Revell 1/72 Tornado series (ECR/IDS/GR.1)

REVELL 1:72 PANAVIA TORNADO SERIES (ECR/IDS/GR.1)

Boxings of the three kits reviewed - GR.1 (top); ECR Tigermeet (centre); IDS Tigermeet (above)

Reviewer: Reimo Soosar (rec.models.scale)
Kit Review submitted: 11 December 2001

Revell’s Panavia Tornado series in 1:72 scale

What models are under observation?

04617 Panavia Tornado ECR “Tigermeet”;
04619 Panavia Tornado GR. 1 RAF;
04361 Panavia Tornado IDS “Tigermeet”.

Not covered (yet) models are:

04390 Panavia Tornado “Spirit of Boelcke”, it’s basically same model as IDS, differing only in decals;
04375 Panavia Tornado F.3 ADV.

Why are these models reviewed closely together?

All Revell’s 1:72 Tornados uses the same basic airframe and mold (probably ADV version uses some other mold - don’t know yet, but when I get hold of it I will be able to tell), with the difference between the different models covered by separate sprues - 5 sprues are common, 1-2 are unique to each version. (note additional info supplied at bottom of review, as some are old Monogram releases too - Ed)

Short history of the versions covered.

What is there new to say about these well known strike fighters?

ECR “Tigermeet” - It’s quite a new one, concept being ready in 1985. Electronic suite is quite an impressive one, considering that anti-radar is its main mission. Also these ECR planes were used in Bosnia crisis, flying 428 mission, without loss, and firing over 200 HARMs.
GR. 1 RAF – this is the older version, being already in service back in 1980. British Tornados were used in the Gulf War and also in the Kosovo crisis in 1999. Unique to British Tornados are TIALD (thermal imaging and laser designation) pod, “Hindenburger” fuel tanks, also TV/laser (FLIR?) pod under nose.
IDS “Tigermeet” – One of the most important NATO warplanes, all-weather, and good flying qualities are the key words here.

Instruction sheets?

Instructions contain 59-65 steps (ECR 59, GR.1 65, IDS 60), 4-5 steps are for decaling only, which gives a hint to how many decals there are! My bet is about 200-300 for each model. First impression? It’s a scaled down 1:32 model, as I read somewhere. How many paints to be used? Let’s say it this way, the whole alphabet is in use!

C’mon, get to the parts, how many are these here?

There are a LOT of parts, the basic model has 133 (10 are clear, including HUD, lights, 2-piece canopy) parts. Ah, I forgot to say what’s the basic model - the model that all others are derived from is the IDS, as it’s sprues are represented in every model as common ones. ECR has 155 parts (also 10 clear, 9 of the others not to be used, which are IDS’s parts), GR.1 has an award winning 198 parts (14 clear, total of 9 other parts not to be used). Have you ever seen so much detail in a 1:72 scale model which is in size roughly about 250x200 mm?

Now to goodies, what are in the boxes and how are these models built up?

As already stated, all models are basically the same, differing in details unique to the different versions.

