Focke Wulf Ta152H

NEW AND IN VIEW
ROVEX TRI-ANG LIMITED (FROG). Focke Wulf Tank 152H. 1/72 scale. Black (packet) series.

This model of one of the most advanced piston engined aircraft to enter service during the latter days of World War II the Та 152Н from FROG is up to the standards now associated with their more recent releases.

Moulded in medium grey plastic the surface detail is extremely fine and assembly is quite straightforward with no need for filling or filing to obtain a flush fit of the numerous parts. The pilot's seat and armoured headrest are moulded as separate items and the insides of the inboard undercarriage doors are also scribed with detailing.

The shape of the Та. 152 is somewhat controversial as many drawings purporting to represent the type are in fact in error, particularly in regard to the rear fuselage, fin and rudder. Fortunately FROG obtained highly accurate data and drawings from original sources and comparison of the completed model with photographs show little fault. The cowling is perhaps over simplified and the keen modeller may wish to add "gills" from plasticard together with additional scoop intakes to the upper fuselage decking forward of the cockpit. Nonetheless, we feel that it is far easier and more realistic to have surface detail as produced on the FROG kit than, say, some of the grossly over rivetted lining, etc., seen on products from other companies.

Decals are included for two alternative machines: one from 2 Staffel/I Gruppe JG.301 flying on Defence of the Reich operations and the other for 1 Staffel/I Gruppe JG.3. Markings include the correct size and style of national insignia including the swastika for the fin, together with Staffel and Gruppe markings.

The packet artwork is not up to the usual FROG standard but the Profile artwork on the back includes the correct camouflage patterns applicable to the two machines shown together with full camouflage and painting details.

A very good kit of an interesting fighter that will prove to be very popular with Luftwaffe enthusiasts.

The IPMS magazine, NOVEMBER 1970 Vol. 7 No. 11

NEW TO YOU?
Bob Jones surveys new releases
New from Frog

One of the most advanced piston-engined fighters of the Second World War was the Kurt Tank designed FOCKE WULF ТА 152 - unfortunately, it entered production too late to have appeared in any large numbers but on occasions when allied fighter pilots met the Та 152 they were hard put to match the performance of this machine, despite the comparative rarity of the type we were delighted to receive a review sample from Messrs ROVEX TRI-ANG LIMITED of their new kit, to 1/72 scale, of the Та 152Н, thus providing the Luftwaffe enthusiast with another 'rare type' for his collection. Moulded in medium grey plastic the surface detailing is extremely fine and we welcome this type of raised surface detail which is far superior to the earlier heavy rivet and panel line detail.

The assembly is quite simple and fit of parts is excellent, extra detailing includes pilot's seat and armoured headrest complete with the armoured seat-support which is so noticeable on these aircraft. The cockpit canopy must rate as one of their best ever, being a superb fit and correctly 'bulged' as on the original aircraft, the clarity is slightly distorted along the top of the canopy due to the thickness of the clear plastic but this is unavoidable and does not. in fact, detract from the appearance of the model unless light catches the cockpit from odd angles.

The outline of the model is basically accurate although the wing taper along the trailing edges is slightly too excessive and the cowling detail is rather oversimplified as is the exhaust stub layout.

The decals are for machines of 2 Staffel/I Gruppe/JG.300 flying in defence of the Reich operations and the alternative markings are for a machine of 1 Staffel/I Gruppe/JG.3 the national insignia and unit identification markings are included as are the correct Werke Number where applicable, the decals are flat matt finish and adhere well, lying smoothly over the various panel line details.

The packet artwork is NOT up to the usual ROVEX standard but the Profile type artwork offered as a painting guide on the reverse side of the packet is as usual excellent. We will be featuring an article in an early issue on correcting one or two basic inaccuracies of this kit together with photographs of our completed model plus details as to how to add extra refinements to the kit parts, with the lengthy slim wings and the slim fuselage this is a most attractive looking aeroplane and the kit will undoubtedly prove to be very popular indeed.

Another release from ROVEX TRI-ANG LIMITED will delight Fleet Air Arm enthusiasts as this is a boxed kit for the WESTLAND WYVERN strike-fighter, one of the Navy's post-war carrier borne types which saw combat during the six days Suez 'war'.

Again moulded in medium grey plastic this kit must be one of the finest yet produced by this company, very full co-operation and assistance was provided by Westland Aircraft (as was) and the design of the kit is itself a fine example of careful planning which results in a kit that really does provide the modeller with a magnificent basis for a 'straight from the box' or 'extra detailed' replica of the original machine. Assembly follows the usual practice and is simplified without detracting from any detailing applicable to the type. Of particular note is the finely detailed undercarriage oleo legs and wheel/hubs and surface detailing includes the huge underwing flaps and flying surfaces.

