Lockheed YF-12A
Limited Edition

Italeri, 1/72 scale
 

Reviewed by Mick Evans

Italeri's 1/72 scale YF-12A will be available online from Squadron.com

The Lockheed Skunk Works manufactured three YF-12A Interceptor aircraft. The design is fundamentally similar to the SR-71.

The 1/72 scale Italeri kit of the YF-12A was released some 20 years ago and still holds up well by today’s standards. The kit comes moulded in silver styrene plastic with a mix of raised and engraved details.

The kit has 2 common sprues from the SR-71 Blackbird kit and, having built the Blackbird just recently, I can comment favourably on overall fit and detail.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

The YF-12 has a completely different sprue for the front end of the aircraft to accommodate the Hughes ASG-18 Radar and Fire Control System. The ASG-18 was a combination of long range radar and infrared search sensors along with a precision radar coupled to the infrared tracking system. The Hughes radar makes the front end look a bit funny with the round nose and cut off chines instead of the nicely blended lines of the Blackbird. The other major modifications were to the photo bays to accept three GAR9/AIM-47 missiles. An extra cockpit was added to accommodate the Fire Control Officer; and two ventral fins were added under each nacelle while a folding stabilizer fin was added under the centreline of the aircraft.

These modifications have been captured in the kit with the option to display two GAR9/AIM-47 missiles with the weapons bay doors open. The rear end is that of the SR-71 with slots provided for the folding fin. The engine nacelles contain sufficient detail for this scale as do the wheel wells and undercarriage. The cockpit is a bit sparse but if the kit is modelled with the canopies closed none of the detail is visible. For those wishing to open the canopies the seats and cockpit detail may need replacing or some detail work.

The transparencies are crystal clear but care will be required to install them into the canopy assemblies.

The in-flight refuel receptacle can be modelled in the open or closed position.

Finally the decals are a vast improvement over the old Italeri matt decals which were very rigid and usually did not adhere well. These decals are glossy in finish and look very thin.

My comments on the SR-71 kit fitment and assembly should carry for this kit as well. The fit was very good with small amounts of filler required for the upper and lower joins for the front to rear fuselage joints and a small amount near the rear control surfaces. The main rear assembly needs some patience and careful alignment while glueing and if the correct alignment is achieved very little cleanup is required.

Markings are supplied for the natural metal & black aircraft and the overall black aircraft. I have been told that the black is in fact very dark midnight blue but I cannot verify this as all of my reference says black.

In summary, this is a very nice kit and the moulds have withstood time to still punch out a crisply moulded kit.

Highly recommended for all levels of modeller
 

Thanks to Italeri for the review sample