Airfix Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4 Starter Set (A55016) 1:72

[Mike]

Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4 Starter Set (A55016)

1:72 Airfix

 

 

The Eurofighter EF2000 Typhoon started as the EAP programme in the 1970s, engineered entirely by BAe, but was later joined by a number of international partners due to a supposedly common requirement, with the constituent partners changing over time to finalise with Britain, Germany, Spain and Italy remaining, while France went their own way with the Aerodynamics data to create the Rafale, which coincidentally has a similar general arrangement.  Delays and cost overruns seem to be a frustratingly common factor in 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. Airframes of all users have since taken part in many operations as their operators become fully competent in using the type’s capabilities and as more weapons come on-stream during ongoing development. The British Typhoons were initially ordered without guns in a typical lack of foresight, then with guns but without ammo because that’s so sensible, which was thankfully overturned in due course, then they were grounded in 2011 due to a lack of spares, which required the RAF to cannibalise grounded airframes to keep flying, thanks to constant cut-backs.

 

The two-seat variant is used for training and conversion, although it is fully capable of going to war if the situation requires it, having all the systems in place to make it operationally competent. The single-seater Tiffie is a great airshow crowd pleaser due to its agility at all speeds, and the impressive tearing roar of its twin EJ200 jet engines that propel it forwards with an impressive 20,000lbf of power per engine with reheat engaged.  The original tranche 1 airframes have been retired now, replaced by the more capable FGR.4 airframes with Series 2 engines, advanced avionics and a plan to replace the MFDs in the instrument panel with a new Large Area Display in 2024/5, putting a LAD in every tranche 3 Typhoon cockpit!

 

 

The Kit

This is a new tooling from Airfix’s Starter Set range, which consist of simple models with a lower part count than standard kits, plus a stand that mimics the shape of the aircraft in silhouette form.  This kit arrives in a red-themed end-opening box with a large header tab across the top for carousel or wall display, and inside are four sprues of grey styrene without runners around the edges, a clear sprue, a bag containing six thumb-pots of acrylic paint, a tube of plastic cement, and two paintbrushes, a 4 and a 0, both with a clear protective tube over the synthetic bristles to protect them during shipping and storage.  The instruction booklet is tri-folded around the decals and a simple guide to basic modelling skills that might be of use to a novice, or a modeller at the beginning of their journey through this hobby of ours.  External detail is good, with engraved panel lines and raised features such as underwing flap fairings and a gun barrel in the leading edge of the port wing, plus an APU exhaust in the wing root, and strakes on the sides of the nose.  There is also a simple cockpit with decal and crew figure to add detail to the model, and the instructions have been designed with the novice in mind, including yellow markings for the location where glue should be applied, and sprue diagrams in the corners of the steps, helping novice and expert alike to find the parts quickly through visual references.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Construction begins with the port wing that is made from two halves that has the lower fuselage integrated with the lower wing, the assembly then being glued under the upper port fuselage, quickly followed by the starboard wing made from two parts, and mated to the other fuselage half, both main gear bays having detail moulded into them.  Before joining the halves, the cockpit is built, fitting an instrument panel with decal into the tub and detail-painting it so that it can be installed within the starboard fuselage half on a raised guide moulded inside the nose.  The port fuselage is brought in to complete the main airframe, creating the twin intakes under the nose from two parts that fit on a large mating surface there, depicting the intake ramps open to ingest maximum air to feed the Eurojet EJ200 engines.  Flipping the model over onto its belly, the spine and aft cockpit deck is joined with the fuselage, adding the nose cone, PIRATE IRST sensor over the port side of the nose, and twin canard fins on either side of the cockpit.

 

The wingtip fairings have their lower halves moulded into the wings, fitting the upper portions as separate parts that allow for better alignment.  Moving further aft, the two exhaust cans are glued to the rear of the fuselage, which both have engine details moulded into their depths, which can be seen in the sprue photos.  Under the wings, a pair of outer pylons are mounted on two pins, and if you have decided to depict your Typhoon in-flight, there are three bay door parts that will fit flush with the surrounding fuselage.  To pose your model on its wheels, the three struts are each a single part, with two-part wheels, adding captive bay doors to the main gear legs, plus inner bay doors along the centre-line.  The nose gear bay has a single door glued to the port side of the bay, hanging vertically, and once the glue is cured, the pilot’s ejection seat is slipped into the cockpit, joined by the included pilot if you wish, covered by the one-part canopy that can be clipped into position without the use of glue, presumably to assist novice modellers, who may have problems with glue and canopies.

 

The stand that comes with the kit is a two-part affair, with a kinked post slotted into a base that mimics the shape of the Typhoon above it in a simplified “shadow” form, with an Airfix logo engraved where the wing roundels might be.  If you wish to draw attention to the logos, you could brush some contrasting paint into the recessed areas, then carefully paint around in the main colour, or you could wash the contrasting paint into areas of the glossed base, wiping away any overspill before it has chance to cure.

 

 

Markings

As is common with Airfix Starter Set boxings, there is one markings option, the details of which are shown on the back of the box.  You can depict the following airframe from the kit decals:

 

 

 

Decals are by Cartograf, which is a guarantee of good registration, sharpness and colour density, with a thin gloss carrier film cut close to the printed areas.

 

 

 

Conclusion

As the Typhoon is the aircraft most likely to be seen at airshows as it is many European countries’ front-line fighter, this kit should find favour as an impulse purchase, especially as it includes glue, paint and paint brushes so that the novice modeller has almost everything they need save for some nippers and a sanding stick.

 

Highly recommended.

