[ WEBSITE ] [ NEW STORIES ]

In-Box Review
172
Bell YNF-1 Airacuda

by: Dave O'Meara [ GRUMPYOLDMAN ]

Opening the lid

Molded in the usual cream-colored resin, you are greeted with bags of goodies. To protect the kit and add strength to the box for shipping there is an additional cardboard insert. The fuselage halves are well molded, and straight, and appear blemish free on initial inspection. The wings also are single castings, and also appear blemish free. Pour plugs along the lower fuselage will need a little careful removal, and sanding to keep an even edge. Careful removal of the pour plugs on the leading edge of the wings and a little sanding should clean this area with no problems

The next bag contains the tail, stabilizers, and an assortment of smaller parts, and again, I noticed no blemishes or pinholes on initial inspection. All appeared to be well cast, including the propeller blades.

Canopies

Canopies…. And more canopies…. And all are vac-u-formed!!! Lots of clear parts on this aircraft! If you don’t like vac-u-formed canopies, by the time you are finished with this kit, you will be an expert on cutting them out and installing them. All appear to be well formed, and exceptionally clear. Careful trimming and fitting will be the order of the day, actually the order of several days!!!

Decals

Sealed in a separate compartmented bag is the decal sheet, nose marking, and instrument panel. Also sealed in the bag with the decals are the photo-etched parts. A “warning” sheet about the decals is enclosed and I suggest following those instructions for the decal use.

Instructions

The instruction sheet is a simple one page, printed on both sides. One side has a color print out of the assembled model, the other side, a parts layout and exploded diagram. If you are looking for a step-by-step, glue part A to part B, you are not going to find it here.

Conclusion

Certainly not a kit for the newcomer to resin kits! This kit is designed for the more experienced modelers period! The simple exploded assembly diagram is fine for them, but a beginner may find problems deciphering it. Combined with the tiny resin and photo-etched parts, a beginner will become extremely frustrated and turned off by this kit. The vac-u-form clear parts will certainly test your patience and resolve. At just about $60.00, not an unfair price for this kit (there are other 1/72 scale kits costing more than this) the modeler needs to be prepared for some extremely challenging modeling work.

Parts, molding, packaging, instructions, are all acceptable for the more experienced among us, but will turn away the new modeler, or those looking for a fast week end build. Certainly a kit to take your time with to get the most bang for you buck, and yes there probably will be another aircraft for the Model of the Month sometime this year from me.
SUMMARY
Love at first site, one of my all time favorite aircraft, and now available in resin. After several attempts with the old Rareplanes vac-u-form that ended in many failures, I just had to buy this!!
  DIFFICULTY:90%
Percentage Rating
90%
  Scale: 1:72
  Mfg. ID: 7271
  Suggested Retail: $59.90
  Related Link: Joe's Models
  PUBLISHED: Apr 12, 2006
  NATIONALITY: United States
NETWORK-WIDE AVERAGE RATINGS
  THIS REVIEWER: 87.92%
  MAKER/PUBLISHER: 83.35%

Photos
Click image to enlarge
  • Clear_parts_1
  • clear_parts_2
  • Decals
  • instructions_1
  • Instructions_2
About Dave O'Meara (Grumpyoldman)
FROM: FLORIDA, UNITED STATES

I'm rewriting this in a much more humoristic way, to help over inflate my ego, and place my self on a pedestal, because I don't have a life, and plastic models are the only thing I live for. I plead guilty as charged to excessive babble, light hearted humor, and continued encouragement to youngsters...

Copyright ©2021 text by Dave O'Meara [ GRUMPYOLDMAN ]. Images also by copyright holder unless otherwise noted. Opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AeroScale. All rights reserved.


   
ADVERTISEMENT


Photos
Click image to enlarge
  • Boxtop
  • fuselage
  • small_parts
  • wings
  • PhotoEtched
ADVERTISEMENT