All new tooled 1/72 Hobbycraft Avro CF-105 Arrow?

[aerofan]

Hey Guys,

Was surfing and found Northstar Military Hobbies advertising this. I tried contacting Hobbycraft but their site is down and their info email isn't active anymore. I contacted NMH and still awaiting reply. I'd like to know if it is a scaled down version of the Hobbycraft 1/48 scale HC1659 new tooled Avro Arrow or not. The funny thing is NMH mentions HC1393 which is attached to the older boxing 1/72 scale DHC Beaver with pontoons from the HC 1992 catalog. If anyone here knows more info on it, please post replies. TIA.

[RiderFan]

Already a thread on this...

http://s362974870.onlinehome.us/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=249277&st=0&p=2369528&fromsearch=1entry2369528

But still, I'll believe it when I have 7 or 8 of them on my work bench.

And for $35, it better rival the Academy 1/72 CF-18 kit in quality otherwise it's just HC ripping people off again. And considering neither the "schematic" view or the colour chart are correct, I suspect it's not going to be all that great.

For reference, the "schematic view" has the main landing gear doors drawn upside down and the colour chart is indicating gloss red for the florescents and it looks like the Canadian Shield on one of the flags is backwards (both 'harps' should face the union jack).

Edited May 15, 2012 by RiderFan

[aerofan]

Already a thread on this...

http://s362974870.onlinehome.us/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=249277&st=0&p=2369528&fromsearch=1entry2369528

But still, I'll believe it when I have 7 or 8 of them on my work bench.

And for $35, it better rival the Academy 1/72 CF-18 kit in quality otherwise it's just HC ripping people off again. And considering neither the "schematic" view or the colour chart are correct, I suspect it's not going to be all that great.

For reference, the "schematic view" has the main landing gear doors drawn upside down and the colour chart is indicating gloss red for the florescents and it looks like the Canadian Shield on one of the flags is backwards (both 'harps' should face the union jack).

Thanks RF for the link. Don't know how I missed it. Yeah, for $35 it better be like Academy's 1/72 CF-18 but somehow I think it'll end up being like the so called "new tooled" 1/48 Avro Arrow which for $45 to $60 is just crap even with or without the paint set which is just as much a joke as the kit itself.

[Kevan Vogler]

Did Hobbycraft not go under in the last year or two? I'm pretty sure I heard some news to that effect.

[RiderFan]

Yeah HC failed about two years ago. Maybe they're trying to find a way to reincarnate themselves but issuing yet another poorly done Arrow for too high a price isn't the way to do it.

[Av8fan]

Saw 6 of these at the LHS. $26 cdn.

[RiderFan]

Did you get them to open one of the boxes? $25 is probably okay if they corrected the 40+ known accuracy problems with the kit.

Edited May 15, 2012 by RiderFan

[Litvyak]

There's a chance that it really is retooled to a modern standard, so let's hope.

(There's also a chance that the Leafs will win the Stanley Cup next year. About an equal one, I think.)

[Andre]

There's a chance that it really is retooled to a modern standard, so let's hope.

(There's also a chance that the Leafs will win the Stanley Cup next year. About an equal one, I think.)

To quote Army of Darkess:

"Maybe. Just maybe my boys can protect the book.

Yeah, and maybe I'm a Chinese jet pilot."

:)

Cheers,

Andre

[aerofan]

Did Hobbycraft not go under in the last year or two? I'm pretty sure I heard some news to that effect.

Yeah HC failed about two years ago. Maybe they're trying to find a way to reincarnate themselves but issuing yet another poorly done Arrow for too high a price isn't the way to do it.

Interesting thing I found out is that Hobbycraft International has the same address as Rapidotrains. Looks like some of the old staff from Hobbycraft also went over to Rapido. I'm wondering if it's Rapido, who's product line is HO trains, is the one reviving the Hobbycraft brand?

[Litvyak]

Hmmm... someone will have to ask Mr. Shron. But if Rapido's railway models are an indication of the new Arrow kit, it'll be gorgeous...

[bikerider]

Interesting thing I found out is that Hobbycraft International has the same address as Rapidotrains. Looks like some of the old staff from Hobbycraft also went over to Rapido. I'm wondering if it's Rapido, who's product line is HO trains, is the one reviving the Hobbycraft brand?

Well that could be great, I would be really surprised if Rapido is behind this. I've been following Rapido, Jason Shron and their beautiful HO tain models for a long time - I own many - including getting his email newsletter and there has been no comment from him on any of this. He is also very open with his business, talking about how hard it is to earn a living as a small model train producer and is doing it mostly for his unabashed die-hard LOVE of trains trains and Via rail trains. With all that background I just can't imagine him getting into planes... but then I guess stranger things have happened. Truth will come out soon.

[aerofan]

With some digging around, I found out that Rapido only shares the same location as Hobbycraft which is still run by the original owners. Looks like Hobbycraft is still alive and indeed it looks like there will be an all new tooled 1/72 scale CF-105 with the strangely code HC1393 which formerly belonged to Hobbycraft's 1/72 DHC Beaver with pontoons. I'll post more when I get more info from Hobbycraft.

As from the other post about this, the old molds which someone mention a train wreck alas Monogram with Aurora molds and another mention Idea of Korea, people will remember that Ki-tech was repoping some of Hobbycraft kits under their own name. People will also recall Fuman reissuing old 1/48 scale Bandai armor kits. From word about how the Chinese firms mistreated the Bandai molds which were found unusable when returned and eventually went to scrap with no future releases of those fine kits, it's probably safe to say that Ki-tech did the same and HC1392 will probably never see production again.

