Scale Aviation Modeller International 06 2008

The latest announcement from Anigrand offers something a little more manageable in size than many of their recent offerings! The 1/72 Fairchild T-46 Eaglet (#2080/US$45) represents a second generation trainer designed to replace the T-37, so is in keeping with their experimental theme. Anigrand's customary bulletin tells us that 'in 1982, the US Air Force issued a Next Generation Trainer (NGT) competition for primary flight instruction. Initially it was planned that the Air Force would purchase 650 of the trainers through 1993 and that they would serve well into the 21st century. In order to validate the proposed aircraft's design, and to explore its flight handling characteristics, Fairchild Republic contracted with Ames Industries to build a flyable 62% scale test bed, the Model 73. This design won the competition and was designated T-46 Eaglet. The T-46 prototype was first flight tested at Edwards AFB on 15 October 1985. The plane performed beyond expectation during the testing phase, however, due to budget constraints, the Air Force cancelled the T-46 program in 1986 after only three aircraft had been completed. The T-46 was the last project of the Fairchild Republic Corporation, and with the NGT program cancelled, the company closed the Republic factory, bringing 60 years of Fairchild aircraft manufacturing to an end.'

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Scale Aviation Modeller International 05 2008

Even the most hardened purist's faith will waver when they see what Accurate Armour have come up with next. The latest In their Airfield series of 1/48 resin vehicles includes a couple of models that any aircraft modeller should be able to find a place for in their collections. First up is a Scammell SV/2S Recovery Crane (#48011/£64.99), and this is followed by the cream of the crop, an AEC 6x6 Refueller with booms, released in two versions (#48007 and #48013, both £64.99). and the AEC Matador 4x4 RAF Flat Bed truck (K48008). This model features cab and pump chamber internal detail, suspension, optional spare wheel carrier and chassis, and also includes a pair of refuelling booms and filter systems for refuelling Jet Aircraft. Rubber hose lines are included. Extensive RAF Bomber and Coastal Command decals are provided, as are AVTUR decals for post-war use. The final release is equally attractive, and very useful for diorama builders. The flat bed truck depicts a standard RAF vehicle for general heavy load duties, which had a very long service life, and can be modelled as both a wartime and post-war machine. This highly detailed series of models provided the initial impetus for the Editor's crusade for the inclusion of ground handling vehicles in the magazine's pages. The models are exquisite, the series well planned and all the subjects will enhance any aircraft model they are posed next to. giving a real feel for scale and period that is sometimes missing in the model cabinet.

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Scale Aviation Modeller International 04 2008

The second release in Tamiya's popular F-16 series is now due. Following the record success of the first release, the F-16C/J, which won a Modellfan award at Nuremberg, the second kit is the Lockheed F-16C (block 25/32) -Fighting Falcon ANG (#61101/£29.99), and features the aircraft in National Guard service. The F-16 has become one of the most widely-used jet fighters in the world, and has undergone a series of upgrades throughout its service life with various air forces. The Block 25 entered service in 1984 and featured upgraded radar and cockpit avionics. The Block 32 was the first upgrade affected by a program to use different engines in the F-16, and continued to use Pratt & Whitney engines, while the Block 30 used engines made by General Electric. The Block 32 has been upgraded to carry a wide range of weapons, including the LITENING II laser targeting pod, which enables precision attack capability with laser-guided bombs. Tamiya's revised tooling includes new parts that accurately reproduce the correct engine nozzle and smaller air intake that correspond to Pratt & Whitney powered F-16s. Main landing gear and doors are also depicted with new parts, while the wing reinforcement plates for Block 32 are recreated with decals.

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Scale Aviation Modeller International 10 2005

Inside the side-opening box you get three sprues of grey plastic, one sprue of clear, an instruction sheet and a small decal sheet. The instructions show four construction sequences, with a parts tree diagram and decal placement options. All of the main parts feature very fine recessed detail, but it is so fine that a thin coat of paint will obliterate it. The decals in my sample were out of register by 1mm on each colour, and absolutely useless, so I had to revert to raiding my spares box. The finished model therefore does not represent any particular aeroplane, but it looks pleasing to my eye. In the box of my sample I was supplied with the parts tree for the two-seat version of this aircraft instead of the single-seater. It's not a huge problem, but the numbers on the parts tree diagram don't match what you have in the box. I don't know if this was a simple mistake or whether it applies to all of the kits.

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