is reported by MMCT Facebook Group as working on a 1/48th Lockheed F-104G Starfighter kit - ref. Considering the MMCT support to the project I guess we can expect soon or later a RoCAF "long nose" F-104G with the HIAC-1 LOROP system - http://www.916-starfighter.de/F-104_ROCAF_LOROP_H.Prins.pdf To be followed Sources: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilitaryModelingSRG/permalink/2374473086101901/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilitaryModelingSRG/permalink/2374473086101901/ Original box art as anonymously published on January 4th, 2019. Note the two - wrong and now disappeared - characteristical F-104S additional ventral fins. Source: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilitaryModelingSRG/permalink/2209396522609559/ V.P.
  2. спасибо Лавре́нтий ! Source: http://scalemodels.ru/modules/forum/viewtopic_t_48220_start_100.html After the 1/48th kit (http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234934843-148-aero-l-29-delfin-by-avantgarde-model-kits-released/), AMK should release (in December 2015?) a 1/72nd Aero L-29 Delfin. To be followed. V.P.
  3. US Ordnance Set (88E01) 1:48 AMK Models Launched at the same time as their F-14D Tomcat, this set of injection-moulded styrene weapons and pods are ideal for modern jets, particularly of the American persuasion. It’s a generous set that includes all of the weapons in the Tomcat kit, plus a couple we’ve not seen before. They’re also included in larger numbers, so should be good enough for loading up a couple of models at the very least. To keep things tidy, the various types are arranged in sub-boxes within the main box to prevent chaffing, and each set of sprues is held in a clear foil bag for a classy feel. Let’s see what’s included: 16 x GBU-16 Paveway II Smart Bombs 4 x GBU-12 Paveway II Smart Bombs 4 x AIM-54C+ Phoenix A2A Missiles (Tomcat specific) 4 x AIM-7M/P Sparrow A2A Missile 2 x AN/ALQ-167 Bullwinkle ECM Pod 2 x AN/ASQ-713 SAIP pod 4 x GBU-31 JDAM Smart Bomb 12 x Mk.82 “dumb” bomb with conical fairing 4 x LAU-68 Rocket Pod 4 x GBU-38(V)-1 USAF JDAM 4 x AIM-9L/M Sidewinder A2A Missile 2 x LAU-3 Rocket Pod 2 x Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance Pod System (TARPS) 2 x AN/AAS-25 LANTIRN Targeting Pod That’s quite a list, and each one comes on a separate sprue with copious use of slide-moulding to improve detail and reduce your glue bill, so you can see why it comes in a full box. Each sprue has interlocking pips and holes top and bottom that allows them to be stacked in groups, which is great to keep them from chaffing during shipping and keep their space usage down. Each sub-box has a drawing and name of the contents, which will be useful for future use, as is the instruction sheet with integrated painting guide. There are also a few sentences about each type to provide extra details, plus a construction diagram that shows how they go together, then on the right a painting diagram showing the colours and where the decals go. Markings A full sheet of stencils for all the included weapons is provided, arranged by type and with each iteration boxed off from its neighbours. Decals are printed with AMK’s logo and have good registration, sharpness and colour density, with a thin gloss carrier film cut close to the printed areas. Conclusion If you don’t rate the kit weapons in your latest project and don’t want to splash out on expensive resin parts, this set offers a raft of highly detailed ordnance that is well within the comfort zone of any modeller. Scrape away the seamlines from where the sliding moulds meet, and you should be good to go. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of
  4. IAI Kfir C2/C7 1:72 AvantGarde Model Kits The Kfir (lion cub) is an Israeli development based on the Mirage 5, and can trace it roots back to the Mirage IIIC adapted for Israeli use successfully as a Mach 2 all-weather interceptor with success, but they felt it lacked the loiter time that would be needed if a ground-attack role was to be added its task list. As a result of an arms embargo, Israel built the Nesher, which was then improved further and was suitably different to be renamed as the Kfir. It entered service in 1975, and was almost immediately superseded in the air superiority role when the first F-15s arrived from America. The C2 variant added more swept canards, dog-tooth