In Box Review of Platz 1/144th Scale
U.S. F8U-2 "Crusader" (Jolly Rogers)
Kit no. PDR-61800, Two in One Kit
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: 1,980 yen - $18.18
Copyright 2019
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: 1,980 yen - $18.18
Copyright 2019
HISTORY:
The Vought F-8 Crusader (originally F8U) is a single-engine, supersonic, carrier-based air superiority jet aircraft built by Vought for the United States Navy and Marine Corps (replacing the Vought F7U Cutlass), and for the French Navy.
The first F-8 prototype was ready for flight in February 1955. The F-8 served principally in the Vietnam War. The Crusader was the last American fighter with guns as the primary weapon, earning it the title "The Last of the Gunfighters".
The RF-8 Crusader was a photo-reconnaissance development and operated longer in U.S. service than any of the fighter versions.
RF-8s played a crucial role in the Cuban Missile Crisis, providing essential low-level photographs impossible to acquire by other means.
U.S. Naval Reserve units continued to operate the RF-8 until 1987.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Fighter aircraft
National origin: United States
Manufacturer: Vought
First flight: 25 March 1955
Introduction to service: March 1957
Retired: 1976 (fighter, U.S. Navy), 29 March 1987 (photo reconnaissance, U.S. Naval Reserve), 1991 (Philippines),19 December 1999 (fighter, French Naval Aviation)
Status: Retired completely in 2000
Primary users: U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, French Navy, Philippine Air Force
Number built: 1,219
Developed into: Vought XF8U-3 Crusader III, LTV A-7 Corsair II
The Vought F-8 Crusader (originally F8U) is a single-engine, supersonic, carrier-based air superiority jet aircraft built by Vought for the United States Navy and Marine Corps (replacing the Vought F7U Cutlass), and for the French Navy.
The first F-8 prototype was ready for flight in February 1955. The F-8 served principally in the Vietnam War. The Crusader was the last American fighter with guns as the primary weapon, earning it the title "The Last of the Gunfighters".
The RF-8 Crusader was a photo-reconnaissance development and operated longer in U.S. service than any of the fighter versions.
RF-8s played a crucial role in the Cuban Missile Crisis, providing essential low-level photographs impossible to acquire by other means.
U.S. Naval Reserve units continued to operate the RF-8 until 1987.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Fighter aircraft
National origin: United States
Manufacturer: Vought
First flight: 25 March 1955
Introduction to service: March 1957
Retired: 1976 (fighter, U.S. Navy), 29 March 1987 (photo reconnaissance, U.S. Naval Reserve), 1991 (Philippines),19 December 1999 (fighter, French Naval Aviation)
Status: Retired completely in 2000
Primary users: U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, French Navy, Philippine Air Force
Number built: 1,219
Developed into: Vought XF8U-3 Crusader III, LTV A-7 Corsair II
THE KIT:
Platz is a prolific model company based in Shizuoka City, Japan.
They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in non-shrink-wrapped blousy end-opening type box. The box is 2" too long.
I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal sheet find their way past one of the end flaps to become lost forever.
Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The box art shows a "Crusader" that is light-grey over a white undercarriage, with a black 206 on the side of its nose, a yellow air intake under its nose,
yellow rudder flap and fins under the rear of the fuselage and a black and yellow vertical fuselage band, with a smaller identical band on the leading edge of the rudder.
It has a black rudder tip over black letters A G and black serial no. 5572, and a red nose cone.
It has black "NAVY" over VF-84 on the rudder sides.
It is posed over a second dim illustration of the aircraft's rear section and both are posed against an all-white background. Similar to how Tamiya brand does the majority of their box arts also.
The Cartograf brand decal sheet in the kit is illustrated in color at the bottom of the box art and it says there are 2 complete models in the kit.
Another corner of the box art provides Platz's web address.
One side panel begins with 2 color photos of the "Crusader" made up in the box art scheme, followed by a 1-paragraph history of the aircraft and Platz's telephone and FAX numbers, street and web addresses.
Platz is a prolific model company based in Shizuoka City, Japan.
They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in non-shrink-wrapped blousy end-opening type box. The box is 2" too long.
I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal sheet find their way past one of the end flaps to become lost forever.
Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The box art shows a "Crusader" that is light-grey over a white undercarriage, with a black 206 on the side of its nose, a yellow air intake under its nose,
yellow rudder flap and fins under the rear of the fuselage and a black and yellow vertical fuselage band, with a smaller identical band on the leading edge of the rudder.
It has a black rudder tip over black letters A G and black serial no. 5572, and a red nose cone.
It has black "NAVY" over VF-84 on the rudder sides.
