Airfix 1/72 scale
BAC TSR-2

Reviewed by Brett Green

 

The TSR-2 began with a specification for the replacement of the venerable Canberra jet bomber.

The new aircraft was required to perform the roles of Tactical Strike and Reconnaissance in home service and abroad, and was also expected to evade hostile missile defences. Not only was this versatile design expected to be devastatingly accurate in acquiring its targets, it also needed to operate at both high altitudes and "below the radar".

A development contract for nine production aircraft was awarded to Vickers Armstrong and English Electric in 1960. The design incorporated advanced navigational attack and radar systems to ensure that the new aircraft could fulfill its challenging missions.

Two TSR-2s had been completed and a third almost ready for flight when the programme was cancelled by the British Government on 6 April, 1965.

The legend of the TSR-2 has almost been matched by the clamouring for an injection moulded kit of this large and lamented aircraft. It seems fitting that the British plastic flagship, Airfix, has answered the call.

The brand new Airfix 1/72 scale TSR-2 comprises 90 parts in white injection moulded plastic, and another six parts in clear.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

The plastic is very well moulded, with recessed panel lines throughout. The surface detail is quite sharp and consistent, although the panel lines on the fuselage halves do seem to be fractionally softer than on the rest of the kit. Ejector pin marks have been kept to an absolute minimum (the only ones I could see were on the inside of the jet exhausts), and there are but a few slight sink marks on the bottom of the fuselage halves.

Detail is also quite good. Wheel wells, undercarriage, intakes, deep burner cans and exhausts are all well done. The cockpit looks a little basic to me, with blank consoles and decals for instruments, but very little of this area will be seen through the small cockpit opening anyhow.

Options include positionable gear doors, bomb bay doors, speed brakes and canopy. The horizontal stabilisers may also be tilted to the modeller's desired angle during construction.

The kit is broken down simply. Construction should not present too many challenges. The wings are supplied as two parts - upper and lower halves - which are assembled and attached to the completed fuselage. Control surfaces are moulded fixed with the flying surfaces.

It is nice to see that Airfix has supplied three-piece positionable canopies.

The plastic is very clean and clear but it is a little thick, distorting light in places.

The markings are the best Airfix decals that I can recall seeing. The sheet is crisp and legible. The decals themselves are glossy, thin and in perfect register. The decals supplied for the instrument panels and consoles are very well detailed indeed.

Markings are supplied for all three of the completed machines.

Instructions are typical Airfix fare, with 27 illustrated construction steps. The only minor irritation is that colours are called out exclusively as Humbrol paint numbers. I do understand the corporate tie-in, but it would be more than helpful to have a clue as to the actual colour.

Considering the only official colour scheme by the time of the project's cancellation was overall Anti-Flash White, painting should be a breeze!

Airfix has been a bit "hit and miss" with the quality of some of their more recent releases, but this brand new TSR-2 is an unambiguous hit.

Even in 1/72 scale, this will be a big, impressive model when completed. Whether you finish your TSR-2 as one of the Anti-Flash White prototypes, or as a "What If" in theoretical 1960s or '70s service, it will be a head turner.

The model should be quite straightforward to build, is nicely detailed (but with scope for the determined superdetailer to get busy in the cockpit or, for example, dropping the flaps), has good surface features and appears to be quite accurate.

Airfix has delivered us a fine kit of a fascinating aircraft.

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Hannants for the review sample.