The cockpit interior consists of a complete seat pan which has instrument consoles (with the faces of the instruments engraved therein) plus a fine replica of the pilot's seat and armour plate and head rest, a pilot figure is also included albeit not a very satisfactory one and a separate control column is also supplied.

Underwing stores includes two tier rocket armament and optional parts are the fitting enabling the modeller to have the tail wheel/ undercarriage of the machine either in the retracted or extended positions.

The cockpit canopy is truly superb and we would add that careful attention should be paid to the Profile style artwork painting guide on the rear of the box to ensure that one paints the canopy framework correctly. The Wyvern canopy was made up of separate sections which were simply joined together without any metal framework, thus it is very easy to inadvertently paint the simulated join lines thinking that these are metal frames. The decals are excellent, being for a Suez strike aircraft 830 Squadron, HMS Eagle, 1956 and alternative markings are given for a machine of 287 Squadron, HMS Eagle 1955. The decal sheet includes national markings, squadron badge and crests plus the usual serials and codes.

The finish of the Wyvern was gloss Extra Dark Sea Grey upper surfaces with Sky undersides, fin and rudder and fuselage sides-note that the colour of the spinner and finlets on the machines of 830 Squadron was Plum Red and not red or maroon as they appear on the box art, on the 827 Squadron machine just the spinner is standard gloss Red colour.

The cockpit interior was Night finish, matt Black and the undercarriage oleo legs etc. were polished metal, the interior of the wheel wells was also natural metal although on some machines this was Sky colour.

As in the case of the Та 152 reviewed earlier we will be featuring a detailed article on modelling the Wyvern in an early issue BUT if you cannot wait for this then one can build the kit 'straight from the box' and have a delightfully accurate and most striking looking model. It is particularly welcome to see the kit manufacturers releasing kits of the machines of the 'fifties, as many interesting types spring to mind which would have been contemporary to the Wyvern.
Old favourites in new markings

OVER THE past twelve months or so kits released by ROVEX TRI-ANG LIMITED have been notable for the very fine quality transfers that they contained and it is not surprising that the company recently reissued three of their older kits with new decals and box art.

These are for the FAIREY BARRACUDA, WESTLAND WESSEX and FAIREY GANNET - each kit is in its own right of a very good quality and the BARRACUDA has always proved to be a popular choice for the modeller - the original mouldings have remained unchanged but the boxes now have completely new artwork and the decals in each kit are far more comprehensive and truly representative than were those of the original offerings. The markings in the BARRACUDA kit are now for one machine of 829 Squadron H.M.S. Victorious as operated during the raids on the German battleship TIRPITZ 1944, while alternative markings are given for a machine of the BRITISH PACIFIC FLEET 1944/5 from 812 Squadron, of particular note is the provision on the decals sheet for the lanyard which was attached at the lower rear fuselage, which, when pulled by the gunner or observer, lifted the dinghy stowage hatch into the airstream, thus ensuring that the dinghy did not become trapped in a crashed and sinking aircraft.

The WESSEX Mk. 31 is in markings and camouflage of a machine from 817 Squadron Royal Australian Navy aboard H.M.A.S. MELBOURNE or alternatively from 845 Squadron Fleet Air Arm aboard H.M.S. Albion in Commando forces decor. Bearing in mind the original quality and accuracy of these kits we feel sure that all will enjoy a new lease of life in their new finishes.

Trio of re-releases from Frog are the Barracuda,Wessex and the Gannet, each at 4/9d. and now with a change of markings. These Naval aircraft have a wide range of possible decor and we shall publish photographs of other variations next month.

Scale Models No.17 1971 FEBRUARY Vo2. No.2

MODEL ENTHUSIAST
A little matter of survival
Tank's high flier

Frog has now re-issued its rather nice 1/72nd scale kit of the Focke-Wulf Ta 152H high-altitude fighter development of Prof Kurt Tank's superlative Fw 190. We have been unable to detect any differences in the mouldings or decal sheet than when this kit was first issued, but it is differently boxed and has now been elevated from Frog's Black Series to the higher-priced Blue Series. The colour painting guide on the bottom of the box is certainly an improvement over earlier efforts, and a new-style symbol-type instruction sheet is featured. The only really new item is a display stand which may be wall-mounted and allows for displaying the model in a variety of attitudes — all very ingenious but unlikely to be of much interest to most serious modellers. At the time of closing for press the current retail price of this re-issue was unavailable.
F J HENDERSON

Air Enthusiast 1974-07 vol.07 no.01

Revell (GB)
Revell (Great Britain) Ltd., Cranborne Road, Potters Bar. Hertfordshire, England EN6 3JX
Period; 1977-1981?

