BAe Mantis - Combat Kits 1/72

[colossusfr]

Hi everybody

 

UAVs are back!! After abandoning this type of models for three or four years, they're making a strong comeback with this unusual machine.

Europe has been searching for its place in the world of drones for quite a few years now. In the early 2010s, numerous prototypes emerged in Europe, including the BAe Mantis, a machine that would later give rise to the Telemos in partnership with Dassault. It made its first appearance at the Farnborough Airshow in 2008 with a mockup. The version shown here is the one that flew flight tests in 2010 in the Australian desert.

 

The model used is one that I searched for a long time. It is a pure resin model from the English brand Combat Kits. The molding is pretty good, but the engravings need some work, and all the assemblies need to be reworked to obtain a decent result. Nonetheless, the model is still very good and accurately represents the real thing. A lot of work is needed to engrave and refine the details of the nose.

The painting was quite complicated. Most photos show it backlit and almost black. The few indoor photos show it more brownish. I decided to use this shade for my representation, with a hint of copper and a lot of weathering. The kit decals are of good quality.

In the end, it's a machine that I really like, and it enhances my collection of drones.

 

Photos :

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you will like it.

The complete WIP can be found there

 

See you soon with a complete new project. Very different, still resin, and still a flying machine !

Alain.

 

[Celestialsphere]

Very nice model Alain.

 

Your pictures showing the model on the taxiway look very realistic. 

 

Cheers 

Andrew 

 

[Darwinism]

Great work Alain and some super photography. 
 

the Mantis is a new one to me and I live in the country where it flew its test flights although Woomera is a fair distance from Canberra!

[Britman]

Lovely modeling Alain. Probably one of the best looking UAV's.

 

Keith 

[Spitfire31]

Excellent model of an interesting (until now unknown to me…) subject.

 

I mistook the first photo for a pic of the real thing… 😉

 

Kind regards,

Joachim

[Jagdtiger1]

Really nice looking job you've done on that kit Alain! The paint job really does suit it.

 

I honestly thought that first image was a reference image from real life!

 

James.

[Hopesdaddy]

Excellent build of a very unique (and prior to seeing this unknown) subject. The Mantis has a much better overall look than the more common predator and Reaper. Now that ive seen it i''m shopping for a kit of it too.

[colossusfr]

Thanks everybody for your comments. 
 

Alain.