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Price: £70.00 (after exchange rates and UK import duties)
Availability: http://www.wingnutwings.com/ww/
Review By: Les Venus (March 2011)
We have multiple builds of Wingnut Wings kits… just check out your Wingnut Wings Finished Now area in SMN.
Incredible = “Impossible or hard to believe.” (Definition c/o Oxford English Dictionary).
Background
OK, I am on the wrong page of your Scale Modelling Now again as I should be in the maritime section. But once in a while something comes along that either Geoff insists I build or I just feel an overwhelming need to. The RE-8 falls into that category.
I was privileged to have served two years on XV Squadron in RAF Germany in 1984 myself. Part of that time was organising the celebrations of the Squadron’s 70th Anniversary for which I did a lot of research. The RE-8 flew for a while and I was always drawn to this unusual Reconnaissance Light Bomber for its interesting shape and comparatively large size.
So when I saw that Wingnut’s were releasing a model of the Harry Tate I once again forked out my hard-earned and, from their excellent website (best in class I’d say), ordered it. It arrived a week later – which is impressive from New Zealand – and I am writing this review on the day it arrived; that’s how keen I am!
There’s not a great deal written on the subject, but at Milton Keynes show last weekend I picked up an old Windsock magazine for £10 all about this aircraft. It’s a useful reference but in truth unnecessary as the instructions are amazing. So much so I will let you enjoy them rather than regurgitate the facts contained therein…
The Box
Well just look at it. Next to Tamiya, Wingnuts really have such incredible box art that screams ‘build me’. It’s also reassuringly heavy and feels like a quality product; why, because it is!
Opening it reveals a box packed to the top with separate sprues all inside a sealed outer bag. This is designed to travel without damage and it really works.
Instructions
The Instructions are in a large full colour booklet with not only a history of the subject, but throughout reference shots that are aligned with the area you work on. Simply stunning, but will take some getting used to. My own view is that it’s the way ahead so I hope other companies follow Wingnut’s magnificent lead. I intend following them to the letter and will comment as I go to let you know how it worked. [ED note: A great idea Les, as I’m about to run my build of WW’s stunning F.2b Bristol Fighter – Geoff].
Colour Schemes
There are 5 fabulous colour options, all of which are in standard RFC Green and Buff undersides. I think it’s PC 10 and PC 11 but I’ll clarify for sure in the build.