Quote from: rickshaw on September 04, 2022, 09:46:39 PMI was under the impression that Brown was bit more disparaging about the He162 with it's top mounted engine, describing it as "quite a handful" for a Hitlerjugend pilot fresh out of a glider.

That staitment would be mostly true for any powered aircraft considering the level of training they would have had.

Gondor

The 162' are at Hannants, so I ordered a couple yesterday rather than bring them home from Telford.

Once Royal Mail get them to me I'll do a short in the box review.

 

AZ Models also re-released their 1:72 Ki-78, in "real life" markings, though (just prototypes, one in orange, one in grey, and an NMF aircraft):

    

I saw that, and was tempted, but I think I built one a few years ago. Need to check

Not impressed with the Heinkels.  The engines are wrong for the C and D - they should be HeS 011s, not BMW 003Es - and the marking choices have no thought put into them. DDR?? No.  And as for the Pappagei Staffel A-9...

And it's the same plastic, whichever box you get.

I might get one and use the spares on the Dragon ones I have stashed.

Heinkels arrived today. I shall have a look at them over the weekend and give a quick assessment.

Quote from: The Wooksta! on October 14, 2022, 04:25:53 AMThe engines are wrong for the C and D - they should be HeS 011s, not BMW 003Es -

To be honest I wouldn't of known and it doesn't really bother me. Just want them as relatively quick and hopefully enjoyable builds. They aren't going to match the Special Hobby kit which is fantastic, but hopefully they'll go together easily.

You get two sets of wings in the kit? 

Three. Original, swept and swept forward, but only one V tail.Although that could fall into rubber...

I think I'll stick with the FROG He-162 in my stash for now then. 

The AZ one is a quantum jump in quality over a 50 year old kit, although if you want a good one, the Dragon or SH ones are the best replacements. Hobbyboss is ok but needs the undercarriage shortening to fix the sit.

Actually, Hobbyboss would be a good one to use as a basis for the spares.

If you want a good He 162A then get the Special Hobby kit as it is absolutely fantastic and a joy to build    I'll be looking for another one at Telford and will see if the spare wings from the AZ one fit ?

Anyway back to the AZ kit and my promised in-box review.

I have to admit that I find AZ/KP quite puzzling, some of their kits, the 109's and Tempest V/VI, are up there with a lot of mainstream kits, whilst a lot, this one for example, are very much of the limited run ilk. It's one of the reasons I was hoping they'd be at Telford (they won't be along with a lot of our European friends) as I'd had a lengthy chat with them back in 2019 and was hoping to try and understand their development processes a little better. They obviously have at least two streams and I was hoping they used the two brands to differentiate, but hey-ho Brexit has scuppered any chance of a chat. so on with the kit.

 Detail is quite soft in places, but better in other, however all parts will require some clean up as there is a fair bit of light flash on most parts and some rather rough looking edges to some of the larger parts. Nothing a sharp blade and some sanding pads won't fix fairly quickly however. There's some sink holes in some of the smaller parts, but again some PPP will soon sort that and most of the parts concerned look as though they will be partially hidden anyway. The instructions are typically AZ and as such have a couple of areas that could lead the unwary into some extensive head scratching, but are nothing of any real concern, just take your time with them. One example is that the sprue layout guide has 2 missile rails (well I assume they are) marked as not for use, but then in the actual build they are used. The AA missiles (again I assume that's what they are) aren't crossed out and are mounted on these rails at the end of the build. This is one of the underwing armament options provided, the other are a pair of 20/30mm gun pods, but are extremely simplified. I don't think I'll be using either, but we'll see.

As for fit ? I'll cover that when I get around to the build, hopefully in the next 10 days or so, but I'm not expecting any serious issues (touching all the wood going). If I'm honest I'm a little disappointed with these kits, but that's down to the fact that I've just about finished their 109 K-14 which is a lovely kit and has rather spoilt me.

AZ are coming out with a Fi.167 in a couple of boxings. Must admit that whilst I think it's a fascinating subject I doubt if I'll be getting one as I don't think I'd be able to deal with getting the struts and upper wing in place nowadays.    Doubt I could deal with bi-planes in 1/72 nowadays unless they used the old "Matchbox" system for the struts.

https://www.azmodel.cz/2023/05/fi-167-are-coming/

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I'd rather worry about eventual rigging!