NEW AND IN VIEW
FROG BUCCANEER S2
The Buccaneer, still one of the most potent Strike aircraft, has not been well represented in the modelling world, apart from a now ageing version from Airfix which is most difficult to convert into the current S2 version.
Tamiya have released a most excellent version of the S2 in 1/100 scale which will be appearing in UK in the near future, but our local shop suddenly and unexpectedly received a supply of the Frog 1/72 Buccaneer S2 kits. As with other recent Frog releases, this is only good in parts. The general outline and dimensions are acceptably within scale limits, and the detail quite good, but considering this kit sells over the 50p mark there is no cockpit detail apart from seats and the usual horrid Frog crew.
The air intakes are incorrect and misplaced and it seems an unlikely proposition to try to correct them. The complex fin and rudder shape has not been very well done, and many parts are a poor fit necessitating much filling and loss of detail. The overall impression is that this kit was designed some years ago when the art was far from present standards. Frog have had a most difficult period and modellers are very glad that the marque still survives, but unless there is much improvement in future offerings, Frog could follow many other makes into obscurity. We would like miracles, but appreciate the problems , so all we ask are some signs of real improvement. Decals are up to Frogs usual very good standard and provide both RAF and SAAF markings.
A.M.L.K.
The IPMS magazine, AUGUST, 1972. Vol. 9 No. 8
Model Enthusiast
W.R. Mathews
Stormy petrel and pirate
The latest pair from Frog to l/72nd scale provide interesting contrast, comprising yet another kit of that somewhat angular Stormy Petrel (or Sturmvogel), the Messer-schmitt Me 262, and a kit of that bulbously curvacious pirate, the Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer S Mk 2. Although perhaps not to be dismissed out of hand as a reasonably competent kit offering little or no improvement over the many kits of this epoch-marking WW II warplane already available, Frog's Me 262 leaves us with the distinct impression of a kit consciously designed down to a price. It is generally accurate in outline apart from the turbojet nacelles, the forward portions of which taper too sharply, and detail is fairly well handled, but the fit of the component parts. . . ! Of late there have been many Frog kits that suffer poor component fit, some of them very poor indeed, and the Me 262 may be included among this company's least adequate offerings from this aspect. There are immense gaps along the joints of the wing sections, and the fit of the fuselage and engine nacelles to the wings is extremely poor. The wing section itself is decidedly odd! All in all, we feel sure that Frog can do better than this. A saving grace is perhaps the decal sheet which is excellent, providing markings for an Me 262A-la of 3./JG 7 and for an Me 262A-2a of I/KG 51, and the colour scheme drawing included in the box art is very good indeed, but we would have preferred to see a better-quality, more carefully-manufactured kit at a marginally higher price.
Whereas another Me 262 kit will undoubtedly be considered superfluous by many modellers, a Buccaneer S Mk 2 kit, despite its faults, is very welcome indeed, for nobody could suggest that there is a surfeit of kits of the latter. Faults Frog's Buccaneer kit certainly has a plenty, but it also possesses its virtues. It is accurate in outline and what little surface detail there is — and there is little surface detail on the Buccaneer as anyone that has inspected the full-scale aeroplane will testify — is neatly reproduced. Cockpit detail is spartan, but the all-drawing style instruction sheet is satisfactory. Wisely, it indicates the distribution of weight necessary to ensure that the model sits correctly on its undercarriage. The least said about component fit the better. It suffices to say that once we had overcome the problem of getting the tail halves to fit correctly we were left with ugly gaps around their joints, and similar gaps were all too apparent at the base of the fin and at the points where the wing outer sections join the centre section. This is also a "see-thru" model, there being no bulkhead of any sort in the engine nacelles, an undesirable feature thought to have become as extinct as the Dodo. The canopy, incidentally, is slightly too wide at its aft end, and quite a few choice expletives accompanied the task of getting this to fit properly. Frog is to be commended on its enterprise in adding this aircraft type to its range, but we deprecate the slipshod manufacturing standards that it displays.
Air Enthusiast 1972-10 vol.03 no.04
Model Enthusiast
W.R. Mathews
Stormy petrel and pirate
The latest pair from Frog to l/72nd scale provide interesting contrast, comprising yet another kit of that somewhat angular Stormy Petrel (or Sturmvogel), the Messerschmitt Me 262, and a kit of that bulbously curvacious pirate, the Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer S Mk 2. Although perhaps not to be dismissed out of hand as a reasonably competent kit offering little or no improvement over the many kits of this epoch-marking WW II warplane already available, Frog's Me 262 leaves us with the distinct impression of a kit consciously designed down to a price. It is generally accurate in outline apart from the turbojet nacelles, the forward portions of which taper too sharply, and detail is fairly well handled, but the fit of the component parts. . . ! Of late there have been many Frog kits that suffer poor component fit, some of them very poor indeed, and the Me 262 may be included among this company's least adequate offerings from this aspect. There are immense gaps along the joints of the wing sections, and the fit of the fuselage and engine nacelles to the wings is extremely poor. The wing section itself is decidedly odd! All in all, we feel sure that Frog can do better than this. A saving grace is perhaps the decal sheet which is excellent, providing markings for an Me 262A-la of 3./JG 7 and for an Me 262A-2a of I/KG 51, and the colour scheme drawing included in the box art is very good indeed, but we would have preferred to see a better-quality, more carefully-manufactured kit at a marginally higher price.
