Dragon (DML)

[Hobbes]

I just bought some of Dragon's new kits, and I'm impressed. They look very nice, on par with Revell's recent 144 offerings. And they have some of the best weapons I've seen in 144.
The boxes contain two complete kits each.

F-117: the best of the bunch. There are decals for a normal version, and one with a US flag covering the entire underside. The shape is much more accurate than the Revell kit. One odd thing is that the cockpit tub contains a pilot, but he seems to be missing his head.
The kit contains AGM-154 JSOW, GBU-10 and GBU-12 (Paveway), GBU-29 (JDAM), CBU-87, some sort of designator pod and Sidewinders. There's also something that looks like a crude Paveway.

Su-35 and Su-37
According to the experts, this is Dragon's old Flanker kit with some new bits. Its shape is good, but it's underscale.
Still looks better than the old Revell kit, though.
Weapons included are the R-27, R-73 and Kh-29,  nice-looking weapons even if the R-27 isn't entirely accurate (the front fins are rectangular instead of trapezoidal). Decals aren't spectacular, but much better than the Russian decals I've seen in Revell or Trumpeter kits.

Tornado F-3
Nice moulding, the surface patterns look similar to Dragon's older Tornado kits, but are much crisper. They've only moulded two recesses for Skyflash, though.  
Decals are nice, with one normal aircraft and one with flashy paintjob. Weapons are a bit weird, with only two Skyflash and 6 Sidewinder (with pylons for only 4 Sidewinder). The two Hindenburg tanks are nice (haven't seen those in other 144 Tornadoes).    

There's also an F-14D kit (which I didn't buy).  

[The Rat]

F-117: One odd thing is that the cockpit tub contains a pilot, but he seems to be missing his head.

Well, they still want to keep some of the pilot's identities a secret.    

[B777LR]

F-117:
The kit contains AGM-154 JSOW, GBU-10 and GBU-12 (Paveway), GBU-29 (JDAM), CBU-87, some sort of designator pod and Sidewinders.

Sidewinders on F117?!?

[Hobbes]

The Sidewinders (and most of the weapons in the list) are on a separate sprue, and are marked 'not used' on the instruction sheet. Presumably, this sprue can be added to other models as well.  

[matrixone]

I have read that Dragon will release these new 1/48 scale kits:

Focke-Wulf Ta 152C

Heinkel He 162D

Focke-Wulf Ta 154 Mistel

Great what-if potential there!

Matrixone

[BlackOps]

You know I'll have to look all of those up to see just what they are...well all but the Mistel     Sometimes it's a curse not knowing all the aircraft designations but I swear for every one i learn I forget two    

[cthulhu77]

Hmmm. I'm still reeling from the Dragon P-51...I'd have to wait and see what they've done to these prior to purchase.

[matrixone]

Jeff,

The Ta 152C is the short span version of the Ta 152 aircraft. Below is a pic of the 1/72 scale Ta 152C I made from the Dragon kit last year. Check out the size of the supercharger intake!


Not really sure about the He 162D, but I think it is the swept wing version.

The Ta 154 Mistel is likely the version with the Fw 190A as the control a/c.

Matrixone

[BlackOps]

Thanks Matrix, saved me some digging around on the web  

[GTX]

Not really sure about the He 162D, but I think it is the swept wing version.

Correct it is indeed (and with a V-tail):









Regards,

Greg

[BlackOps]

Greg, you should be elected the Whif librarian! You always know where to pull up a quick reference from      That last desert version is way cool!

[ysi_maniac]

^^^
You are right this guy is a Living Library. Thumbs up!

[Gekko_1]

Ooooooh goody, says Richard rubbing his hands together, as he hurriedly runs back down into his burrow to his computer!    :dum:    

[matrixone]

The 1/72 scale Dragon Ta 152C was a real fuzzy bunny to build and I expect the 1/48 scale kit to be every bit as bad but I MUST have one in my collection.

Matrixone

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

Not really sure about the He 162D, but I think it is the swept wing version.

Correct it is indeed (and with a V-tail):

Regards,

Greg

Yep and it's a b*gger to land on IL2 1946 !

Ian - trudges away to get his coat again after completely missing the point of the thread !