SCALEWORLD

Back in the early days of modelbuilding, when kits cost anywhere from 29 cents to maybe three or four dollars, we bought everything that came out. If you wondered what a kit looked like or if it was any good, you bought it. No good? Didn't like it? Then you either dumped it into ye olde parts box, traded it to another modeler, stuck it on the shelf where it would remain unbuilt for the next thirty years or you threw it out. As kits gradually became more expensive and we began to demand more accuracy/detail from the manufacturers, kit review columns began to appear. In fact, my first review column appeared in the November/December 1967 issue of Popular Aviation. Today, given the current price structure of kits, many modelers wouldn't touch a kit without reading a review on it first.

Which leads to an interesting question, namely, what do you expect of a review? Reviewer's approaches vary widely, all the way from a brief visual examination of the parts in the box to a complete evaluation that rivals a construction article. There's a place for every approach. However, that doesn't answer the question of what do you expect.

What belongs there? Should there be a simple description of the parts and decals, leaving it at that? Or do some dryfitting to make sure they fit together properly and then stop? Taking it a step farther, the kit could actually be evaluated for accuracy, meaning checking to see that the configuration and basic dimensions are correct. That way, at least if you wind up installing the wing upside down, you'll know the kit manufacturer didn't intend for you to build it that way,or you hope they didn't. Considering some of the mistakes I've seen immortalized in plastic over the last 35 years, it's enough to make you wonder if sometime reference material is deposited in file 13 and the model created from whole cloth!

Granted, most manufacturers today expend a herculean effort to ensure that their kits are as accurate as possible. They care about what we think and want, instead of handing us a few globs of plastic in a box and saying "Here, take it or leave it". But the question remains: review or evaluation?

In my mind, the two are synonymous. You can't do a review without doing an evaluation and vice versa. If, as some do, you review a kit without evaluating it, then it is useless to the modeler and the reviewer has failed his readers.

Comments?

By now, most of you know that there's a new model company in town,AMtech, Inc. to be specific. They offer extremely high quality, reasonable prices and a fascinating mix of subjects, particularly if you caught their full-page ad in a recent FineScale Modeler that listed some of their future projects. Throw in their kit design philosophy and goals and you quickly realize that the future bodes well for us. Let's listen to Alan Griffith, president and founder of AMtech, describe the company for us:

"Our mission is to produce high quality plastic model kits of military aircraft for the international hobby market. Our primary focus is in WWII aircraft in 1/48 and 1/72 scale, mainly American and German.

AMtech as a working entity was established in 1992. At that time the initial planning and discussions regarding establishing a new model company began. Alan Griffith, founder of AMtech, and his unofficial "advisory board", were convinced that the major U.S. model manufacturers of the day were rapidly strangling themselves with overhead. In addition, their slavish devotion to the "mass market" (ie Target, Wal-Mart, etc.) was seen as a fundamental mistake. Finally, the model companies were mostly owned and their "strings pulled" by large conglomerates that did not appear to know their market or the directions it was rapidly moving.

AMtech's philosophy in kit design is quite simple - "If you don't see it, you don't get it." There is no point in providing the complete interior to an aircraft that will never be seen. It adds unnecessary cost (which are already high to begin with!) and complexity, and most of it can't be seen when you're done anyway. The after-market does a magnificent job of providing resin and etched metal add-on and detail parts for those who wish to take a kit to that extra degree. And there is that old-fashioned concept of "modeling" that can be used as well. AMtech will provide modelers with a model that is accurate in outline and detail, with an excellent fit. Our instructions will not only be clear, but will consistently provide the modeler with additional historical information about camouflage schemes and markings."

That attitude can be readily seen in their first kit, the Ta-183, as well as two subsequent kits. I'll deal with all three of them below.

First up from AMtech is the Focke-Wulf Ta-183 in 1/48 scale. I know, I know, it's already been reviewed in numerous print publications and web sites, including two previous reviews in Internet Modeler. But bear with me. I think you'll find some additional information that hasn't appeared elsewhere. It also establishes a benchmark to compare future kits against.

Keep in mind that the Ta-183 Huckebein never got beyond the detailed engineering drawings stage, a fact that puts it into the Luft '46 arena of aircraft that never existed but would have if the war had lasted another year. Don't ignore it because of that. To begin with, you can have a lot of fun (Remember when we had fun building models instead of being so dead serious?) with the question "What if?". And if you just can't get away from the serious mindset, there's something else to consider. The Ta-183 design formed the basis for one of the best known Soviet fighters of all time,the MiG-15. Doubt me? Then check out the Luft '46 website or look at pages 125-128 of Secret Aircraft Designs of the Third Reich by David Myhra (Schiffer Publishing).

