It has been
a long wait for an Aftermarket set like this to become available for the
Hobbycraft kit. Being a big fan of this Aircraft I have had to endure a not so
great kit in this scale (even the new and improved new tool kit).
In steps North Star Editions www.northstarhobbies.com
with their first leap into the aftermarket world and I will say that it is
quite impressive for my first look at this Multi-Media kit.
This is a multi-media set which
includes; 4 page Very Clearly Drawn B&W Instruction sheet, Resin,
Photo-etch, Brass tubing and Laser cut Acetate.
All very securely packaged
in a spacious box.
The resin is well done, but there
will need to be work. Well what do I mean by work you ask?
The resin has been cast so that
the parts are in a thin layer of flash. This is a different approach than the
usual parts being attached to the pour stubs. While the small parts are attached
to pour stubs the larger parts are suspended in the flash. The intention here I
suppose is that clean-up of the part is minimal and the loss of detail to
sanding is also kept to a minimum. This method looks good on the majority of my
kit except on the forward clamshell canopy doors. It looks as though the part in
my kit has a bit of a build up of flash as you can see in the picture.
Excessive flash |
Click on
image below to see larger image
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The laser cut acetate is a very
nice addition and the attention to detail is very apparent in this kit. The
photo etch is near perfect with the addition of a plate that you can mount on a
base if you want to make a diorama. The brass tubing for the canopy mechanism is
a good feature also.
Click on
images below to see larger images
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The one thing about this kit is
that it can be a kit in itself, meaning that it was designed to be a great
addition to an already built Arrow with the cockpit being a cut out. The
addition of the cockpit frame is included if you so choose to go this route.
The 4 pages of instructions
are pretty clear and coherent (in French and English) with FS paint
references at the beginning. I would suggest a read through prior to starting
the build.
Now this is not a kit for the
modeler on a strict budget at $75 CAD this is quite an investment for a $30
CAD kit. So do I recommend it? Certainly if you are a big enough fan of the
Aircraft and you do not want to scratch build the details. This kit is surely
well thought out and is suitable for more novice modelers. I don't think a 14
year old would be able to afford to purchase this kit. (Which is the
recommended age that would begin to understand this kit on the instructions).
Now to wait for a Landing Gear and
Weapons bay Detail Set before I start my build.
This review Sample courtesy of me
and my wallet.
Emil
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