leading edges to the wings and strakes under the nose, while the C7 had more hard-points added under the air intakes, a new engine with more thrust, in-flight refuelling probe, plus many upgrades to the avionics, which includes HOTAS capabilities. It continued in service into the late 90s, after which it was replaced by more modern aircraft. The aircraft has been sold to Ecuador, Columbia and Sri Lanka, though all have had to be approved by the US as it uses a licence built J79 engine. During the late 1980s the US Marine Corps & US Navy leased 25 C1 version for adversary training designating them the F-21 Lion. The Kit This is an eagerly awaited new kit from AMK. On opening the box it does not disappoint. The plastic is crisp with fine recessed panel lines. All weapons get there own sprue and there are a generous five decal options covering Israeli, Civilian, and foreign military users. Before construction starts the modeller needs to decide if they are doing a C2 or C7. Construction starts naturally enough with the cockpit, the cockpit tub is built up from the main tub, read bulkhead, instrument panel (instruments provided as decal) and the panel coaming. The front gear bay is then built up, this is un the underside of the cockpit. Once this is built up it can be installed into the main fuselage. An engine mounting part is then installed and the main fuselage can be closed up. Note before doing so the two central american versions require some slots to be opened up in the tail. Attention now moves to the main wing. Holes need to be opened up in the lower one part wing to accommodate the weapons pylons etc. These are version specific so ensure you open the right ones. The main undercarriage bay is now built up and added into the lower wing. The upper wings can then be added (left & right) and the whole wing assembly added to the main fuselage. The intakes can then be added to both sides of the fuselage along with the canards which mount to them. We then move on to the undercarriage. The main wheels are built up from a two part tyre with a central hub. They are added to their legs and retraction struts added along with the doors. The font leg is then also built up. The main leg and strut are one part with the wheel and a few other bits being added. this can then be installed along with its doors. A panel behind the nose is then added, here again there are two choices for both models. The nose cone is then added, here again there are different lumps and bumps depending on the variant. Moving to the rear, antenna are added to the fin and if making either Central American version then additional parts are added. The engine is a five part affair which is then made up and installed, along with a ventral fairing at the rear. We then move swiftly back to the cockpit and build up & install the ejection seat. Two different versions are supplied for the two different variants. Once installed the canopies can be fitted and the nose probe. The last thing to do is install the weapons load and pylons. Python-3 missiles, MK.82 bombs, GBU-12s, Griffin LGBs are all supplied along with a centre line tank, and two wing fuel tanks. Pylons and sway braces are provided as needed. Markings There are there are a generous five options. All decals appear in register, colour dense, and with a minimum of carrier film. The five options supplied are; C2 #874, 101 Tajeset Israeli AF (Two tone grey) C7 #543 "Zohar" The Arava Guardians Sqn, Israeli AF (Green/Brown/Sand) C2 N401AX, Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC), USA C3 905, 2113 Sqn Ecuadorian AF C7 111 Sqn Colombian AF Conclusion An excellent new tool Kfir from AMK. Highly recommended. Available from all good model shops online and in the high street. Review sample courtesy of
  5. Next AvantGarde Model Kits aircraft - after the Kfir/Mirage III/V family http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234925006-148th-iai-kfir-c2c7-by-avantgarde-model-kits-release-february-2013-sprues-pics/ - will be a 1/48th Aero L-29 Delfin. Source: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.605283516155376.156032.436005436416519&type=1 Excellent choice. Served with over 25 nations and over 3600 built. The death announcement for the only 1/48th L-29 Delfin kit, the resin one from Planet Models. http://modelingmadness.com/scott/korean/preview/planet/124preview.htm V.P.