First step is putting the ejection seats together. The seats are nice, each having 4 parts. Colouring scheme is also provided.
Next step is cockpit area, ECR has new dashboards, but basics are still the same, cockpit bathtub has main bath, rear wall, 2 walls between aircrew, total is 9 parts (ECR has 11 due to GPS box), all are detailed very well. Instrumentation on panel could be decaled or painted.
Next step is building the whole nose together, that takes gluing front gear well to bathtub and then gluing the nose together.
Main body is divide to several parts:
- Nose area (nosecone is separate), split vertically, it also includes intakes,
- Main body, split horizontally (the 'cut line' between main body and nose is just in front of wing’s leading edge and main gear well),
- Tailplanes, wings, exhaust etc.
Nose weight is marked 10 g. I found out that this is necessary only then if you build model with wings fully aft, otherwise it sits very well.
Next are the main wings, which are moveable, also with moveable hardpoints, each wing has 7 parts, including light.
Next is expected: how to build the main body, including wings and all moveable tailplane, no rudder yet. Pay attention to hold the fuselage together with force when wings are attached as the wings fit exactly, pressing the fuselage apart. Every Tornado I built had this trouble, but if you hold it together it “relaxes” at last and won’t pull any unpleasant stunt.
Exhaust is made up of 6 parts, it’s also very nicely detailed as is the whole model.
Now comes the tail, basic is 2 parts, GR.1 having 4 due to the 2 winglets.
Next big step is putting the whole airframe together, nose part + main body + tail + exhaust. The only trouble area is nose to main body join, as it takes some force to hold the whole thing together, and minor gaps may occur.
Intakes are made up of 4 parts each. My recommendation would be to attach them to the nose section and THEN put the fuselage together, as the other way around could be more trouble than it’s worth.
Airbrakes are optionally opened or closed, either way they fit nicely, there’s no such trouble that brakes are too small when attached in close position.
Landing gear is very good, nose gear having 4 parts, 3 doors. Tires are also realistic, being flattened on one side, as real plane does weigh something. Main gear has 5 parts each leg, 1 door with light.
Next steps are unique to each model, ECR having it’s ELS attached with some other unique features, as is GR.1 with it’s TV/laser (it also could be a FLIR, don’t know for sure, please let us know if you do) pod under nose.
Two other features are opened-closed canopy and extended-retracted IFR-probe. Canopy has a strut included when in the open position.
Now comes the goodies part:- weaponry and other accessories, I provide them model by model:
- IDS has 2x1500 litre fuel tanks, 2xAIM-9L Sidewinders (very nice replicas), options are recce pod/”Buddy” refuelling pod, third option is leaving centreline clean. Also included are Cerberus C III ECM pod and BOZ 101 countermeasure pod.
- ECR has also same as IDS, but the unique feature is 2 HARM missiles (also very nice ones). I wouldn’t consider replacing any of the ordnance with spare-box ones.
- GR.1 has the most of ordnance in Tornado model family, as catered for are Anti-Rad and bombing missions. So ordnance is: 2x1500 litre fuel tanks, 2xAIM-9L Sidewinders, BOZ 101 pod, ECM pod is Sky Shadow (made of 5 parts), 2x2250 Ltr. Hindenburger tanks, 4x1000 lb conventional bombs (each made of 5 parts), 2x1000 lb LGBs (each made of 8 parts), and last but not least, 2xALARM anti-rad missiles. See the note in the ECM part about replacing ordnance.

Which versions are covered by in these models?

· Panavia Tornado IDS, Aufklärungsgeschwader 51 “Immelmann”, Tigermeet 1998, Landsberg, Lech;

· Panavia Tornado IDS, Jagdbombergeschwader 34 Memmingen 1998;

· Panavia Tornado IDS, Jagdbombergeschwader 31 “Boelcke”, Goose Bay, Canada 1990;

· DASA Tornado ECR, Jagdbombergeschwader JaboG 32, Tigermeet 1996 Lechfeld;

· DASA Tornado ECR, Einsatzgeschwader 1 der Luftwaffe, San Daminiano, Piacenca, Italy 1997;

· Panavia Tornado GR.1, No.9 squadron, RAF, Brüggen, Germany, 1998 (this squadron has a primary SEAD mission with ALARMs);

· Panavia Tornado GR.1, No.17 squadron, RAF, Brüggen, Germany, 1998 (this squadron have a precision bombing role and are equipped with TIALD pod).

Comment about decals? Big ones but are not as big as they should be, essentially when you build Tigermeet versions.

What about accuracy?

All models are at the same size as these are basically the same aircraft, differing only in unique features. Model size is 243x201 mm. If you were to translate real plane’s dimensions to 1:72 scale then these are 232x193 mm. If to do some calculations, the model is still symmetrical, meaning that size and shapes are all correct, it just isn’t in 1:72 scale, rather 1:75 scale. Otherwise it looks the way it should.

Are these models recommended?

These models are highly recommended, they are fun to build, but hell to decal. As already stated, minor gaps may occur but nothing that can’t be fixed in a matter of minutes. As there are many smaller parts, I wouldn’t recommend it to beginners, but more to modellers who have some experience.

Related Reviews:-

Italeri 1/48 Tornado IDS

Related INBOX Reviews:-

Revell 1/32 Panavia Tornado GR.1

Additional info supplied by Nigel Bunker

I read the review and purchased the RAF GR.1 (boxart at top of the review above) and the Saudi AF IDS version (boxart below). The GR.1 is as the review but the Saudi one is the old Monogram kit (tailplane has MMI 1991 stamped on it) with an updated sprue containing pylons, tanks, armament, refuelling probe and surprise - a Linescan semi-recessed underfuselage pod for converting a GR.1 or GR.4 to a Gr.1A/GR.4A. Fortunately the Saudi one was picked up in a pile of half-price kits but anyone paying full price for it will be disappointed - so this is a warning to others. (I had put "original boxings" below but this information indicates that message may not have gotten across - and also underlies how much of a lucky dip Revell kits seem to be nowadays - Ed)

Alternative and original boxings of the ECR (left) and IDS (right) kits

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