In Box Review - Zoukei-Mura A-1H Skyhawk 1:32

[BarryW]

Here is the BIG box that landed today...

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This box is simply packed with plastic. I will not put on here pictures of all the sprues, just a few examples of the moulding. Overall I find the kit offers excellent well rendered detail with the sprues mostly individually packed. They offer seats with or without moulded seat harnesses, two options for the instrument panel - you can have it molded for painting or in clear plastic with a decal. The wings are articulated and can be raised or lowered, however, there are some parts which if glued to the raised wings means they cannot be lowered.

One criticism some have made is that the kit offers a lot of detail that will never be seen once it is closed up. This is true, but I like that as it offers opportunities for advanced modellers (I am not one of those...) to really have fun with the kit not necessarily having to buy aftermarket parts. Its good to have the choice and I may choose to paint up and include all the unseen material, I may not...

Some detail shots:

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The instruction sheet, to me, is most impressive - it reads like an aircraft manual. It contains colour reference photos of the kit construction and some very clear warnings including such as ... 'be careful not to bend during assembly'. There are different views that explain exactly how/here parts should be placed - quite simply a lot of thought and planning went into these. It seems very clear to me and includes a sheet correcting a couple of errors. If only Dragon were half as considerate with their instructions!

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The decal sheet offers two aircraft options which are very similar from USS Intrepid and in this I would have thought they could have done better by offering two much more different schemes. On the positive side they seem good quality and are in register.

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Whenever I picture a Spad it is weighted down with a massive load of weapons, absolutely dripping with bombs and rockets. The kits includes only drop tanks which is another criticism. They do, however offer a separate weapons set and there is no way I am going to build a Skyraider without that classic look.... So I invested in the set. It includes pretty much a full range of weapons and some clear guided as to what would go where. You will not end up using a fraction of what is included in the set unless you decide to pose the ordnance around the aircraft. The separate set makes equipping the Spad expensive, but how can you not? Maybe there is room here for some enterprising aftermarket intervention.

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One final criticism - the instructions carry Vallejo paint references and as I am a big fan of Vallejo paints I was pleased with that. But, the main camo colour is 'Gull Grey' and Vallejo were commissioned to produce this colour (Model Air 71130) by ZM for this kit. The colour is simply not available from Vallejo and when I enquired they referred me to ZM. I did ask John to see if he could source this colour for me but no luck. Therefore I assume that this paint is only available in Japan. Maybe that will change but not soon enough for me.... I intend to start this kit in a couple of weeks, as soon as I have finished my Mustang...

I will do this as my first photo build, stage by stage.... Watch this space!!!

Anyway..... to summarise - I am well pleased with what I see and I think that this will build into a large (19 inch wingspan) and very impressive model.

Is it worth the dosh?..... this is far from a cheap kit.

So far so good, yes, I recommend it. But, of course we will see how the build progresses but from some reviews I have read I suspect that my initial impression will hold.

If you like large scale aircraft then I do believe that ZM are the 'up and coming' stars to watch producing 'must builds'....

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[stona]

Excellent Barry,I shall be following this one for sure.

I built their Ta 152 a while back and it also had masses of detail that will be unseen unless I rip most of the panels off! I think this may be pandering to the Asian market where modellers like to pose their models with everything on show rather than in a "realistic" scenario. Each to their own I guess.

You've got a lot of plastic to stick together there,best of luck with the build.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

What a kit, looks like there is plenty of build time in this box, will keep an eye out when the build starts.

This may help you with the "Gull Grey", its also known as Ghost Grey or US Ghost Grey....and Tamiya do a close match in the form of XF19 Sky grey.May be worth investigating.

Hope you enjoy the kit.

Ray

[Ian M]

Thars one big pile of plastic!

I'll be following this one.

Have you thought about contacting Vallejo's rather good customer service. They might be able to put you onto a dealer, or maybe even send you a couple of bottles. ( I would thing with the size of that beast, one might not be enough.

As for the paint options being very close to each other, have you looked into after market decals, It would not surprise me if there are already options on the way. It would look wicked in the three colour camo.

Ian M

[Guest]

I was very impressed with the instructions!!! I just need a couple of weeks off work to get my stash down so that i can start this hehe.

[BarryW]

I did email Vallejo about it and they explained the colour was commissioned by ZM Ian, referring me to them. I will take a look at what decals become available between now and when I need it.

Ray - thanks about the tip regarding Ghost Grey - I will take a look at that. In fact I am pretty sure I have the Vallejo equivalent upstairs as well.

I am really looking forward to getting down to this one.

Steve - how did you find the TA152? I quite fancy that one but have read some less than complimentary reviews. Right now though I have quite enough kits in my stash and have no intentions of buying more, not until I get the stash down to half-dozen at least....mind you.......

Got a few to add the the list in my signature soon!!!

[stona]

Steve - how did you find the TA152? I quite fancy that one but have read some less than complimentary reviews.

I found it a thoroughly enjoyable build. The instructions sound like yours,a sort of hanbook,very good indeed. I saw reviews where people were complaining about some of the plastics being difficult to glue which I didn't find at all. There are some areas which are molded a little 'soft' like the top of the wheel wells. The detail was really good. It wasn't a shake 'n' bake! It did need building but I wouldn't describe it as difficult for a competent modeller. I wouldn't recommend it as a starter kit

Most importantly it looks a lot like a Ta152.

Cheers

Steve

[John]

I did ask John to see if he could source this colour for me but no luck.

It's not a final no, I've since spoken to my supplier and he is seeing Vallejo this week and is going to get back to me to see if it's available, I did look in the box before I sent it and your right there is a lot of plastic, should fill in all your spare time

FYI ZM are also due to release a P51 withing a week or 2

[BarryW]

And a Uhu after that too John...... The Revel or ZM Uhu - now that will be a question for later in the year...

Be interesting to find out what is happening over these custom Vallejo paints.

[stona]

FYI ZM are also due to release a P51 withing a week or 2

And an He219 is in the pipe line,something I'd be very interested in. I've heard something else will be released after the P-51 and before the He219,but noone seems to know what!

Cheers

Steve