Tornado IDS
Italeri, 1/48 scale
S u m m a r y
|
Item No. |
Italeri No 2648 - Tornado IDS |
Contents and Media: |
146 part in grey injection moulded
plastic; 10 clear parts; markings for five aircraft |
Scale |
1/48 |
Price: |
around £10.64
(available online from Hannants) and model retailers worldwide |
Review Type: |
FirstLook |
Advantages: |
Excellent decals; clear
transparencies; good surface detail; five colour scheme options; good
instruction sheet detail |
Disadvantages: |
Some inaccurate details |
Recommendation: |
Recommended |
Reviewed
by Mick Evans
Italeri's 1/48 scale Tornado IDS will be available online from Squadron.com
The 1/48 scale Italeri Tornado IDS makes a welcome
return. This is a nicely detailed kit with a beautiful set of decals
depicting the 90 Anniversary of the Marineflieger.
There are 146 light grey injection moulded plastic
parts and 10 clear parts in the kit, and a large decal sheet covering 5
different schemes.
When this kit was first released many years ago it
had some nice detail and Italeri's moulds are holding their age well,
the detail is crisply moulded. The surface detail is engraved and still
quite good by today’s standard.
Click the thumbnails below
to view larger images:
On the down side there are a few accuracy problems
and sparse detail but there are some nice resin detail sets to make this
a great model when complete. I do not have accurate scale plans of the
Tornado so I cannot make too many comments on the accuracy of the
dimensions.
A reasonably detailed cockpit interior is
provided, which can be easily replaced by the extensively detailed
Neomega cockpit detail set. The Ejection seats lack accurate detail and
really need to be replaced by accurate Martin Baker MK 10 ejection seats
which of course are supplied in the Neomega set. The wheel wells
contain the main structure detail but lack the finer details of
hydraulic piping and electrical cables. The Speed brake bays are very
inaccurate and lack the depth of the real aircraft. One of my pet hates
the wings come as movable swing wings with provision being made for the
wing pylons to be pivoting which sets the kit up for some fit and
accuracy problems. If the wings are displayed in the open position a
gaping hole is visibled where the inflatable fuselage seals are
positioned. There are a few detail sets produced by Paragon to enhance
and correct some of the deficiencies. The first is an accurate ECS
intake to replace the inaccurate one in the leading edge of the fin.
The second is a lowered flap set and this incorporates a resin section
to fill the inflatable seal area. Next is an engine nozzle replacement
which includes the thrust reverser bucket mechanism. Wing pylons and
the Boz 107 and Skyshadow pods make up the remainder of the parts.
The transparencies are moulded crystal clear with
the miniature detonating cord being moulded as raised detail in the main
canopy.
The fit of the Tornado kit presents no major
problems, but from my recent build of this kit experience tells me that
some filler was required on the fuselage seams and nose areas.
Options are provided for a deployed refuel probe,
open or closed canopy and open or closed cockpit canopy.
Two of the smaller style of underwing drop tank is
provided in the kit and these are the type used by the Luftwaffe and
Marineflieger. Four standard iron bombs are included as well as two
each of the Boz107 and Sky Shadow pods. Finally 2 sidewinder missiles
are provided to be attached to the inner wing pylons.
Decals are provided for five aircraft as follows:
-
Tornado IDS of the
RAF based at Tabuk air base Saudi Arabia in January 1991. This
aircraft was finished in overall Desert pink with a Snoopy air lines
on the port side of the nose and a vivacious Helen on the starboard
side of the nose.
-
Tornado IDS of the
RAF based at Muharraq air base Saudi Arabia in February 1991. This
aircraft was finished in overall Desert pink with a shark mouth just
under the nose and a scantily dressed lady riding a laser guided
bomb.
-
Tornado IDS of the
Aeronautica Militare Italiana based at Al Dafra (Abu Dhabi) in
January 1991. This aircraft was finished in overall Desert pink
upper surfaces and an unmentioned light grey lower surfaces.
-
Tornado IDS of the
Luftwaffe, JaBo G 37 based at Memmington in 1991. This aircraft was
finished in a wraparound scheme of RAL 6003 Olive Green, RAL 7021
Black-Grey approx FS 34079 Dark Green.
-
Tornado IDS of the
Marineflieger MFG 2 Anniversary aircraft in 2003. This aircraft was
finished in white under surface and a very striking overall flame
scheme of red and yellow. A large MFG2 squadron emblem is
embellished on either side of the tail fine and on the under side of
the fuselage. The dates 1958 to 2003 are embellished on the
undersides of the wing surfaces in very large letters. This is a
very striking and attractive scheme..
The decals are crisp, accurate
in colour and in register. My previous experience with Italeri decals
is they have been a bit stiff and have not conformed well to the surface
detail, but these look very good.
Click the thumbnails below
to view larger images:
Recommended for all modellers of
average skill and experience.
Thanks to Italeri for the review sample
Review Copyright © 2006 by Mick Evans
This Page Created on 18 August, 2006
Last updated 17 August, 2006
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