V-22 Osprey
This is the first operational tilt rotar aircraft, the V-22 Osprey. There have been test planes that use tile rotars, but this was the first that was ever put into operational use. If you ask me it's a pretty slick plane. It's able to take off and hover like a helicopter and go as fast as a conventional airplane. What's not to like? Alos, it just plain looks cool!
Although the airplane had some problems, and there were a few crashes, it looks like it's going to make it into service just fine. They should enter operational status in a few years, and I'm sure a couple years after that they will be at just about every airshow. Now who wouldn't want to see the this thing sitting on a ramp, or hovering over the runway?
Ok, so about the model. It's an Italeri model, and it's not too bad. You can make it with the coargo door open, and there's a basic interior as well. It's not super detailed, but it would look good for most people's uses. The engine nacelles don't move, but the props do, so that's nice. It does lack some deails though. The wheel wells are pretty skimpy, and the cockpit isn't too sharp either. Since I'm not into super detailing so I just left it as is.
The model went together with no problem, and painting it wasn't too bad either. The decals weren't too extensive, but that's on par with the rest of the model. It's generally undetailed, but I think that was the goal. Italeri isn't really into super-detailing their models, so this is a standard model for them. While I wish all model manufacturers would design models to have lots of nice details, doing so would make all of them cost like twice as much. Oh well.
It's the little things
While I though this was a pretty decent model, there were a couple things about it that bothered me. First off was the wheel wells. I already said they were undetailed, but what I really meant was 'virtually devoid of detail.' How hard can it be to get a few pictures of the wheel wells and put in a little detail there? Really.
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Second is the little 'kick windows' below the cockpit's main window. The clear plastic parts are too small! Not by a little, but like by a lot. There's no easy to cover that one up. When you get up close to the model, there are visible gaps around the little windows. I can't really complain though, it's the only 1/72 scale V-22 that I know of.
Ok, I feel better now. This model was actually a birthday present from my parents a while back. I was visiting around my birthday and we went to check out a hobby store that recently opened by them. They said pick out a model, happy birthday! I said cool! I'm not one to pass up a free model. Those are the best kind.