The
history of the ESCI / Airfix Viggen is well documented. It shows its age
and it lacks the accuracy or finesse of more recent toolings. Until
Trumpeter or one of the other mainstream manufacturers decides the Viggen is
deserving of their energies it is the best we have. Then along come Two
Mikes Resin Accessories and we now have a reason to get those kits out of the
loft and create some more accurate renditions of a much neglected jet. Airfix
– we need a reissue.
Two
Mikes venture seeks to correct some of the more obvious errors in the basic kit.
While we wait for a whole raft of resin to create that winning model, here are
three of their newly released resin sets to get your mouth watering. All the
sets are packed in sturdy clear plastic cases. Each set is accompanies by
a full colour guide with colour details of the real aircraft for reference.
The
accuracy of drawings of the Viggen is questionable and I have not attempted to
measure things against the few profiles I possess because of this. All my
considerable photographic references do however show that the Two
Mikes
sets more accurately capture and represent the aircraft. A search on the
Internet will uncover a wealth of references.
The
corrected nose is produced in grey resin and addresses the issue of the nose
profile being too long and too sharp. Two Mikes have reduced the length by
3mm and the front end has a rounder taper. The resin insert will fit into
the kit with little work other than filling and sanding the joint and the
addition of a more correctly scribed diagonal joint between resin and kit.
The surface on my sample is rather rough in places and will need some sanding
and finishing creating a smooth radome surface.
Finally
All
the Viggen update sets from Two
Mikes will
be welcomed by Viggen enthusiasts around the globe. They will go a long
way to help creating a very accurate and attractive representation of the jet.
I look forward to the additions that Two Miles have planned for the Viggen:
Corrected fin and rudder; new foreplanes with separate control surfaces; new
weapons pylons; new wing flaps; new wheel wells; new wheels; new thrust
reversers and engine fan section; new RAT and a vac former a new canopy and
windscreen. Will there be much of the kit left after all this?
Thanks
to Two Mikes Resin for supplying the sets for review.
This
resin set is available through http://www.twomikesresin.com/.
Tom Stewart
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