  6. Mig-31 BM/BSM Foxhound 1:48 AvantGarde Model Kits (AMK) At the height of the Cold War, the West was terrified of the Mig-25 Foxbat, which was touted as a formidable aircraft that was capable of all manner of things, which was probably part propaganda on the Soviet's part, and part scare-mongering from those wishing to further fighter development in the West. As it turned out, the Foxbat was a big compromise, and was only really good in a straight line as an interceptor. A dog-fighter, it was not, and its handling at low level and low speed was also a little scary. In the mid-70s these failings led to a new requirement to replace the Mig-25 with a more capable airframe. It remained a closely guarded secret with much speculation surrounding it until the West eventually found out that it was in work, and promised to be the aircraft that the Foxbat wanted to be. Elongated to accommodate the additional crew-member, the Foxhound shares a lot of design cues with its predecessor, and could be mistaken for one by the uninformed (or for an F-16 by the modern press!). it is at heart still an interceptor, but is also able to provide air defence cover when necessary, as well as its core interceptor role, which includes the look down/shoot down of aircraft and cruise missiles. The production went on until the mid-90s, and they are still in service with Russian and Kazakhstan forces, with a replacement still some years away. The Kit There has been quite a hubbub about this new tooling from relative newcomers AMK, who although they only have a few kits in their roster so far have come up with some lovely toolings and have many many more to grace their 2016 catalogue. It's an exciting time to be a modeller! AMK's ethos is to get it as close to the real thing as they can, which means that the gestation of the kit can sometimes be longer than originally anticipated when additional information comes to light. We've been following progress on Britmodeller for some months now, and now we have the kit in our hot hands. It arrives in a nicely appointed box with a picture (rather than a painting) of a Foxhound taking off on the front, and inside there are three smaller boxes to keep the upper fuselage, missiles and nose section safe from harm, with the rest of the sprues taking up the remaining space. There are fifteen sprues including the two fuselage halves in mid-grey styrene, plus another twelve one-piece sprues for the superb slide-moulded weapons load, a sizeable clear sprue, a small sheet of Photo-Etch (PE) parts, two small white metal weights, and finally the instruction booklet with painting guide to the rear in full colour. Apart from the initial "ooh, that's big!" impression, the overall package is of a high standard, giving plenty of cues in the shape of the inner boxes, the re-sealable bags for each sprue, inclusion of weights, and the general level of high detail throughout the model. The instructions are also to a high standard, and the use of slide-moulding to manufacture parts such as the nose area in one piece is pretty impressive. Attention to detail is good, even to the extent that a separate canopy has been included to ease the way for those of us that prefer to pose our models with the canopies closed. The quality of moulding on the weapons is jaw-dropping, and even the moulding seams are minimal, with no evidence of mould-slip. My one tiny gripe is that there are some ejection pin marks that are in tricky places such as on components with cylindrical surfaces, and in the low areas of ribbed panels. Sadly, that's one of the unavoidable by-products of injection moulding, but with a little work, they can be rendered invisible. Breaking with tradition, the build starts with the engines! There are a pair of engine carcasses that fill up the internal space within the fuselage, but aren't really meant to be displayed open, just to act as place-holders for the detailed two-stage front face of the compressor, and the exhaust tube, which is made up from a number of cylindrical sections to avoid annoying filling of seams within the confines of the trunking. This slips inside the engine "tube" and both engines are set aside for a while as the intake trunks are built up. They are handed, and include the main gear bays in their make-up, starting with the main trunk that is split vertically, to which a top and bottom section are added toward the front, which has a more squared-off profile, transitioning to circular aft of the gear bays. A ribbing detail part and bay sidewall