 |
| NATO airfields must be standardized to service many different types of aircraft, these are 7 of the important devices used specically by MFG-1 (German Tornado Squadron). |
 |
| The hangar tractor is the workhorse of the ground support crew, it's used to tow technical maintenance components about the airfield. Here it's hauling the H2987 SUN Electric Systems Hydraulic Test Stand which is used to diagnose all aircraft hydraulic problems. |
 |
| The Steinbock Hoist is the airfield's version of a hand-truck. It's used to lift heavy wing tanks and weapons up to an aircraft's pylons. |
 |
| The 30 KVA Starter (front right) is essential for every jet engine. The Component Crane (left rear) is used to install and remove the starter. |
 |
| The Outer Load Trailer is used to carry weapons to the aircraft and a tow bar is used to park aircraft safely. |
 |
| Some details are toy-like (especially the wheels and tires) but not completely unacceptable. |
 |
| The decals are printed in register on a nice thin carrier. There are quite a few of them which really bring the equipment to life. |
 |
| This was a fun build, quick and easy. I could have detailed and customized more but they'll do fine as diorama pieces. |
 |
Kit: Revell #4388 |
Scale: 1/72 |
Value:
Purchased from Old Time Hobbies in Fort Worth, Texas in the mid 1990's. A very good deal for what is now a very rare out of production kit. |
Assembly:
The kit consists of approx. 93 plastic parts molded in green, yellow and transparent, 1 large decal sheet and a six-page foldout instruction sheet.
Details range from good to poor, some parts are simplified to toy-like quality especially some of the wheels. Many of the parts have sink-holes that need patching. Very little flash was found and most parts fit together well.
The transparent parts are crystal clear but extremely thick.
|
Decals:
The decals are very well done, perfectly in register, colors are completely opaque, the carrier is nice and thin and there are quite a lot of them. |
Customizations:
I added various hydraulic lines made from wire or stretched sprue, various lights using sequins and epoxy, replaced the kits very thick transparency parts with acetate. |
Recommendation:
This is an easy kit to build, some parts are overly simplified but with a bit of customizing this will make a great addition to most any modern German/NATO diorama. |
