What kit should I use to build a Desert Storm Tornado in 72nd?

[Valdis]

Hello guys,

Having been away from modeling for a while, what kit should I use to build a Desert Storm Tornado?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/86296603@N00/91334145/

What about an F-15E, Hasegawa's kit is still around?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tailspin_tommy/3134279592/

I'd fancy building an A-10 too, all of them in 1/72. Out of the box would be nice but, if need be, I'd go for resin or PE updates..

Thank you in advance,

Francisco

[sv51macross]

Rog (Revell of Germany) for the Tornado, it is a very excellent kit. Not sure about the Warthog or the Mud Hen, but Academy, from what I've heard, makes a decent A-10 and it comes with alot of ordinance as well. (AGM-65, MK-82, GBU-10, AIM-9, ect).

[Stephen]

Tornado

Revell Germany GR.1

A-10

Italeri

Stephen

[Quixote74]

For a Desert Storm (Operation Granby) Tornado GR.1, your best bet will be the Revell Germany kit. There's some debate about the nose shape, but this is by far the newest tooling and has most of the extras you'll want to load out your Tonka ('Hindenburg' tanks, etc.). Only major shortcoming is a lack of appropriate decals, but you should be able to find aftermarket markings (sheets were done by Xtradecal, Modeldecal, and Hi-Decal, among others).

http://www.hannants.co.uk/search/?FULL=RV4619

Hasegawa's kit isn't quite as good or as detailed, but it's a reasonable alternative. One advantage is Hasegawa issued a "Desert Storm" boxing with decals. Downside of the Hasegawa is a lack of all the stores in the Revell kit, needed to do a full DS loadout. The Desert Storm boxing is out of production but can probably still be found in local shops or online:

http://www.hlj.com/product/HSG00720

On the Strike Eagle front, the Hasegawa kit is indeed still around, and unfortunately it's still the best basis for a Mudhen despite all its shortcomings in accuracy/detail for that variant. Revell Germany reboxed this kit, usually for a lower price than the original. Biggest shortcoming is the Conformal Fuel Tanks and tangential pylons (not accurate and not there, respectively). AIMS makes an aftermarket set to correct these issues and also add updated weapons.

http://www.aimsmodels.co.uk/html/updates__...ersions_28.html

Another option some have tried is mating the CFTs and pylons from the otherwise poor Airfix F-15E kit to the Hasegawa/Revell.

Once again you'll likely need aftermarket decals to do a Desert Storm bird - they were exclusive to the 4th TFW during that timeframe. Plenty of kit, accessory, and decal info can be found here:

http://www.f-15estrikeeagle.com/navigation/index_reviews.htm

As for the Warthog, Italeri's kit is the newest and was issued as an A-10 or OA-10 (also reboxed by Revell Germany). There are also good kits by Academy and Hasegawa, although these don't reflect all the detail changes made from early birds to the Desert Storm era. The only kit I know for sure comes with Desert Storm decals out of the box is the Revell reboxing, but others may as well.

Good rundown of aftermarket A-10 sheets is available here:

http://www.72scale.com/aircraft/Fairchild/A-10.htm

Hope that helps!

[Valdis]

Hey Quixote, I hope they make a miniature version of you, so I can take it with me to the hobby shop next time I have these doubts Thank you very much :)

I think I remember seeing a F-15 by Hobbyboss. Would it be a good substitute?

Francisco

[MiG31]

I've found dstorm.eu to be a good reference for modeling Desert Storm coalition aircraft. As for the Tonka, the RoG kit seems best though, as said, Hasegawa is not bad. (Some say the radome is off shape, though I don't see it, personally.) There's also the Flightpath detail set, designed for the Hasegawa kit, that provides weapons, new radome, exhausts, and other goodies.

[Quixote74]

Hey Quixote, I hope they make a miniature version of you, so I can take it with me to the hobby shop next time I have these doubts Thank you very much

I think I remember seeing a F-15 by Hobbyboss. Would it be a good substitute?

Francisco

Lol! I'll take that as a compliment. Glad to help out, it's a benefit of having an embarassingly large "stash" of 1/72 kits, and knowing about sites like this one to find what I'm looking for. I'm actually pretty new to posting here, but I'm sure you'll find a lot of knowledgeable and helpful folks on this forum.

As for the Hobbyboss F-15E, I haven't seen it in person but from what I've seen and read online it's not a very good option. Like every other 1/72 kit, it's closer to a B or D model than an E. Also no pylons on the conformal tanks, and no weapons (at all).

If you can't locate the Revell or Hasegawa kits, the next best option is probably the Academy kit (see the Strike Eagle reference listed above for more info).