Modelling world
by James Goulding
New Frog kits
North American F-100D Super Sabre
THREE new Frog releases, all originating from Hasegawa, are now available—the North American RA-5C Vigilante, the Hawker Harrier GR1, and the North American F-100D Super Sabre.
The Super Sabre has strangely been neglected in 1/72 scale, for it has been one of the most important combat aircraft in the world for a great many years. Possibly because it has been considered one of the earlier types of supersonic fighter most manufacturers have bypassed it, but now the needs of the 1 /72 enthusiast have been catered for by Hasegawa and Frog. This is a truly superb kit of this good-looking fighter, which really captures the character of the subject. Moulding is again excellent. The amount of detail is impressive, and it is pleasing to see such items as the "dishings" on the inside of doors and air brakes reproduced. These are now a regular feature of Hasegawa kits.
There is a great assortment of underwing stores, which include four Sidewinders, four underwing tanks, two Bullpups, and a recce pod. There is also a flight-refuelling probe. Hasegawa is a great believer in Christmas trees!
The transfers are for an F-100 of 727 Squadron, Tactical Command, Royal Danish Air Force, and another from 11U Escadre de Chasse, 7er CATac, Armee de L'air.
If you want to produce an American version, there is, of course, the magnificent new transfer sheet from Modeldecal, obtainable from Model Toys of Portsmouth, for use with this particular kit. This is Modeldecal Sheet No 3.
The price of this kit is 8s 6d.
AIRCRAFT Illustrated, May 1970
NEW KITS AND MODELS
NEW BY FROG
TWO more Frog releases in 1:72 scale are issued from original Japanese Hasagawa scries moulds, and these are for the Harrier and the long awaited F-100D Super Sabre. The Harrier, of course, duplicates the recent Airfix model, but at 8s 6d has little to justify its being twice the price of the Airfix model other than a much better and more detailed transfer sheet (for two alternative Transatlantic Air Race machines) and a slightly more complex break-down of the fuselage parts. For instance, some small fittings which are moulded integrally with the Airfix fuselage are separate items in the Frog kit. The airbrake can also be opened or closed, while in the Airfix model it is fixed in position. It's an excellent model, despite the price, however.
The F-100D, also at 8s 6d, is a better proposition at the price in our view. It's beautifully moulded, has optional ordnance loads and is actually a good deal more simple to assemble than the Harrier, with all parts clicking into place with an excellent fit. Two alternative sets of markings, for a French or a Danish machine, are provided, and these too are excellent. One reader has already written in to point out that the silver Danish machine depicted has been painted in the new camouflage scheme since early 1969, though this is really an academic point since it makes no difference to the markings and colour scheme provided. Jones Bros of Chiswick supplied our samples and can supply by post, postage 1s 6d extra on each.
C.O.E.
Airfix Magazine, May 1970, Vol.11, No.09
NEW TO YOU?
Round-up of new items conducted by Bob Jones of I.P.M.S.
Originally a HASEGAWA kit, now re-issued in this country by FROG, The NORTH AMERICAN SUPER SABRE F100D is a welcome addition to any 1 / 72nd scale aircraft collection.
Our review sample was flash-free and the parts fitted together very well and require little, if any, filling on joints. Surface detail is exceptionally fine and the smaller parts are well detailed.
There are a couple of minor faults, though. The aileron flow straighteners as supplied in the kit are undersized and should be replaced with strips of Polycard, also the chord of the wing near the tip was found to be slightly undersized, when checking reliable sources.
There is a choice of markings supplied in the kit for either a French or Danish Air Force machine. The sheet also includes various stencilling and warning signs and is up to the usual high standard expected of FROG. We chose to decorate our review model with some of the new model decal sheets, which considerably enhance the model's appearance.
It is advised to pack some ballast in the nose before completing the kit, otherwise the model will not 'sit' on its tricycle undercarriage.
The 8/6d. asked for this kit is not expensive in the least, for the quality makes it worth twice that figure.
Scale Models No.11 1970 AUGUST Vol.1 No.11
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