Typhoon Comparison's

[atdb27]

HI Folks,

Sorry If I may have missed this Q in a previous thread somewhere???

But which is the better kit?

Has anyone got both to compare?

One is 1/2 the price of the other etc.

But which is potentially the more accurate?

Trumpy have had many 'accuracy' issues on most of thier kits! Just wondering if Revell have got it 'right'?

I want one but as to which I hope for some 'guidence' for the well informed here at BM that my hard earned dosh should go to?

Thanks in advance.

Cheers folks

Adrian

[Mike]

I'll be interested to see a blow by blow comparison (minus any axes to grind) myself. I think the answer will be that OOB, the Revell kit looks more like a Tiffie from what I've seen so far, but not having either kit to compare myself, I'm just going by what I've seen in photos & from other builders.

[Bandwagon 106]

Whilst waiting for some paint to dry on my 48 Harrier B+ and waiting to get my big Tomcat tomorrow, I made a start on a Typhoon, the Trumpeter single seater. I don't know about accuracy for a Typhoon, so I'll just comment on the assembly itself.

I've done the wheel bays, engines, radar, cockpit and wings today and here's what I found. Please take these comments for what they are, no favouritism or axe grinding, just the observations of a happy modeller.

Cockpit. Quite nice detail and will paint up nicely too. The displays have the buttons around the edges. You can use decals if you wish. The side panels look busy but don't have the level of detail present on Academys Hornet and F-16 or Tamiya's Fast jets (Tomcat excluded). A nice fitting assembly sequence, everything fits where it is supposed to, but the rudder pedals might be tricky for some. Gripe?, there are no sidewall details here. I assembled the radar, not sure whether to install it or not. I glued the avionics doors closed, and the fit was perfect.

Engines. Very nicely moulded and consist of about 50 parts each I'm not bothering with all the parts for this Typhoon but the fit is very good. They fit into the lower fuselage very well.

Wheel bays. Lots of injector marks, on the outside (non visible) surface. Good detail and very good, precise fit, both in assembly and positioning on the airframe.

Wings and control surfaces.No real problems here, the leading edges went together very well, despite having 14 actuators and covers to fit.The upper wing to lower wing / fuselage goes together nicely. Maybe the lower leading edge could do with some sanding, but thats it. The trailing edges are seperate and can be positioned freely- facing upwards (many thanks to Takamoto's pictures in Silverburn's build thread for this.) There does seem to be some upward bias for the positioning of these surfaces on the main wing.

A dry fit of the upper fuselage revealed no major problems, nice, tight fit. The vert. stab is moulded onto the fuselage so you don't need to worry about any filling here! A trial run of upper and lower fuselage showed no major problems, maybe a small gap along the wings-fuselage, but certainly less than the one that I experienced on the Revell 1/48 kit. It's possible that the airbrake housing and rear cockpit decking could fill this area out a bit, but I'm not too worried. The radome appears to fit very nicely, it's all in one piece.

I'll be doing some more, along with some painting tomorrow, in between Tomcatting!I will try to get some pictures up soon.

Thanks for reading and hope this helps.

Joel

Edited December 28, 2009 by Bandwagon 106

[LopEaredGaloot]

Atdb27,

Man by the name of Bobski who shows up on ARC (Aircraft Resource Center.com if you're new) has made a few comments. His opinion being that the kit is an upscale of the Italeri 48th without the excuse of being based on a 1994 72nd molding and with resulting major shape and detail issues.

As I recall- Radome:fuselage joint is off. Rear fuselage around engines is too boxy and the EJ-200 nozzles too plain. Plethora of 'rivets' is inaccurate (though the real deal is heavily fastenered). There is something wrong with the wing twist outboard which effects the ailerons. The DASS pods are wrong, specifically the TRD unit is too narrow IIRR.

