Airfix 1/48 scale Sea Vixen.

[Ian M]

Well I did promise that when I got it I would do an in box review, so here goes.

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First the box is big, even for a 1/48 scale aircraft. In fact if you have one or have seen one its the same size as the Buccaneer, also by Airfix.

The box contains three large sprues in the fashionable light grey plastic. One small sprue for the clear parts. Lets get that out the way first. The canopy is thinner than others I have seen in this scale and should look great even without the Klear treatment. It is also a nice clean cast.

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The three large sprues are two for the actual aircraft and one for weapons mainly, with a few smaller parts from the airframe. There are TWO wheel sets, weighted and none-weighted, which is a nice touch.

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A closer look at things show the level of detail to be acceptable, and those that want to add or improve will find things to improve. The Panel lines on the wings/fuselage are not over done and by the time there is primer, paint, klear and a dull coat in them they should be even better.

To help you stick it all together is a 23 page A4 booklet, with clear step by step drawings which are very clear and well thought out. As per norm there is a choice to be made as to which of the four versions you wise to model and this must be decided on quite early in the build and the instructions would benefit from a marker/high-lighter to aid with keeping track of the version you wish to build.

There is even a colour guild, in colour for the four versions. Pitty they are all grey/white but better that than the normal ten shades of grey print to try and figuer things out.

The decal sheet is printed by Cartograf and the quality is as can be expected from them!!! Nice! I bet there is not to many moons gone down before some one does the Red Bull Decals for this!!! Imagine that bird.

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When I get a round to building this I will try and update this a bit with my findings along the way.

But as it is now I will boldly say go get yours, while you can. five stars from me,

Ian M

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[Guest]

Superb in the box review Ian, and much appreciated excellent picies of the sprues. Ever since I have seen the prototype pics for this on the Airfix site, I have been fascinated and wanting one. Trouble is, I have no idea why. This aircraft, as an aircraft, has absolutely no interest for me at all. However, after reading your review and seeing 'real' pictures of the bits, I still really, really want one.

[Guest]

Very many thanks for the revue Ian, there is not a geat deal out there about this model yet so you are going to be one of the first to say anything about it!

[Guest]

Thanks for the in box review, i've also read two build reviews thus far.

Issue 1 of the Airfix mag and last months SAM.

Both of these I believe were pre-release kits but the articles were incredibly favourable.

Like yourself Graham, I was really excited when i saw the release info for this though i've never been a massive jet fan.

I think the interest came from a fairly recent Discovery channel (or similar), programme covering the inception of jets onwards for the UK.

This one and the Vampire? I think had a good long prog to themselves and I found myself fascinated by both.

I will definitely have one of these but i'm at a point where the piles getting too big so i've self enforced no more kits unless I get spending money from Santa or get a real ebay bargain bargain, or at least until I build some of the pile.

That and I really really love the look of the new SWS 32nd scale FW Ta152, would be a big outlay for me and the biggest scale aircraf to date i've built.