Xtrakit

[Maverick]

G'day Gang,

A review of the Sea Harrier FA.2 over on IPMS Deutschland.  Nice to see the FA.2 as a full kit and not a conversion.

http://ipmsdeutschland.de/FirstLook/Xtrakit/Xtrakit_Sea_Harrier_FA2/Xtrakit_Sea_Harrier_FA2.html

Regards,

Mav

[ChernayaAkula]

Drewe on Britmodeller attempted to build this one and wasn't overly impressed. CLICKY! Apparently it's better to wait for the Airfix kit.

[PR19_Kit]

The 'official' word from the Harrier SIG agrees with that opinion too.

They're less than happy with the Xtrakit offering, so much so that the SIG Boss took his kit back to the Hannants stand at Telford and asked for his money back!

[Thorvic]

Yeap its poo-poo (with an english accent), its a rush job that has well and truely back fired on Hannants.

Datail is minimal and etched, even when it should be lumps, bumps or vortex generators, the fuselage appears to be the hasegawa kit with the FA2 conversion applied, the nose appears to be the narrower Italeri kit with the FA2 nose, unfortunately the Canopy is the Hasegawa so it doesn't even fit the kit cockpit, nor does it have the explosive cord etched in. There are no weapons bar the drop tanks, nor are there the belly pylons or missile adaptors for the AMRAAM, Even the decals are printed in a flesh tone rather than the anti-flash pink !.

So couple that with the fact thats its about the same price as an Italeri Kit with a heritage conversion set and it does seem to be a very shoddy effort.

G

[Green Dragon]

Just got an email from Hannants saying the new Scimitar is expected next week! Hope it's better than the Shar F/A.2.

Paul Harrison

[Mossie]

Scimitar eh?  Now that is interesting.....

Future Releases mentions a Vampire FB.5, a Spitfire Mk.21 & Seafire Mk.46:
=arrived+desc&order[]=code+asc&CODE=&SCALE=&KEYWORD=&NUMPERPAGE=50]
http://www.hannants.co.uk/search/index.php?CATEGORY=2&DIVISION=&MANUFACTURER=Xtrakit&TYPE=&order[]=arrived+desc&order[]=code+asc&CODE=&SCALE=&KEYWORD=&NUMPERPAGE=50

I do tend to think Xtrakits are too pricey for what you get.  The subjects may be a little niche & Hannants have a low production quota that might justify a price hike, but not double the market value.  Airfix seem to sitting up & taking notice, Xtrakit are digging into their traditional market & we've had a couple of identical releases.  I hope this doesn't kill off Xtrakit, we've got some aircraft that have been neglected since Frog folded, but I think they need to improve quality & lower prices to compete.

[Green Dragon]

You're right Mossie, they are a bit too pricey but I'll probably get the Scimitar because I've wanted one since I was a kid. Missed the Frog one because I couldn't find a stockist in Kingston back then.

Paul Harrison

[Mossie]

I might well pick one up as well, it's still a heck of a lot cheaper than the CMR kits or getting hold of a Frog kit.  I'll wait for a review though, to make sure that it hasn't gone the same way as the Sea Harrier FA.2

[PR19_Kit]

Mossie,

The Frog kit isn't really a Scimitar, it's the N113 prototype (or the 525...) and it doesn't have a sign of the area-ruled fuselage of the proper Scimitar. It'd be the devil of a job converting it, although it has been done in the past.

It will be interesting comparing the Xtrakit Scimitar with the Skybirds 86 version. I predict it will be in a MUCH bigger box, but that wouldn't be difficult! 

[Thorvic]

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=30386&pid=332805&st=20&#entry332805


Brentwaters on Britmodeller went and picked up a pair today from Hannants and has kindly provided sprue shots.

G

[kitnut617]

I think I will have to make an order for one, and now a reason to re-read my Air-Britain book 'The Scimiter File' again.

[Thorvic]

http://www.hannants.co.uk/search/?FULL=XK72012

Xtrakit have released another new British 50's jet, the Supermarine Swift FR5, which should be popular if accurate.

(you can guess these will  be going like hot cakes at Milton Keynes Show on Sunday  )

G

[Mossie]

The Swift was never my favourite aircraft, although I think it would look good modded into a Type 545.  Some developments that were slated for the Hunter might look good too, beefier engines, even the delta wing.

Still hoping they get the Vampires kit out though...

[kitbasher]

http://www.hannants.co.uk/search/?FULL=XK72012

Xtrakit have released another new British 50's jet, the Supermarine Swift FR5, which should be popular if accurate.

(you can guess these will  be going like hot cakes at Milton Keynes Show on Sunday  )

G

Has to be better than the Pegasus kit despite the lack of belly tank.  The Pegasus version (mine's been in the stash for yonks) leaves a lot to be desired as an FR5, but can be turned into an F1.

If you're off to Milton Keynes tomorrow then phone the shop today, pre-order and get the 10% discount tomorrow.  The man on the other end of the phone said they had 72 in stock - he had 71 when I put the phone down - and would be taking at least some of them to Milton Keynes (maybe the lot, maybe not, didn;t say)!

[Rolead]

Xtrakits new 1/72 arrivals soooon!
http://www.hannants.co.uk/product/XK72014 Spitfire Mk22
http://www.hannants.co.uk/product/XK72013 Hunter T.7

Robert