ya-gabor Posted September 21, 2021 Share Posted September 21, 2021 (edited) New kit announcement from FineMolds today: Product number FP48 Air Self-Defense Force F-2A fighter Suggested retail price 3,740 yen including tax (3,400 yen for the main unit) New product scheduled to be released in February 2022 Apart from plastic parts there is the usual FineMolds turned brass pitot tube and AOA sensors. For the ejection seats the NaNo series offers imjection moulded straps as well for the kit. Best regards Gabor Edited September 21, 2021 by ya-gabor Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Inquisitor Posted September 21, 2021 Share Posted September 21, 2021 (edited) Just when I bought a couple more of Hasegawa kits. The Hasegawa one is still a good kit with A and B versions in the same box in 1/72 scale. Got a few incorrect panels and limited riveting compared to the FM CADs. Lacks the niceties of modern kits like full intake trunks and better detailing in the cockpit and other areas. Can't see if FM has a full intake trunk from the CAD images, but I hope so. OTOH for a bit more than the price of a single FM kit I can buy 2 Hasegawa white box, hmmm... Edited September 21, 2021 by Inquisitor Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JackMan Posted September 21, 2021 Share Posted September 21, 2021 Hmm.. to me it's an odd choice other than to drum up local support from Japanese modelers. The Hasegawa kit is very good in my opinion and is a direct competitor, particularly since the Hase kit includes a full anti-ship & air-to-air weapons load. If FM were to distinguish this release, maybe they'd make it with dropped slats & flaps. Maybe pilot figures too. Though in FM's favour, and judging by how well detailed their Phantoms are, this F-2 kit will probably have great engine, wheelbay & cockpit details. I hope they don't forget the unique "Samurai Horns" on the ejector seats since Hase doesn't have them https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/JASDF_F-2A(93-8552)_seat_at_Komaki_Air_Base_March_3%2C_2018.jpg/1024px-JASDF_F-2A(93-8552)_seat_at_Komaki_Air_Base_March_3%2C_2018.jpg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ya-gabor Posted September 21, 2021 Author Share Posted September 21, 2021 59 minutes ago, JackMan said: Hmm.. to me it's an odd choice other than to drum up local support from Japanese modelers. After all it is a Japanese company and it could not be held against them to make a copy of a Japanese aircraft type. All model companies in a way nationalistic and apart from usual universal subjects do make many which are for local consumption mainly. Look at some of the Czech subjects of Eduard, Russian kits at Zvezda, Heller with French aircraft or Airfix with brit subjects . . . The line of examples is endless. Why should FineMolds be different??? Will there be a competition with the Hase kit? Sure! But same competition is there with the F-14 or the Phantom kits and still both companies are doing OK. The winning side in this competition are the modellers who have a wider choice both in details, buildability, need for extras . . . or the price for a value. Everyone have a choice! Is this the end of a line of Phantom kits from FineMolds? Dont think so. Give them time and more will follow! For the moment I am convinced that they want to make as much as possible out of the investment they originally made with design of the Phantoms. There is absolutely no harm in releasing or re-releasing the "good old" F-4EJ versions with new decals. They did sell well in the past year (sold out in minutes in some cases) so I would not be afraid that FineMolds warehouse will be full of unsold kits. If FineMolds follows the same principles (why shouldn't they?) as set forward in the Phantom kit, so that it is an easy and fast build with no hanging bits on it, then I would not expect any deployed flaps or other surfaces on the F-2 kit. Best regards Gabor Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GeneK Posted September 21, 2021 Share Posted September 21, 2021 13 hours ago, Inquisitor said: The Hasegawa one is still a good kit with A and B versions in the same box in 1/72 scale. Will be interesting to see if FM will eventually produce a B model. I assume yes, unlike the Tamiya F-16B hesitance. If no FM F-2B materializes, I'll be looking forward to conversions done using the Hasegawa B model fuselage top. Quote Jackman said: If FM were to distinguish this release, maybe ... . Maybe parts for both the A and B model? Of course Gabor will point out that option will not optimize FM profits in the Japanese market. Gene K Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ya-gabor Posted November 2, 2021 Author Share Posted November 2, 2021 Metal is cut and some frames are taking shape. But here are also some CAD images of what it will be like. Best regards Gabor Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Craig Baldwin Posted November 2, 2021 Share Posted November 2, 2021 (edited) 4 hours ago, ya-gabor said: Metal is cut and some frames are taking shape. But here are also some CAD images of what it will be like. I'm glad others have an interest in this niche fighter. A few more CAD images and an outline comparison of the F-2A to the F-16A, in case anyone out there still thinks it's just a F-16. Twitter's @goshikiken did the comparison image with this text "I made it based on the image on the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries website. JASDF F-2 and US Air Force F-16, shape comparison of both fighters. It seems to be similar but not similar. It seems that the wing area has increased by 25% from the F-16, which contributes to the increased loading capacity of air-to-ship missiles and fuel tanks, turning performance, and flight stability at low speeds / low altitudes." Edited November 2, 2021 by Craig Baldwin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GeneK Posted November 2, 2021 Share Posted November 2, 2021 Thanks Gabor and Craig. Hats off to FM! Hope to see clues that a two seater is/will be in the works! (Image courtesy of Hasegawa) Gene K Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pollie Posted November 3, 2021 Share Posted November 3, 2021 Looking forward to this. Have around eight (two build, six or so in stash) from Hase, but will surely add the FineMolds kit to the stash in the future. DXM from Taiwan has produced a few fine F-2 sheets, but hopefully FineMolds will give us Cartograf printed sheets in the box.