Another reviewer- Michael Benolkin on Cybermodeler, mentioned that you only get a pair of MRMs for the Trumpeter fuselage missile bays, though I don't recall if that was AMRAAM or Meteor (supposedly the 2-seater has 'the other ones').

http://www.cybermodeler.com/hobby/kits/tru..._tru_2278.shtml

I think the primary hack is that, for the price, the Chinese didn't do a lot of work beyond pantographing somebody else' flawed kit and as we all know, 'that's just wrong!'. Like clubbing baby seals with baby orangutuans or something (you damn SPCA'rs stay away from me!).

I know that sales of the Chinese kit have suffered in a major way since release based on the hope of the coming Revell being twice as nice at half the price.

The one thing the Trumpeter gets brownie points for is the intakes which is where Revell fell down completely (it wasn't acceptable in a 2006ish 48th kit, it sure as heck isn't now in a 32'er).

Revell's cockpit is also considered to be weak which isn't too surprising since modern jets are basically all controlled via the HOTAS and DVI without a lot of side panel stuff. Scale relief is low however and likely always will be in comparison to the resin we're all used to.

Mention has been made of getting Eduard color PE (for the Trumpeter) to fit the Revell kit but nobody has reported back how readily they match up.

Finally, much to everyone's chagrin, there are no A2G stores. Which is okay for an FMk.2 (early tranche 2, whatever) but not an FGR.4 which the decals supposedly represent. The Trumpeter kit does come with air to mud ordnance and my thought was that if you only need AMRAAM -or- Meteor (both of which are supplied, to full count, in the Revell kit), it might behoove someone to set up a barter business.

32nd ordnance is both rare and very expensive in resin so it's kind've knocks neeks if you want a better looking airframe that is non multirole loaded or at least some options for a ground attack loadout in an airframe that is a little off dead-accurate for shape.

My own conclusion is that if I wanted a cruise missile carrier, I'd buy a B-52 kit and for LITENING and AASM or GBU-16 and Brimstone with maybe ALARM/Armiger as a suppression tool, both kits are woefully short of options. Shape followed by Pricepoint then become the driving factors.

LEG

Edited December 30, 2009 by LopEaredGaloot

[Bobski]

HI Folks,

Sorry If I may have missed this Q in a previous thread somewhere???

But which is the better kit?

Has anyone got both to compare?

One is 1/2 the price of the other etc.

But which is potentially the more accurate?

Trumpy have had many 'accuracy' issues on most of thier kits! Just wondering if Revell have got it 'right'?

I want one but as to which I hope for some 'guidence' for the well informed here at BM that my hard earned dosh should go to?

Thanks in advance.

Cheers folks

Adrian

If you want an accurate Typhoon then buy the Revell kit. The Trumpeter kit is hopelessly inaccurate in many places, not least the canopy frame, stores pylons (they are all wrong) rear-fuselage shape and engine nozzles. Don't even bother with the Radar Antenna or the Avionics Bay - these are completely wrong too. We had a good laugh at it at work when we saw the pictures of it built up! Revell's kit is spot on in terms of shape and it is half the price, but falls down with the intakes (something that can easily be fixed with a pair of blanks). I won't go into the rest because LEG has summed it up quite well. Have I built the Trumpy kit? No. Although I have had a good look at the plastic and at a built up example, I'm not going to build one because quite frankly unless I get one for free I'm not prepared to waste my time with it.

LEG - The RAF decals in the new Revell kit are for an F2, not an FGR4.

Edited December 28, 2009 by Bobski

[atdb27]

Gents,

Many thanks for your posts.

Ski I can but imagine your laughter with that of the Robots in the Cadburys Smash advert (for some reason)

In the best Strictly/X Fcuktor/IACGMOOH (no I'm not a sheep and follow these)

Revell it will be then.

More dosh outlay!

Happy New Year everyone

Adrian

[Bobski]

Gents,

Many thanks for your posts.

Ski I can but imagine your laughter with that of the Robots in the Cadburys Smash advert (for some reason)

I'm not sure what caused more laughter, the quality of the kit or the price Trumpeter were asking for it!