 

 

Review sample courtesy of

[Enzo the Magnificent]

If it's anything like the F-35 starter kit, this should be a fun build.  I hope this series is a big success for Airfix.

[scautomoton]

I was super keen to get one, but looking at it now, I think I'll wait until a later boxing with ordnance and extra schemes is available

[Enzo the Magnificent]

2 minutes ago, scautomoton said:

I was super keen to get one, but looking at it now, I think I'll wait until a later boxing with ordnance and extra schemes is available

 

I doubt there will be one.  These kits are aimed at beginners. 

[scautomoton]

29 minutes ago, Enzo the Magnificent said:

 

I doubt there will be one.  These kits are aimed at beginners. 

I don't know, many Airfix kits bounce between starter kit and proper kit releases.

[Ratch]

6 minutes ago, scautomoton said:

I don't know, many Airfix kits bounce between starter kit and proper kit releases.

Not these, with 43 parts they are designed as starter kits.

[scautomoton]

Yeah but add a full load of ordnance and that'll increase by 20 perhaps. Either way we'll find out on a year or two.

[Enzo the Magnificent]

30 minutes ago, scautomoton said:

I don't know, many Airfix kits bounce between starter kit and proper kit releases.

Are you thinking about the Spitfire Vc?  The starter kit and full kit were completely different releases although they probably shared the same research.

[scautomoton]

Lightning, Hawk, Harrier, the list goes on

[Enzo the Magnificent]

6 minutes ago, scautomoton said:

Lightning, Hawk, Harrier, the list goes on

Aha!  I see what you mean.  Those kits were designed as full kits but were also issued as "starter sets" with a single colour scheme, paints, glue and hairy sticks.  Nevertheless the starter kit plastic was identical to that of the full kit.   This Typhoon (and the previous F-35B, Bf109F and Spitfire Vc) were designed as simple kits to attract newcomers to the hobby.

 

Have a look at the instruction sheets for the two versions of the Spitfire Vc and you will see how different they are.

 

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/airfix-a02108a-supermarine-spitfire-mkvc--1460225

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/airfix-a55001-supermarine-spitfire-mkvc--1261027

 

Having said that, if Airfix were to release a modern full kit of the Typhoon, I wouldn't complain. 

[scautomoton]

Ah understood, I wasn't aware of the difference. But it makes sense.

[PhantomBigStu]

2 hours ago, Enzo the Magnificent said:

 

I doubt there will be one.  These kits are aimed at beginners. 

I’ve said this before but calling aftermarket guys, a full set of pylons and a good stencil sheet will be a good little earner, I know I’d buy a few as I would a proper release, the only really good kit is the hasegawa and getting one is either playing chicken with customs which I’ve not done since the B word but I’ve heard is now a fools game or selling a kidney with a uk stockist. Reminds me I need to order a couple and something else to use my discount code and get the free meteor 

Edited February 28 by PhantomBigStu

[spruecutter96]

As much as I get that these are starter kits, couldn't they have produced it with something nice-and-colourful on the tail. This scheme is about as "vanilla" as you can get. Seems like a missed opportunity, here. Would the production-costs really be any higher?

 

Cheers.

 

Chris. 

[Ad-4N]

On 3/1/2025 at 5:21 AM, spruecutter96 said:

As much as I get that these are starter kits, couldn't they have produced it with something nice-and-colourful on the tail. This scheme is about as "vanilla" as you can get. Seems like a missed opportunity, here. Would the production-costs really be any higher?

 

Cheers.

 

Chris. 

 

This is an excellent example of the diversity in scale modeling thought.  I applaud Airfix’s decision to do the markings of a line aircraft over s special edition tart with some Hobbit on the tail or something.

 

But I do see your reasoning that something more colorful would appeal to the young modeler.

[psdavidson]

34 minutes ago, Ad-4N said:

something more colorful would appeal to the young modeler

A full size tail decal could be difficult for the less experienced

This could be offputting

[wellsprop]

On 01/03/2025 at 13:21, spruecutter96 said:

As much as I get that these are starter kits, couldn't they have produced it with something nice-and-colourful on the tail. This scheme is about as "vanilla" as you can get. Seems like a missed opportunity, here. Would the production-costs really be any higher?

 

Cheers.

 

Chris. 

 

I did think that, but when I think back to the model kits I first made, pretty much regardless of the actual marking options, I just painted them grey and put roundels on! 

[georgeusa]

1 hour ago, wellsprop said:

 

I did think that, but when I think back to the model kits I first made, pretty much regardless of the actual marking options, I just painted them grey and put roundels on! 

Regarding the first model kits I made, (had to be careful bringing the kits home to avoid the T-Rexes and Raptors it was that long ago), painting was not part of the plan for many a model built.  I was just happy to get some plastic to glue together, spin the propellers and then after a couple of weeks, improve my shooting skills with a BB gun as they became target practice.  I think I was 5 or 6 years old when I got my first BB gun, probably 10 or 11 when I received my first .22.  I think parents now days would freak at that.

[Meatbox8]

On 3/3/2025 at 2:17 PM, Ad-4N said:

 

This is an excellent example of the diversity in scale modeling thought.  I applaud Airfix’s decision to do the markings of a line aircraft over s special edition tart with some Hobbit on the tail or something.

 

But I do see your reasoning that something more colorful would appeal to the young modeler.

Just some squadron markings would be nice. I know most Typhoons seem to be devoid of these now, but they went through a nice phase of having 'fighter bars' (12 Squadron? I dont think so!) and a stylised squadron badge on the fin.