Embraer 170 - J-Air

[Mike]

Embraer 170 - J-Air

1:144 Hasegawa

the Brazilian Embraer 170 is a modern medium-range jet airliner that can carry between 70 and 80 passengers depending on configuration. Powered by two GE turbo fans, the design uses modern materials such as composites to produce a robust and cost-effective airframe, which to date has seen service with a number of airliners.

The kit arrives in a small traditional Hasegawa style box, and inside you will find two sprues of grey styrene, two sprues containing the fuselage halves in white styrene, a translucent smoke coloured sprue containing parts for a stand, a large bright sheet of decals and of course the instruction booklet with integrated painting guide.

The fuselage parts breakdown vertically, and are moulded with only a few panel lines evident around the doors, wing root fairing and vertical tail areas. Numerous sensor blisters are also provided on the nose, together with the various aerials that are moulded on the port half of the fuselage. This struck me as a rather foolish thing to do, given that the seam would need to be sanded, until I spotted a full complement of replacement parts on one of the grey sprues, with associated placement diagram at the end of the instructions. A single bulkhead is provided behind the cockpit area, into which you screw the supplied bolt, which acts as and nose weighed to prevent the model from tail sitting.

The wing parts are very fine indeed, with the insert for the underside to provide both the necessary thickness, and the cut-out for the main gear bays. Unfortunately, there is no detail on the gear bays but as precious little will be visible anyway, this should not matter. Separate flat actuator fairings are also supplied for the wings, which adds a little finesse to the detail of the underside.

The prominent winglets are moulded integral to the upper wing parts, and are protected in transit by sections of sprue that project out from the ends. These appear a little thick to my eye, and would benefit from some attention from a sanding stick. The horizontal tail planes are of one-piece construction, with no evidence of sink marks that I can make out.

The two GE turbo fans are nicely rendered with compressor face detail, separate intake lip, and the modern style zigzag exhausts. The exhaust bullets are also a separate part. The landing gear can be modelled closed, by the inclusion of a single piece insert which fits into the lower fuselage blanking off the wheel bays. Another set of parts are supplied for those who wish to model airliners in a landed position. The gear legs appear a little simplistic, but the separate tyres are well moulded, and the open bay doors are supplied as separate parts.

The inclusion of a stand is particularly welcome given that parts for the in-flight pose are included with in the kit, although the modeller will need to remove several large ejector pin marks from the surface, and re-polish the parts to clarity. It may be as well to paint a stand to save yourself the trouble.

The decal sheet allows you to portray an aircraft of Japan Air with an eye-catching JAL logo with bright red tail, and includes decals for all of the passenger windows, entrance doors, crew windows, wing walkways, various stencils, and an array of tail codes from JA211J to JA220J. Decals are in good register, and even provide small sections of silver where appropriate, although the carrier film is typical of Hasegawa, and seems a little thick.

Conclusion

It is nice to see subjects such as this being kitted by mainstream manufacturers, and this attractive little airliner has been nicely represented by Hasegawa. They have avoided temptation to cover the aircraft in panel lines, and those that are present are very fine and restrained. The decals sheet is similarly well presented, and the ability two portray any of the JAL aircraft is to be welcomed. This kit will doubtless see the market again with different decals to portray other airliners that use this type.

Review sample courtesy of UK distributors for