|
YP-59 Airacomet
Special Hobby, 1/72
scale
S
u m m a r y
|
| Catalogue Number: |
Special Hobby kit no. SH 72084 YP-59
Airacomet. |
| Scale: |
1/72 |
| Contents and Media: |
65 short run,
dark grey injection moulded plastic parts, 2 very clear
injection moulded canopies, 1 fret of photo
etch containing three parts, 5 double sided A5 pages with history, build
instructions, parts plan, painting and decal diagrams and decals for
three aircraft. |
| Price: |
USD$21.96 from Squadron.com
|
| Review Type: |
FirstLook |
| Advantages: |
Very clean moulding for a short run
kit, includes photo-etched parts; injection moulded canopy; important
subject; both British and American markings. |
| Disadvantages: |
Red in the British markings looks a
bit on the bright side. |
| Recommendation: |
Recommended |
Reviewed by Glen Porter
Special
Hobby's 1/72 scale YP-59 Airacomet is available online from Squadron.com
The YP-59 Airacomet was
America’s first effort at building a jet fighter so it is very
historically important. That it was slower than a Mustang and most other
front line fighters of the times is not so important, as the first
German and British efforts were no better. The fact of the matter is
that all three led to much better things and got us to where we are
today.
The British were much
more advanced than the Americans in jet engine development and decided
to share the technology with them. The American airframe builder, Bell,
had very little idea of the potential of the engines, which led them to
design a very conservative aircraft, and so its not surprising that it
didn’t perform all that well. It wasn’t until Allied developments were
combined with German research and technology post-war that we started to
get the really high performance jets like the Sabre and Hunter.
As usual, Special Hobby
[MPM] has given us a very competent model of this aircraft, which should
appeal to many modellers. Unusually, it doesn’t have any resin parts in
it and also there are only three P.E. parts [scissor links for the three
U/C legs] and the canopy is injection moulded so it may even appeal to
some novices. British markings, as well as the U.S., give it even wider
appeal.
Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:
Although two canopies
are supplied, one is not a spare as the RAF aircraft has a slight dome
in it.
The three marking
options are interesting - RAF., U.S.Army and U.S.Navy. The decals look
quite good although the register isn’t exact and the red in the British
examples looks a bit bright. Usable just the same.
Overall, I would have to
give this kit very high marks for its wide appeal and the quality of the
short run mouldings.
Add to that the
interesting subject and I would say they are on to a winner.
Recommended
Thanks to MPM/Special Hobby
for the review sample.
Review Text Copyright © 2004 by Glen Porter
Images Copyright © 2004 by Brett Green
Page Created 02 November, 2004
Last updated 02 November, 2004
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