Latin American Kfirs

Wingman Models, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Mick Evans

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The model world has been waiting a long time for a decent kit of the Kfir in 1/48 scale.  Previously, modellers had to either extensively rework the very old and inaccurate Esci Kfir kit or perform a rather extensive conversion to the Esci Mirage III or V kit using a conversion set from Eagle Designs or the very nice IsraCast resin set.  We have been blessed this year with very nice releases from Kinetic and Avangarde.

This new release from Wingman Models contains a complete kit. The base plastic is the very nice Kinetic Models Kfir, while Wingman Models have included some exquisite resin details to really enhance the package.  At first I thought the resin parts may have been from Isracast’s conversion set but a quick check of my Isracast set proved that these parts are all new and totally different.

I reviewed the standard Kinetic Kfir kit a few months ago. Follow this link to take you to that review.  

Resin upgrade details in this Wingman release include:

• Cockpit tub with integrated wheel well

• Cockpit side walls

• Control stick

• Separate instrument panels for both the C2 and C7 and C12

• Martin Baker Mk.6 ejection seat for the C2

• Martin Baker Mk.10 ejection seat for the C7 and the last batch of C2

• Engine exhaust nozzle

• Nose wheel and main wheels

• C10 Nose

• Rocket bay fuel tank chaff and flare dispenser for Columbian C10 and C12

• Air to Air refuel probe

Etched metal parts are provided for the ejection seat handles and canopy mirrors.

A turned brass pitot probe for the C2, C7 and C12, pitot probe for the C10 and angle of attack probe is also included.

The cockpit area is a major improvement in detail over the plastic parts.  While the plastic cockpit would suffice for most modellers this upgrade to the tub, control stick, sidewalls, instrument panels and seats is nothing short of brilliant.

The engine exhaust nozzle contains an amazing amount of internal detail that can only be captured in resin.  The individual nozzle flaps are picked out as is the inner mounting ring.

The main wheels portray the heavy duty braking units in superb detail and once again are a major improvement over the kit. A nice touch from wingman is the inclusion of laser cut vinyl masks for the wheels when painting.

To build a C10 or C12 version the windscreen vertical frames need to be sanded off, buffed and polished as these versions had a one piece wrap around windscreen.

The final upgrade inclusion is laser cut vinyl masks for the canopy and windscreen to allow for accurate painting of the transparencies.

The instruction sheet contains 23 black and white walk around photographs to assist with building and detailing the kit.

There are 13 schemes provided by Wingman for this kit with the decals printed by Cartograf and the decals designed by IsraCast Studio.

Markings

There are 13 schemes provided by Wingman for this kit with the decals printed by Cartograf and the decals designed by IsraCast Studio.

The markings supplied are as follows:

1. KFIR C2 of the Columbian Air Force number FAC 3042 of 111 Sqn in 1989 in a 3 tone scheme of FS36622 Light Grey, FS36293 Dark Grey and FS34096 Dark Green.

2. KFIR C2 of the Columbian Air Force number FAC 3042 of 111 Sqn in 1995 in a 3 tone scheme of FS36622 Light Grey, FS36293 Dark Grey and FS34096 Dark Green.

3. KFIR C7 of the Columbian Air Force number FAC 3042 of 111 Sqn in 2000 in a 3 tone scheme of FS36622 Light Grey, FS36293 Dark Grey and FS34096 Dark Green.

4. KFIR C7 of the Columbian Air Force number FAC 3043 of 111 Sqn in 2006 in a 2 tone scheme of FS36622 Light Grey and FS36293 Dark Grey,

5. KFIR C7 of the Columbian Air Force number FAC 3043 of 111 Sqn in 2008 in a 2 tone scheme of FS36622 Light Grey and FS36293 Dark Grey,

6. KFIR C7 of the Columbian Air Force number FAC 3044 of 111 Sqn in 2008 in a 2 tone scheme of FS36622 Light Grey and FS36293 Dark Grey,

7. KFIR C7 of the Columbian Air Force number FAC 3040 of 111 Sqn in 2008 in a 2 tone scheme of FS36622 Light Grey and FS36118 Dark Grey,

8. KFIR C12 of the Columbian Air Force number FAC 3054 of 111 Sqn in 2008 in a 2 tone scheme of FS36622 Light Grey and FS36118 Dark Grey,

9. KFIR C12 of the Columbian Air Force number FAC 3041 of 111 Sqn in 2011 in a 2 tone scheme of FS36622 Light Grey and FS36118 Dark Grey,

10. KFIR C10 of the Columbian Air Force number FAC 3040 of 111 Sqn in 2013 in a 2 tone scheme of FS36622 Light Grey and FS36118 Dark Grey,

11. KFIR C12 of the Columbian Air Force number FAC 3053 of 111 Sqn in 2009 in a 2 tone scheme of FS36622 Light Grey and FS17038 Dark Grey,

12. KFIR C2 of the Ecuador Air Force number FAE 905 of 2113 Sqn in 1998 in a 2 tone scheme of FS36622 Light Grey FS14257 Dark Grey and FS34083 Dark Green,

13. KFIR C10 of the Ecuador Air Force number FAE 915 of 2113 Sqn in 2000 in a 2 tone scheme of FS36375 Light Grey and FS36320 Medium Grey.

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Wingman Models hasd delivered a superb kit of the Latin American Kfir C2, C7, C10 and C12.  There is nothing that I can criticise and it has improved the already excellent Kinetic Kfir, except for the very short 110 gallon supersonic tanks and these should be replaced shortly by Wingman Models. 

I have already built one Kinetic Kfir and it went together in a breeze with no fit issues at all.

A big kudos to Wingman and Kinetic for this excellent kit.

Thanks to Wingman Models for the sample

Review Text Copyright © 2013 by Mick Evans
Images Copyright © 2013 by Brett Green
Page Created 20 November, 2013
Last updated 21 November, 2013

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