Things get interesting even before you open the conventional top-over-bottom box. A beautiful boxtop painting depicts a flight of six B-35 flying wings escorted by P-80 Shooting Stars being attacked by a pair of Ta-183s. One B-35 has been hit and is going down in flames. Speculative? Yes. Ever happen? No. But it could've and most likely would've in another year or two.

The parts come on seven sprues that are contained in three bags, including a separate one for the canopy alone. You also get an eight-page instruction booklet that utilizes heavyweight paper and a beautiful sheet of decals created by Three Guys Replicas. Price is a reasonable $39.98, especially when you consider the price tag of similar size kits from Tamiya, Hasegawa and Eduard.

Instructions use four pages for the layout of six different speculative Luftwaffe color schemes. You'll find everything from standard splinter thru various splotch and squiggle patterns to all black. Markings include a form of intake warnings, checkerboard nose band and various squadron insignia that includes jg2 and jg52. Incidentally, you'll find a number of odd-looking black Xs, squares and disconnected, short black strips. At the same time, there are no swastikas. At least that's what it looks like at first glance. However, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that the proper combination of those Xs, squares and strips will create,you guessed it,swastikas. Why take that approach, you ask? Because the kit is being marketed internationally and it's illegal to sell swastika markings in Germany.

All parts (except for the clear canopy) are molded in a high-quality, dark gray styrene that is neither too soft or too brittle,it's just right. Surface detail is delicate and recessed. You get two tail cones (for a choice of engines), along with underwing pylons and four X-4 missiles that are also an option. If you choose to use the missiles, you'll have to open the flashed-over holes in the lower wing halves. There's also an optional drop tank, along with the appropriate parts for each option.

Cockpit detail is everything you could ask for, with all of it on both the instrument panel and side consoles being lightly raised. Incidentally, there's also detail in the form of instrument housings on the back of the instrument panel. This approach is definitely an advantage when it comes to picking out detail with a fine brush. Tires are realistically flatted but aren't bulged. In this scale and for an aircraft as small as this one would have actually been, any bulging would be impossible to see. You even get a very delicate boarding ladder.

While I haven't built this kit, I did spend some time dryfitting parts. The upper and lower wing halves went together with a virtually invisible joint. Add a little Ambroid ProWeld and the resulting seam should require an absolute minimum of cleanup. As for the wing/fuselage joint, it's tight, precise and,unless you booger it somehow,should not need anything more than a touch of welder.

By now you're probably wondering if this review is nothing more than a lovefest. Not hardly, but there really isn't much to complain about. There are a few ejector pin marks on the inboard side of the tires and on one side of the pylons, but that's about it. It's simply a high quality model kit,exactly the kind that we're constantly wishing that manufacturers would give us. Well, AMtech has fulfilled our wishes. Now it's our job to go out there and support them. In other words, buy their kits.

AMtech's second effort is also 1/48 scale, specifically a Curtiss P-40E. If that statement gets you to asking "Didn't AMT do some P-40s?", the answer is yes,and no. They did produce some excellent 1/48 P-40 kits, but they were different variants. It so happens that they were planning a P-40E not long before they (AMT/Ertl) were bought by Racing Champions. In fact, the molds were completed but the kit was never released. Until now.

Through an exclusive licensing agreement with Ertl/Racing Champions, AMtech is able to bring us a quality, accurate P-40E. According to their instruction sheet, this is the first new P-40E kit to hit the market in more than 20 years. Price? Would you believe $21.98? Believe it.

So what about the kit? The first thing you notice, besides the Robert Karr artwork on the conventional boxtop, is a bright green circle that tells you the kit contains a replacement fuselage. Huh? Inside are two complete fuselages that, at first glance, appear to be absolutely identical. They're not and we'll get to that in a minute. But first, let Alan Griffith explain the situation.

"As for the extra fuselage in the P-40 box, when we had the P-40's run, there was an error in their manufacture. The insert that enabled them to use different length tails for different versions was not properly set in the mold. When the fuselages were produced, they did not align properly with the fuselage. We didn't discover this until the kit was out on the market as the test shots we received for approval did not have this problem. When the problem was brought to our attention, we put an immediate halt on shipping additional kits, contacted all our distributors about the problem, and contacted the manufacturer. The manufacturer ran us replacement fuselages. We shipped replacement fuselages to all our distributors, and had it posted on Hyperscale and ModelingMadness that modelers need only send us the UPC label from their box and we would send them a new fuselage at no cost. All P-40E kits now have both fuselages in them prior to leaving the warehouse."