Whereas another Me 262 kit will undoubtedly be considered superfluous by many modellers, a Buccaneer S Mk 2 kit, despite its faults, is very welcome indeed, for nobody could suggest that there is a surfeit of kits of the latter. Faults Frog's Buccaneer kit certainly has a plenty, but it also possesses its virtues. It is accurate in outline and what little surface detail there is — and there is little surface detail on the Buccaneer as anyone that has inspected the full-scale aeroplane will testify — is neatly reproduced. Cockpit detail is spartan, but the all-drawing style instruction sheet is satisfactory. Wisely, it indicates the distribution of weight necessary to ensure that the model sits correctly on its undercarriage. The least said about component fit the better. It suffices to say that once we had overcome the problem of getting the tail halves to fit correctly we were left with ugly gaps around their joints, and similar gaps were all too apparent at the base of the fin and at the points where the wing outer sections join the centre section. This is also a "see-thru" model, there being no bulkhead of any sort in the engine nacelles, an undesirable feature thought to have become as extinct as the Dodo. The canopy, incidentally, is slightly too wide at its aft end, and quite a few choice expletives accompanied the task of getting this to fit properly. Frog is to be commended on its enterprise in adding this aircraft type to its range, but we deprecate the slipshod manufacturing standards that it displays.
Air Enthusiast 1972-10 vol.03 no.04
KIT COMMENT
WHY NO NAVY MARKINGS?
FROG BUCCANEER KIT LEAVES OUT FLEET AIR ARM INSIGNIA
THE recently released kit of the Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer S.2 takes top marks for quality and accuracy but much to our disappointment the manufacturers have not included Royal Navy markings in the decal sheet. It is accepted that the model trade is international and depends on exports for its profits but surely one of the best known aircraft still in the Navy's fast dwindling fixed-wing inventory is the Buccaneer*
One would expect that Frog thought about this omission long before the kit was put into production. It is therefore safe to assume that the decal sheet was planned many months ago at about the same time as the RAF Buccaneer entered squadron service. There will surely be many Royal Navy enthusiasts who will be upset by the missing Fleet Air Arm insignia. Due to the complications of hand painting or looking in the spares box for alternatives they will be unable to find anything suitable for the light blue markings on the fuselage sides.
Instead Frog have included decals for a Buccaneer S.Mk.50 of No.24 Squadron South African Air Force — the only other country flying the type. The RAF markings are for an aircraft of No 12 Squadron RAF based at Honington.
ACCURATE MOULDINGS
Apart from the critisism of the markings we found little else to fault on this kit. As far as accuracy is concerned it is first rate and the parts fit well together. There is the slight problem that no blanking off panels or interior detail is provided inside the fuselage and one can see straight through the jet intakes to the orifices but this can be am-mended by simply adding a piece of plasticard to finish off the job.
One would have thought that blanking off panels were a simple matter to do and no doubt the manufacturer could have added some form of panel inside the fuselage to prevent this see-through. Although a blanking panel will help, the very obvious omission of the turbine blade details will not please the super-detail addict — and these are difficult to make from scrap. On the other hand one must accept that the question of cost always comes into the production of a model and that to keep the price down there sometimes have to be small sacrifices.
The version of the Buccaneer modelled is to Mk.2B standards with additional wing racks and the under fuselage fuel tank in part of the bomb bay. There are also other internal modifications but these should not concern the model maker. Conversion to the later variant should therefore be easy and one could always add the Royal Navy's long-range wing tanks if an attempt is made to complete the model in that type of configuration.
CONSTRUCTION DETAILS
The fuselage of the Buccaneer model is split horizontally. This means that although the sometimes-difficult-to-clean-up joint line along the top of the fuselage is missing, a similar and perhaps more difficult problem presents itself when considering the method used in this case. We found that both the fuselage, radome joint line and the area at the base of the fin and rudder needed a fair amount of body putty and lots of careful rubbing down before acceptable standards were achieved. The nose needs weighing with lead and plasticine and this can conveniently be housed in the confines of the radome.
Surface detail on the model is excellent and we liked the way in which both sides of the main wheels were considered. These differ from side to side but the instruction sheet leaves one guessing as to which side is the inner or outer.
Four Martel missiles are provided, though the photograph on the front page of the last issue of Aviation News will show an alternative war load in 12 x 1,000 lb. bombs. The tail hook, deck bumper and pitot head parts are nicely detailed and fit well. Alternative parts are provided for placing the undercarriage in either the up or down position. The cockpit lacks detail in that the dividing section between the front and rear seats with its small windscreen is missing but this can always be added by the modeller keen on detail. We also found that in fixing the outer wing sections a bad gap shows up which needs filling with bodv outtv before painting.
When one looks at this model, all the signs, such as the break in the wings and the variant produced, suggest that Frog originally thought that they might have produced the Navy aircraft. It is a good kit which has in our opinion 'missed the boat'!. Perhaps one of our more enterprising decal manufacturers will come up with a set of Royal Navy markings to keep the enthusiasts happy. In the meantime our selection of drawings on this page may go part of the way to showing what Frog might have done.
Aviation News Vol 1 Num 8 1 - 14 September 1972
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