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| Revell 1/48 Tornado F.3 ADV (03925); In -Box review | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Sep 30 2017, 09:10 PM (1,528 Views) | |
| DH764 | Sep 30 2017, 09:10 PM Post #1 |
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The Mighty Fin
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![]() ![]() Revell 1/48 Tornado F.3 ADV Heres the In box review of THE kit ive been waiting for Revell to issue for nearly 3 years so I will try not to be too biased as it is my favourite version of my favourite aircraft The Tornado F3 ADV (Air Defence Variant) served the RAF , Saudi and Italian Air Forces and in my opinion is the better looking of the Tornado family Just like the real thing , this kit shares parts with the previous Revell Tornado IDS and GR4 and therefore shares some sprue gates with the former. So whats in the box ..... First off the box with that lovely artwork and the new style instruction sheets ....better quality paper than in the GR4 kit ![]() The kit itself is made up from 297 parts , is a level 5 (the highest skill level) and the finished kit is 385mm long and span is 286mm (wings forward). Inside the box are no less than 16 sets of sprue ....this is going to be , just like the IDS and GR4 a very detailed build. Sprues A , B , C , D , E , F , H , M and P are to be found in the IDS/GR4 kits Sprue A 20170929_193439 by Andrew Walkef, on FlickrSprue B 20170929_193621 by Andrew Walkef, on FlickrSprue C 20170929_193652 by Andrew Walkef, on FlickrSprue D (2 sets) 20170929_193931 by Andrew Walkef, on FlickrSprue E (2 sets) 20170929_194051 by Andrew Walkef, on FlickrSprue F Clear parts 20170929_200937 by Andrew Walkef, on FlickrI do wish that Revell ( and other kit producers) would follow the excellent example set by Trumpeter/Hobbyboss in the way they wrap their clear parts in thin foam to protect the canopies from scratches. As you can see....the canopy has a few marks on it caused by rubbing against other parts. It isnt exactly the clearest part too....with the canopy closed the view inside will be slightly distorted. Sprue H (2 sets) The famous 2250 Litre fuel tanks often known as "Hindenburgers" or "Big Jugs" 20170929_200321 by Andrew Walkef, on FlickrSprue M The inner wing pylons and 27mm Mauser canon port ( which by coincidence is part number 27 !! ) 20170929_200806 by Andrew Walkef, on Flickr 20170929_200834 by Andrew Walkef, on FlickrSprue P 20170929_195452 by Andrew Walkef, on FlickrThis sprue has only one part that , according to Revell instructions , is of any use ...part 248 .....top right corner ! This is a gun port cover which is not needed on this kit as the F.3 does indeed have a cannon , yet for some reason in Stage 13 of the instructions it gives you the option to use it to blank the canon bay ......ALL F.3 had a single 27mm Mauser cannon. If this was the ECR verison of the Tornado then you would use that part as the ECR has no canon fitted. To sum up...sprue P is really for the spares Thes following are the sprues that are unique to the F3 Sprue I (2 sets) 20170929_200446 by Andrew Walkef, on FlickrThis includes parts to make up the long range missile armament of the early to mid service Tornado F3 ....the BAe Skyflash AAM. These are carried semi-recessed under the fuselage of the F3 Tornado ...it was to accommodate the Skyflash that the Tornado needed lengthening, Each missile is made up from 6 parts and this is where this kit differs from all other F3 kits in any scale. On previous F3 kits the missile was moulded with only three sets of fins and the missile was then glued onto the fuselage........on this kit (as you will see when we look at sprue S later ) the missiles fins are located into slots in the fuselage which is how the real missiles where carried. Detail on the parts is very good .....the fins having the distinctive angled profiles. Very good ....certainly the best Skyflash ive seen in this scale at least ![]() Also on this sprue are the faces of the flare dispensors....another thing Ill talk about when we look at Sprue S . Sprue R 20170929_195559 by Andrew Walkef, on FlickrHere we have the longer nose sections and rear fuselage plug for the F3. These parts look great ....shape of the nose looks spot on thankfully , although it looks like Ill have to wait until building before I can see that distinctive "pinch" where the square fuselage meets the circular nose Also on the sprue are the two part horizontal stabilizers or Tailerons , as they are known on a Tornado. Even though these are "new" bits there appears to be a slight amount of flash that will require a few quick swipes of your sanding stick to clean up......seems to be a common occurence on recent Revell issues. The most important part on this sprue is part No 242....a part of the rear console display unit........ 20170929_195621 by Andrew Walkef, on Flickr The biggest let down of ANY past or previous Tornado F3 kit , in ANY scale has been the rear cockpit console ......they are ALL wrong for a standard Tornado F3 ADV. Some like the Airfix kit have the IDS/GR rear cockpit displays and others , at best , the F3.T set up (twin stick trainer cockpit). The great news here is that we have , to my knowledge , the very first mainstream Tornado F.3 kit with the correct rear cockpit display modules for a standard F3 Tornado Thank you Revell Sprue S 20170929_195742 by Andrew Walkef, on FlickrThe main part on Sprue S is the lower fuselage part that includes the recesses and fin cut out slots for the Skyflash missiles. Lovely detail and finely recessed panel lines ....great job Revell......but theres something I dont quite understand. Heres a view of the rear lower fuselage ..... 