are added to the underside, and then various small equipment, bulkhead and actuator details are installed. Repeat this for the other intake, then activity begins on the lower fuselage, which also includes the fuselage sides of this slab-sided monster. An insert fits within the belly, a gun fairing is added on the starboard side, and weirdly the instructions tell you to add the bay doors at this stage, which I'd ignore because they just wouldn't survive to completion! Flipping over the lower fuselage allows the intake trunking and engine/exhaust tube to be installed, with the nose gear bay placed between the two forks of underside at the front, just in front of the moulded-in bulkhead through which the intakes pass. The upper fuselage included the inner wing panels, with separate outers added to the full-width lower wing part, which is inserted in the fuselage from below, hiding away the lattice of stiffeners that hold the wings to the correct angle. The lower wing panel also has ribs and stringers moulded into it to reduce flex of the wings, which seems to be a theme for the model, as they are also present inside both fuselage halves. The multi-part leading edge slats are fitted on their tabs in either raised or lowered poses by using different parts with appropriately shaped tabs, with the flaps on the trailing edge using the same method of positioning. A single wing fence is glued on the upper wing and covers almost the full chord of the wing at that point. The upper fuselage and wings are then added to the lower fuselage, and it starts to look like an aircraft. There's still quite a bit of length missing from the Foxhound at this point, as the nose and intake parts are still on the sprues. The cockpit is built up first though, with a nicely detailed tub, sidewalls, and control column added, and then slid inside the impressive single-part nose moulding. With it glued in place, the two coamings can be added, plus a choice of closed or deployed refuelling probe, with and without fairings, depending on which decal option you choose. The nose cone and complex probe on the tip are also glued in place, and set aside while the intakes are built up. They have inner and outer skins, with both sides ending up well-detailed, and during assembly on the fuselage, the drop-doors are added in the open or closed position. The nose is also installed, and this butts up against the moulded-in bulkhead, and it is held in the correct position by a couple of sturdy pegs with corresponding holes in the bulkhead. She's still not at full length, as the tail fin also has a chunk of fuselage moulded in. The fins have a separate insert on one side, as well as a poseable rudder, and the ventral strake that fits on a long tab so that it stays vertical. The elevators are single thickness at the trailing edge, but the "meat" of them are two-layers, using an insert that follows convenient panel lines to avoid sink-marks due to over-thick plastic. They attach to the two tail sections using a set of four T-shaped parts that are inserted from within the fuselage, but the instructions aren't particularly clear that you only use one of each of the tab-parts for level flight and the other for them deflected down. The drawings show both inserted even though there is only space for one, and there is no annotation to give you a clue when inserting the tabs. You should be able to work out what goes where pretty quickly once you have the parts in your hand however. Both tails are then added to their cut-outs in the rear of the fuselage, and a very nice exhaust added to each engine. Now she really looks like a Mig-31! To get her sat on her own legs, you have the nose gear leg already installed during the nose gear bay construction, and the main wheels fit into substantial holes in the bay walls, with successive scrap diagrams showing their correct orientation. The horizontal portion is then added, along with some additional struts, after which you can add the wheels, with one on each end of the horizontal strut, each of which is made up from two tyre parts and two hubs. The tyres are well detailed, but would benefit from a rub with a sanding stick to give the impression of a bit of weight on them. The nose gear leg has two similar wheels, and is enclosed at the bag by a large mud-guard that clips to the axle ends. The cockpit is finished off by building up the two detailed K-36DM ejection seats, which are capable of turfing out the pilots safely either in flight or on the ground, which must be comforting