The question in my mind was where, exactly, was the mismatch. After dryfitting both fuselages together and going over them carefully, the 'flaw' was found. Turns out that there's a slight step on the bottom of the fuselage just in front of the tail wheel well. While the step is enough to hang your fingernail on, it would be simplicity itself to correct it with a dab of putty and about twenty seconds with a sanding block. Yet AMtech chose to correct the problem by providing you with a complete replacement fuselage. That, folks, is a class act. It's going to become very easy to be spoiled by these people.

Basic dimensions are dead on and the gear struts appear (without building the kit) that they will give the correct 'sit' to the finished model. Parts are molded in a light gray styrene. Surface detail is delicate and lightly recessed. If there are any ejector pin marks on an exterior surface, I couldn't find'em. And the only flash that revealed itself was on the trailing edge of one horizontal tail surface and the drop tank.

Speaking of trailing edges, the trailing edge of the assembled wing winds up being properly thin. No need to worry about having to thin them down for realism. They're already realistic. On the other hand, there are no flatted/bulged tires in this kit, but that's easily taken care of by visiting some of the aftermarket companies.

Two other things about this kit are particularly noteworthy. First, the cockpit interior is built up as a separate assembly and then installed from underneath, after the fuselage is assembled and before adding the wings. Secondly, you get two sets of engine access panels and exhaust so that you can replicate either an American Warhawk or British Kittyhawk. There really isn't a lot of difference in the final appearance, but it is visible. If this is an example of the attention to detail that we will be able to expect, then AMtech can expect a devoted following of modelers.

Instructions follow the style already described for the Ta-183, but goes even further. One page of the instructions deals with updates and notes to the kit-provided markings. Specifically, information relating to "Oklahoma Kid" and "Holding My Own". The addendum provided is relatively minor,heck, it is minor,but essential if you want to be completely accurate. For a model manufacturer to go to this extreme so that you will have the most accurate information is mind-boggling. Oh, in case you thought I overlooked it or not, all parts are properly bagged.

Decals are, once again, created by Three Guys Replicas. You get two USAAF birds (one of them with a Sharkmouth), one RAF and one RAAF. Wait'll you see the kangaroo wearing boxing gloves!

Trust me, this kit is an absolute necessity for any devotee of the P-40 in general and 1/48 scale in particular.

Shifting gears,or at least scales,their third release overall (and their first in 1/72) is another member of the 'lost' AMT/Ertl kits. Molds were completed but the kits were never produced. As with the P-40E, AMtech has an exclusive agreement with Ertl/Racing Champions to market the kit. The kit subject in question is the Junkers Ju-88S-1/T-1. Wearing a smooth, rounded, clear nose as opposed to the familiar flat facets, the Ju-88S-1 gained enough speed to become a creditable fast medium bomber. The T-1, on the other hand, was a high-speed photo bird. Both variants came along too late in the war to do Germany much good. However, this kit will do you a lot of good when it comes to finishing out a comprehensive collection of Ju-88s.

When it comes to this kit, it's hard to know what to say without repeating myself ,repeating myself. As with the P-40, the kit is molded in light gray plastic, is dimensionally accurate, all parts are bagged and all surface detail is delicate, lightly recessed and just flat exquisite. Wing trailing edges are sufficiently thin. Parts breakdown is perfectly logical with one possible exception and I think that actually works to the kit's advantage, that being that the tail/rudder is built separately and then installed on the completed fuselage. Landing gear is very nicely done, cockpit interior is well detailed and the power eggs are built up separately for installation later. Engine assembly utilizes two complete cylinder rows for each, rather than a one-piece molded insert.

Instructions are of the same quality as I've already discussed above. You get paint patterns and marking for four different aircraft. By the way, AMtech isn't perfect (Aarrgh! Gasp!!), but boy do they go out of the way to tell you they botched it and how to correct things! In this Ju-88 kit, you'll find an addendum page describing a couple of construction problems, one of which would be a major problem if left unnoticed or uncorrected. AMtech tells you exactly how to handle the situation. Are these guys for real? Finally, the addendum sheet describes a fourth color scheme that will really get your attention. Apparently applied in the field over a factory finish, it looks for all the world like the aircraft's upper surface was covered with paint cans before the final color was sprayed. Result? A surrealistic Ju-88 with a black belly, light gray uppersurface and two-tone, dark green polka dots!

Other than having the appropriate markings for the Ju-88, the decal sheet (from Three Guys Replicas, again) follows exactly the same pattern as the Ta-183 kit. This includes the ,ahem, creative approach to providing swastikas. What's the price on this little jewel. Another paltry $21.98.

