ReccePhreak Posted August 28, 2021 Share Posted August 28, 2021 (edited) I have gotten the urge to do a 1/72 Alpha Jet in Royal Thai Air Force markings, but I am trying to decide which kit to get. Based on Scalemates, it appears that most (Except Matchbox) available 1/72 kits are just reboxings of either the ancient (1977) Heller kit or the "not much newer" Airfix (1980) kit. They appear to be poorly detailed and more representative of prototypes, than the planes that Thailand used. What would my best option, without having to do a complete rebuild of the kit? I need a relatively accurate cockpit, since it will be quite visible, but I can always use aftermarket ejection seats. NOTE: I do have a bagged Heller Kit #257 and a boxed kit # 80257. Since Thailand got their Alpha Jets from Germany, would they have been equipped with Martin-Baker Mk.4-AJMR seats or the Stencel S-III-S (SJU-4) seats? I need to order the correct aftermarket seats from Hannanrs. Larry Edited August 29, 2021 by ReccePhreak Updated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted August 28, 2021 Share Posted August 28, 2021 Seat was the original Stencel they had when these aircraft were serving with the Luftwaffe 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReccePhreak Posted August 28, 2021 Author Share Posted August 28, 2021 46 minutes ago, Giorgio N said: Seat was the original Stencel they had when these aircraft were serving with the Luftwaffe Thanks for that info. Unfortunately, Hannants only have one in stock, and I need 5. 2 each for my two Alpha Jet kits, and one for my AMT/ERTL 1/72 AV-8A Harrier that I am doing in Royal Thai Navy markings. Larry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WARDOG Posted August 28, 2021 Share Posted August 28, 2021 (edited) 2 hours ago, ReccePhreak said: Thanks for that info. Unfortunately, Hannants only have one in stock, and I need 5. 2 each for my two Alpha Jet kits, and one for my AMT/ERTL 1/72 AV-8A Harrier that I am doing in Royal Thai Navy markings. Larry Hi Phreak, I know I have some Cut then Add decals for a Thai Harrier (IF you need some!) but I'll have to check to see if I have any resin Stencil seats around. I heard that KP is supposed to be coming out with an Alpha Jet but I'm not sure if it'll be new or a re-box! I will soldier-on with my very old MPC (Airfix) kit with a Pavla cockpit, intakes and exhausts, Stencil seats, and a Master pitot. I'm also trying to modify the tail cone with the chaff/flares and E.C.M. bumps. All I need now are the correct Portuguese decals; all the ones available now have the rescue arrow in German, instead of the Portuguese over English details! Give me a buzz, (glynnj(at)swbell(dot)net WARDOG Edited August 28, 2021 by WARDOG Additions and corrections 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted August 29, 2021 Share Posted August 29, 2021 (edited) Fujimi also did a 1/72 Alpha jet in at least two boxings: Luftwaffe and French demonstration team. I had the Luftwaffe boxing but got rid of it and my Heller kit years ago; as I recall,it was better and worse than the Heller kit in some respects, and my plan was to cross kit both to get one decent Luftwaffe example. Lost interest and was hoping, in vain it seems, that Special Hobby or Valom would do a new-tool. Wish I could be more helpful! Mike https://www.super-hobby.com/products/Dassault-Bleguet-Dornier-Alphajet-A.html Edited August 29, 2021 by 72modeler corrected text Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReccePhreak Posted August 29, 2021 Author Share Posted August 29, 2021 4 hours ago, WARDOG said: Hi Phreak, I know I have some Cut then Add decals for a Thai Harrier (IF you need some!) but I'll have to check to see if I have any resin Stencil seats around. I heard that KP is supposed to be coming out with an Alpha Jet but I'm not sure if it'll be new or a re-box! I will soldier-on with my very old MPC (Airfix) kit with a Pavla cockpit, intakes and exhausts, Stencil seats, and a Master pitot. I'm also trying to modify the tail cone with the chaff/flares and E.C.M. bumps. All I need now are the correct Portuguese decals; all the ones available now have the rescue arrow in German, instead of the Portuguese over English details! Give me a buzz, (glynnj(at)swbell(dot)net WARDOG Email sent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CT7567 Posted August 29, 2021 Share Posted August 29, 2021 16 hours ago, WARDOG said: I heard that KP is supposed to be coming out with an Alpha Jet but I'm not sure if it'll be new or a re-box! It's