Revell 4338
The new Revell tooling is the first of the expected second-generation toolings, and benefits from more definitive information on the real thing as a result of holding off until production variants had actually been built. It is an authentic representation of an actual production variant, featuring the revised boundary layer bleed air vents just above the leading edge wing roots, and revised paneling and contours of the engine heat exchanger at the base of the fin. The canopy has the correct bubble cross section with undercut, the undercarriage and ejection seats are well done, the wheel wells are nice and deep, the 'S' profile of the intake throat has been correctly portrayed, and the wing camber has been accurately done. The AMRAAM fins are the thinnest we have seen, (the same cannot be said for the other stores, but they are within acceptable limits), and outer hub detail on the mainwheels is very fine.

The decals appear to be printed by Cartograf. They are to an acceptable standard with a few reservations: the black portion on the German flags are off-register, and the yellow used for the formation light strips is incorrect. Data stencilling is reasonably comprehensive, although the black used for the missile stencilling has been printed too heavily. The red has been printed too heavily as well. The pale pink and blue used on the RAF national insignia and stencilling is surprisingly accurate, a regretably rare occurence for both Revell and Cartograf, although we suspect the Model Alliance sheet would be of better quality for this scheme. Decalling is included for cockpit detail should you so desire, although it will be difficult to employ as much of the moulding on the parts includes raised detail. Make up your mind, Revell. Either raised detail moulding, or decals. Not both. Preferably raised detail.

The kit features 2 AIM-9L/M Sidewinders, 4 AIM-120B AMRAAM's, 4 Meteors, 2 1,000 lt drop tanks, and options for jet nozzles open or closed, and an extended refuelling probe and airbrake.

The kit is not without a few minor flaws, though. The contours separating the intake from the fuselage immediately above are not crisp enough, lacking the creases of the real thing (similar to an F-16). The main canopy is slightly twisted, resulting in an unsatisfactory mating with the cockpit sill, and the bottom frame of the canopy does not have the characteristic downward kink of the real thing. The windscreen is not straight when viewed in direct profile; it has a slight curve near the apex which is incorrect. The kit does not feature the extendard RWR housing on the parachute door at the base of the fin as seen on the first production examples. There are sink marks in the drop tank pylons, and the pylons are moulded integrally with the tanks themselves. The main weapons pylons have sink marks. There is no centreline drop tank. One canard and Meteor missile body are badly warped (they must be pulling the sprue out of the mould before it has had time to harden sufficiently). These flaws are all correctable without too much difficulty. The overall shape appears to be quite accurate. We will hold off on our final judgement until Hasegawa releases a kit, but for those sick and tired of waiting, this tooling is for you.