Part 3.
To conclude this brief review, below are some comparisons between the 1968 'Inpact' kit, and the 2002 'Roden' kit, the latter still being current, along with other versions released in 2003 and later.
Current average UK retail price of the 'Roden' kit illustrated is around £29 new, with an average price of around £19 to £21 for a 'pre-owned' example from used kit dealers, and maybe a bit less via e-bay.
The original, 1968 retail price shown on my example of the 'Inpact' kit was '8/6' - that's 8 Shillings and Sixpence, or approximately 85 Pence in current UK currency. Allowing for inflation and price index over the past 52 years, this equates to approximately £14.50 in 2020.
Prices via used kit dealers for the original 'Inpact' release are around £14, with many of these being from stock clearance or collectors, and still sealed in the bags within the box (as mine was), whilst the Lindbergh, Pyro, Lifelike and Merit boxings often tend to be slightly lower in price from the same outlets, and even lower on e-bay bidding.
Comparing the two kits, and allowing for the fact that the' Inpact' kit is now 52 years old, there's not actually that much in it, with both kits having their good and not so good points ( I haven't noticed any 'bad' points in either kit).
The 'Inpact' kit can be built OOB and produce a very acceptable model and, with a little modification and scratch-building, I believe a very good model indeed can result. Some of those areas simplified, such as the wings and struts construction,, should allow an easier, less complex assembly sequence, with the advantage of being able to fit the outer sections of the upper wing
after fitting the centre section and cabane struts, if desired.
With indentations in the surface where the rigging is attached, and with the 'Invisible' thread provided in the kit, rigging the model should, in theory at least, be a little easier, and the 'Inpact' instruction sheet includes a rigging diagram, together with a written guide, in stages on how to rig the model, including the length of thread to use, and the suggestion of 'drilling through' the rigging point holes.
The pics and captions below should give a reasonable overall impression of the 'Inpact' kit and the comparison between it and the much later 'Roden' offering, and I believe that , putting aside such things a the multi-choice decal options of the 'Roden' kit, the 'Inpact' kit, and to a slightly lesser extent (due to the current age of the moulds etc) the Lindbergh, Pyro etc boxings, provide a very worthy alternative to the 'Roden' kits, and at a lower price. (Note that Lindbergh also offer this kit as a Mk.II, with the 3-blade Fairey - Reed prop, so another alternative to the 'Roden' Mk.II kits).
EDIT:- The 1968 to 2020 price comparisons shown above are incorrect. They should read as - 8 Shillings and sixpence equates to 42 pence, or approximately £7.25 at today's prices.
Pic 1. The boxes of the two kits compared here.
Pic 2. Starboard fuselage halves, with the 'Inpact' part at top.
Pic 3. The 'Roden' kit has the external, ribbed oil cooler moulded integrally with the fuselage half, whereas the 'Inpact' kit provides a separate part for this.
Pics 4 and 5. 'Roden' main engine parts. Further parts are added, including individual exhaust pipes, and the intake 'trumpets', to provide a completed engine assembly, which is then fitted to the forward bulkhead.
Pic 6. The 'Inpact' engine. Simplified, with just the prop shaft to fit, and the engine fitting directly to the front of the assembled fuselage. No intake 'trumpets' are provided, although the exhausts are mouded integrally with the cowling. Extra detail can easily be scratch - built if desired.
Pic 7. The 'Roden' cowling is moulded in three separate sections for some reason, maybe to aid in aligning the individual exhaust pipes, and there are no 'cut outs' for the fuselage machine guns, which would need to be cut or filed into the inner cowl edges in the appropriate locations. Surface detail, although adequate, appears rather 'soft' compared to the real aircraft.
Pic 8. The one-piece 'Inpact' cowling includes the gun 'cut-outs', and although the surface detail may look rather 'heavy', it compares well with the actual aircraft. The 'moulded in' exhaust pipes can be seen inside the cowling - quite an advanced feature for 1968.
Pic 9. Comparison of lower wing surface detail, with the 'Roden' wing at top. Note the rigging locating points on the 'Inpact' wing. All control surfaces on the 'Inpact' kit are moulded in place, whereas the 'Roden' kit has separate parts for each control surface.
Pic 10. Roden seat at left, 'Inpact' at right. Neither are anywhere near accurate, with the 'Inpact' example designed to be used with the four-part pilot figure provided. Although both could fairly easily be modified to the correct shape, with the seat pan recess and cut-out in the back, there is a nice resin seat available, at a reasonable price, from Aires.
Note also that there are various other aftermarket parts available, such as engines, seats, control surfaces, wheels etc, designed for use with he 'Roden', 'Merit' and 'Eduard' kits, and, of course, a good selection of decal sheets.
I hope this review of this old kit has been of interest, and if there are any questions, please ask.
EDIT:- Regarding reference to the Merit kit, this is not, as I originally thought, another re-box of the original 'Inpact' kit, but a more recent tooling from around 2015. There are similarities in the design of parts, but from what I've learned, the engine cowling is very inaccurate, and noticeable.