Hobbycraft 1/72 F2H-3/4 Banshee

HOBBYCRAFT 1:72 MCDONNELL F2H-3/4 BANSHEE
'INBOX Review'

Reviewer: Simon Skinner (rec.models.scale)
A fully built review of the Academy boxing of this kit appears on SMAKR

Kit: Hobbycraft Canada 1:72 McDonnell F2H-3/4 Banshee, a reissue of their 1989 release of the same kit.

Parts: Three sprues in light grey injection molded plastic of which there are about 50 parts and 1 clear part for injection molded canopy. Panel lines are engraved and surface detail is quite reasonable although still a bit basic.

Versions: There are three options in the kit, all from the USS Coral Sea, VF-11, US Navy, March 1956 but featuring different colour and markings: F2H-4 in overall Midnight Blue; F2H in overall aluminium; and another F2H in Light Gull Grey over white undersides.

Decals: Produced by Hobbycraft Canada with a semigloss appearance in very good register and likely to be same as far as quality is concerned. There are only a small amount of stencils provided, it is mainly serials, and plenty of lines/frames. Both style of USAF roundels are included, ie: with and without the blue included - the latter being used on the midnight blue F2H example. The sheet also includes canopy framing, so there is no need to use the paintbrush!! Both black (for the second and third F2H versions) and red (for the midnight blue F2H) framing is provided.

Impressions: A typically good looking Hobbycraft kit on the sprue. I have not built the kit nor heard anything about it from other modellers so can't comment on it's likely accuracy but a test fit of a few parts suggests this will go together as any decently molded mainstream kit would be expected to. The moldings are a bit basic though, not a great deal of surface detail and there are no real options in the kit. Look forward to building it up later and reviewing for SMAKR!

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