AMtech, Inc. is the latest addition to the list of high quality model kit manufacturers. I hope they're around for a long, long time. Now get out there and support them.

As I mentioned in the Ta-183 review, we used to build models for fun. Some of us still do, but many modelers wind up shooting themselves in the foot,so to speak,because all they do is spend their modelbuilding hours being dead serious. The paint has to be historically accurate, if a dimension is off 1/16 of an inch, it has to be laboriously corrected and on and on. The end result is beautiful and perfectly correct, but how much joy has come out of that effort?

Well, if you still derive fun from your modelbuilding,or want to recapture that feeling,I'd suggest you take a look at one of the recent releases from POLAR LIGHTS. Those of you who remember reading Batman comic books in the 1950s will know what I'm talking about. The rest of you stick around for a little bit.

I'm speaking about the Batplane that Batman and Robin used in their crusade against crime in Gotham City and beyond. Capable of supersonic speeds, rumored to harbor an atomic generator along with lasers and communications equipment that will allow Batman and Robin to respond instantly to any threat from criminal elements, the Batplane is an essential component of the arsenal that protects civilization from the darkness of the crime bosses that would otherwise overwhelm the planet!

O.K., so the preceeding paragraph is pure fantasy and hyperbole in the real world. But if you give your mind free rein, you can go there for awhile and have a heckuva lot of fun in the process. The Batplane kit can be part of that journey.

As for the Batplane kit itself, it's a typical POLAR LIGHTS repop of an original AURORA kit. Comprised of eighteen pieces, you could toss this thing together in an hour or less. But take your time, get as involved as you do when building an F4U Corsair and see what happens.

Cockpit interior is nothing more than head-and-shoulder moldings of Batman and Robin on a flat plate and the landing gear struts simply cement into locator holes in the bottom of the wing with no pretense of providing gear wells,even though the gear is obviously designed to retract on the 'real' Batplane. Trailing edges of the straight wings duplicate the scalloping of Batman's cape.

Quality of the molding is crisp with no flash, there's a small sheet of decals that provides you with white-outlined, red bat emblems that are located on the top of the wings and each side of the vertical tail. And there's that classic, clear, triangular Aurora stand that you can mount the finished model on. The $17.99 price tag makes for a most economical journey back in time to the days of your childhood.

Moving from models to the world of historic aircraft preservation, you need to become aware of a situation that is rapidly coming to a head. It's probably best described by a letter I wrote that appeared in the Letters To The Editor page of the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram on October 20, 2002. Subject? Saving the last B-36 ever built. The letter reads as follows:

"It's been thirty years since efforts were first begun to preserve the Consolidated B-36 Peacemaker that was profiled in J.R. Labbe's Oct. 6 Weekly Review article. The goal was multifold. First, rescue the aircraft from the clutches of vandals and the ravages of time. That was done and even redone. It was moved several times with one move being all the way from Greater Southwest Airport to vacant land outside the General Dynamics (now Lockheed/Martin) plant. The last move occurred ten years ago when it was brought into the Lockheed plant for it's definitive restoration.

Along the way there has been support in many forms from a variety of companies, along with numerous promises. And that's the sticking point. Most of the load has fallen on the shoulders of one organization and one company. Specifically, the Aviation Heritage Association and Lockheed/Martin. AHA has worked tirelessly toward the goal of an aviation museum in the North Texas Area that would have the B-36 as it's centerpiece. Lockheed/Martin has provided support beyond belief. Without AHA and Lockheed/Martin, this B-36 would either be in a facility far removed from it's birthplace or melted down to create a few thousand more soft drink cans.

Well, it's been restored but not reassembled. This is due to the fact that, like the boll weevil, it's still 'just lookin for a home'. Why doesn't it have one yet? Because one association and one corporation simply cannot do the job alone. Other corporations and companies have promised to help but those promises have yet to be fulfilled. In many cases, that promised support has been contingent on the others doing their part. But, each seemingly is waiting for someone else to be the first to step up to the plate..

What is needed is for those unfulfilled promises to be redeemed and for others who have declined to rethink their decision. One or two companies/groups can't get the job done, no matter how hard they try. But spread the load among ten, fifteen, even twenty, supporting companies and/or groups and a world class aviation museum with the B-36 at its core would take wing in very short order."

For more information on what is being planned by the Aviation Heritage Association, along with color sketches of the proposed protective canopy, check out their website at https://www.aviationheritagemuseum.com . I'd hate to be writing, a few months or years from now, that there are only three surviving B-36s while you drink from a can produced from the smelted remains of the fourth one.

And that, one more time, is it. See y'all next month.