A&A Models #7240 1/72 Beechcraft TC/UC-12B Huron - In Box Review

[Dutch]

I recently backordered the newly released A&A Models #7240 1/72 Beechcraft TC/UC-12B Huron kit.  This is a rebox of their Beechcraft Super King Air 200 kit with the addition of Sprue H (including three blade props), Sprue P (military cabin interior) and decals for USN TC-12B of VT-35 "Stingrays" circa 2008 and USMC UC-12B of MCAS New River, NC circa 1984.

 

Edited May 21 by Dutch

[Dutch]

Here are shots of the instruction sheet, 8 pages, A4 size. The first page and a half include parts trees, decal sheet overview and color callouts. Four and a half pages of assembly instructions followed by two color pages of painting and decal placement, one each for TC-12B & UC-12B. 

The exact markings for UC-12B 161505 coded 5D of MCAS New River that I was looking for.

[Dutch]

Here are the contents in the box and decal and masks / PE shots. (Hmm, not sure why my photos are loading upside down.)

 

 

 

Edited January 20 by Dutch

[Dutch]

Now the sprue shots. First the wings (A), then fuselage (B) inside and out and clear parts (M).

 

 

 

Edited January 20 by Dutch

[Dutch]

The engine, tail and military cabin sprues (C & P).

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 21 by Dutch

[Dutch]

And the remaining parts. Sprue D with undercarriage and various engine parts (plus unused four blade props & spinners), Sprue F with various antennae and cockpit parts, and lastly Sprue H with correct 3 blade props, strakes and engine exhausts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 21 by Dutch

[Dutch]

Overall, I am very impressed with this kit.  The molding is not as sharp as the MAI resin, but overall assembly should be easier. The few instances of flash can easily be trimmed with a sharp x-Acto blade or sanded away with 400(+) grit sandpaper.  The clear parts are very clear and include masks.  I am not sure that the side mounted bench seats provided on sprue P are correct, at least for the UC-12B.  When I flew aboard her, she had 8 individual seats, four arranged in single file along each side of the fuselage, roughly opposite each other with a very narrow aisle between them.  The two forward seats along the forward bulkhead were facing backward while the remaining seats faced forward. There was a Coleman cooler with ice and cold drinks (non-alcoholic) along the back bulkhead available for a nominal fee by the very industrious crew chief.  The decals are accurate, in register and well printed. Of note, decal #42, the large "MARINES" under the wing is missing from the sheet, however, an extra set of decal #27 & 28 is provided for above the wing.  I think I can source a MARINES title from one of my generic sheets (Scalemaster #SM-15). Lastly, they mis-spelled the station name (decal #11) as "NEW AIVCA."  Again, I have a Microscale #72-252 sheet with the NEW RIVER station name, so no worries there.  These are the exact markings I was looking to build in my original post, so I am grateful to A&A Models for including them.

Edited May 21 by Dutch

[rustywelder]

Thank you for posting this! I had actually been looking for an in box look at this kit just the other day.

[Jon Krol]

From where was this kit purchased?

[Dutch]

It is available from several Ukrainian model vendors directly or on eBay, but I purchased mine through Hannants.co.uk.

Edited February 22 by Dutch