Edited May 16, 2012 by aerofan

[RiderFan]

I contacted Ki-Tech a couple of times in the past few months to enquire about the CF-100 tooling. As I never heard back from anyone I'd assume they were either ignoring the email or the tools don't exist anymore. Which is a shame because I'd be surprised if we ever see another CF-100 in any scale.

Edited May 16, 2012 by RiderFan

[Jay Chladek]

The original tooler was Idea Corp in Korea and they have issued their own stuff under their own banner. So that would be the group to ask the questions of IF they are different from Ki-tech (which I think they are since Idea has done stuff for other companies as well, such as Academy and I believe Revell).

Concerning a "New tool" Arrow, I'll reserve judgement on that until somebody gets one and puts up pictures of the sprues for comparison with the old ones.

Edited May 16, 2012 by Jay Chladek

[RiderFan]

I've heard that. Although looked for an Idea Corp on the web and never found them. Do they have a website? Contact information?

[aerofan]

I've heard that. Although looked for an Idea Corp on the web and never found them. Do they have a website? Contact information?

Idea also released the RoG 1/72 scale F-101B Voodoo (not the Matchbox one) under their own name for the Korean market. I don't know about ownership of the CF-100 molds and the last time I recalled is that Ki-tech was pumping out those kits for themselves and Hobbycraft - maybe the reason why we don't see the CF-100 Mk.5's around anymore.

Well just got a reply back from Hobbycraft and just as RiderFan (Mr. Greenmachine) and I was fearing it is a scaled down variant of the 1/48 HC1659 with some small changes :unsure:. Was also told it is available now so if some brave soul here wants to get one and post a review that'll be good; I don't have the strength to do it since all my energy has gone into fixing HC1392.

[RiderFan]

Available now from where? I've checked with Udisco here in Montreal and they've never heard of this kit (although that's not really all that surprising given that group). And I can't find a place online to order it from (northstarhobbies not withstanding).

By 'Small Changes' I'd really like to know what that means. The 48 scale kit was really horribly inaccurate. I mean, I really can't express in words how bad it was.

[EDIT]

So I just called hobby craft via their number on the web and spoke to a person named Darren(? I think that's what he said his name was). He's told me that this is 100% new tooling from the ground up with all appropriate corrections. It shipped to distributors this past Monday the 14th.

So I guess we'll see if this really is new tooling or if it's just a scale down of the 48 scale kit.

Edited May 16, 2012 by RiderFan

[aerofan]

Available now from where? I've checked with Udisco here in Montreal and they've never heard of this kit (although that's not really all that surprising given that group). And I can't find a place online to order it from (northstarhobbies not withstanding).

By 'Small Changes' I'd really like to know what that means. The 48 scale kit was really horribly inaccurate. I mean, I really can't express in words how bad it was.

What was the email you used to contact hobbycraft? I might actually phone them if I can find a number.

Well, that's what Hobbycraft told me. I asked locally here, Imperial hobbies, and they haven't heard anything yet expect the rumors of one.

I don't what the small changes are. He said he has a built unpainted one on his desk for I guess advertisement purposes.

pm'd you with the email address and phone number.

Edited May 16, 2012 by aerofan

[Av8fan]

Hornet Hobbies had 6 this weekend(Said new tooling on the box). I have to drop by and look in the box. I am not an expert on the CF-105, so I apologize in advance for not knowing if this is different to the old 1/72nd

[RiderFan]

Okay.. well.. ordered one from North Star Hobbies. Udisco here didn't even know what I was talking about.

I'll post details when it finally shows up.

[aerofan]

Okay.. well.. ordered one from North Star Hobbies. Udisco here didn't even know what I was talking about.

I'll post details when it finally shows up.

That's good. I hope it turns out to be a winner and not a scaled down version of the 1/48 scale HC1659. I spoke to Dave at Burnaby Hobbies and he told me it was news to him but he will now query his suppilers (distributors) on it. He expects about 2 weeks so it'll seem that guys back east may get/see it first. Sorry for the late pm on contacting Hobbycraft RiderFan. I hope the extra info I added may help you on the person you spoke to on the phone earlier.

UPDATE: Here is Hobbycraft's facebook page with pictures of the 1/72 scale new tooled Avro CF-105 Arrow HC1393. I've already noticed that the nose gear door is wrong and on the left side instead of the correct right side. Also it does look alot like the 1/48 scale one as there is missing panel lines between the airbrakes. However, still better than HC1392 but for the MSRP it up to you to decide.

Edited May 17, 2012 by aerofan

[RiderFan]

Thanks for that!

Wish they'd shown up close shots of the decals. I'm curious to see if they got their Canadian Shield on the ensign correct. Definitely not in the Academy league but I'll post a full review when mine shows up next week. It shipped out today.

Edited May 17, 2012 by RiderFan

[aerofan]

Thanks for that!

Wish they'd shown up close shots of the decals. I'm curious to see if they got their Canadian Shield on the ensign correct. Definitely not in the Academy league but I'll post a full review when mine shows up next week. It shipped out today.

Yeah same here. I wish there were more close ups but generally it appears to be the 1/48 scaled down to 1/72. I'm thinking the decal is most likely like their latest one package with HC1392 but with the added instrument panels scaled down from the 1/48 HC1659. It probably safe to say that aftermarket decals are needed. Just wondering it you found any other errors I missed.

Edited May 17, 2012 by aerofan

[RiderFan]

Well, it's hard to tell but it looks like they have a "closer to correct" intake profile. This would be an improvement over the 1:48 kit which didn't have that correct even after retooling. Although the step gaps between the fuselage and the actual intakes are fairly massive. Filler, filler, filler. Possibly some after market seamless intakes would help. There's something not quite right with the forward gear too. And the main wheels seem pretty fat. Hard to tell from those photos.