Academy

[General Zod]

Cool....I'd be in for a few of them. Providing they don't cost too terribly much ! I'd bet there's about a million ways to make one, eh ?  Now, if we could only see the deuce that's one generation earlier!

With an MSRP of $19.95USD, from MRC I can only hope that another source will be able to offer the kit for substantially less than that. 

That is pricey for a 1/72 kit 

[John Howling Mouse]

Anh, I'll still get a handful.  There are a few scratchbuilt 1:72 cargo-plane ideas of mine that suddenly seem more interesting because of this....thanks, Jeffry.

[Maverick]

G'day Gang,

Hobby Link Japan has some shots of the new CG/GJ Viper here: http://www.hlj.com/product/ACD12415

Looks like some nice stuff and a whole bunch of stores to boot!! (nice change)

They have also released the KF-16C ROK version.

Regards,

Mav

[Radish]

Looks a belter!

The ROK version was on sale in Tyneside at the show last Sunday, but I bought some 1/72nd armour instead.
However, I'll get a couple of the ROK version.....the decals will be useful and I've a stash of other markings available for the Viper, real and unreal, as they say.

VIPERS RULE!!!

[Maverick]

This kit is reviewed (auf Deutsch) over on IPMS Deutschland.

http://ipmsdeutschland.de/FirstLook/Academy/Aca_F-18C_Hornet/Academy_F-18C.html

Although they mention both AMRAAMs & HARMs in the loadout, I can only see Sparrows which, conversely, aren't mentioned at all.  Still, it's nice to see that a half decent warload is provided for a change.

Regards,

Mav

[AeroplaneDriver]

I love the way they're doing the clear parts not.  Much less chance of them being damaged. 

[B777LR]

I like the clear parts sprue

[AeroplaneDriver]

Well I just finished my One Week build, a Fujimi Mig 21.  This was my first Mig 21, and after this build, I LOVE this airplane.  It's so clean and sleek.  Not sure why it never really caught my eye before.  Anyway, I'm looking for another Fujimi kit for the stash, but I'd like to get one in 1/48 too.  Can anyone offer any opinions of the Academy kit?  It seems pretty popular, but that doesnt always mean a good kit.

Thanks!! 

[Damian2]

The Academy MIG-21 is a fine kit.

The cockpit doesn't have the detail levels of the latest Tamgawa kit but then again if the top is closed you're not going to see much in there anyhow. On the building side of things whatever you do NEVER build the front then add it to the rear, if you do this you're only asking for heartache. Instead as has been advised to me: glue each front part to their respective main fuselage and move on with the build from there.

On the outside of things the kit has nicely engraved panel lines and details, are they right?? Who knows the over thing looks like a MIG-21 to me.

Decals LOOK ok but with Academy you never knowif they'll work or not. In the MF kit you get two options, one a Soviet Frontal Aviation machine and the other one in the Indian Airforce.

The weapons are ok too. You get 2 gasbags, 4 rocket pods (two different sizes) and 4 AA-2 Atols (2 IR and 2 Radar).

Lastly the kit goes together well with minor (for me) PSR required to get her to the painting stage

Hope this help! 

D

[John Howling Mouse]

I felt exactly the same, AD: where had this airplane (and its models) been all my life?
But I had quite the ride with my 1:48 Academy kit when it came to PSR (however, I don't really know why since most others have not had that experience at all).
I nearly gave up on it.  You can see my finished kit at the link below (and there is another, embedded link to the original build thread there, too).

All said, you get a very complete kit from Academy for a very reasonable price.

http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,19829.msg279037.html#msg279037

[Maverick]

G'day Gang,

IPMS Deutschland have an inbox review of Papa Ilyushin's iconic tank buster here: http://ipmsdeutschland.de/FirstLook/Academy/Aca_Il-2_Stormowik/Academy_Il-2.html

Whilst there are other English reviews on the web, this has the usual big sprue shots (& plenty of them!).

The thing I find most thoughtful in this kit is, however, the decal options.  Whilst big name companies pump out the same kit over & again with one or maybe even two decal options, then have the audacity to release the same kit years later with another couple of decal options (can anyone say Hasegawa? ), Academy has chosen to give the modeller a total of eleven (11!!!) markings choices.  Soviet, German and Hungarian varieties are offered with the bulk being predominantly Soviet.  11/10 points to Academy for this and what looks to be a bloody nice little kit.

Methinks there'll be a few of these in the stash in the not-too-distant future!!

Regards,

Mav

[B777LR]

Academy has chosen to give the modeller a total of eleven (11!!!) markings choices. 

With the Shturmovik family there were more versions of the plane, than there were variations in the paint scheme

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Michael Benolkin has an in-box review of the new Academy 1/350th scale USS Oliver Hazard Perry (FFG-7) Class Guided Missile Frigate kit review on CyberModeler that includes images of the kit contents. 

Kit Number 14102. 
MSRP $39.00
Available in November 2008.

[Maverick]

G'day Gang,

IPMS Deutschland have reviewed the 72nd scale F-16CG/CJ.  The decal sheet is simply grand with at least five or six options including two refuelling stencils.

http://ipmsdeutschland.de/FirstLook/Academy/Aca_F-16CG_CJ_Fighting_Falcon/Academy_F-16_CG_CJ.html

Regards,

Mav

[Deino]

Here's the big RAPTOR !!!

http://www.mmzone.co.kr/articles/article_view.php?id=68

Deino