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Revell Airbus A-400M `Grizzly` 1/72 Scale
Topic Started: Jul 21 2015, 09:16 AM (383 Views)
tc2324
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LCDR Tony `Banana's` Clay
Revell Airbus A-400M `Grizzly`

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The Subject Matter

Known as the `Atlas` in RAF service, the A400M is a new military transport and cargo aircraft designed not only to fulfil the requirements of the Armed Forces in the 21st century but also to be used for humanitarian and civil aid missions when required. The A400 has been developed using the most modern technology currently available. It is larger, modern and more flexible than current transport aircraft and therefore in a position to fulfil not only current deployment requirements but also those of the near future. To this end the A400M is highly manoeuvrable at low speeds. It is can take-off and land equally well on short, soft areas as well as unprepared airfield surfaces. A runway length of 750 meter's is often sufficient! With a maximum payload of 37 tons, large and bulky cargoes can now be transported quickly and directly to their destination. The A400M has been developed to have very low maintenance costs, be very economical to operate and have a high mission availability. It combines three mission profiles into one and can be used equally well for tactical and strategic/logistic missions as well as in flight refuelling. The A400M is controlled by side-sticks for the two fully independent fly-by-wiresystems. A further innovation is the extensive use of carbon fibre reinforced plastic in the wing construction. A first for large military transport aircraft. Each of the four turboprop engines on the A400M can develop 11,000 shaft horsepower making them the most powerful propeller turbines in the world. So far, a total of 174 A400M Grizzly's have been ordered by Germany, France, Spain, England, Turkey, Belgium, Luxembourg, South Africa and Malaysia. The first production aircraft were delivered in 2013.


Kit Specs

Total number of parts - 212
Length - 64.4 cm
Span - 59 cm

- New Mouldings
- Detailed Fuselage with recessed panel joints
- Detailed Cockpit with Seats and Instrument Panel
- Cock section with Stairway
- Detailed Cargo Hold with structured floor surface
- Separate Loading Ramp and Loading Door
- Detailed Nose-wheel Bay
- Detailed Main Undercarriage Area
- 12 Main Undercarriage Wheels
- Detailed Engine Nacelles
- Imitation Engine Parts
- Rotating 8-Blade Propeller
- A choice of two Propeller positions: Flight or Ground
- Detailed Control Surface Actuators
- Coamings
- Antennae and Pitot
- Front Access Door with Steps which can be opened
- Tailgate, which may be open or closed

- Authentic decal set for follwing versions:
- Airbus A400M of Airbus Military Flight Test Center Sevilla, Spain, 2011
- Airbus A400M of Lufttransportkommando der Bundeswehr
- Airbus A400M of ET.64 Escadre de Transport French Air Force


The Decal Sheet

As always with Revell the decal sheet is clear and concise and near perfect quality.

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The Instructions

This is an area I always mention and wish Revell would `tidy up` so to speak. While the instructions are methodical in their layout, it just comes across as too cluttered and busy. By adding another sheet of A4 to the booklet, I do feel that it would improve the look of it and not prove so intimidating.

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The Clear Sprues

As with most large model types in this scale the cockpit glazing is just one big section. While this will appear to be the easier option than individually fitting `glass` to a plastic molded frame, you had better make sure that your fuselage half's are lined up perfectly to avoid any unnecessary work later.

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The Rest of the Sprues

A review of the 1/144 scale A-400 was written up a while back and when compared to it`s 1/72 scale cousin, there really is not a lot of difference apart from one area. Size! This kit, once complete, is big. And I mean big. Prepare to donate a large part of your dinning room table to work on it and then display it, no doubt much to the annoyance of your partner or wife. Another surprise for me personally was to discover an `inner hull` for your interior. It should prove to be a very interesting build. Being a reasonably new mould, the panel lines are nicely recessed with minimal if any flash that I could see.

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In Conclusion

This looks like a great kit and would be a perfect addition to any modeller who is into and wants to add to their Transporter collection. The one downside which is plainly obvious is the size of the thing when complete.

But hey.., if you can build this, then adding an underground basement or a new wing to your property should be a doddle.



Revell model kits are available from all good toy and model retailers. For details visit www.revell.de/en, @RevellGermany or facebook.com/Revell
a new-look Revell website has now gone live at www.revell.de/en.

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Edited by tc2324, Jul 21 2015, 12:43 PM.
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Olde Farte
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Lt. Derek 'Smurfy' Reeve
A nice review, thanks. I also like the idea of feathered and unfeathered props although I believe feathered is the norm on the ground when shut down.
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Cimmerian
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Lt. Ken 'Albatros' Jeffrey
Good review. Was thinking I should get one, it would give me somewhere to park my Bronze Tiger. :laugh:
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Olde Farte
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Lt. Derek 'Smurfy' Reeve
Cimmerian
Jul 21 2015, 11:49 AM
Good review. Was thinking I should get one, it would give me somewhere to park my Bronze Tiger. :laugh:
Only the one! :whistle
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Cimmerian
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Lt. Ken 'Albatros' Jeffrey
Olde Farte
Jul 21 2015, 12:04 PM
Cimmerian
Jul 21 2015, 11:49 AM
Good review. Was thinking I should get one, it would give me somewhere to park my Bronze Tiger. :laugh:
Only the one! :whistle
When I get home later and take some photos you'll see why I'll only have time for one of these as I may get a little occupied. :laugh:
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Mapo
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Lt. Pete 'Barracuda' Ashcroft
built one of these when it first came out and it really is HUGE!!!!

problem i had when building it was the two rear undercarriage pod like sections, there a bloody awful fit and the engines
weren't amazing but not awful

Pete
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Grayhawk
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Doug Summers
Now if someone will just put it in some other color scheme! Anything other than gray. I've got one of these kits myself and I refuse to give in to low-vis! I may have to wait till it's been in service a wile. Then, maybe we'll get an anniversary scheme. Did Airbus get a deal on gray paint? Good luck on the build. Keep the post coming as I'm curious how it goes together.
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smeds
Airbrush master
There is a German scheme in the kit. Green and Grey cammo. Probably the best you are going to get.

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Olde Farte
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Lt. Derek 'Smurfy' Reeve
Nought wrong with grey as you well know :whistle but it would make a brilliant civvie whiff, wouldn't it now seeing as how there is a C-17 flying in civvie colours.
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smeds
Airbrush master
Here's a couple borrowed off the interweb.

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Olde Farte
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Lt. Derek 'Smurfy' Reeve
I do like the old Transport Command colours but the yellow on something that big would bring the s***s out and remind me about what is wrong with me.
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Mapo
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Lt. Pete 'Barracuda' Ashcroft
the nose on that DHL one is violent!!!! :laugh:
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Olde Farte
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Lt. Derek 'Smurfy' Reeve
Mapo
Jul 22 2015, 11:01 AM
the nose on that DHL one is violent!!!! :laugh:
Imagine when the sun hits it. :rolf
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Grayhawk
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Doug Summers
Can you buy yellow enamel by the quart? Great looking Transport Command bird. If only...
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madmonk
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Lt Warren "Satan" Monks
Now that is just crying out to be lit up!!! Cockpit, Cargo Area etc.
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