Internet Modeler : Features : Aviation RSS News Feed

Trumpeter 1/48 JF-17

By Steve Gallacci

Another kit of an aviation subject of which I have no previous knowledge of. The FC-1 is one of these new fighter types that have caught me by surprise, a fairly unique design that is not simply a rehash of a license-built NATO/Warsaw Pact jet, yet has features inspired by them.

The basic kit is 106 parts on five trees in typical Trumpeter gray, an additional 14 in clear, and a 9-piece photo-etch brass sheet. Three additional trees carry missiles, drop tanks, and their carry pylons. The first of two decal sheets include markings for an operational Pakistani machine, extra numbers for others, a simple demonstration bird, and a very colorful red and green Chinese/Pakistani demo unit. The second sheet are the decals needed for the missiles and drop tanks.

The kit parts are fairly well detailed and crisply molded, though the major wing and fuselage areas have some tool marks and other rough bits that will take some attention to clean up.Panel lines and some fastener details might be a little heavy for some, but are consistent and cross few assembly joints that might risk being obscured by sanding or putty. The kit has separate control surfaces. rudder, flaps, ailerons, and leading edge flaps, that fit well, but the speed brakes, not separate, are not really differentiated from the basic panel lines.

The bubble canopy has a mold line that will to be polished out. It also has an inside seam that appears to belong there(?)

The major assembly sequence has the forward fuselage split vertically, containing the cockpit and nose landing gear tubs. The cockpit is fairly well detailed and the bulk of the photo-etch goes into it. Decals are provided for the instrument panel and side consoles. With some Solveset, these decals will settle down very nicely over the raised details on the panels. This is a level of elasticity that has become a welcome feature for Trumpeter decals for conforming to complicated surfaces. The air intake trunking and nose cone cap it all off.

The canopy can be built open or closed, and it is important to make sure the seat is fully set down into the cockpit tub, least the canopy won't close, the fit is really tight. Similarly, the Heads up display, optionally in photo-etch, is a close fit to the photo-etch sun shade over the instrument panel. The windscreen can fit fairly well into the forward fuselage, with care so well that the part could be painted separately if you prefer.

The main fuselage and wings split horizontally, a bit awkwardly at the air intakes and the joint on the underside of the leading edge extensions is bit gappy. The joint and fit along the rear fuselage is even less good, but can easily be fixed. The rear fuselage exhaust transition can be fitted to not need filling or sanding if you are particularly careful. The main wheel  wells seem nicely done and all the tires are lightly flattened.

The fit of the forward to main fuselage sections is not bad, needing only a touch of filling and sanding to clean up. There are a bunch of little vents and antennas and such to finish up the details. A couple of the antennas are molded onto the fuselage halves are particular care should be had to not bend or break them off while handling the build.

The weapon and tank mounting options are diagrammed, two each of six missiles, Chinese type PL-5, PL-7, PL8, PL-9, PL11, PL-12, and three drop tanks and their mounting pylons. A nice tough is the clear sensor noses and decals for the missiles.

While the color scheme sheets for the overall model includes color paint codes for Mr. Hobby, Vallejo, Model Master, Tamiya, and Humbrol, the assembly instructions only have Mr. Hobby color codes. Otherwise, the instructions do have somewhat more thorough color details than previous Trumpeter kits, a welcome improvement over sometimes over-simplified and/or vague notations.

Overall, the kit builds up nicely and is well within the abilities of any average modeler who has a touch of photo-etch experience.  Thanks to Stevens International for the review sample.