Scale: 1/72 - about 10"/ 25.5 cm long when complete

Parts: 16 tan resin, including 2-part stand

Instructions: 2 pages with paint guide and parts list

Decals: Dry-transfer markings

Molding Quality: 8 - some flash but no pits or voids

Detail: 8 - the prototype didn't have much, but what it did appears to be replicated well on the model

Accuracy: 9 - looks spot-on to me

MSRP: $55.00 US available from HobbyFan

Overall Rating: 7 - nice kit of unique subject, but on the expensive side for what you get.

What You Get

The bulk of the parts are attached to what looks exactly like a sprue tree one would find in a plastic kit, instead of the normal thick runners one would expect. A waste of resin, if you ask me, but it does serve to protect the parts from damage so I'm not omplaining overly much. The parts are cleanly cast, though most have a small mold seam that will need a few passes from the sanding stick. There are no pits, voids or other visible surface flaws.

Instructions are printed on one side of a letter-sized piece of paper. The sheet also includes a parts list/diagram and painting instructions. The exploded view assembly guide is augmented by clear and concise text - it's actually very well done, especially considering the simplicity of the model. The paint guide is similiarly clear and concise. Paints are listed by generic name; no one manufacturer's line is specified, though judging by the paint names I'd think the person who wrote this was looking at Testor's Model Master bottles.

Markings for the model and the base are provided on a small sheet of dry transfers. The colors are vivid and the images perfectly registered.

Assembly should be a no brainer, especially with the excellent instructions as a guide. The sheet suggest one paint the parts first, and that's probbly a good idea, since some areas will be difficult to do after everything is glued in place. The pieces I have dry fit appear as if they'll fit well, with little seam work required.

This is a neat little kit of a unique subject. Even a novice should be able to have it built and painted over the course of a weekend - if not in an afternoon. Due to the simplicity of assembly and quality of the parts, it's a kit I can recommend to anyone who wants to give resin a try.

The only drawback I can see is the price - it's steep for the amount of resin in the box. It's understandable - a low volume, limited run kit from a garage manufacturer is going to be tend to be pricey. If you have the means and the interest, however, it's well worth picking up (especially since you'll probably never have the chance again). To my knowledge, the kit is only available from Hobbyfan.com -- who are quick to point out that it is an original, and not a recast.