Italeri 1/72 F-117A Nighthawk

ITALERI 1:72 F-117A NIGHTHAWK
'INBOX Review'

Reviewer: Mark B (SMAKR Webmaster) (smakr@bigpond.com)

Kit: Italeri No.189 1/72 F-117A Stealth Nighthawk

Aircraft: The F-117A is the result of a long and secret Lockheed "Skunkworks" project dating back to the early 1970's, to be for all intents and purposes invisible to radar. It was first exposed to the combat arena in the Gulf War where it performed under the cloud of darkness and all types of weather and was spoken of to be a deadly accurate fighter bomber.

Parts: Two sprues come unpackaged in the box and contain just 28 parts in black injection mold plastic, with raised detail and etched control surfaces. On opening the box you wonder how quick the project will be as the aircraft body is essentially two piece, containing fuselage, nose, wings and pitot tubes already molded. There is no flash and two clear parts, one for canopy and the other for the nose mounted radar section.

Instructions: The usual Italeri fold out sheet quoting Modelmaster paint ranges symbolised by letters for various components on the kit during construction. History, sprue diagram and small profile sketches are also included. There are seven straight forward and well detailed assembly steps to adhere to.

Not the Instruction sheet but a picture of the released kit in a different
depiction from I would assume a magazine (taken off Italeri seat).

Versions: The kit provides for two versions, one on the bottom of the box in colourful artwork (4 450th Test Group, USAF, Tenopah, 1989) and the other on the instruction sheet (37th TFW, Tenopah, 1990). Unfortunately it should be pointed out that the decal sheet below only covers the version on the instruction sheet, so really one can argue that only one version is provided for in the kit.

Decals: Very small decal sheet comprising of the ghost grey coloured roundels, insignia and unit badges for the 37th TFW example only. I query whether one fin has 416 and the other has 415 as the unit identifiers as stated in the kit, so one should check their reference material (which unfortunately I lack on this example).

The Decal sheet from the kit, kindly scanned and provided by Dazio.

Accuracy: I have not seen or heard much whether good or bad about how this kit shapes up accuracy wise. Checking the parts against photos reveals that the profile looks quite convincing but not the bomb bay (see below). The only thing I can spot is an antenna situated behind the cockpit (as shown in the photo below) missing from the kit. Dimensions appear acceptably accurate against quoted reference material.

Detail: There is not a lot of detail supplied, the raised detail is very minute and likely not to be seen once painted. Cockpit includes tub with side panels, seat (in three pieces), control column and instrument panel. Raised console detail is provided on all panels. The nose radar features a molded ball that is basic in replication but acceptable. The grill plates for the intakes feature very finely detailed grill. Bomb bay and nose wheel wells include some basic piping detail. The main wells are too deep to see if any detail is provided.

Options: Canopy is one-piece but can be positioned open and the bomb bay can be displayed open or closed, with choice of a pair of free fall bombs or laser guided bombs as weapons stores for the bomb bay.

Impressions: A clean looking model that is basically 80% completed by gluing the fuselage halves together since these are the main pieces in the kit. Looks to be a quick and straight forward build that should result in a convincing replica of the F-117 Nighthawk. This kit is circa 1995 so should be also reasonably accurate in profile, given previous history of Italeri releases as soon as a new aircraft is revealed (and thereby being inaccurate). I am also a little disappointed in the surface detail as I feel more could have been added. Before delving into this project I intend to pick the minds of other modellers to see what other comments can be provided about how this kit builds.

Addendum supplied by Ed Boyd: The missile bay doors on the F-117 are indeed two piece, but they are hinged on the centerline of the aircraft and not on the outside edges. When open, the two doors are parallel to each other and so close together as to create the impression of only one door. A close look at the photograph below shows the true position of the doors and a small peek at the left hand missile bay confirming the centerline hinging.

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Hasegawa 1/72 F-117A Nighthawk

Photo credit: Unknown (assume it is USAF?)

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