Israeli Aircraft Industries
Kfir C2/C7

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. The following link link will take you to that review.  

Resin upgrade details in this Wingman release include:

• Cockpit tub with integrated wheel well

• Cockpit sidewalls

• Control stick

• Separate instrument panels for both the C2 and C7

• 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

• 2 x GBU-12 laser guided bombs

Photo-etched metal parts are provided for the ejection seat handles and canopy mirrors.

A turned brass pitot 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.

The final resin parts are the inclusion of 2 x GBU-12 laser guided bombs. The Israeli Kfir had the capability to carry the GBU-12 Paveway 1 laser guided bomb under the aircraft intake on a unique pylon.  The GBU-12 laser guided bombs are not provided in the plastic kit and Kinetic had provided Griffin bombs that are not carried on the Israeli Kfir.

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

In the original review of the Kinetic Kfir, I noted that the 110 Gallon supersonic fuel tanks were too short. This was something that I noticed immediately in the original Kinetic release and to their credit they promptly corrected the length of the tanks. However, this kit from Wingman still contains the inaccurate length tank.  Wingman does mention that they will have correct length tanks available to replace the inaccurate ones and tell you to keep an eye on their website. 

The instruction sheet contains 20 black and white walk around photographs to assist with building and detailing the kit.

Markings

There are 22 schemes provided by Wingman for this kit with the decals printed by Cartograf and the decals designed by IsraCast Studio.

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The markings supplied are as follows:

1. KFIR C2 number 264-4XCFK 1977 Paris Air Show display aircraft in the early 4 tone desert scheme of FS35622 Light Blue, FS33531 Sand, FS34227 Light Green and FS30219 Dark Tan.

2. KFIR C2 number 263-4XCFL 1977 Paris Air Show display aircraft in the early 4 tone desert scheme.

3. KFIR C2 number 885 in 1978 of the First Fighter Squadron in the early 4 tone desert scheme with large black and yellow identification triangles.

4. KFIR C2 number 882of the Hornet squadron, in 1979 in air superiority Grey scheme.  This aircraft is the only aircraft in this scheme to carry the large black and yellow identification triangles.

5. KFIR C2 number 872 of the First Fighter Squadron in 1979 in the air superiority Grey scheme of FS36375 and FS36320.

6. KFIR C2 number 871 of the First Fighter Squadron in 1982 in the air superiority Grey scheme.

7. KFIR C2 number 874 of the First Fighter Squadron in 1986 in the air superiority Grey scheme.  This is the only Kfir to carry a kill marking from air combat when Eyal Eshel shot down a Syrian MIG-21 in June 1979.

8. KFIR C2 number 834 of the Arava Guardians Squadron at Etzion AFB in 1979 in the air superiority Grey scheme.

9. KFIR C2 number 891 of the Arava Guardians Squadron at Ovda AFB in 1982 in the air superiority Grey scheme.

10. KFIR C2 number 808 of the Hornet squadron at Hatzor AFB in 1981 in air superiority Grey scheme.

11. KFIR C2 number 847 of the Hornet squadron at Hatzor AFB in 1984 in air superiority Grey scheme.

12. KFIR C2 number 804 of the Smashing Parrots squadron at Etzion AFB in 1980 in air superiority Grey scheme.

13. KFIR C2 number 822 of the Smashing Parrots squadron at Ovda AFB in 1987 in air superiority Grey scheme.

14. KFIR C2 number 869 of the Smashing Parrots squadron at Hatzor AFB in 1990 in air superiority Grey scheme.

15. KFIR C2 number 805 of the Valley squadron, at Ramat-David AFB in 1984 in air superiority Grey scheme.

16. KFIR C2 number 835 of the Valley squadron, at Ramat-David AFB in 1985 in air superiority Grey scheme.

17. KFIR C2 number 835 of the First Fighter Squadron at Ramat-David AFB in 1984 in the late 4 tone desert scheme of FS36375 Grey, FS33531 Sand, FS34424 Light Green and FS30219 Dark Tan.

18. KFIR C2 number 854 of the First Fighter Squadron Hatzor AF Base, 1984 in the late 4 tone desert scheme.

19. KFIR C7 number 532 'Barak'(Lightning), of the Arava Guardians squadron at Ovda AFB in 1986 in the late 4 tone desert scheme.

20. KFIR C7 number 546 'Shalhevet' (Flame), of the Arava Guardians squadron at Ovda AFB in 1988 in the late 4 tone desert scheme

21. KFIR C7 number 512 'Shfifon' (Viper Snake), of the the Arava Guardians squadron, at Hatzor AFB in 1991 in the late 4 tone desert scheme.

22. KFIR C7 number 521 'Pluto' of the Arava Guardians squadron, at Hatzor AFB in 1994 in the late 4 tone desert scheme.

Wingman Models hasd delivered a superb kit of the Kfir C2 and C7.  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 18 November, 2013
Last updated 19 November, 2013

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