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Craig Baldwin Posted November 3, 2021 Share Posted November 3, 2021 Finding nice detail views on Flickr and Twitter "A mechanic who uses the whole body to show how to manually open the F-2 fighter and air brakes, and puts his weight on it. Thank you very much." Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Craig Baldwin Posted November 8, 2021 Share Posted November 8, 2021 (edited) Spurred by this FM release Model Art is re-releasing their Profile issue on the F-2. Check the usual Japanese online shops, it is available for pre-order. Edited November 8, 2021 by Craig Baldwin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GeneK Posted November 8, 2021 Share Posted November 8, 2021 5 minutes ago, Craig Baldwin said: Check the usual Japanese online shops, [the Model Art F-2 Profile] is available for pre-order. Thanks Craig! Hopefully will be listed on HLJ. Gene K Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Craig Baldwin Posted November 8, 2021 Share Posted November 8, 2021 1 hour ago, GeneK said: Thanks Craig! Hopefully will be listed on HLJ. Yes, currently the only listing I've seen is HobbySearch aka 1999.co.jp/eng Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ben Brown Posted November 8, 2021 Share Posted November 8, 2021 I like the F-2A's lines. With the cockpit moved forward, the nose profile looks a lot like the YF-16 to me. I found this walk around of the F-2 with 615 photos while building my 1/48 Hasegawa kit: LINK Ben Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GeneK Posted November 9, 2021 Share Posted November 9, 2021 9 hours ago, Ben Brown said: I found this walk around of the F-2 with 615 photos while building my 1/48 Hasegawa kit: LINK Quite a resource, Ben. Thanks. Except for the intake cover, that airplane and "accessories" is/was world-class immaculate. Gene K Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JackMan Posted November 9, 2021 Share Posted November 9, 2021 17 hours ago, Ben Brown said: I like the F-2A's lines. With the cockpit moved forward, the nose profile looks a lot like the YF-16 to me. I found this walk around of the F-2 with 615 photos while building my 1/48 Hasegawa kit: LINK Ben Like Gene said, that's quite a resource. By far the most complete F-2 walkaround photos I've seen online. Thanks for pointing out this link. Good stuff Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ben Brown Posted November 9, 2021 Share Posted November 9, 2021 You’re welcome! Ben Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ya-gabor Posted November 26, 2021 Author Share Posted November 26, 2021 Just a short news on work of F2 fighter. This is what FineMolds is saying: F2 progress. Laser processing after electric discharge machining The part that is burnt black is laser processing. Steadily in progress. Details on wing panels. All this in 72nd scale! Side panels of the ejection seat pan (Parts 5&6). And the top of the ejection seat with side sensors and canopy braker (Part 3). Best regards Gabor Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sakai Posted November 26, 2021 Share Posted November 26, 2021 Wing pylons. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ya-gabor Posted November 27, 2021 Author Share Posted November 27, 2021 Hi Sakai, Yeah, sorry its my bad. Sorry, sorry, sorry . . . It was early in the morning and I was in a rush to go to work on my ejection seats, so did not look over the text before I posted it. YES, of course it is the wing pylons! : ) : ) : ) The details look fanastic in my opinion for a 72nd scale kit. Just have a look at some other manufacturers who simply dont care to give the modellers even a fraction of such details both inside and outside the fuselage. Had a look at more and more photos of the real F-2's and starting to like it! Best regards Gabor Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ya-gabor Posted November 27, 2021 Author Share Posted November 27, 2021 Some FineMolds news from today: Today, November 27th and 28th, we will exhibit at "IPMS JAPAN Celebration" held at Event Hall A on the 6th floor of Yokohama Minatomirai World Porters. We mainly sell airplane kits and detail-up parts. This is Fine Molds' booth. You can see the F-2 under development up close (F-2A 3D printer output sample). In addition, products that are currently on sale are also on sale. Best regards Gabor Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Craig Baldwin Posted November 27, 2021 Share Posted November 27, 2021 Found these on Twitter showing a slightly zoomed view. A lot going on there. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GeneK Posted November 29, 2021 Share Posted November 29, 2021 How does 3D printing relate to cutting the molds? Gene K Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Craig Baldwin Posted November 29, 2021 Share Posted November 29, 2021 With the exception of a couple of airframes, all were painted in the same scheme. Mr Color has made it easier with these colours, the lightest grey being for the radome. They package these as a set too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ya-gabor Posted November 29, 2021 Author Share Posted November 29, 2021 7 hours ago, GeneK said: How does 3D printing relate to cutting the molds? Gene K As you can see on close up photos above the 3D printed parts are a test of the future moulded parts deriving from the same CAD data which will be used in cutting metal for the production tools. 3D printing in this case is an excellent tool for testing computer desing in real life form (not just on the screen), see how parts fit, find out if there are some flaws not identified previously . . . and overall it gives you a sample of the kit to be. One which you can hold in hands and get the feel of the would be product, also it is a marketing tool like FIneMolds used it at the IPMS Japan event last weekend. Best regards Gabor Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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