It is posed over a second dim illustration of the aircraft's rear section and both are posed against an all-white background. Similar to how Tamiya brand does the majority of their box arts also.
The Cartograf brand decal sheet in the kit is illustrated in color at the bottom of the box art and it says there are 2 complete models in the kit.
Another corner of the box art provides Platz's web address.
One side panel begins with 2 color photos of the "Crusader" made up in the box art scheme, followed by a 1-paragraph history of the aircraft and Platz's telephone and FAX numbers, street and web addresses.
The other side has descriptions of the kit in English and Japanese.
The bottom of the box is a color and marking guide. It shows two 2-views of the "Crusader".
1. The box art scheme (already described above)
2. A "Crusader" in the same color scheme as the box art subject, with a black nose cone and rudder tip, black letters N K on the rudder, over black serial no. 6907 and black 110 on the side of the nose.
Black NAVY over VF-142 on fuselage sides under the rudder.
1. The box art scheme (already described above)
2. A "Crusader" in the same color scheme as the box art subject, with a black nose cone and rudder tip, black letters N K on the rudder, over black serial no. 6907 and black 110 on the side of the nose.
Black NAVY over VF-142 on fuselage sides under the rudder.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
The kit contains 2 sets of 3 identical medium-grey parts trees, 2 identical clear trees in 2 self-sealing clear cello bags. The decal sheet with tissue to protect its face in its own clear cello bag and the instructions.
The instructions consists of a single-sheet printed on slick coated paper, folded in the center to create 4 pages in 5 3/4" x 8 1/4" page format, folded again to fit the box.
Page 1 begins with a 1-paragraph history of the "Crusader", over general information about the kit: This is a plastic unassembled scale model kit. Glue and cement are not included. Some parts are extremely sharp. Handle carefully. Do not use heat while using glue or paint. Kit is suitable for modelers ge 15 and above.
The bottom of the page and page 2 gives a grand total of 5 assembly steps, in Japanese and English.
Page 3 has a color 4-view of the box art scheme. It was BU NO. 145572 with VF-84 "Jolly Rogers", aboard the USS Independence in 1959.
Page 4 has the "Crusader" with black rudder letters N K (already described above). It was BU NO 146907 with VF-142, aboard the USS Ranger in 1959.
A suggested paint color listing of Mr. Color and Model Master brands of hobby paints is shown.
Trees are alphabetized, but not illustrated in the instructions. They do, however, have part number tabs next to the parts on the trees. Bad move Platz !
There are 2 identical sets of trees.
Medium-grey letter A tree holds: the fuselage halves, landing gear legs, wheels, pilot seat, nose cone, floor, Zuni rockets etc. (30 parts)
The kit contains 2 sets of 3 identical medium-grey parts trees, 2 identical clear trees in 2 self-sealing clear cello bags. The decal sheet with tissue to protect its face in its own clear cello bag and the instructions.
The instructions consists of a single-sheet printed on slick coated paper, folded in the center to create 4 pages in 5 3/4" x 8 1/4" page format, folded again to fit the box.
Page 1 begins with a 1-paragraph history of the "Crusader", over general information about the kit: This is a plastic unassembled scale model kit. Glue and cement are not included. Some parts are extremely sharp. Handle carefully. Do not use heat while using glue or paint. Kit is suitable for modelers ge 15 and above.
The bottom of the page and page 2 gives a grand total of 5 assembly steps, in Japanese and English.
Page 3 has a color 4-view of the box art scheme. It was BU NO. 145572 with VF-84 "Jolly Rogers", aboard the USS Independence in 1959.
Page 4 has the "Crusader" with black rudder letters N K (already described above). It was BU NO 146907 with VF-142, aboard the USS Ranger in 1959.
A suggested paint color listing of Mr. Color and Model Master brands of hobby paints is shown.
Trees are alphabetized, but not illustrated in the instructions. They do, however, have part number tabs next to the parts on the trees. Bad move Platz !
There are 2 identical sets of trees.
Medium-grey letter A tree holds: the fuselage halves, landing gear legs, wheels, pilot seat, nose cone, floor, Zuni rockets etc. (30 parts)
Medium-grey letter B tree holds: the wings and elevators etc. (11 parts)
Medium-grey letter C holds the Sidewinder and Bullpup missiles (6 parts)
Clear letter G tree holds the cockpit canopy (1 part)
There is no pilot figure included in the kit.
There is no pilot figure included in the kit.
The decal sheet completes the kits contents.
Very nice detail for this small scale.
Highly recommended.
I want to thank Platz for this review sample. All their products can be viewed on their website at: