Red Top Missile Set (Pair)

Feightdog Models, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Mark Davies

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The limitations of injection molding often results in kit missiles being compromised in terms of detail and scale finesse. This is the case with the leading Lightning kits in the One True Scale, at least for the versions that offer Red Top missiles (Airfix’s F.6 and Swords F.3 and T.5 kits).  I cannot recall what the Red Tops in Academy’s F.6 and F.3 kits are like, but the kits are significantly inferior to Airfix and Sword anyway. The other Red Top armed aircraft was the Sea Vixen FAW.2; I cannot comment on the Red Top supplied with Cyber Hobby’s kit, or recall those from Frog/Revell, MPM and Highplanes, but the chances are that they can be improved upon.

This is a simple set from Freightdog; just a pair of Red Tops that need only be removed from their casting blocks, which is simple and straightforward to do. They come packaged in a small plastic bag which I understand has a card header (mine did not as it was an advance sample).

There is neither a colours & markings guide nor decals. These requirements can all be met from the kits whose missiles they are intended to replace. In fact, in the case of Airfix’s Lightning F.6 kit, you could also choose to use the clear seeker-head part in place of the resin missile’s solid nose with some simple surgery. Alternatively, you can finish your missile to represent one with the seeker-head’s protective cover in place.

Freightdog’s missiles are better detailed and more refined than the kit items they are intended to replace. They are not however as refined or delicately detailed as more complex resin and PE or 3D-printed missiles I have reviewed recently from Eduard Brassin and Highplanes respectively. This said; they are simple to use by virtue of no assembly being required, and will still look very good painted and decaled using kit markings.

Casting them as one piece requires that the silicon rubber mold be split for the wings to be withdrawn, and this split in the mold has left a small seam-line in the rear fuselage on both sides. But this slight cosmetic flaw can be remedied easily enough with a gentle scrape of a sharp blade or sanding. One of my sample missiles also had a mild curve in its fuselage. Such things are not unusual with resin castings, and are easy enough to cure with warm water and gentle straightening. 

The only other aftermarket 1/72 Red Tops I can think of are white metal and PE items by Flightpath. These are quite fiddly to build, with eight separate fins each, plus heavy and slightly pitted white metal fuselages. I think Freightdog’s set will hold greater appeal for many modellers through its ease of use compared to this alternative.

This set is an affordable and easy to use improvement over the  Red Top missiles supplied with all 1/72 scale Lightning kits I am aware of, and I would expect the same will hold true for Sea Vixen FAW.2 kits too.

These are affordable and good replacement parts, although a bit less refined than some other missiles I have reviewed recently. Their ease of use and improved appearance over kit items should be more than justify their purchase however.

Recommended.

Thanks to Colin from Freightdog Models for the Preview information and images

Freightdog Models and Decals are available online fron their website

Text and images Copyright © 2015 by Mark Davies
This Page Created on 3 April, 2015
Last updated 3 April, 2015

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