20170929_195854 by Andrew Walkef, on Flickr.....for some reason Revell have chosen to have the Vinten Flare dispensers moulded integrally to the fuselage !! Not a massive problem but these were not carried on the aircraft all the time , they are removable and these were fitted to post Gulf War 1 Tornado F3......there is an early Flare dispenser with pods that are angled outwards that was fitted to early service F3 Tornado. Maybe me just being a bit picky but if you want to remove them then some plastic card and filler will be required. Also on the sprue is the new top spine section ( again with a bit of flash ), the larger wing nibs , longer engine afterburning section and nose wheel doors that are different in shape/length to the GR /IDS version. Instructions The instruction sheet is in the newer style and has diagrams actually better printed than even the recent GR4 instruction sheet. Construction is over 89 stages ......stages 90-92a cover the decal placements. Colour callouts are the usual Revell way of having the builder mix paints for colours that are already supplied as a named colour by other paint manufacturors !! I cant understand why Revell themselves dont add new colours to their paint range instead of having the builder trying to work out the corret colour for the subject being built. In this case its Barley Grey (now called Camouflage Grey) upper parts of aircraft and Light Aircraft Grey for the lower. Decal options Two decal options included which are both Special Anniversary schemes , which is not to everyone's taste but there are plenty of aftermarket sheets available and im sure some new ones will appear soon enough Option A Tornado F.3 No.111 Sqn , RAF Leuchars (Revell think RAF Leuchars is in England ....ooops !! .....its in Scotland ) 2002 received_1950517885208382 by Andrew Walkef, on FlickrOption B Tornado F.3 No.23 Sqn , RAF Leeming , 1990 received_1950517948541709 by Andrew Walkef, on FlickrThe decals are beautifully printed , are in register and have the correct colours . 20170930_064805 by Andrew Walkef, on FlickrConclusion This is THE best Tornado F3 in ANY scale ....it has corrected so many wrongs that are present in other Tornado F3 kits....wrong shapes , wrong cockpits etc. Revell have just about ( those attached flare packs annoy me a little ) got this spot on !!! Thank you Revell for finally giving us a proper Tornado F3 kit ......now can you please do one in 1/72 and 1/32 !! 100% recommended for Tonka lovers of all ages Thanks to Revell for the review sample ![]() Cheers Andy Revell model kits are available from all good toy and model retailers. For details visit: Revell Website Revell Facebook Edited by Johni044, Oct 13 2017, 06:09 AM.
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| Mark M | Sep 30 2017, 09:25 PM Post #2 |
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Mark M
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FAB review, i better go buy one or 10 |
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| jacksdad64 | Sep 30 2017, 09:31 PM Post #3 |
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Aikidoka
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Fantastic review Andy. And a nice honest opinion from a known Flick-knife fanatic. Steve |
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| Johni044 | Oct 1 2017, 01:23 PM Post #4 |
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John
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Great review Andy, you’ve been waiting for this for ages. Is it built yet? |
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| thomasweir | Oct 1 2017, 06:32 PM Post #5 |
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Advanced Member
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Good review Andy. It will be on my shopping list at SMW. |
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| Martin | Oct 1 2017, 07:21 PM Post #6 |
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Advanced Member
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Great review. 1:48 is OK, hope there will be in 1:32 too. Then I must have one
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| CPNGROATS | Oct 2 2017, 01:05 AM Post #7 |
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Advanced Member
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Andy, excellent review, obvious that you know your Tonka's.... Cheers, ggc |
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| Mark M | Nov 29 2017, 07:42 PM Post #8 |
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Mark M
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aslo be aware the decals are wrong for the missiles, the red band should be brown, ive double checked and red hasnt been used since ww2 Brown signifies a live rocket motor |
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