In Box Review of Air Lines 1/72nd Scale Hotspur II Training Glider
Kit no. 7904
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
My kit has a copyright date of 1964. I paid .64 cents for it back in the 60's.
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
My kit has a copyright date of 1964. I paid .64 cents for it back in the 60's.
HISTORY:
Built by General Aircraft Ltd., the Hotspur I, first went into service in 1940. It had a span of 61 ft. 10 in. In contrast to the 45 ft. 10 3/4 in. of the Mk. II, and the wings were tapered to a point. Over 3,000 Hotspurs were produced.
The Hotspur II, was initially intended as an operational glider, but they were never used as such, being relegated to training duties only.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Length: 39 ft. 8 3/4 ins.
Span: 45 ft. 10 3/4 ins.
Maximum Speed in tow: 90 m.p.h.
Free gliding speed: 80 m.p.h.
THE KIT:
Air Lines is Lines Bros., once based in New York, NY.
This kit came in a tray and lid type box in which the tray and lid are hinged together. It was not shrink wrapped but held shut with strips of Scotch tape.
The box art shows two Hotspurs souring above the countryside.
They are both in a wave pattern of dark green and middle stone over a yellow undercarraige that has diagonal black stripes over it. The Hotspur in the foreground just has a yellow letter J on the sides of its nose. It carries the black serial no. BT615 on the rear of the fuselage behind the roundel.
One side panel has a color side view of the box art subject.
The other side panel lists features of the kit: pilot figure, movable wheels, authentic R.A.F.
markings, box bottom COLLECTOR'S CARDS, Air Lines - Testor FREE KIT OFFER (see box bottom), Testor painting manual
On the box's bottom is two of the collector's cards. You cut these out. It has a color box art of Air Line's kit no. 7906, a Airspeed Oxford Trainer and kit no. 3901 a DeWoitine D520C fighter.
To the right of these cards is the FREE KIT offer of a Testor paint set, worth .79 cents in the 1960's for sending in 12 different collector's cards or a kit of your choice for 24 collector's cards.
Built by General Aircraft Ltd., the Hotspur I, first went into service in 1940. It had a span of 61 ft. 10 in. In contrast to the 45 ft. 10 3/4 in. of the Mk. II, and the wings were tapered to a point. Over 3,000 Hotspurs were produced.
The Hotspur II, was initially intended as an operational glider, but they were never used as such, being relegated to training duties only.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Length: 39 ft. 8 3/4 ins.
Span: 45 ft. 10 3/4 ins.
Maximum Speed in tow: 90 m.p.h.
Free gliding speed: 80 m.p.h.
THE KIT:
Air Lines is Lines Bros., once based in New York, NY.
This kit came in a tray and lid type box in which the tray and lid are hinged together. It was not shrink wrapped but held shut with strips of Scotch tape.
The box art shows two Hotspurs souring above the countryside.
They are both in a wave pattern of dark green and middle stone over a yellow undercarraige that has diagonal black stripes over it. The Hotspur in the foreground just has a yellow letter J on the sides of its nose. It carries the black serial no. BT615 on the rear of the fuselage behind the roundel.
One side panel has a color side view of the box art subject.
The other side panel lists features of the kit: pilot figure, movable wheels, authentic R.A.F.
markings, box bottom COLLECTOR'S CARDS, Air Lines - Testor FREE KIT OFFER (see box bottom), Testor painting manual
On the box's bottom is two of the collector's cards. You cut these out. It has a color box art of Air Line's kit no. 7906, a Airspeed Oxford Trainer and kit no. 3901 a DeWoitine D520C fighter.
To the right of these cards is the FREE KIT offer of a Testor paint set, worth .79 cents in the 1960's for sending in 12 different collector's cards or a kit of your choice for 24 collector's cards.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
This kit contains 4 silver-grey parts trees, a clear tree, the decal sheet, instructions and the painting guide.
The instructions consist of a single sheet printed on both sides in 8" x 6" page format.
The face side has one exploded drawing for assembly, with a lot of text to walk modelers through the build.
The reverse side has the history of the Hotspur and a 3 view of the box art scheme.
The kit was made in the U.S.A. and Lines Bros. stree address in New York, NY is provided.
The 1st silver-grey tree holds: wing bottom halves and a fuselage half (3 parts)
This kit contains 4 silver-grey parts trees, a clear tree, the decal sheet, instructions and the painting guide.
The instructions consist of a single sheet printed on both sides in 8" x 6" page format.
The face side has one exploded drawing for assembly, with a lot of text to walk modelers through the build.
The reverse side has the history of the Hotspur and a 3 view of the box art scheme.
The kit was made in the U.S.A. and Lines Bros. stree address in New York, NY is provided.
The 1st silver-grey tree holds: wing bottom halves and a fuselage half (3 parts)
The 2nd silver-grey tree holds: wing top halves and the other fuselage half (3 parts)
The 3rd silver-grey tree holds: crew figures, fuselage doors, a hand grip that goes over the door, landing skid sections, landing gear legs, wing flaps and elevator front parts (13 parts)
The 4th silver-grey tree holds: wheels, seats, cockpit floor, rudder flap, elevator flaps (12 parts)
The clear tree holds: the cockpit canopy and fuselage windows (14 parts)
The kit decals.
Parts trees are not cello bagged. There are no part trees illustrations in the instructions. Trees are not alphabetized and there are no part number tabs next to the parts on the trees. Bad move Air Lines.
Otherwise, it is a decent kit for being about 50 years old. The panel lines are of the raised variety.
I purchased my kit for an almost give-away price at my local hobby shop that went out of business.
The AIRCRAFT PAINTING GUIDE & INSTRUCTION BOOKLET accordion-folds out into 10 pages in 4" x 5 1/4" page format.
Page 2 to the top of page 6 shows color illustrations of 9 other aircraft kits that Air Lines marketed:
Kit no. 12900 A N.A. Mitchel Bomber as a 2-view.
Kit no. 7906 A Airspeed Oxford Trainer as a 3-view.
Kit no. 12901 A Vickers Vimy as a 2-view.
Otherwise, it is a decent kit for being about 50 years old. The panel lines are of the raised variety.
I purchased my kit for an almost give-away price at my local hobby shop that went out of business.
The AIRCRAFT PAINTING GUIDE & INSTRUCTION BOOKLET accordion-folds out into 10 pages in 4" x 5 1/4" page format.
Page 2 to the top of page 6 shows color illustrations of 9 other aircraft kits that Air Lines marketed:
Kit no. 12900 A N.A. Mitchel Bomber as a 2-view.
Kit no. 7906 A Airspeed Oxford Trainer as a 3-view.
Kit no. 12901 A Vickers Vimy as a 2-view.
Kit no. 7907 A Bristol Beaufort Torpedo Bomber as a 3-view.
Kit no. 12902 A Martin Maurader II Bomber as a 2-view.
Kit no. 4900 A Supermarine S6B Racer as a 2-view.
Kit no. 9800 A Martin Baltimore Bomber as a 2-view.
Kit no. 4902 A Morane Sualnier 406 Fighter as a 3-view.
Kit no. 4901 A Blackburn Skua Dive Bomber as a 2-view.
Kit no. 4900 A Supermarine S6B Racer as a 2-view.
Kit no. 9800 A Martin Baltimore Bomber as a 2-view.
Kit no. 4902 A Morane Sualnier 406 Fighter as a 3-view.
Kit no. 4901 A Blackburn Skua Dive Bomber as a 2-view.
Plus a list of a lot of other kits and an illustration of a Testor's paint rack.