Area 88 1/144 - Steinberger '76 (A-4E/Kfir/MiG-21)

[strobez]

So, I've decided to depart on another 1/144 Area 88 adventure. This time... Steinberger '76!

The story from the manga is basically a flashback scene when the West German pilot Hoover (Kfir) saves the Englishman Benditz (A-4E) from certain death after a MiG-21 gets him in his sights. In gratitude, Benditz offers Hoover a bottle of his favourite German wine, a '76 Steinberger.

It's a neat little scene in the Area 88 manga. Hoover later dies, so Benditz (after being discharged) orders a bottle in Paris and drinks in his memory. At first, the French hotelier is a bit offended that someone would order German wine in France... but she does have a bottle stashed away regardless.

The whole chapter is a touching sidebar story actually. We've never seen Benditz up to that point (he's basically created for the story), but this is a "previously unknown" story involving the well-known secondary character, Hoover. The story follows Benditz's successful discharge from Area 88 after serving his full 3 year mercenary contract and his trip home. Everyone calls him lucky because he's never even been hit, his A-4E is in pristine condition (unlike everyone else's). Then, minutes after finally getting off the plane in Heathrow airport in London, he's stabbed in the chest during a random mugging over a couple of pounds and dies on the floor in a puddle of blood. Meanwhile, back at Area 88, everyone is guessing what "lucky Benditz" must be up to, back in the "real world."

So the build will feature the Kfir taking out the MiG-21 as the A-4E runs away. That's a lot of action to squeeze onto a coaster, so I decided to build all three planes at once so that I can keep the visual going in my mind - mainly to keep the exploding MiG-21 to a reasonable size.

It's interesting to build: a Chinese repop of the already "light on details" Airfix MiG-21, a Revell rebox of the Dragon Kfir, and the extremely detailed Platz A-4E all at the same time. Talk about managing expectations on the fly!

Nothing much in the build yet, just adding the regular orange LED engines and glueing the fuselages together. One thing I'm trying is to use white glue on the interior instead of CA glue. I've heard CA can interact with metals (well usually lead nose weight) and actually end up popping the seams.  Not sure if that would be a problem with the LEDs, but why take a chance?

[PR19_Kit]

Jeepers, you don't do things by halves, do you Greg? 

[Old Wombat]

 

[Dizzyfugu]

Cool. 

[Tophe]

I am very interested by the 1/144 Kfir but, as I wanted to see what is the price to buy it, I found none on Google, just 1/72 (or 1/48).
You are lucky, make a good use of your rarity!

[NARSES2]

Jeepers, you don't do things by halves, do you Greg? 

Slight understatement ? 

I'm still amazed by the cleanliness of the bench  Looking forward to this

[strobez]

I am very interested by the 1/144 Kfir but, as I wanted to see what is the price to buy it, I found none on Google, just 1/72 (or 1/48).
You are lucky, make a good use of your rarity!

Yeah, these are very hard to come by, especially in the Revell box. I kind of lucked out recently and found two 1+1 Dragon boxes at the local antique shop, next to some old license plates and Grandma's tea cozy. I bought the one priced at $20, but balked at the $30 one..l but it's haunting my dreams.

[Tophe]

Congratulations for your discovery and purchase!
(I am not jealous, I am happy for you)