FROG F284 Lockheed P2V Neptune, Rovex Models&Hobbies Ltd, 1973
KIT COMMENT
ROVEX REVIVAL
JAPANESE IMPORTS NOW STOPPED
THE almost remarkable change in the fortunes of Frog kits marketed in the UK by Rovex Ltd at Margate were echoed by Lord Westwood, chairman of Dunbee-Combex-Marx Ltd, the parent group now responsible for the company, when he opened a new 1,600,000 cu ft warehouse there recently. From a " thumping great loss of £1 million to a substantial profit of £300,000 in 18 months was an achievement second to none" he commented. Speaking at a Press conference later in the day, Mr R. P. Butler, the new managing director, announced policy changes in Frog's link up with the Japanese Hasegawa company whereby many of the Japanese kits are marketed in this country under the Frog label. Similarly Frog kits are available in Japan but due to a 40 per cent increase in the cost of Japanese kits, due to the revaluation of the yen, they will no longer be imported by Frog.
The last of the line will be the Hasegawa Neptune model shortly due for release and then the sole import rights will go to A. A. Hales Ltd of Hinckley, Leicestershire who already import Hasegawa models direct from Japan without reboxing them.
Instead of adding to its line of models by importing kits, Frog will go ahead with many new models of their own manufacture. We announced several of these in our issue after the New Year trade fairs but the company assure us that future production, including a number of reissues of older kits, will be stepped up for 1974/5. The aim is to produce at least one new model a month with the total being as high as 18 in one year if plans now in hand materialise. Naturally no subjects were discussed but from what we heard there will be a number of entirely new aircraft modelled and those that follow kits already in existence from other sources will be made to represent a different mark variant of the aircraft concerned.
Aviation News Vol 2 Num 2 8-21 June 1973
KIT COMMENT
MARITIME MASTERPIECE
Hasegawa Neptune offers choice of colour schemes
IF longevity of service is the yardstick for an aircraft to appear in plastic model form, the Lockheed P2V Neptune was certainly overdue for such treatment. Now, this aesthetically pleasing maritime patrol bomber has been added to the lists of one of the best plastic model manufacturers in the business—Hasegawa of Japan. A neat, simple kit to work with, the 1:72 scale P2V-7 will be a welcome addition to many an enthusiast's showcase and of course, a number of colour schemes are applicable to the aircraft.
Spanning 15 1/2 ins, the Neptune is impressive, both in size and detail and as one of the last kits to be released jointly by Hasegawa and Frog, modellers investing in both Japanese and British versions will get five different sets of markings—RAAF, RNNAS, USN, JMSDF and Aeronavale. As it comes from the box, the model is a good representation of the later version of the aircraft, latterly designated SP-2H, with the characteristic MAD tail 'stinger' and hugh under-fuselage radome. Without resort to conversion work, this gives modellers the choice of Neptunes in the markings of Japan, the Netherlands, the US Navy, Canada or France, which will be enough for most, but those who desire a Brazilian, RAF, Portuguese or Argentine Navy machine are in for a fair amount of work. The latter involves changing the cockpit, armament in some cases and the wingtip radomes, the last being* particularly challenging, due to their unique shape and need for a new perspex tip tank nose cone.
The only alternative parts that come with the kit are a dorsal gun turret and transparent fairing if Unmounting is left off, otherwise, you have a standard P2V-7. Construction is quite straightforward, although the three interlocking tongues on the end of each wing assembly can be a bit of a juggle to align when the fuselage is stuck together. This method does, however, make for a good strong fit.
Small details extend to the searchlight in the front of the starboard wing tank, although this can be improved upon, and the airframe comes with all the 'humps and bumps' associated with the Neptune's overwater search role.
The transparencies are well up to the standard we have come to expect from Hasegawa kits and the intelligent approach to the subtle contours of the engine cowlings and exhaust gills impressed us. When completed, virtually straight from the box—not forgetting to add nose weights—the aircraft looks just right and the modeller can then turn his attention to painting, about which there are a few points worth noting.
Firstly, it is important to gather as much reference as possible on the air arm's colours that a given Neptune bears. The time factor is important, as it is possible to confuse current schemes with outdated ones and in some cases, two distinct schemes are used. In the case of the RNNAS, Neptunes have carried three different schemes over the years—from overall dark green to dark blue and white and the current overall dark grey.
Aircraft of the US Navy probably offer the modeller the greatest interest as far as equipment goes, many fairings and bulges having been fitted, together with removal of the MAD stinger and, in some cases, reinstallation of a tail gun turret.
Some small points on general painting are also worth noting; the kit nose and searchlight transparencies have 'framing' lines although these are perspex joints and not metal strips on the full size aircraft. Although difficult to depict convincingly, these joints can be shown by running thin green paint around them and building up the colour to the desired depth, remembering that they should still remain transparent.
For those who want to do it, the intakes of the underwing jet pods can be opened up, as they come with covers moulded in, although many photographs show these items in place when the machine is on the ground. If they are opened up, a very thin strip of Plasticard needs to be inserted in the front of each unit to represent the vertical division of the intake.
References to Neptunes and their markings can be found in many books and magazines and some of the most useful are: The World's Fighting Planes by William Green, Profile No 204 and various copies of the old Flying Review International and Air Pictorial. No finer colour references will be found than the Japanese monthly Koku-Fan, a recent issue of which had a number of shots of JMSDF Neptunes.
Aviation News Vol 2 Num 12 26 October - 8 November 1973
KIT COMMENT
ROVEX REVIVAL
JAPANESE IMPORTS NOW STOPPED
Speaking at a Press conference later in the day, Mr R. P. Butler, the new managing director, announced policy changes in Frog's link up with the Japanese Hasegawa company whereby many of the Japanese kits are marketed in this country under the Frog label. Similarly Frog kits are available in Japan but due to a 40 per cent increase in the cost of Japanese kits, due to the revaluation of the yen, they will no longer be imported by Frog.
The last of the line will be the Hasegawa Neptune model shortly due for release and then the sole import rights will go to A. A. Hales Ltd of Hinckley, Leicestershire who already import Hasegawa models direct from Japan without reboxing them.
Aviation News Vol 2 Num 2 8-21 June 1973
MODEL ENTHUSIAST
Another Neptune
Our kit reviews in August included Hasegawa's superb Lockheed P-2H Neptune, and much to our surprise we have recently received an identical kit but from Frog! When we say identical we refer to the moulded components only, for the packaging, decals and instruction sheets differ. The moulded parts for the Frog kit have evidently been manufactured in Japan and the accompanying decals, which cover an SP-2H of No 10 Sqdn, RAAF, and a similar aircraft of Nr 320 Sqdn of Holland's Marineluchtvaartdienst, are of good quality, but in so far as the instruction sheet is concerned, that accompanying the Hasegawa kit is excellent whereas that accompanying the Frog version, which is of the usual simplified symbol style, is quite inadequate for a kit of this complexity. Instruction sheets aside, there is nothing to choose between these two 1/72nd scale kits, both are priced at £1.50 in the UK□
F J HENDERSON
Air Enthusiast 1973-11 vol.05 no.05
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Hasegawa JS-082 Lockheed P2V-7 Neptune
ハセガワ 「キングサイズシリーズ」 [JS-082] ロッキード P-2H[P2V-7]ネプチューン に日本海上自衛隊対潜哨戒機
MODEL ENTHUSIAST
Seagoing and shore-based
Two US naval aircraft that have reached us recently are the Grumman Avenger II from Frog and Hasegawa's Lockheed P-2H Neptune (the latter having been received via VHF Supplies) both kits being to 1/72nd scale. The Avenger makes a welcome addition to Frog's steadily expanding line of naval aircraft and while this 47-part kit moulded in medium-grey plastic has no pretentions towards being a super-detailed masterpiece, it builds up into a thoroughly competent miniature reproduction of this shipboard torpedo-bomber. The surface detail, while finely done, is unfortunately of the raised type rather than engraved, and cockpit detail is barely adequate, but the transparencies are excellent, being crystal-clear and featuring raised frame detail to facilitate painting. Engine detail is confined to the inside of the cowl front but is quite effective, and apart from the revolving airscrew and gun turret there are no moving parts, although alternative components are included in the kit enabling the undercarriage to be assembled in either extended or retracted form. The fine moulding of the undercarriage parts is noteworthy. The instruction sheet is functional but adequate and the decal sheet is good—but out of register in the case of our sample copy — and offers markings for two Royal Navy Avengers, both from No 857 Squadron. One represents an aircraft land-based at Macrinanish in 1944 and the other an aircraft operating from HMS « Indomitable with the British Pacific Fleet in the following year. It is a kit well worth having at its UK price of 28p in Frog's Red Series.
The extraordinarily high standard established by Hasegawa is such that when we say that this company's P-2H Neptune maintains this standard we mean that here is a superb rendition indeed; a kit attaining the highest levels of accuracy and detail coupled with surface detail which, in fineness and precision, presents an example to all. The kit comprises some 118 component parts moulded in blue-grey plastic. The undercarriage detail is deserving of the highest praise and could scarcely be bettered, while the engines are so beautifully done that most modellers will be reluctant to cement the cowlings in position and thus hide such extraordinary detail. The airscrews, incidentally, each comprise six parts with separate blades.
Assembly, although quite complex, is not difficult, thanks to the complete and explicit instructional booklet, every stage of assembly being clearly illustrated and described, while 10 photographic views, general and detail, depict important features of the full-scale aircraft to assist the modeller. Fully detailed painting instructions are provided, with top, underside and side elevations of the three aircraft for which decals are provided, these belonging to Japan's Maritime Self-Defence Force, the US Navy and France's Aeronavale. Truly an outstanding addition to Hasegawa's fine range of model kits, the Neptune is good value at the United Kingdom asking price of £1.50.
F J HENDERSON
Air Enthusiast 1973-08 vol.05 no.02
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