Once the most important Revell branch outside the USA, the Potters Bar factory was closed down at the end of 1980. However, the company still exists as a distributor of German-made kits.

In the final years, Revell (GB) produced - among other things - the former Frog kits listed below. The British and German Revell branches co-operated closely and it is therefore not surprising that most of their issues are very similar to each other. The Bf 110, Do 335 and Me410 did, however, have boxes and decals more like the US than the German issues.

It should also be noted that the Rufe (and possibly also one or two others) were sold in two different size boxes.

FROG model aircraft 1932-1976, R. Lines, L. Hellstrom

Revell (Germany)
Revell Plastics GmbH. Postfach 2609, D-4980 Bunde 1, West Germany
Period: 1977 to date

Since the closure of the British and Spanish branches, this is the only Revell production plant left in Europe. It is also handling all sales to Africa and the Middle East.

Together with Revell (GB), the German branch was the first to use the former Frog moulds. It is also the only one to have issued the kits in different box styles and under different kit numbers.

The first issues - except for the Fiat and Ar234, which used retouched photos of the actual models - all had the old Frog artwork and also decals similar to the Frog ones. The He 115 was an exception since no artwork or decals had been prepared for Frog. All kit numbers had an H-prefix.

In 1982, all kit numbers became computerized and the prefix was deleted; H-80 thus becoming 0080 etc. By this time, the Fiat and Rufe had already been dropped. Also, the Me 410 never went through this stage.

Beginning in 1983, the current system was introduced. In this, all aircraft kits get a number starting with 4. The Me 410 was first, followed by the Ta 152, Bf 110 and He 111 in 1984, the Do 335 in 1985 and the Ar234 and Do 17 in 1986. Remaining kits have been dropped, and the Me410 was also discontinued by 1986. In 1987, only the Ar234, He 111 and Bf 110 remained in production. The kits reissued 1983-1985 got completely new boxes while the 1986 ones remained more-or-less unchanged. The 1984—1985 reissues also sported the new Ceji-Revell logo.

Further changes will no doubt be carried out in the future.

FROG model aircraft 1932-1976, R. Lines, L. Hellstrom

Kikoler/Revell
A. Kikoler Com. e Ind. de Plasticos S.A., Rua Francisco Portela 175. Rio de Janeiro. RJ. Brazil
Period: 1979? to date?

Kikoler is one of the major Revell branches in the world and has, at one time or another, produced a high percentage of the Revell kits released over the last thirty years. This includes the normal assortment of ex-Frog kits. Recent economical problems have caused Kikoler to reduce their kit range and it is possible that the ex-Frogs are not presently in production. However, chances are that they will be reintroduced later on.

Packaging is similar to that used by Revell (GB), except for the Bf 110, Do 335 and Me410, which have boxes similar to those used in the USA (albeit larger).

FROG model aircraft 1932-1976, R. Lines, L. Hellstrom

Lodela/Revell

Plasticos Lodela S.A., Berlin 34, Col. del Carmen, Coyoacan, Mexico 21, D.F., Mexico

Period: 1979? to date

Lodela was started in the 1950s to manufacture Revcll kits for the local market. In 1986 a number of Heller kits were added to the range, but until then the company handled only Revell kits. Like all other Revell companies, Lodela have also handled the ex-Frog kits. Even if only a few have been positively identified to date, it is probably safe to assume that the normal eleven-kit assortment has been produced at one time or another.

Packaging does seem to follow US practice for some kits, European practice for others and a unique Mexican standard for the rest. It is not impossible that certain kits have been issued with more than one style of box. Numbering follows usual Revell standard. However, in 1985 an R was added to the kit numbers on all lists and catalogues. So far, only the Ta 152H has actually appeared with this on the box, but others may follow in due course.

Incidentally, Lodela took its name from the founder and present manager, Sr. Apolo Lopez de Lara.

FROG model aircraft 1932-1976, R. Lines, L. Hellstrom

Congost/Revell
Luis Congost, S.A., Travesia Industrial 247. L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
Period: 1980?-1983?

One of several Revell subsidiaries to use the former Frog moulds, Congost is unusual in that they are believed to have used two of the moulds not used by Revell elsewhere, namely the FW 190A and Bf 109F. The kit numbers for these two were presumably allocated locally. All other numbers were the same as used by Revell in other countries but lacked the usual H-prefix.

Artwork etc. was similar to that used in Germany but Congost in some cases provided new decal sheets; e.g. the He 115 came with a selection of Luftwaffe, RAF and Norwegian markings.

Congost is no longer involved with Revell, the Spanish market now coming under the German factory.

FROG model aircraft 1932-1976, R. Lines, L. Hellstrom