for them! They are installed in the cockpit, and the modeller can choose whether to display them by leaving the canopies open, or button it all up to show off the 31's sleek lines. Either that, or you messed up the cockpit! AMK kindly provide a four-part canopy for the opened option, and a two-part canopy split at the windscreen to pose it closed. The mirror on the rear canopy can be posed up or down too by using the delicate plastic & PE parts supplied. The canopies in the up position have styrene inserts that fit within them and give a good representation of the interior detail that most manufacturers don't bother with. It's something that I would like to see become a trend, as a smooth glossy canopy interior isn't very realistic – good work guys! The Foxhound is able to carry quite a heap of weapons, and its under fuselage is recessed specifically to carry four R-33 missiles in a semi-recessed manner. There are four in the box, and they are moulded as one main part using a sliding mould to get detail on all sides, with additional parts to improve the detail even further. They end up to almost the same level of detail as you'd expect from resin. The missiles fit on short pylons & the tips of their upper fins fold over so they can snuggle down under the fuselage better. There are also two pylons under each wing, and you have the choice of R-73 or R-77 missiles, which again you get four each of. Check your references to get a realistic war-load or training load, as the weapons diagram shows that all wing pylons are capable of carrying either missile. Markings There are four markings options in the box, but grey is the only colour, having only their numbers and a few pennants to differentiate. It's a good job the airframe itself cuts quite a dash, as the colour schemes don't, but that's modern camouflage for you! From the box you can build one of the following: Mig-31BM Red 34, Ivan Pilipenko, Russian Air Force Mig-31BM Blue 93, Russian Air Force, Moscow Zhukovsky (Ramenskoye), 2009 Mig-31BM Blue 93, Russian Air Force, Moscow Zhukovsky (Ramenskoye), 2013 Mig-31BSM Red 25, Russian Air Force, Akhtubinsk Air Base, 2014 There are two decals sheets included in the box, one of which consists entirely of stencils for the airframe and missiles. It's no wonder then that the stencils are dealt with over four pages, which the decal designers have sensibly placed together on the sheet to save you playing hunt-the-decal too much. There are also written headings to show the theme of each area of the sheet, so you shouldn't go too far astray. The national markings and additional decals are printed on the other smaller sheet, and both sheets have good register, colour density and sharpness, with a thin, glossy carrier film cropped reasonably closely to the printing. Conclusion Wow! The aircraft itself is superb to look at, and the model is very well detailed, well-engineered and inspires enthusiasm from the moment you open the box. I'll be building this over the next few weeks and you're welcome to stop by to egg me on with words of encouragement here. Extremely highly recommended. Available any minute now from all good model shops & online retailers. Review sample courtesy of
  7. After its future Aero L-29 Delfin (http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234934843-148th-aero-l-29-delfin-by-avantgarde-model-kits-cad-drawing/) the next AvantGarde Model 1/48th kit should be a Potez Air Fouga CM.170R Magister - ref.88004 Source: https://www.facebook.com/AMKHOBBY?ref=stream V.P.
  8. First time I hear about a 1/48th Il-28 "Beagle" project by AMK/AvantGarde Model Kits. Source: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234946328-mig-31bm-avantgarde-model-148/?p=2021098 AMK rumours recap: - AMD-BA Super Etendard was announced a loooonnng time ago. In de meantime Kinetic has also announced one... - Aero L-39 Albatros: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234981743-148-aero-l-39-albatros-avantgarde-model-kits-2017/ - Mil Mi-24 "Hind": http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234981741-148-mil-mi-24-hind-avantgarde-model-kits - Mil Mi-8 "Hip": http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234981742-148-mil-mi-8-hip-avantgarde-model-kits/ - Considering the current strong AMK Czech connections, a 1/48th Ilyushin Il-28 "Beagle" make sense. It's noted that Xuntong Model is also working on a 1/48th "Beagle" family: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234980747-148-ilyushin-il-28-beagle-by-xuntong-model-cads/ V.P.
