Now as some of you may know, this kit comes `colour coded` just like the Matchbox kits of days gone by albeit in a much more professional manner.
This means quite simply that if you wish, you can leave the paints/sprays alone. I can only assume that this was aimed at the less experienced modeller which in itself is a good thing. The following picture gives you a general idea of what Academy are trying to aim for.
Now obviously I`m going to paint this kit. But as a little experiment, I`m going to proceed as far as I can go without painting to see exactly how it might look unpainted.
So onto the cockpit tub and seats. Now prior to deciding to go the unpainted route, I had indeed pre-painted a few bits and bobs. These included the Ejector seats sides and cockpit tub and walls. Hence why these parts look dull and the rest shiny The remainder are unpainted and note that the pull down handles are not fitted.
Ok, so the seats will `do` and the detail level is reasonably acceptable. I`m not quite sure what the white bit sitting between the headrest and seat back is all about though?
And this is where I become a little confused with the thought process at Academy HQ.
They have created and released technically what you might call a `pre-painted` model possibly aimed at the `younger` market and yet the kit itself could be construed as quite complex to assemble for a less experienced modeller.
The seats themselves are made up of 8 bits and then take a look at how you put the main u/c legs on....,
Don`t get me wrong, I`m actually quite enjoying putting this little lot together and I may well be wrong about why Academy have pre-painted the parts and the market they are aiming for. However it does seem to me to be a little confusing to mix complex kit building and then give you the option to leave it unpainted.
More soon.
