Airfix 1 72 tornado gr4 review

ManufacturerAirfix Product codeafx08105 Ean:5014429081057 Scale1:48 Size348 x 290 mm Number of elements132 Paint3, 11, 19, 24, 33, 53, 56, 61, 72, 85, 86, 127, 130, 147, 159, 163, 167, 171, 186, 195, 250 Added to catalog on:30.10.2004 Tags:PANAVIA-Tornado

The origins of the Tornado design date back to 1968. It was then that the trinational PANAVIA consortium was established in order to implement the project known as MRCA (Multi-Role Combat Aircraft). On September 14, 1974, the flight of the first prototype took place and the construction of the first 640 ordered aircraft began, with production split in such a way that Germany and Great Britain each completed 42.5%, and Italy 15% of the order. Tornado fleets are currently the most important part of the air force of three European NATO countries. They remain in the composition of the air forces of Great Britain (Royal Air Force), Italy (Aeronautica Militare Italiana) and Germany (Luftwaffe) and in the aviation of the German Navy (Marinefliege). In addition, in 1986, a number of these aircraft were ordered by Saudi Arabia and incorporated into its armed forces (Royal Saudi Air Force). There are three main versions of the aircraft: Tornado ECR, Tornado ADV and Tornado IDS. Tornado ECR is a German / Italian reconnaissance version, it can carry Raytheon AGM - 88 HARM anti-radar missiles. In addition, they carry AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles for self-defense purposes. The Tornado ADV is a version of the interceptor, equipped with the great Marconi-Ferranti Foxhunter radar with a range of up to 190km and able to track up to 20 targets simultaneously. The Tornado IDS, on the other hand, is an assault bomber designed primarily to support land forces. It is capable of carrying a very wide range of weapons, including: a CWS flying cartridge, Paveway II guided bombs, GBU-15 guided bombs, AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missiles. Technical data (ADV version): length: 18.68m, wingspan (maximum): 13.91m, height: 5.95m, maximum speed: 2.27Ma, rate of climb: 77m / s, practical ceiling: 21300m, maximum range : 1850 km, armament: fixed - one IWKA-Mauser 27 mm cannon, suspended - up to 8500 kg of cargo.

Started this kit recently, it'll be the 6th model of aircraft types that I worked on during my career in the RAF (already built Jet Provost T.3 & T.5A, Tucano T.1, Hawk T.1 from CFS RAF Scampton c.1991 & Wessex HC.2 from 72 Sqn N. Ireland c.1994). Should be 7 but it appears that there isn't a Vickers VC-10 in 1:72 scale.

Since the models are only 1:72, I never intend to put in too much detail but rather try and get the colours and the markings as accurate as possible. The Tornado will be from 12 Sqn that was out in Qatar during Gulf War II. Fitted out with 2250L tanks (Big Jugs) on the inboard wing pylons with 2 x AIM-9 Sidewinders, BOZ-107 Pod (Chaff & Flare) on starboard outboard wing pylon, Skyshadow Pod on port outboard wing pylon, TIALD Pod on starboard shoulder pylon & Paveway II on port shoulder pylon.

Still not sure whether to source additional accessories to add detail, i.e/ cockpit kit, wheel bay kit, wings kit that show flaps & slats lowered.

Early stages of build...

Overall close-up. I've not added any extra detail to cockpit.

Close-up of underside. Note addition of centre line pylon (missing from kit). GR4's carried 3 underside pylons.

Last edited by Anonymous on September 2nd, 2011, 12:47 pm, edited 1 time in total. Reason: Fixed broken image links.

Fantasy Printshop produce thier own decals under the Euro Decals name, and have released this set in not only 1/72nd, reviewed here but also in 1/32nd and 1/48th, which have been reviewed by Rowan Baylis and can be found here, and here.

The "Tonka" has a huge tail to display tail art on, and three of the five marking options are for aircraft that were on display at air shows and flypasts and feature special schemes on the tail. The other two schemes are for combat and evaluation aircraft, so you can build and display, fully armed aircraft or clean.