  9. IAI Kfir C2/C7 1:48 AvantGarde Model Kits The Kfir is an Israeli development of the successful Mirage III, which was used by the Israelis successfully as a Mach 2 all-weather interceptor with success, but they felt it lacked the loiter time that would be needed if a ground-attack role was to be added its task list. As a result of an arms embargo, Israel built the Nesher, an unlicensed Mirage 5, which was then improved further and was suitably different to be renamed as the Kfir. It entered service in 1975, and was almost immediately superseded in the air superiority role when the first F-15s arrived from America. The C2 variant added more swept canards, dog-tooth leading edges to the wings and strakes under the nose, while the C7 had more hardpoints added under the air intakes, a new engine with more thrust, in-flight refuelling probe, plus many upgrades to the avionics, which includes HOTAS capabilities. It continued in service into the late 90s, after which it was replaced by more modern aircraft, but many are still on strength, whilst being offered for sale to potential purchasers that included Argentina. The Kit This was the first release from newcomers AdvantGarde Models, and was the second Kfir to be released in this scale in 2013. It arrives in a nicely presented box that is perhaps a little flimsy to be placed at the bottom of a pile of heavy kits for any length of time. Inside are a bunch of small and large sprues carefully packed into resealable bags that will please those of us that like to peruse our kits but keep them safe from damage and loss of parts. There are three large sprues, a separate lower wing sprue, plus twelve smaller sprues, all of which are moulded in a mid-grey styrene. Clear parts are bagged separately, as are the decals, and the instruction booklet is taller than A4, printed on glossy paper, which includes the painting and decaling guide at the rear. First impressions? Pretty good for a first kit, and apart from a few inconveniently placed ejector pin marks here and there, there really isn't much to complain about. It would appear that the ideal mould pressure and temperature have been dialled in now, resulting in the mild flash present on early injections of the kit being absent on my sample. The instructions are of good quality, making construction straight forward, and the inclusion of plenty of munitions for the pylons is a lesson to some companies. Construction starts naturally enough with the cockpit, which has a single part tub with a chunky looking rear bulkhead added to the rear. The coaming and a choice of two instrument panels are added to the front, forcing you to select either C2 or C7 variants, which had upgraded avionics, as evidenced by the MFD in the bottom left of the panel. The control column is added to a slot in the floor, but you might want to sand that floor a little before you start, as it has a few feint ejector pin marks present that may or may not be seen once the seat is installed. The rudder pedals are moulded into the front bulkhead in a simplified way, which may bring out the scratch-builder in you, or make you wait until the Eduard sets arrive, which I'll be reviewing soon. The ejector seat is made up from two clamshell halves, plus seat pad, drogue-chute pack and top-box for the earlier Martin Baker JM6 seat, and integrated top box for the later Mk.IN10LH seat. The overhead pull-handles for the C2 are moulded into the drogue pack, while they aren't used on the C7 seat, but both have the pull-handle between the pilot's knees. Turning over the cockpit, the nose gear bay is then built into the underside rear of the cockpit tub, from four separate panels that form the bay, with plenty of detail on each side due to the part count. After these two steps are complete, you can close up the fuselage, after removing a couple of sensor bumps that aren't appropriate to these marks. Whether that suggests other versions is entirely up to you! The wings are next on the agenda, and the same method for construction of the main wheel bays is used, namely individual panels that make up the shallow bays, which are then glued to the inside of the full width inner wing. The narrow outer sections of the bay walls are moulded into the wings, so don't forget to paint these and the inner skin of the upper wings, which are moulded with some nice detail. Cannon muzzles, a pair of clear lights near the wing tips, flap actuator fairings and a belly insert are added before the assembly is offered up to the large hole in the underside of the fuselage. The splitter plates with moulded in shock-cones are added, and to them are added the outer surfaces of the intake trunking, with the small canards mounted on small fairings at the upper sides of the intakes. There is no trunking behind this area, and frankly you wouldn't see it even if there was, because of the shock cones that take up a large portion of the space within. A profusion of auxiliary intakes and sensors are added to the spine of the fuselage, and