GAF Jindivik Mk.3 & 4

Alley Cat, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Mick Evans

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Alley Cat's first production kit is the Australian built GAF Jindivik Mk.3 & 4.  The Jindivik is an unmanned aeronautical vehicle or target drone and was in service for many years and during its service had many modifications and upgrades.

The first unmanned Jindivik Mk.1 flew in August 1952 and at that time it was powered by an Armstrong Siddeley Adder ASA.1 turbojet engine.  The Jindivik Mk.3 was powered by a Bristol Siddeley Viper Mk.201 turbojet engine.  The final variant of the Jindivik was the Mk.4A, which was built exclusively for the UK.  Beginning in March 1981, 33 Mk.4As were delivered.  A total of over 500 Jindiviks of all versions have been built, and the drone was still in use in the early 2000s.

The kit is produced and cast by Alan Southcombe and Alistair Mclean and represents a very comprehensive model. It is made up from approximately 60 resin parts and approximately 65 photo etched parts.  The kit includes many optional parts for the two versions of the Jindivik and offers options for the wing tanks, towed targets and flare packs that were carried.  This kit also includes a fully detailed launching trolley.

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The resin parts are crisply cast and beautifully detailed and no air bubbles are apparent in the castings.  The rib detail on the rudder, ailerons and elevators is excellent and the launch trolley is a marvel as an assembly and will look superb tucked beneath the completed aircraft or just parked alongside. 

Some time and care will be required to remove all of the parts from their casting blocks but then assembly looks very straight forward.  The etched metal parts look excellent with great etched detail.  Most of these parts go into the undercarriage landing skid and the various antennas fitted to the aircraft. 

I will be looking to display the aircraft with the skid extended due to the level of detail included, I am not sure if the skid can be displayed extended while mounted on the launch trolley, as it would normally be retracted for takeoff.  I will need to search out some of my photographs to check.

The kit also has a very comprehensive decal sheet with 11 options offered.  These include aircraft from the Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force, RAE Llanbedr (United Kingdom) & the U.S. Navy.

• A92-726 Jindivik Mk. 103BL was used by the RAE in 1989.  This aircraft is finished in Rocket Red and Saturn Yellow florescent paint and had mission markings painted on the fuselage.

• A92-733 Jindivik Mk. 103BL was used by the RAE in 1986.  This aircraft is finished in Rocket Red and Saturn Yellow florescent paint and had mission markings painted on the fuselage.  It also performed 5000th UK Jindivik sortie.

• A92-803 Jindivik Mk. 4A was used by the RAE in 1991.  This aircraft is finished in Black, Rocket Red and Saturn Yellow florescent paint and had mission markings painted on the fuselage.

• A92-804 Jindivik Mk. 4A based at Hebrides (Scotland) in 1994. This aircraft is finished in Rocket Red and Saturn Yellow florescent paint and had mission markings painted on the fuselage.  It also performed the first proving flight from Benbecula.  Its markings include a 'Thistle stencil'

• ZJ493 Jindivik Mk. 4A was used by the RAE in 2004.  This aircraft is finished in Rocket Red and Saturn Yellow florescent paint.  This aircraft flew the last ever Jindivik flight on 26th October 2004.

• N11-742, Jindivik Mk. 203B named “Vic Harvey” was used by the RAN in 1998.  This aircraft is finished in Rocket Red and Saturn Yellow florescent paint.  This aircraft flew the last ever Jindivik flight in Australia on 26th June 1998.

• A92-404 Jindivik Mk. 3 was used by the RAAF in 1962.  This aircraft is finished in overall Rocket Red florescent paint.

• N11-496 Jindivik Mk. 203A was used by the RAN in 1967.  This aircraft is finished in overall Rocket Red florescent paint.  It performed the first range acceptance flight from Jervis Bay on 7th January 1967.

• N11-502 RAN 1967 Jindivik Mk. 203A was used by the RAN in 1967.  This aircraft is finished in overall Rocket Red florescent paint.

• GAF-513 & GAF-520 Jindivik Mk. 303A was used by the US Navy in 1965.  These aircraft are finished in overall Rocket Red florescent paint.  Serial Number 513 is provided on the decal sheet, but 520 needs to be assembled from decals supplied on the sheet.

• WRE-601 Jindivik Mk. 3B.  This aircraft is finished in overall Rocket Red florescent paint

The decals are crisp, accurate in colour and in register.  They look to be very thin and should conform well to the surface detail, but they will have to be handled carefully.

Recommended for experienced modellers due to the multi media nature of this kit.

Thanks to A2Zee Models for the review sample

Alley Cat and FAA Models' accessories are available from A2Zee Models  website

Review Text opyright © 2009 by Mick Evans
Images Copyright © 2009 by Brett Green
Page Created 23 June, 2009
Last updated 23 June, 2009

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