Conclusion
This concludes the build for the kit. To be honest, I am very pleased with the way the kit has turned out. True, it has not been the easiest kit to build; it is let down in areas (moulding issues leading to sink marks, soft edges, flash markings etc, the tail section and fit to the fuselage is bad too). I did mention in the report before that a lot for filler is required around the gaps. I know the initial reaction is to blame this on poor fitting parts, but in Revell’s defence, the Typhoon is a complex aircraft, shape wise, and unless the casting of the wing and the fuselage together or the air intake as one, will always result in the use of filler. In compromise to the Trumpeter variant, Revell have got the shape right. In summary, you can work around sink marks, but if the aircraft does not ‘look’ like a Typhoon, it will fail to impress the masses.
- Visual look – It looks like a Typhoon – A step forward compared to the Trumpeter offering
- Price – with a RRP at £50 you get a lot of plastic for the money
- Cockpit seat – Revell should be congratulated for this; the seat is superb and accurate
- Decals – thin and accurate
- Engine and burner cans – Although I have not mentioned the removable engine, this is a nice touch that some modellers will enjoy and explore more. I did like that the burner cans can be posed “wide open” or “closed”; however, the kit only included for the petals for two complete cans. It would have been nice if four sets were included so these could be interchanged.
- Poor Casting – Sink marks and flash marks should not be acceptable in today’s market
- Lack of ground attack weapons – In Revell’s defence, the model is a F2 variant and not a FGR4
- Cockpit detail – disappointing in this scale
- Undercarriage detail – The front undercarriage leg is very delicate – perhaps this could have benefited from being cast from white metal?
- Front air intake detail – I know it is an inherent problem with the kit, perhaps the inclusion of FOD guards to cover it up would be welcomed by the model fraternity?
Is it worth the money and building? Yes! I did find it frustrating, but on reflection and after finishing it, it is worth having a build, especially if the aftermarket suppliers produce various parts to accommodate the shortfalls of the kit. 7/10
Below are a series of images of the completed model. Click on a thumbnail to see the enlarged image.
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