Jump to content

New 1/72 F-94B on the way


Recommended Posts

What was wrong with the Heller kit?

Well actually there probably isn't a whole lot wrong with it. Biggest problem might be the raised panel lines. But they are pretty fine, and there are not a lot of them. The interior is probably pretty decent considering how old this kit is, but it seems to be more fiction than fact, with nothing more than a flat front instrument panel with no detail or decal,and totally the wrong shape anyway. No attempt at all to give you a rear panel, just a wild attempt at the radar screen (I think). and the seats are better than some of the period, but could use some serious improvement.

Then there is the inclusion of the .50 gun pods and not the mid-wing rocket pods.

Considering the junk yard prices for the Heller kit, and as I remember, some Squadron after market stuff, it probably could be built for a small percentage of what the Sword kit will cost.

I didn't think the F-94 series was very high on the wanted kit list, but am happy to see a newer kit coming. I have not built a lot of the Sword stuff, but what I have built has been pretty good. Not the easiest stuff due to the butt joints without locating tabs, but with a bit of extra effort, they can look really nice.

Jennings, I suspect you were fishing with your comment, but it does warrant some consideration.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Jennings, I was not aware there was a Heller kit.

cvrle, IMO Hannants has the best deals on Sword kits, most of them seem to priced between $18 and $20 where Squadron usually charges closer $40+. Quick example, I was able to order two of Sword's Harrier T.MK.2 kits shipped for the same price as one kit shipped from Squadron.

Derek, Sword has a 1/72 T-28B and C upcoming. On a side note of my own how hard/would it even be possible to turn the B into a USAF D model from Vietnam?

Edited by rustywelder
Link to post
Share on other sites

What is wrong with the T-33?

Mainly the poor fit of the intakes. The wheel hub detail is weak too. Other than that, I think the kit is good, a big improvement over the ancient Heller and Hasegawa kits. Lots of great detail. Here's a link to my review:

http://modelingmadness.com/review/korean/us/usaf/olsont33.htm

-Derek

Link to post
Share on other sites

Jennings, I was not aware there was a Heller kit.

cvrle, IMO Hannants has the best deals on Sword kits, most of them seem to priced between $18 and $20 where Squadron usually charges closer $40+. Quick example, I was able to order two of Sword's Harrier T.MK.2 kits shipped for the same price as one kit shipped from Squadron.

Derek, Sword has a 1/72 T-28B and C upcoming. On a side note of my own how hard/would it even be possible to turn the B into a USAF D model from Vietnam?

I'm not surprised to hear of Squadron gouging on Sword kits, I haven’t dealt with them since they

wanted to charge me $10 to ship one set of decals to Canada. Actual cost would have been less than

$4 I got the same decals from Hannants from the UK and saved $6+.

There is NO good explanation for Squadrons postal charges other than perhaps that excesive postage

is being funneled to subsidizing their "sales"?

Never again Squadron, never again.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm not surprised to hear of Squadron gouging on Sword kits, I haven’t dealt with them since they

wanted to charge me $10 to ship one set of decals to Canada. Actual cost would have been less than

$4 I got the same decals from Hannants from the UK and saved $6+.

There is NO good explanation for Squadrons postal charges other than perhaps that excesive postage

is being funneled to subsidizing their "sales"?

Never again Squadron, never again.

For me it wasn't the shipping that was bad but the retail kit price being double what Hannants was asking. IIRC Squadron are the US distributor for Sword kits and have fallen into the same trap of being greedy and over inflating kit prices the same way that MRC over charges for Italeri and Academy. Leaving us here in the states to have to hunt off shore to buy these kits.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Mainly the poor fit of the intakes. The wheel hub detail is weak too. Other than that, I think the kit is good, a big improvement over the ancient Heller and Hasegawa kits. Lots of great detail. Here's a link to my review:

http://modelingmadness.com/review/korean/us/usaf/olsont33.htm

-Derek

Sword seems to strugle with that on their modern jet kits. The fit of the intakes on the Harrier twin stickers is terrible as well.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I noticed in the Hannants newsletter that the Emhar 1/72 F-94C (early) and F-94C (late) kits are available once again.

So are their F3H Demons...

The Emhar kits have their share of fit issues, but certainly aren't the worst kits I've come across. Cockpit is a little scarce and lacking in detail but True Details has an affordable answer for that.

That said, I'd LOVE a new state of the art 1/72 F3H Demon series from one of the big manufacturers (Tamiya preferably, although Revell Germany would do as well)

Link to post
Share on other sites

If the Sword F-94 shares the same problems as the Sword T-33, then it won't be much of any improvement over the Heller kit.

I don't really care if the Sword kit is better or worse than the Heller kit (which I have one of in the stash) I just hope it generates a couple of new decal sheets. VTANG anyone? Kursad? Beuller?

Link to post
Share on other sites

Mainly the poor fit of the intakes. The wheel hub detail is weak too. Other than that, I think the kit is good, a big improvement over the ancient Heller and Hasegawa kits. Lots of great detail.

Well..... not so much. The vertical fin and rudder are shaped wrong, it lacks the inboard wing gloves fitted to all T-33s after the late 1950s, and the tip tanks are total fiction in size, shape, and detail. The exact same errors that appeared in the 1/32 kit.

Link to post
Share on other sites

The Emhar kits have their share of fit issues, but certainly aren't the worst kits I've come across. Cockpit is a little scarce and lacking in detail but True Details has an affordable answer for that.

That said, I'd LOVE a new state of the art 1/72 F3H Demon series from one of the big manufacturers (Tamiya preferably, although Revell Germany would do as well)

I fully agree about the F3H. I have been hoping Hobbyboss will scale their 1/48th kit down.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm sure this hope is a bit unrealistic but I really hope Sword carries on and combines their themes of the F-80/T-33/F-94 family and USN trainers and does a T2V. I have wanted one for a long time and the couple of old vac kits that were issued in the past are about like hen's teeth now.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm sure this hope is a bit unrealistic but I really hope Sword carries on and combines their themes of the F-80/T-33/F-94 family and USN trainers and does a T2V. I have wanted one for a long time and the couple of old vac kits that were issued in the past are about like hen's teeth now.

The Sea Star? Yeah, that's a unique one. I've often thought about doing one by kit-bashing a T-33 with the intakes & tail of a F-94C (sanding away the protruding parts on both sides of the lower tail). Have to extend the dorsal area behind the canopy too. Several other things need to be done, I'm sure, but it seemed like too much work so I gave up the idea.

The vac kits that you mentioned; how accurate are they?

Link to post
Share on other sites

The Sea Star? Yeah, that's a unique one. I've often thought about doing one by kit-bashing a T-33 with the intakes & tail of a F-94C (sanding away the protruding parts on both sides of the lower tail). Have to extend the dorsal area behind the canopy too. Several other things need to be done, I'm sure, but it seemed like too much work so I gave up the idea.

The vac kits that you mentioned; how accurate are they?

I have no idea :dontknow: I've never seen more than a few not so great pics on the net.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...