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Modern (1975-today)
Discuss the modern aircraft age from 1975 thru today.
REVIEW
1:48 F-22 Raptor
TedMamere
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Moselle, France
Joined: May 15, 2005
KitMaker: 5,653 posts
AeroScale: 4,347 posts
Posted: Friday, May 07, 2010 - 09:25 PM UTC


This is a first look review by Justin McCracken (Keeperofsouls2099) of the new Hasegawa F-22 Raptor in 1/48. Not a kit for the beginner because of the complex number of parts but which offers plenty of detail.

Link to Item

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!
james84
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Roma, Italy
Joined: January 28, 2006
KitMaker: 1,368 posts
AeroScale: 377 posts
Posted: Friday, May 07, 2010 - 09:59 PM UTC
Good job!
Looking forward to a built review, so we'll see how well it fits and compare it to the Academy one (I think I read somewhere that this latter has a bit of fitting problems in the rear part of the fuselage).
This kit has been reviewed on other websites when it was issued with the shameful manga decals, and it seems that the raised square panels on the lower fuselage are a bit thick... can anyone confirm?
Keeperofsouls2099
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Florida, United States
Joined: January 14, 2009
KitMaker: 2,798 posts
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Posted: Saturday, May 08, 2010 - 12:30 AM UTC
Oh it did go through thanks!



Build On,
Justin
Red4
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California, United States
Joined: April 01, 2002
KitMaker: 4,287 posts
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Posted: Saturday, May 08, 2010 - 02:23 AM UTC
Pretty short review even for an in-box. Would have liked to seen some detail shots of the cockpit area, and maybe some close ups of the details on the kit. Looking forward to the build article. "Q"
stugiiif
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Virginia, United States
Joined: December 13, 2002
KitMaker: 1,434 posts
AeroScale: 403 posts
Posted: Saturday, May 08, 2010 - 04:22 AM UTC
Having this kit at about 75% built and compairing the sprues to Steffens build of the Academy Kit. Hasagawa has a beauty on there hands. Even the cockpit is superior. The only reason i got a replacement ejection seat is the Hasagawa seat is as usual missing the seat belts. The other thing to note is the 2 sets of doors and option parts for the weapons bays and a better detail for the rails and ejectors in the bays. The final large inprovement is rathe extensive yet simple aray of beams and structural supports through out the fuselage. I'm realy impreseded my self.
Keeperofsouls2099
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Florida, United States
Joined: January 14, 2009
KitMaker: 2,798 posts
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Posted: Saturday, May 08, 2010 - 11:00 AM UTC
Sorry first review and I didnt want to overload it with pictures.I will post some detail pic's here later.



Build On,
Justin
Keeperofsouls2099
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Florida, United States
Joined: January 14, 2009
KitMaker: 2,798 posts
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Posted: Saturday, May 08, 2010 - 01:30 PM UTC
Heres the shots I missed....















And I will tell you this as far as the rear sqares being a little to thick no kit is perfect and its nothing a sanding stick wont fix.


Build On,
Justin
Red4
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California, United States
Joined: April 01, 2002
KitMaker: 4,287 posts
AeroScale: 1,164 posts
Posted: Thursday, May 13, 2010 - 02:58 AM UTC
That's what I was looking for... thanks for posting them. "Q"
Keeperofsouls2099
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Florida, United States
Joined: January 14, 2009
KitMaker: 2,798 posts
AeroScale: 2,443 posts
Posted: Thursday, May 13, 2010 - 10:06 AM UTC
Your welcome and not a problem.Like I said first review so next time will be better



Build On,
Justin
ViperEnforcer
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Alabama, United States
Joined: December 05, 2007
KitMaker: 204 posts
AeroScale: 202 posts
Posted: Friday, May 14, 2010 - 04:40 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Having this kit at about 75% built and compairing the sprues to Steffens build of the Academy Kit. Hasagawa has a beauty on there hands. Even the cockpit is superior. The only reason i got a replacement ejection seat is the Hasagawa seat is as usual missing the seat belts. The other thing to note is the 2 sets of doors and option parts for the weapons bays and a better detail for the rails and ejectors in the bays. The final large inprovement is rathe extensive yet simple aray of beams and structural supports through out the fuselage. I'm realy impreseded my self.



I totally agree, as so far the Hasegawa Raptor fit has been better than Academy's, but it's the accuracy and detail that impresses me most. From the cockpit to the wheel wells, I'm simply amazed at how well and accurate Hasegawa captured the detail. Where Academy messed up in the vertical tails, stabs, radome, canopy and entire forward fuselage, Hasegawa excelled and nailed it. Not to mention there are more options like “full” run intakes, open & closed Weps doors, nozzle positions, etc…

The only major issue with the Hasegawa kit, is the exaggerated raised LO surface detail. This is not as bad as it's been made out to be elsewhere, as I've managed to knock down the surface detail with not too much effort. They could have also included AIM-9Ms and Hasegawa's decals aren't always the rave. Still, overall this the best and most accurate Raptor kit on the market.

Mike V
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