Airframes
Benevolens Magister
I've just seen today's e-mail news letter from Model Zone, which includes brief details of the 'new' Hasegawa Sopwith Camel, in 1/16th scale.
Now, I remember Hasegawa releasing large scale kits of the Camel, and the Fokker DR1 Triplane, roughly 30 years ago, as limited edition, 'Museum quality' kits. However, I seem to recall that these were constructed from wood, metal, plastic and fabric and were in an even larger scale, and fairly expensive, although very impressive.
This apparently 'new' kit is described as being plastic, with the very brief advert only showing three-view drawings of an uncovered aircraft, all the fuselage and wing frames being visible.
With this large scale, one would expect a large model, but, the Camel, being a relatively small aircraft, the model scales out with a wing span of only 21 inches (53 cm). It is available only to pre-order (in the UK only at Model Zone) at £169.99, and Model Zone state that the price at time of ordering will be fixed, regardless of any price increase which may occur between order date and their receiving stock, which will be limited.
At the price shown, high though it is, I doubt if these are versions of their earlier, costly masterpieces, in plastic rather than wood etc, so I'm going to dig through old modelling magazines to find original ads for the earlier kits, to check on the scale.
Regardless of cost, it's likely that these kits will find a home with those who's interest lies in WW1 aircraft - and can afford it!
Now, I remember Hasegawa releasing large scale kits of the Camel, and the Fokker DR1 Triplane, roughly 30 years ago, as limited edition, 'Museum quality' kits. However, I seem to recall that these were constructed from wood, metal, plastic and fabric and were in an even larger scale, and fairly expensive, although very impressive.
This apparently 'new' kit is described as being plastic, with the very brief advert only showing three-view drawings of an uncovered aircraft, all the fuselage and wing frames being visible.
With this large scale, one would expect a large model, but, the Camel, being a relatively small aircraft, the model scales out with a wing span of only 21 inches (53 cm). It is available only to pre-order (in the UK only at Model Zone) at £169.99, and Model Zone state that the price at time of ordering will be fixed, regardless of any price increase which may occur between order date and their receiving stock, which will be limited.
At the price shown, high though it is, I doubt if these are versions of their earlier, costly masterpieces, in plastic rather than wood etc, so I'm going to dig through old modelling magazines to find original ads for the earlier kits, to check on the scale.
Regardless of cost, it's likely that these kits will find a home with those who's interest lies in WW1 aircraft - and can afford it!
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