LUFTWAFFE ‘TONKA’: EDUARD TORNADO IDS LIMITED BOXING

Highly adept at adding extras to its own and other makers’ kits, Eduard has now cast its magic on Revell’s 1/48 Tornado, as CHRIS CLIFFORD reveals.

LUFTWAFFE ‘TONKA’: EDUARD TORNADO IDS LIMITED BOXING

If you enjoy having extra detailing items in your kits, and you favour fast jets, Eduard’s new Limited boxing of Revell’s 1/48 Tornado IDS is a must. It’s especially cool if you like modern Luftwaffe aircraft, as it provides markings for seven German Air Force/Navy examples across two huge and busy decal sheets. Also supplied are two bags of resin parts, the same number of photo-etched (PE) metal frets (one in brass, the other pre-coloured) and self-adhesive paint masks.

Revell’s base kit is reasonable at best, suffering from airframe inaccuracies (wing gloves, pylons, the wings don’t go far enough forward etc) and poor fit in places. You will need to study images of Tornados and perform the necessary ‘tweaks’ you feel capable in tackling. However, the resin parts go some way to adding welcome refinement. The Martin-Baker Mk.10 seats are impressive, having full main gun detail and harnesses are provided by the PE cache. Separate seat pads, personal equipment connectors and other items for the seats are also supplied in resin. There are replacement wheels, too, which are so much better than the kit examples – sporting more accurate hub and brake detail and lettering on the tyres.

LUFTWAFFE ‘TONKA’: EDUARD TORNADO IDS LIMITED BOXING

Above: Eduard provides superb resin replicas of the Martin-Baker Mk.10 seat.

LUFTWAFFE ‘TONKA’: EDUARD TORNADO IDS LIMITED BOXING

Above: Resin is also employed for the main and nosewheels.

Metal magic

Besides seatbelts, the pre-painted PE fret includes layered instrument panels, side consoles, throttle levers and seat firing handles. On the plain brass frame there are afterburner flame-holders, rudder pedals, a head-up display, rear cockpit TV display units, airframe antennas and missile rail/pylon details.


Read a review of Revell’s 1/72 German ASSTA 3.1 Tornado kit


While Revell’s Tornado has its issues, plus points are that separate flaps and slats are provided, along with full air intake trunking – and the facility to pose the thrust-reversers open or closed. You do receive German stores as per Revell’s original boxing and these comprise a Cerberus ECM pod, two early BOZ-style countermeasures pod and the EADS Telelens reconnaissance pod. Air-to-air AIM-9 Sidewinders are present too, but their front fins are poorly shaped so they do not represent any known variant. You can use spares box or aftermarket replacements, or simply scratch-build new fins. Another issue is that Revell is rather stingy with its air-to-ground stores… there are none! German Air Force Tornados can tote GBU-24 Paveway III and Mk.82 Ballute bombs and practice-bomb carriers. And don’t forget the MW1 bomblet dispenser (although it was phased out from 2009). Kormoran anti-ship missiles were employed by Marineflieger (German Navy) ‘Tonkas’ too. You would have to source all of these from the aftermarket. For some modellers, though, this is all part of the fun.

LUFTWAFFE ‘TONKA’: EDUARD TORNADO IDS LIMITED BOXING

Above: A wealth of photo-etched metal details are provided, both plain and pre-coloured.

Eduard supplies two substantial and impressive decal sheets, the largest measuring 265 x 350mm and the other being similar in size. One sheet carries all the major markings and the other all the stencilling. Seven different colour schemes (five air force, two navy) are represented and four of these are special liveries. Varying styles of camouflage are also in play here, due to a long service timespan being offered by the markings. The options are:

•    46+20, MFG 2, Marineflieger, Eggebek Air Base, 2002-04
•    43+22, JaboG 38, Luftwaffe, Jever Air Base, 1986
•    43+46, AG 51 ‘Immelmann’, Luftwaffe, Schleswig-Jagel Air Base, 2002-03, as seen at NATO Tiger Meet 2002. Beja AB, Portugual
•    43+87, MFG 1, Marineflieger, Schleswig-Jagel Air Base, 1993
•    44+21, JaboG 31, Luftwaffe, Norvenich Air base, Germany, 2001-02
•    44+87, AG 51, Luftwaffe, Schleswig-Jagel Air Base, 2006-07, as seen at NATO Tiger Meet 2006, Albacete, Spain
•    44+88, JaboG 33, Luftwaffe, Buchel Air Base, Germany, 1999

LUFTWAFFE ‘TONKA’: EDUARD TORNADO IDS LIMITED BOXING    LUFTWAFFE ‘TONKA’: EDUARD TORNADO IDS LIMITED BOXING

This is a busy package for experienced, Tornado-loving modellers, but you need to reconcile with performing the structural corrections if your aim is a truly accurate ‘Tonka’. Eduard’s additions are thoughtful and of excellent quality, and the firm’s choice of liveries is pleasing too. The kit costs £52.71 direct from Eduard.