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
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