a new tool, supposedly due any moment now: https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235095929-172-dornierdassault-breguet-alpha-jet-family-by-kovozávody-prostějov-kp-box-art-release-august-2021/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReccePhreak Posted August 29, 2021 Author Share Posted August 29, 2021 22 minutes ago, CT7567 said: It's a new tool, supposedly due any moment now: https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235095929-172-dornierdassault-breguet-alpha-jet-family-by-kovozávody-prostějov-kp-box-art-release-august-2021/ A lot of the "Naysayers" are already criticizing it before the first kit has been released, saying it's either just a "rebox" or a slightly retooled Heller or Matchbox kit. I will hold off until it actually gets released. I still have my 2 Heller kits to work on. Larry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted August 30, 2021 Share Posted August 30, 2021 The problem with AZ/KP is that their recent track record is very mixed... some kits were quite nice, like the ones made with metal moulds (Bf.109 etc) while some were frankly pretty bad (Sf.260, L.159). I'd say that what modellers are concerned about is what path will the company follow for their announced Alpha Jet: will it be a good one or a bad one ? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tempestfan Posted August 30, 2021 Share Posted August 30, 2021 18 hours ago, ReccePhreak said: A lot of the "Naysayers" are already criticizing it before the first kit has been released, saying it's either just a "rebox" or a slightly retooled Heller or Matchbox kit. I will hold off until it actually gets released. I still have my 2 Heller kits to work on. Larry The Matchbox would be a most unfortunate basis - if they actually did it the "ZTS" way -, as it was the first AJ on the market and based on a mock up, with a very rakish fin. It had a slight retool in 1980 or 81, but is no match (no pun intended) for either the Heller, Airfix or Fujimi tools. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAGATIGER Posted September 5, 2021 Share Posted September 5, 2021 On 8/30/2021 at 2:55 AM, Giorgio N said: The problem with AZ/KP is that their recent track record is very mixed... some kits were quite nice, like the ones made with metal moulds (Bf.109 etc) while some were frankly pretty bad (Sf.260, L.159). I'd say that what modellers are concerned about is what path will the company follow for their announced Alpha Jet: will it be a good one or a bad one ? 1000 Thanks Giorgio I was thinking the other day to fall with KP L-159 (so I'm going to avoid it) and for other part lots of Heller moulds have appear sudently from Mistercraft . Personally I don't know or care about the relationship between KP and Mastercraft but I'll keep my own Heller Alpha jet on the assembly line Regards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tempestfan Posted September 6, 2021 Share Posted September 6, 2021 5 hours ago, RAGATIGER said: …lots of Heller moulds have appear sudently from Mistercraft . Humbrol sold a lot of Heller moulds in the mid 80s, to Crovetto in Argentina, Lodela in Mexico (e.g. Alpha), and Smer. Those you are seeing as Mistercraft are the ones sold to Smer, who seem to have access to the Smer toolbank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAGATIGER Posted September 6, 2021 Share Posted September 6, 2021 37 minutes ago, tempestfan said: Humbrol sold a lot of Heller moulds in the mid 80s, to Crovetto in Argentina, Lodela in Mexico (e.g. Alpha), and Smer. Those you are seeing as Mistercraft are the ones sold to Smer, who seem to have access to the Smer toolbank. BTW LODELA from Mexico is no longer in operations since late 80s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted September 6, 2021 Share Posted September 6, 2021 *Many* years ago we had a survey of available Alpha Jet kits in 1/72. Sadly I don't think the situation has changed much since then. John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tempestfan Posted September 6, 2021 Share Posted September 6, 2021 56 minutes ago, RAGATIGER said: BTW LODELA from Mexico is no longer in operations since late 80s Lodela no longer makes kits for some time now, but late 80s is incorrect. Revell‘s early 90s boxings of the ex-Heller AJ, Ar 196 and Vampire/Mistral came from Lodela AFAIK. Revell apparently bought those moulds off Lodela plus a couple of Cadets ca. 10 years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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