Revell will need a bit of work, but it will definitely be more accurate.

[172flogger]

Hi,

i looking for old-tool Revell Eurofighter with new-tool Revell kit. I am not able to find pictures of old-tool, are pictures somewhere?

thanks

L.

[Iain Ogilvie]

Old tool EFA was absolutely terrible - really not worth acquiring unless you want to collect old kits.

I got one when it came out with great hopes and sold it in disgust. Got another a few years later thinking it's got to be buildable - sold that too - just couldn't face it.

Chalk and cheese with new kit!

Iain

[atdb27]

I got the 'Old one' in the stash somewhere.

Did have a 'correction' article to bring it up to date!

As 32sig notes it awful really.

But hope to get the new Tiffie at the end of the month so a proper 'comparison' will be possible?

Adrian

[colin ritchie]

I've got the Revell kit , and the Eduard colour PE for the pit , and it looks as tho' it'll fit with no issues, ditto the set for the seat , the external set is not that useful I think ,

[Alan P]

I've got the Revell kit , and the Eduard colour PE for the pit , and it looks as tho' it'll fit with no issues, ditto the set for the seat , the external set is not that useful I think ,

The external set is for the Trumpeter kit, I don't think they've released one for the Revell yet? (it's not on their site anyway, I stand willing to be corrected and linked to the appropriate page forthwith!)

I hope Eduard do something for the sparsely detailed Revell kit. A really comprehensive detailing set could really transform the kit the way David Parkins' set does for the Tornado. (I hope Flightpath have some plans for this, i really do!!)

Can't help being disappointed with both kits, even at Revell's price. It seems very much on a par with the Tornado on fit and detail by the looks of silverburn's build (only one I've seen so far), and that retailed for about £30. I saw Tigger's build of the Trumpeter kit, it looks by far the better engineered, detailed and fitting kit of the two - sadly, the shape and critical details are very noticeably incorrect - a real shame.

This is one of the reasons I am getting out of 1/32, even though it seems to be the scale in vogue this year - the costly disappointments were just getting too much. I like building things, not stashing them away waiting for the appropriate resin/detail set to be released.

[Bandwagon 106]

I'm really enjoying my build up of the Typhoon, very good fit and detail. Very glad I took the gamble with this one. If you want an enjoyable, if allegedly inaccurate build, try it, you might be surprised.

Joel

[Bobski]

I'm really enjoying my build up of the Typhoon, very good fit and detail. Very glad I took the gamble with this one. If you want an enjoyable, if allegedly inaccurate build, try it, you might be surprised.

Joel

Is that Revell or Trumpeter?

If it's Trumpeter, then there is no "allegedly" about its inaccuracies!

[Bandwagon 106]

It's the Trumpeter one.

Sorry Bobski, that kinda slipped out earlier (bit worried about getting home from work I think). Thanks to the expert knowledge of such people as yourself, I am aware of the issues, and, if possible, how to correct them.

I've just really enjoyed the build up thus far (much more than Revell's 1/48 version, I was kind of underwhelmed with this one, must get another sometime, just to make sure!) and put the problems with the kit behind me. Nobody but me is going to see the kit (though I might post some completed pics if you are all very nice), and I have a few Tamiya 1/48 Vipers to "punish " myself with when this is finished.

Thanks again for your help and knowledge.

Joel

[Bobski]

It's the Trumpeter one.

Sorry Bobski, that kinda slipped out earlier (bit worried about getting home from work I think). Thanks to the expert knowledge of such people as yourself, I am aware of the issues, and, if possible, how to correct them.

I've just really enjoyed the build up thus far (much more than Revell's 1/48 version, I was kind of underwhelmed with this one, must get another sometime, just to make sure!) and put the problems with the kit behind me. Nobody but me is going to see the kit (though I might post some completed pics if you are all very nice), and I have a few Tamiya 1/48 Vipers to "punish " myself with when this is finished.

Thanks again for your help and knowledge.

