ALL-NEW ‘HABU’
Finally we'll soon have a modern 1/48 tooling of the superlative SR-71A Blackbird reconnaissance aircraft, from Revell.
For 39 years, not since the release of the Italeri kit, have we had an up-to-date 1/48 offering of Lockheed’s SR-71A. However, this November will be like Christmas has come early for fans of the type as Revell is due to issue its all-new kit of the record-breaking beast. Blackbirds, designed to ply their trade beyond the attention of Soviet combat jets, were christened ‘Habu’ by Japanese locals living around the SR-71A's forward operating base of Kadena, Okinawa. Habu is the Japanese name for a family of venomous pit vipers found on Okinawa and the surrounding islands.
The landmark release, kit 04967, includes decals for four notable Blackbird airframes:
• 61-7955, Lockheed Flight Test aircraft based at Palmdale Plant 42, Edwards Air Force Base, from 1972-1984
• 61-7958, the World Speed Record aircraft from July 27-28, 1976 (Closed Circuit/Straight Course)
• 61-7967, USAF Last Flight, Edwards AFB, October 10, 1997
• 61-7972, USAF Speed Trails (New York to London, September 1, 1974 / Los Angeles to Washington DC, March 6, 1990
As you can see from this imagery, the model can be posed on the supplied display stand and has separate engines that can be placed on the stand base. There also appears to be a feast of interior/exterior detail, and the schemes represent two low-vis aircraft, and as many machines with high-visibility markings. It will cost €89.99.
Look out for a full review on keymodelworld soon. www.revell.de/en
