Academy B-47B E Stratojet

Reader Reviews
I FLEW IN THE B-47 IN THE '50s, SO TODAY I AM MORE INTERESTED IN NOSTALGIA THAN IN DEMONSTRATING MY MODELER'S SKILLS (THOUGH I ENJOY BOTH). THIS MODEL HAS NEARLY 100 PARTS, SOME OF WHICH ARE VERY, VERY SMALL --AND THE MODEL ITSELF HAS ONLY A 9-9/16" WINGSPAN. THE TWIN-ENGINE NACELLE, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS SIX PIECES, AND THE SINGLE-ENGINE NACELLE FOUR. EACH MAIN LANDING GEAR HAS 8 PIECES, NOT COUNTING THE DOORS. IT SEEMS ONE MOLDING WOULD OFTEN SUFFICE. SOME OF THE PIECES, FOR EXAMPLE ON THE LANDING GEAR, ARE THE SIZE OF INSECT LEGS AND ARE EASILY LOST. I ALSO THINK SOME OF THE PAINT-COLOR SUGGESTIONS ARE UNNECESSARILY CHALLENGING. I DO NOT RECALL, FOR EXAMPLE, A WHITE UNDERCOATING ON OUR B-47S. AT 40.000 FEET, WHAT IS THE POINT? MOST OF THE FITMENTS ARE QUITE EXACT, BUT NOT ALL. THE LITTLE NIBS ON THE NACELLE SUPPORTS DO NOT MATCH UP EXACTLY WITH THE TINY HOLES UNDER THE WINGS, AND YOU ARE TOLD THAT IF YOU WANT TO ATTACH THE EJECTABLE EXTERNAL FUEL TANKS, YOU HAVE TO DRILL YOUR OWN HOLES. I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SIMPLER IF THE HOLES WERE THERE & YOU COULD FILL THEM IN IF YOU DIDN'T WANT TO USE THOSE TANKS.I HAD TO BUY A SECOND KIT JUST TO USE AS A PARTS DEPOT. IF YOU ARE THE SORT OF PERSON WHO EXCELS AT GLUING TINY PIECES TOGETHER, YOU WILL LOVE THIS MODEL. BE SURE TO THINK THROUGH THIS PROJECT TO ITS END BEFORE YOU START ANYTHING.FINALLY, THE DECALS WERE MUCH TOO FRAGILE FOR ME TO DEAL WITH. FOR EXAMPLE, THE TOP OF EACH WING HAS A SINGLE DECAL FOR ALMOST ITS ENTIRE LENGTH. I COULDN'T DO IT & HAD TO IMPROVISE. PART OF THE PROBLEM IS MY LACK OF EXPERTISE, I ADMIT