Joel

No worries. To be fair, most of the reports I've heard of the Trumpy one have been that it goes together very well, whereas the Revell kit can require a bit of work in places. I just can't get over the many many shape and detail inaccuracies!

Edited January 7, 2010 by Bobski

[tony.t]

Okay, so I do I build the Revell Eurofighter OOB with the internal Eduard PE for the Trumpeter, or wait?

Or wait for the Revell PE that is supposed to follow, whatever that is?

Am seeking unscientific wild @$$ guesses as to whether this is a build or stock item for now

Sheez, I am even thinking of giving the Trumpy F.6 Eduard F.1A p-p cockpit placard treatment to get something moving!

Cheers

Tony t

[tony.t]

Okay, so do I build the Revell Eurofighter OOB with the internal Eduard PE for the Trumpeter, or wait?

Or wait for the Revell PE that is supposed to follow, whatever that is?

Am seeking unscientific wild @$$ guesses as to whether this is a build or stock item for now

Sheez, I am even thinking of giving the Trumpy F.6 Lightning Eduard F.1A p-p cockpit placard treatment to get something moving!

Cheers

Tony t

[Simon Cornes]

From what I can see of Trumpeters stuff, generally, its very detailed and that justifies the price whereas Revell are pitched at a price to sell, basic but the right shape.

I'm not sure what Revell's strategy is but, in the case of the Typhoon, have you noticed the extra HUD combiner glass on the clear sprue? I am very strongly tempted to believe the writing is on the wall for a T1 - in which case, what price the Trumpy T1 in 12 months or so time?

Re weapons fit, is this a new trend? Look at the Ju88 in 1/32nd, no bombs, etc but 'accessory set' due out later this year. Will that include all the extras? Could be that Revell will do an 'accessory set' for the Typhoon which you can use for both the T1 and F2/FGR4 and probably PE belts for the bang seat - and if that sells well, include PE bits in the T1? Who knows but it would be kinda good if Revell told us so then I wouldn't feel inclined to buy an Eduard set if I knew the Revell version was around the corner - but could I wait until 2011? Are Revell missing a trick with their marketing I wonder?

[silverburn]

From what I can see of Trumpeters stuff, generally, its very detailed and that justifies the price whereas Revell are pitched at a price to sell, basic but the right shape.

I'd agree with this. My build is here, and I'd say it was merely an upscaled 1:48, and lacks the detail of the trumpy. I'll be posting all the hands-on nitty gritty on the kit when it reaches RFI (Ready for Inspection).

[ghaynes]

Could be that Revell will do an 'accessory set' for the Typhoon which you can use for both the T1 and F2/FGR4 and probably PE belts for the bang seat - and if that sells well, include PE bits in the T1? Who knows but it would be kinda good if Revell told us so then I wouldn't feel inclined to buy an Eduard set if I knew the Revell version was around the corner - but could I wait until 2011? Are Revell missing a trick with their marketing I wonder?

Hannants have the Typhoon detail set in their Future Releases here. I put the info in 'New and Forthcoming Releases' a few days back but I don't think anyone saw it. Link.

Regards.

Graham

Edited January 8, 2010 by ghaynes

[Bobski]

From what I can see of Trumpeters stuff, generally, its very detailed and that justifies the price whereas Revell are pitched at a price to sell, basic but the right shape.

I'd agree in general, but in this case the vast majority of the detail that Trumpeter have included is wrong. It has the radar antenna and the avionics bay, both of which are incorrect. It has all the stores pylons, which are all wrong, and it has the crew access ladder, incorrectly shaped, sized, detailed and located (Revell included it and got it right).

If you want the detail and aren't that fussed about the accuracy (which many people aren't) then go for it. My own personal view is that I'd rather add the detail to the cheaper Revell kit than do the same work to correct the detail on the Trumpeter kit (bearing in mind that most of the shape issues on the Trumpeter kit are so serious that they can't actually be corrected).

Edited January 8, 2010 by Bobski