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| Italeri's 1/72 scale Short Sunderland Mk.I, the
answer to the vintage stalwart Airfix kit from nearly fifty
(yes, 50!) years ago is now on general sale (October
2012) from most good model shops and web-based retailers. Flying boat scale modelers
and enthusiasts have been anticipating the release of a
replacement to the venerable Airfix offering for as many
years as I have been modeling. So, with it now released, is
it any good?
The answer is a 'Yes',
but.....there are definitely 'issues' with it concerning
important details, and I suppose the main one is the
representation of the exterior hull/wing plating, riveting
and panel lines. There are errors concerning the interior
hull flooring, a mistake on the correct number of portholes,
possibly the props are too short in length and a few others
as well.
Before this review is
perceived to be developing into the usual 'hatchet-job' that
many web-based keyboard 'Master-Builders' seem to enjoy on
the familiar modeling websites nowadays, for this particular
kit review I'm going to let a number of them speak for
themselves. Having carried out a 'sweep' of the reviews and
build threads contained within the more serious and
informative webzines I'm providing links to each of them so
that the 'armchair purchaser'` can follow the individual
threads as they build the kit and ultimately, make their own
mind up.
I haven't as yet actually
seen this kit first-hand yet, so I am following events as
they unfold on the individual sites, just like you - I do
intend to purchase one at some point - but, speaking
personally, I'm holding off to see what the end results of
these builds will be; I suspect that the kit will be bought
and purchased this coming Christmas much as the Airfix one
was all those years ago, however, with my 'modeling
technical head' nowadays gained over 40+ years of continuous
scale plastic modeling, I am concerned enough that the
exterior panel lines/rivet detail will spoil any scale model
effect at 1/72 scale and turn the kit into a large 'Die-Cast
Metal' looking model.
My excuse for this, as
usual, is the benefit of waiting until the 'dust settles
down' is that it will give the after-market companies
the chance to develop their skills around 'fixes' that
become overwhelming for the more discerning Sunderland
modeler, more decal choices and who knows, even replacement
resin parts to correct known errors, convert the kit to
different airframes and provide yet more internal details.
So, I - like you - am
following these modeling website threads:............ |
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| Each one of
the build threads or product reviews contained within the
above individual sites, each one recognised as being a
'serious' place of modeling excellence, will guide you in
the ways and wherefore's appertaining to getting the best
out of Italeri's new Sunderland kit and are recommended by
SEAWINGS as worth following as the build's progress.
Remember, there is a wealth of
Sunderland information contained within this website
including photographic walk-rounds, airframe manuals and
contemporary images, and if you cannot find what you are
looking for then email SEAWINGS who will see if he
has it in his archive for you! |
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| So, here we have it; from all
that I have read in the above reviews and builds so far, and the
wise-words from the really knowledgeable 'experten' appertaining
to the actual Sunderland, I have to say that whilst I'm pleased
that a mainstream model kit manufacturer has decided to invest
the massive costs that manufacturing a 1/72 scale kit of this
size bring, a not-so-small undertaking in this day and age, I am
extremely disappointed that the 'external artiste's' charged
with reproducing the external hull and wing plating got it so
damn wrong. That, and a bunch of issues within the interior.
After-all, it isn't that there are no survivors to go and have a
close-up view of, is there.....?
So, MPM, can you or anyone else,
do better? |
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| ABOVE: the
finish options as noted in the Italeri Press release. The
4th subject down has been erroneously noted as 'Bathurst,
Australia' whereas in actual fact this flying boat base was
located in Gambia, West Africa. I know, I've been there! I
suppose the only thing that surprises me with this selection
is that there are no all-silver schemes from the immediate
pre-war era. However, my guess is that when this kit is
finally released the after-market decal manufacturers will
have a 'field-day' and produce all-sorts of colourful
schemes for it. Well, that's what I'm hoping for, anyway.
Finally, there is also a
Sunderland in 1/72 due from MPM in due course, and how good
that one is, and whether is better or worse than this
example, remains to be seen.
What one can say is that
right now, flying boat modelers in 1/72 scale have never had
it so good! |
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