- Super Wing Series No.2
Review by Geoff Coughlin
Some background…
I defy any scale modeller who builds in 1:32nd scale and interested in WWII Luftwaffe fighters not to have been waiting to see what this new kit would bring. We got hint of it some months ago and I immediately placed an order for SMN with Volks (http://www.volks.co.jp/en/index.aspx ) – not cheap but the kits looked so good from the website it just had to be done (how many times have you heard that?!).
So, today it has arrived in the office (23 November 10) and having paid the expected £34.00 import / Customs tax; it’s taken over 45 minutes to shoot all the sprues, decals and instruction book etc. because you get a lot with this package for your money. Ok, so let’s go and explore the box to see if the hype lives up to the reality…
Oh – just a quick reminder that this kit is off to Dave Coward later today and he’ll be getting straight into a detailed build for SMNs Build Now area, so watch out very, very soon for that!
Some inspiration ?
Some great shots of the Ta-152 in WWII towards the middle of this video – check it out…
Great box = undamaged contents…
Certainly a strong box and everything arrived from Japan undamaged and in perfect condition. Straight away you’ll notice that the sprues are moulded in different colours, some silver – engine, cockpit, some grey – fuselage, wings and the usual clear sprues. A fantastic instruction book and decal sheet complete the package. No etched brass or white metal but I don’t think you’ll need it when you examine the contents, but Dave will be able to give a better assessment of that decision by the manufacturer later when he builds this kit. A stunning resin pilot figure with separate arms and legs is included and will definitely enhance your completed model.
Quality…
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The quality of the recessed detail is top drawer, some very fine detail on the external surfaces of the fuselage and wings. Looks pretty accurate too from the 3 reference sources I have. Breakdown of the parts is logical and speaking of quality and detail the interior of the fuselage halves has the ribbed detail associated with the original. This will prove useful if you display your model with the fuselage hatch open.
It’s funny but I am mid way through the new Airfix de Havilland Sea Vixen and that has a similar problem (more irritating than major) in that there are many round mould marks in hard to get at places like in the gaps in the ribbed framework inside the flaps. Also in the same type of places in the cockpit – not impossible to remove (well most of them anyway) but they can be seen and will need careful removal with a small modelling chisel or other tool.
More detail…
The insides of the flaps are detailed and Fw-190 and Ta-152 aircraft had flaps with a lot of ribbing on their internal faces. This is represented pretty well but I expect Eduard will do their usual think and provide more delicate photo etched replacements.
Moving onto the rudder and elevator ribbed detail this looks a little heavy to me but things like this are fairly easily improved (if you want to go that far) by gentle sanding with a nail buffer.
Looking at the cockpit detail it looks very good. Obvious from the pics you see here is the option for using either of the kits seats, one with and one without a seat harness moulded in. The belts do look realistic to me and with some careful painting and use of a wash the moulded belt option should look very good indeed. This will save you any additional cost of photo-etch belts.