later to the undersides, as well as a large pair of two-part intakes just aft of the main gear bays. At this stage the instructions would have you fit the landing gear and their doors, but these are probably best left until later, to avoid damage during handling. The main gear legs are made up from the main leg, plus a two-part oleo scissor-link, and a jack that runs up the leg, which then fix to the outer sides of the gear bay, plus another retraction jack that stretches toward the centreline. The bay doors have moulded in detail, plus a set of hinges, and location points for the single captive door that attaches to the leg itself. A scrap diagram shows the correct orientation of the doors from a forward view, which will be very useful for setting the angle of the large central doors. The nose gear leg has the retraction jack moulded in, but half of the Y-shaped base is a separate part, as is half of the yoke that holds the small nose wheel in position. The main wheels are made up from two part tyres with separate hubs, while the nose gear wheel is a single moulded part, and all have good detail. More choices lie ahead depending on whether you are building the earlier C2 or later C7, with the C2 having a blanking plate that fits to a hole under the nose, while the C7 has a Pave Penny laser designator pod semi-recessed into the plate, and a separate clear lens part to improve the look. The nose cone is separate and made from two parts, with different parts either removed or added, depending on which variant you have chosen, and this locates on a large peg into the front of the fuselage. At the rear of the airframe, the large hole is filled by a nicely detailed exhaust trunk, which includes a very nicely moulded set of petals, a two-part trunking section that has difficult to remove ejector pin marks in the fluted walls, which is topped off with the afterburner ring, and the rear face of the engine. This is simply slotted into the hole in the rear of the fuselage, held steady on a pair of C-shaped guides moulded into the insides of the fuselage that locate on the rail running down the sides of the exhaust trunking. The rear section of the belly insert is also added at this stage to complete the area, unless you are building the C2, which has a pair of small bomb racks added under the rear of the belly. The rudder is moulded into the fuselage halves, but a small insert containing an instrument pack is added late in the build, which again suggests other variants, plus the tip to the pen-nib above the exhaust. The two-part canopy and ejector seats are added last along with the HUD glass, two rear-view mirrors, pull-handle for the canopy and pitot probe on its mount just below the tip of the nose. The rest of the build process revolves around the construction of the munitions and their pylons, of which there are quite a choice in the box, as follows: 2 x Python-3 AAM 6 x Mk.82 Iron "dumb" bombs 2 x TER 2 x TER adaptor pylon 1 x centreline bomb pylon 1 x Napgach centreline MER pylon 2 x Griffin LGB with pylon 2 x GBU-12 LGB with pylon 1 x Centreline supersonic tank 2 x wing mounted subsonic tank Painting and decaling instructions for all the weapons are included using Gunze call-outs. A suggested load-out for both decal options is also given on the last page of the instructions, which is helpful for folks like myself that aren't yet 100% fluent in "bomb speak". Markings There are two choices of markings in the box, but only one per variant, which seems a little short on choice, but there are plenty of aftermarket decals out there if you feel the urge to be more individual. From the box you can build one of the following: C2 #874 1st Fighter Squadron 1979 - FS36320 over FS36375 (two shades of light grey) with a red/white striped rudder and desert camouflaged wing tanks. C7 #555 The Arava Guardians Squadron 1990 – Three tone sand/brown/pale green over grey with a red/yellow motif on the upper tail. The C7's pale green colour is given as FS34424 and a mix of 60% Gunze 312 and 40% 314 is suggested in order to achieve this unusual shade. A separate page on the inside rear cover for the booklet is used to show where the myriad of stencils are placed, in order not to over-complicate the main painting and markings guide. Conclusion An excellent first outing for new company AvantGarde Models, and a worthy addition to the stash. Detail is good throughout, and the inclusion of plenty of weapons makes for a well-rounded package. Highly recommended. Available from all good model shops online and in the high street. Review sample courtesy of
  10. Some welcome news from the Managing Director of AvantGarde. This long neglected subject will be kitted at least twice in 1:48 during 2014, and I suspect that from what can be seen in the following pictures, this will be the one for the detail obsessed amongst us. Overall airframe pictures first, and the detail pics follow, which should get your modelling juices flowing [centre] [/center]
×
×
  • Create New...