All the aircraft are painted overall in Medium Sea Grey. The GR.4, ZA461, sports a Cherry Red with Gloss Roundel Blue edging to the tail. ZA405 has a striking Black, White and Green striped tail and features the squadrons fox's head. ZA412 of the famous 617 Squadron has a Matt Black Tail and has the tail decorated in special markings for the 70th Anniversary of the Dams raid. The other two schemes are only in the Medium Sea Grey, with the RAF's 41(R) Test and Evaluation Squadron aircraft based at RAF Coningsby, and the GR.4 of an aircraft that served in Operation Ellamy, which was the 2011 military intervention in Libya.

The decals are beautifully printed with the colour registration spot on, and very little carrier film. As Rowan has already stated in his reviews the Fox's head is fantastically reproduced even in this small scale, and is quite remarkable how it was printed so well, with several colours in such a small area. Likewise the hind's head for the XV Squadron with the wings either side is also a work of art, and excellently reproduced. Scheme 1 has the �old style� roundels and have the red dot as a separate decal, so care and a good eye will need to be used to line it up centrally.

The great thing about this set is that all five aircraft can be displayed as thier is enough roundels for each scheme. No particular make of 1/72nd Tornado is mentioned so the decals should fit any manufacturers kit of the GR.4. No stencils are supplied in this set so the kits stencil decals need to be used, or failing that Euro Decals do produce a set of stencils, found here.

The marking options are as follows - 1GR.4, ZA461, XV(R) Sqn, RAF Lossiemouth, 2015, Wing Commander's aircraft 2GR.4A, ZA405, 12 Sqn, RAF Lossiemouth, 2015, Wing Commander's aircraft 3GR.4, ZA542, 31 Sqn, 021, Giola del Colle, Italy, 2011, Operation Ellamy 4GA.4, ZA560, 41(R) TES Sqn, EB-Q, RAF Coningsby, 2017 5GR.4, ZA412, 617 Sqn, RAF Lossiemouth, 2013/4, Wing Commander's aircraft

Instructions

The instructions are printed on two A4 size sheets folded in half. All the schemes are shown in top, bottom, left and right profiles. Paints are matched to BS, FS, Humbrol, Xtracolour, Xtracrylix and Lifecolor paints, as well as the name of the colour.

Conclusion

A great set of decals which are fantastically printed and of which three schemes are very colourful. At �8.95 you can't really go wrong as five aircraft can be decaled with this set, which does save having four schemes left over.

Please remember, when contacting retailers or manufacturers, to mention that you saw their products highlighted here - on AEROSCALE.

SUMMARY

Highs: Well printed, interesting and colourful schemes.

Lows: None really.

Verdict: A great set of decals for three special schemes for the "Tonka", with two warbirds also supplied. Great value for money. Scale: 1:72 Mfg. ID: ED-72117 Suggested Retail: �8.95 Related Link: Panavia Tornado GR.4/4A PUBLISHED: Jun 23, 2019 NATIONALITY: United KingdomNETWORK-WIDE AVERAGE RATINGS THIS REVIEWER: 84.81% MAKER/PUBLISHER: 92.14%

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About Andy Brazier (betheyn)

I started modelling in the 70's with my Dad building Airfix aircraft kits. The memory of my Dad and I building and painting a Avro Lancaster on the kitchen table will always be with me. I then found a friend who enjoyed building models, and between us I think we built the entire range of 1/72 Airfi...

Copyright �2021 text by Andy Brazier [ ]. Images also by copyright holder unless otherwise noted. Opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AeroScale. All rights reserved.

What is the difference between the Tornado GR 1 and GR 4?

One other differnce, The GR4 lacks the 27mm cannon on the port side (still has one on the starboard side. the removed gun bay holds the FLIR avionics). The GR 1 has 2 cannon port and starboard (again the visable difference is smaller than the FLIR bump).

Is the Tornado a good aircraft?

Having said all that, the Tornado was worked through. It had its difficulties in development, but it turned out to be a brilliant operational aeroplane."