ARC has a strong
following of modelers with an interest in the F-14 Tomcat. This has not
escaped the notice of the folks at Shanghai Dragon. This kit will be released in
the coming days.....what I have here is a "test shot" of the
production sprues, although I've been assured the production kit will be
identical.
Anyways...on to the
inbox look at this amazing and tiny kit. Shanghai Dragon makes quite a few 1/144
scale kits and they have been quite good.....but Shanghai Dragon decided to go back to
the drawing boards and try to raise the bar for 1/144 scale kits up a few
notches. As you can see by the picture of the sprues below....this kit is
loaded with parts.
Panel lines are all
recessed and very fine. Instead of the usual blob of a cockpit....this kit
comes with a full cockpit....each seat consists of 7 parts. The 2
instrument panels have raised detail....and instrument panel decals are also
included with the kit if you want to go that route. I tried to photo the
instrument panels but they were too small for my camera to properly focus on and
show the detail. This kit even has a tiny fret of photo etch. This
photo etch provides tiny panels for the cockpit side panels as well as mirrors
for the canopy. No doubt about it...this kit is scary when you examine the
detail and number of parts and consider this kit is 1/144.
| For markings you
get a choice of VF-31 "Tophatters", VF-102 "Diamond
backs", and 2 sets of markings for VF-84 "Jolly
Rogers"...one of which is a CAG bird.
Although the kit markings
are good.....I would like to see some aggressor markings. |
|
| With
luck, maybe decal producers like the
Two Bobs
will see the awesome potential of this
1/144 scale market
and start releasing their F-14 decals in 1/144 scale.
My apologies for not
including more photos of the unbelievable detail on this kit.....but my
camera just can't properly focus on detail that small.
If you've never built 1/144
and want the challenge of your life.....I strongly recommend you pick up
this kit. For the suggested price of US$11....this kit is well worth
picking up just to see the level of detail. Other kit manufactures
have much to fear...Shanghai Dragon has achieved a level of detail that was
formerly impossible.
My thanks to the folks at
Shanghai Dragon for sending me this review sample.
Steve |
