X-Scale 1/144 HS-121 Trident 1C
By Matt Bittner
Overview
New manufacturer X-Scale has released their second injected, plastic kit, this HS-121 Trident 1C. This third release definitely shows that X-Scale is an excellent model manufacturer and is hopefully here to stay.
The Kit
The X-Scale 1/144 HS-121 Trident 1C consists of 90 pieces of green-colored injected plastic and a clear, plastic injected sprue with the cockpit canopy. Also included is a set of masks for the clear canopy, wheels and the nose for one of the BEA schemes. Decals are only for one Trident 1C, G-ARPA of British Airways, but there are four marking/painting variations the model can be finished in. Decals appear to be in register and include the fuselage side windows, which are not in injected plastic.
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X-Scale includes a complete cockpit, minus the control yokes and seat belts. It's very comprehensive and while no decals exist for the instrument panel, the instrument panel does have raised detail so you can paint and dry brush it to look good. Not much will be seen through the canopy but it's there in all its glory. The instructions include color call-outs for all cockpit pieces.
Now the upper engine duct is assembled: join the two halves together then add the turbine at the aft end. There may be seams and definitely take care of them, since you'll be able to see in it after the model is assembled. Doubt you'll be able to see the turbine at the aft end, but it's nice that it's offered. Now that this ducting is assembled along with the cockpit, those are added to the starboard fuselage half along with the nose landing gear, then the fuselage halves can be glued together. Note that the instructions show that you add nose weight, but there's nothing on how much weight to add.
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The next step in the instructions has you glue the wing pieces together along with a couple of strakes on the upper surfaces. This is then glued to the fuselage along with the clear canopy.
There are pieces to the bottom of the tail halves you add and then the instructions have you glue the engines together. These are then glued to the fuselage, the tail trapping the upper engine ducting already glued on.
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The horizontal tail pieces are added to the vertical, and the front of the upper engine is glued on.
The landing gear are now built. Each main gear leg consists of seven pieces, the nose gear two. The main wheels are in halves so take care when assembling.
While I would wait to add the landing gear until after painting and decaling, the instructions show how they are added, along with the gear doors and other smaller bits like antenna. But once everything is painted and together, you'll have a good looking HS-121 Trident 1C on your shelf.
Conclusion
This is a well designed model of the HS-121 Trident 1C. Panel lines are decent, it comes with a complete cockpit and everything appears top notch. Definitely looking forward to working on this model.
Huge thanks to X-Scale for the review kit.