I saw this kit in a Hobby Lobby for $80, and I’m going to buy it as soon as I finish my other kits I’m working on. I was just wondering if anyone else had built it, and if so, could give me any tips/precautions. This will be my first very big model, and considering the cost, I don’t wanna mess up. Oh, also, I believe the company is Revell Germany, but it could be just Revell. I’m not too observant, I guess; just drooling at the thought of that model sitting in my room![:D]
It’s big, watch for wing droop and the alignment between the forward and aft fuselage. Revell made one, I think it’s out of production but you can still get the Revell Gremany one (I have both.) The decals in the Revell Germany kit are better otherwise it’s the same kit in a better box. I recommend the CAM turkey feathers also. Pre-paint as much as possible. Two Bobs makes some great decals. You might find one on EBAY a little cheaper.
http://www.camdecals.com/
http://www.twobobs.net/
Good Luck
Crew Chiefs Rule!
Hi,
i just completed mine and for the most part it went together well. You might want to make sure you have some reference material at hand. the Revell kit lacks some obvious details such as the vortex generators, only two of the six pitot tubes, and there are some fit issues regarding the engines. (nothing that shimming can’t fix) If you can latch onto them, I would recommend the Fox One decal sheet if for nothing else the stencils. (the Revell sheet is junk)
When she’s finished she’ll be a monster…hope you have the diplay room…I have mine in gear down mode and I am currently working on the ground crew and equipment. When she’s ready to go out I’m thinking of sending my kids to boarding school just for the added space…just kidding.
Before you toss $80 at this kit, you might wait and see if it will go on sale some place like Squadron. Shop around a little, I bought mine for $50.
It’s a nice kit, but hardly worth that amount of money.
Good luck
Steve
Watch Hobby Lobby’s website for discount coupons. Quite regularly, they run 50% off plastic models. Our local store is carrying some pretty nice stuff!
I recall that the pins that stop the wings at their swing limits broke off almost immediately. They’re way too thin. Conversely, the SRAM missile fins were way too thick. Otherwise I remember it as being a typical big Revell model - the only thing going for it was size, it didn’t really have any more detail than Monogram’s 1/72 kit.
In its defense, yes it lacks detail, but it does have really nice recessed panel lines that do not need to be washed with a darker color to make the panels pop out. Yes, you will need sand the fins on the SRAMs, ditto for the weapons bay door hinges. Watch the alignment of the flight deck to the rest of the aircraft. Look it has its faults, but the with a little tweeking here and there it turns out to be nice kit. It’s a nice intermediate challenge.
Have fun with it…I did…I love mine…
Steve
Fighter pilots make movies. Bomber crews make history.
Thanks for the info guys, I too have thought about buying this kit. I only wory about having space for it.
Hey DDR & NWilliams;
May I suggest that when you are building the BONE you take some time when putting the Nose & Tail sections to the Wing section, first install the tail first and then wait a day or two for the glue to bond and then install the nose, this will cut down on the amount of filler putty and not waste your time sanding or hard earned cash on filler putty, I should know I built the same kit twice and on the first one I rushed to assemble it and paid for it in putty
I picked this kit up at the last HobbyLobby sale at 50% off! I cant wait to get started on it too. Ive done some review reading myself just to find out some great tips along with the ones you guys just posted , thanks! Im certainly going to go with the detail sets available. I ordered them from Great Models, but of course, theyre out of stock. There are a few reviews on the Modeling Madness webite too. http://modelingmadness.com/