This new kit
from Platz
Hobby is a plane that we all know well. This is the Kawasaki
T-4 currently in use with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force's
Blue Impulse aerobatic demonstration team.
The Blue Impulse Aerobatic Team was officially founded in 1960 and first flew F-86
Sabres. They then switched to the Mitsubishi T-2 jet trainer in 1982 and
currently fly the
Kawasaki T-4 sporting a very attractive blue and
white paint scheme.
The first thing that caught my eye is the fact
this kit in 1/100 scale. This is a metric scale and was popular with the
eastern Europeans and Japanese in the past and it is interesting that Platz has
chosen this scale, perhaps they are catering to the Japanese home market with
this scale. 1/100 does provide more detail than their 1/144 kit but
doesn't have the large size of 1/72 kit, so it does provide a happy medium for
the modeler.
This model kit is moulded in white plastic with
finely engraved panel lines. The kit includes 3 sprues of white
plastic, one sprue of clear styrene and a neat little posible in-flight stand
with an adjustable connection point so you can chnage the angle of the model on
the stand anytime in the future. The decal sheet includes markings for 6 different Blue Impulse
jets.
The jets include the following:
- Blue Impulse # 1 serial # 46-5730
- Blue Impulse # 2 serial # 26-5804
- Blue Impulse # 3 serial # 46-5729
- Blue Impulse # 4 serial # 26-5805
- Blue Impulse # 5 serial # 46-5726
- Blue Impulse # 6 serial # 46-5728
All 6 of these jets are in the identical blue and
white paint scheme.
This kit includes 2 canopies, but
they are both one piece canopies. You do have the option to cut them up
and pose your jet with the canopy open if you decide not to use the in-flight
stand. Considering the fact that there are no pilot figures included,
using the in-flight stand is not a really viable option for the seriously anal
types. For myself I
would cut up the 2 canopies to get a canopy posed in the open position and
then pose this jet sitting on a tarmac. The wheels have fantastic detail
on the front and back sides.....spokes on the front side and brakes on the
backside. The landing gear are well done and up to the usual high level of
detail Platz Hobby in known for in their small scale kits. The wheel wells
lack any detail.......so the option of gear-up and closed wheel bays and pilot
figures would have been the best option, but with the lack of figures you will
have to ponder what option works best for you. Considering the fact this
is a 1/100 kit, finding pilot figures could be difficult. Or just build it
with no pilot figures using the in-flight stand and don't worry about it.
You do get 2 sets of landing gear doors for the closed and open position, so you
don't have to try to make one set fit both options, a very smart decision by
Platz Hobby.
The kit is a joy to
behold. Cockpit detail is actually pretty good with raised lines for side
wall detail and quite well done raised detail for the side consoles. You
get 4 instrument panels molded in clear styrene, so you have some creative
options for lighting up the video displays if you are so motivated. You'll only need 2 of these instrument
panels for this 2 hole trainer, so don't worry if you mess up two of them
experimenting with different techniques. The
clear styrene sprue also includes clear strobe lights you can tint with your
favorite clear colored paint. The 2 ejection seats include ribbed detail
for the back rest
cushion. The kit also includes 2 drop tanks, but check your
reference photos as the jets don't always carry these tanks, more than likely
the tanks are only used to transport the jets between shows, but that is just my
guess.
Click on
images below to see larger images
The decals are excellent quality and
in register and include stencils and formation lights. All
parts are packed in separate bags to protect the smaller more delicate parts.
Platz Hobby has always impressed me
with their tiny high quality kits and this one is no exception. If you
build this one, you will be satisfied with the finished model.
Steve Bamford
Check out http://www.platz-hobby.com/
for this and other fine products. I'd like to thank Platz
for the review sample......this kit is made in Japan and the high quality
is evident throughout this tiny model kit.
Click on
images below to see larger images
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