Being a fan of colourful schemes and Revell of Germany’s kits François & Nic took on their latest new tool 72nd scale Red Arrows kit – See how this little display aircraft goes together in their build review…
Build Review: Bae Hawk T.1 Red Arrows
From: Revell of Germany.
Kit n°: 04921
1/72nd scale
Kit Type: injection moulded
Sprues: 3 styrene + 1 clear
Part count: 70
Instructions Download
Product Link
Instructions Download
Product Link
I like Revell. I do. I like many of the new tooled kits they bring – although of course more newly tooled kits would better, and some of the vintage models that they have re-boxed, and some of those aren’t so much to my liking nowadays. One thing I didn’t like were the instructions: the black and white drawings, the “if looks about the same as the aircraft, it’s good enough” and the profiles which have a pre-computer age feeling…. Not a good start to the review – BUT…
But look here: the most recent releases of the company have introduced a new look and feel of the boxes and instructions. So, there you have it: Revell is now going for the full package with improved instructions, good kits at the best possible prices. Let’s start building one of the newest kits in the catalogue that will cost you only a couple of Dollars, Euro or Pounds: the BAE Hawk T.1.
And the marking choices - incredibly similar to each other aren't they?
A few years ago, Revell released a great looking Hawk in 1/32 scale. I found it to be a treat: a 1/32 scale kit, fine surface detail, several options and at a price that very few kits in this scale have. It surprised many modellers and builds into a very impressive kit. Well, this new 1/72 Hawk is equally impressive: very nice surface detail, rivets that are nicely reproduced, decals to make any of the Reds.
The box has a new design – it’s black, brings more info on the back and show modellers in a simple way, the colours that are needed to build the kit. For this Hawk, only six colours are needed, so no need to break the bank. The boxart is very dynamic, on the back of the box, some photos show what the kit looks like when finished. Inside you’ll find three sprues of red plastic, one clear sprue and an instruction manual in colour. Yes, sir! The instructions have a good layout; you can actually recognise the parts on them and the paints to be used are clearly indicated. This really is a significant improvement from Revell, well done to them on this.
On to the kit now. It’s a small kit, true, but the details are impressive. Here’s a look at the cockpit tub. Noticed the panel lines and rivets on the wing? Not bad in such a tiny scale, me thinks.
I’m not a fan of the red plastic, but then again, you need to prime the kit anyway, so we’ll do with it, right? Here’s a close-up of some of the parts. As good as no flash on this kit, so you can get started right away.
Let’s start with a test-fit: the fuselage halves and the one-piece underside wing fit pretty well.
Everything in this kit is straightforward; Revell made it a very pleasurable and enjoyable kit to build with enough details and no unnecessary complications. The cockpit can be done quite quickly and with good effect. The instruments are provided both moulded and in decals. Why not combine both?
To make sure the kit won’t be a tail sitter, it’s best to place some weight in the nose of the kit. There isn’t much room, but it’s sufficient.
Although tiny, the ejection seats are nicely done as well. Carefully painted, they will be an eye-catcher in the finished model.
The second night into the build and the fuselage can be closed up. This is an easy build, perfect for those modellers who are working on a big project and want to finish a nice kit in between. Here is the kit with a layer of primer, ready for the red paint.
The smaller parts got a coat of primer too …
The Red Arrows Hawks are always kept extremely clean and well maintained, so no weathering is necessary here. A few layers of red gloss paint is all that is needed before you can get to the next stage of this build: the decals.
The decals are very nicely printed and slide onto the model without any problem. Again: quality from Revell.
With the decals done, the smaller parts are glued on the Hawk. Here go the ejection seats.
It’s just a matter of about a week’s work and the Red Arrow is ready for flight. The build was quick and a lot of fun!
Quick and nice, what more do you need? It is a great kit for young modellers and a nicely detailed one for the more experienced ones. It’s the kind of kit you can see dads building with their sons, especially now that the instructions are a lot clearer and easier to follow.
I can only hope that more versions of the Hawk will be available soon, there are a lot of attractive liveries. I’ll probably buy them all!
Model built by François Laloux
Text by Nicolas Deboeck
Thanks to Revell of Germany for sending the kit for us to build.
