Yet another vintage ESCI tooling has been reissued with new decals by Italeri – the 1/48 F-5E Tiger II – reviewed here by CHRIS CLIFFORD.
Italeri continues to re-release vintage ESCI toolings but adds value by including its own ‘Super decals’ sheets. The latest subject to receive this treatment is ESCI’s 1/48 F-5E, which was first released in 1979. As with many of these kits they are products of their time, the F-5E being a perfect example. It features engraved lines to demarcate the ailerons, trailing-/leading-edge flaps, slats and rudder. All remaining panel lines (and rivets) are raised. Italeri’s new boxing (2827) offers markings for four liveries and all are quite different.
This kit is reasonable given its age, but one glaring issue is that of the upper/lower fuselage split, which means a long seam line half-way up the forward fuselage. This will mean possible filling and certainly sanding at least to eradicate the join line. Therefore, panel line and rivet detail will be lost… but more experienced modellers may wish to remove all the raised detail anyway, opting to re-scribe the model where necessary.
Above and below: ESCI's tooling has the wings moulded integrally with the fuselage.
Above: Hydraulic line detail, al…
