Red Roo Models RFD Winged Target (RRK72001) 1:72

[Mike]

RFD Winged Target (RRK72001)

1:72 Red Roo Models

 

 

Part of learning to fly and fight is live-firing training, for which a Swedish company designed a target for the jet-age that due to its rugged resin-impregnated plywood construction, could be towed at more realistic attack speeds in excess of 250 kts.  They were manufactured in the UK by a company by the name of Rubberised Fabric Developments, and ten units were shipped over to the RAAF in Australia during mid-1952, but saw very little real use.  They were twin-boomed gliders with a triple tail between the booms, and the winch gear under the centre of the wing.  Today there are very few remaining references of the type, and the best guess is that they were painted red, but that’s extrapolated from black and white photos, which is never 100% certain.

 

 

The Kit

This is a small resin kit both in terms of size and parts, with the largest of them being a pre-formed resin jig to assemble your model upon, avoiding any alignment issues while the glue sets up.  There are six casting blocks with all the main parts having their own block, and just the four small parts sharing the remaining block.  There is also a smaller bag with two v-shaped 0.010” wires and some softer wire included.  It would be wise to clean the resin parts in warm soapy water before you begin to remove the last of the release agent from the casting process, as it will improve paint adhesion later.

 

 

Construction is simple but precise, and the details will take some extra time, so don’t expect it to take five minutes.  The tail is first to be detailed by adding short lengths of wire to the pre-drilled depressions to each side of the vertical fins, which are supports that extend to the underside on the outer pair.  The twin fuselages are inserted into their V-shaped troughs in the jig with the back butting up against the vertical upstand, after which you can glue the wing on once everything is square and according to the instructions.  The tail is also glued on and the two lower braces are fixed to the fuselages, then the ground contact trigger, towing hooks and parachute housing are all added, and some additional wire is used for details.  A small quantity of rigging is required, and the instructions recommend EZ-Line, which is an elastic thread that can be expensive depending on where you look.  That of course is best done after painting and according to the instructions.

 

 

Markings

There are no decals, and the whole model is painted matt red, with the skids that contact the ground a steel colour where the paint has worn away during take-off and landing.

 

 

Conclusion

This is something a little out of the usual, and would look well next to a Target Towing Beaufighter, the conversion for which you can also get from Red Roo’s well-stocked online shop or their other stockists worldwide.

 

Highly recommended.

 

 

Review sample courtesy of