Page 15 - Model Airplane International - Issue 175 (February 2020)

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ITALERI

www.italeri.com

F/A-18 E SUPER HORNET/A-18 E SUPER HORNET
F
Italeri/Materials IM/ Kit No 2791/ Price £34.99/ Availability: All good Model Shops.

efore we delve into the main body of switches. The ejection seat continues in the same the cross section of the canopy is incorrect being fl at
the review, I think we need to consider vein, comprising only three pieces. sided instead of having the continual curve from sill
the age of this kit. Originally released in Both undercarriage bays feature adequate detail to sill.
2001, making it a whopping nineteen in the form of pipework and rib details, with large, Looking at the decal sheet, you are met with what
B years old as this review goes to print. In positive fi tment points for the gear legs that ensure I believe is the highlight of the kit. Beautifully printed,
its day it was a good kit, the question therefore is, correct fi tment and strength. The tyres and hubs glossy, rich in colour and perfectly in register, it allows
has it stood the test of time. however, are for want of a better description, toy-like. you to replicate 3 different airframes. These being :
Coming in sturdy top opening box, upon opening The axle of the gear leg passes through the hub
you are met with six sprues including the clear one. and is then secured by a cap. Which will allow the ● U.S Navy VFA-137 ‘Kestrels” with a dark grey
Moulded in a medium grey plastic, I couldn’t fi nd any wheels to spin. The intake trunking and the engine spine.
sink marks, nor ejection pin marks that will cause compressor faces are reproduced along with the ● U.S Navy VFA-195 ‘Dambusters’ with a green
concern, and all the sprues were free from fl ash. engine exhausts, the latter being quite basic. spine
Surface detail is very well done, featuring Construction of the main airframe deviates from ● U.S Navy VFA—14 ‘Tophatters’ with a red spine.
fi nely engraved details and raised features where convention, with the lower portion of the wings
appropriate, which are all comparable to those found moulded integrally of the fuselage - as are the All schemes depict the Commander Air groups
on much more modern kits. The smaller, fi ner parts, horizontal stabilisers in their entirety (which will aircraft. The only caveat I have with the decals, is that
such as the boarding ladder which extends from ensure the correct anhedral of these major parts). the feel a little on the thick side.
the LERX are delicately moulded with sharp details, There is no option to have the wings folded, or deploy The aircraft is well catered for ordnance wise,
but strangely the control stick, is at best, a vague the fl aps and leading-edge extensions, the control AIM-9L, AIM-120, AGM-88, GBU-12D/B and ATM-
representation. surfaces being integrally moulded into the vertical 84A all being supplied, along with an extensive set of
The main focal point for any aircraft is the cockpit. stabilisers. decals to apply.
Unfortunately, there’s not a lot to see here with no Both the canopy and windscreen are extremely Finally, whilst the main construction guide is in
raised details present at all on either of the side clear and free from distortion, with no central black and white, it is easy to read and uncluttered,
consoles, or instrument panel. However, you do seam running through either, as found with other with the paint guide being in colour, clearly showing
get decals to represent the various instruments and manufacturers. However, there’s a negative to this: the relevant decal locations.

VERDICT

Having taken some time to have a really good look over the kit, I found it to be a bit of a mixed bag. What I can see is an easy to construct kit, with some nice
engineering touches to assist the novice builder. With that ease though, there is a trade off in detail, as seen in the cockpit. Yet the surface detail across the rest
of the airframe is sublime, easily rivalling todays best. So how has it aged? Not badly, all things considered. (Nigel Poole)

Issue 175 - www.modelairplaneinternational.com 15