Buccaneer S.Mk.2B

Revell, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Mark Davies

Revell's 1/72 Buccaneer is available online from Squadron.com

Background

The Buccaneer really needs no introduction, having first served the RN in the 1960’s and then the RAF into the 1990’s, including operational service in the 1991 Gulf War. Conceived at a time when super-sonic performance was the benchmark for new military aircraft, the Buccaneer was unusual as a sub-sonic design. It was intended to operate in the low-level strike role from RN carriers at high sub-sonic speeds and in this respect anticipated later trends.

After disbandment of the RN’s carrier force the RAF adopted the Buccaneer. This followed the huge disappointment of the TSR-2 cancellation, and the follow-on cancelled procurement of TSR-2’s replacement, the USA’s F-111. Under these circumstances the RAF did not at first consider the Buccaneer to be the ideal aeroplane for its role, but with time and experience in service the Buccaneer was recognised as a superlative strike aircraft.

The Buccaneer’s saw operational service in the 1991 Gulf War.

Previous 1/72 Buccaneer S.Mk.2B Kits

There have been several 1/72 Buccaneer kits. Airfix’s first effort was an S.1 although I think I it was close to representing the NA.39 prototype. Frog, Airfix and Matchbox all released kits of the Buccaneer S.Mk2B. Finally, and by far the best, were CMR’s multi-media resin kits. CMR’s Buccaneer kits are very well researched, very accurate, very detailed, but also very expensive.

Given that not everyone can justify buying a CMR Buccaneer, there remains a place for the S.Mk.2B kits by Airfix and Revell’s re-box of the Matchbox kit; perhaps Frog’s too, but it is hard to find. There is a swathe of aftermarket products to improve the accuracy and detail of these old kits, with Freightdog, Airwaves and Heriatge being notable in this regard. Aeroclub, Maintrack, Neomoega, The Model Works, The Final Touch, and even SAM magazine, have all offered aftermarket correction and detail sets as well.

The fact remains that we are well overdue a modern injected 1/72-scale kit of the Buccaneer that does not require correction or even basic details through aftermarket sources however. It does seem an obvious subject for Airfix under Hornby’s ownership.

The Contents

The contents come packed in a small end-opening box with artwork showing a Buccaneer without slipper tanks or weapon pylons flying away from a fireball. The main parts are enclosed in a single plastic bag along with the clear canopy and decal sheet.

Revell has thankfully abandoned Matchbox’s kiddy-marketing, where the plastic was moulded in several colours; instead the parts are a uniform pale stone-grey. Sink-marks are evident in places, especially along the length of the ailerons due to their thickness. The clear canopy has a very slight suggestion of mould damage, otherwise the 1973 tooling has held up well. The parts are cleanly moulded and essentially flash-free; but that’s about where any praise regarding the parts begins and ends.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 

Thumbnail panels:

The instructions include a parts map and have clear enough assembly diagrams with colour call-outs linked to Revell’s own paint range.

The colours and markings diagram is a monochrome four-view diagram that clearly indicates where the few decals provided go.

The Kit

The Revell/Matchbox kit is regarded by some to have a reasonably accurate overall shape. Sadly, however, this kit is a classic example of Matchbox tooling. Where detail is apparent, it is simplified and soft, or in the case of panel lines, trench-like and soft. Cockpit detail is pathetic and largely absent. The intakes are blanked off with a simple compressor face pieces, whilst the jet exhausts are moulded shut.

Airframe assembly should be generally straightforward and result in a reasonable Buccaneer-like shape. The undercarriage is simplified, but at least the main wheel wells are closed in with some suggestion of detail. No slipper tanks or payload of any type is provided, nor are there any vortex generators on the wings.

A tiny decal sheet caters for one Gulf War aircraft; this being XW533 A, Miss Jolly Roger/Fiona, 208th Squadron, RAF, Operation Granby, Muharraq AB, Bahrain, March 1991. It features topless nose art; which is perhaps the best feature of the kit.

There are those that have put the effort in to turn the Revell/Matchbox kit into a decent model, so I’m not suggesting it is impossible to do so. Some prefer it to the Airfix kit because it has fewer shape issues, whereas I prefer Airfix with aftermarket fixes because it is more refined overall. I have not owned the hard to find Frog kit to compare, but I understand it to be basic with some faults. Given that CMR’s Buccaneer kits are beyond the reach of many, it seems a matter of personal preference which injected kit you choose to build a Buccaneer from in The One True Scale.

Matchbox could sometimes shine with its biplane and more off-beat releases, but it never matched its competition when it came to more mainstream subjects; even 40 years ago. Sadly, in my opinion at least, the review kit falls well short of 2014 standards and expectations; and it is by these that I must judge it. I see little point in continuing to disparage this kit, as the accompanying images manage that without any more help from me.

Originally released as a cheap kit for kids, that is what Revell’s re-boxed Buccaneer remains in my opinion. The box artwork may tempt some buyers, but thankfully the price of disappointment will not be too high.

I accept that the kit may have a reasonable overall shape, and that with lots of work a reasonable model might result. That does not hold true for what you would get out of the box however. Therefore, I cannot recommend this kit to any but children, nostalgia builders, and those who like to prove conventional wisdom wrong.

Revell model kits are available from all good toy and model retailers. For details visit www.revell.de/en, @RevellGermany or facebook.com/Revell

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2014 by Mark Davies
Page Created 20 November, 2014
Last updated 20 November, 2014

Back to HyperScale Main Page

Back to Reviews Page