In Box Review of Platz 1/72nd Scale
RQ-4B Global Hawk “Yokota AB”
Kit no. AC-34SP:3800
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 2020
MSRP: 2040 yen ($23.16) at Hobby Link Japan or 3400 yen ($31.49) at Plaza Japan.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 2020
MSRP: 2040 yen ($23.16) at Hobby Link Japan or 3400 yen ($31.49) at Plaza Japan.
HISTORY:
The UAV has been in reconnaissance missions at high-altitude for a long time. It is named RQ-4 Global Hawk. The improved RQ-4B that was subsequent to the RQ-4A was delivered in 2006.
Its narrow wings, in wide span, enable missions sometimes over 24 hours. It has a distinctive nose section, equipped with various electronic devices, forming a unique shaped UAV. In the Far East, the aircraft has grown familiar in Japan trough some regular deployment to Yokota and Misawa from Groups/Wings delivered in Guam.
The UAV has been in reconnaissance missions at high-altitude for a long time. It is named RQ-4 Global Hawk. The improved RQ-4B that was subsequent to the RQ-4A was delivered in 2006.
Its narrow wings, in wide span, enable missions sometimes over 24 hours. It has a distinctive nose section, equipped with various electronic devices, forming a unique shaped UAV. In the Far East, the aircraft has grown familiar in Japan trough some regular deployment to Yokota and Misawa from Groups/Wings delivered in Guam.
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 a very blousy tray and lid type box, that is not shrink-wrapped. The box is 3” too wide and 2” too long, creating a letter “L” void around the parts.
The box art shows a color photo of an actual RQ-4B in flight. It is overall grey with black U.S. Air Force on its sides. Because of the angle of the photo the large wings are obscuring any other markings.
The bottom of the box art says: Advanced high-altitude remotely-piloted surveillance UAV.
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 a very blousy tray and lid type box, that is not shrink-wrapped. The box is 3” too wide and 2” too long, creating a letter “L” void around the parts.
The box art shows a color photo of an actual RQ-4B in flight. It is overall grey with black U.S. Air Force on its sides. Because of the angle of the photo the large wings are obscuring any other markings.
The bottom of the box art says: Advanced high-altitude remotely-piloted surveillance UAV.
There is a paper sticker on one corner of the box art, printed in color It has 2 small side profiles of the RQ-4B in Japanese JASDF markings, posed over a color illustration of the Japanese markings decal sheet included in the kit.
One side-panel of the kit begins with a small color repeat of the box art photo, followed by the history of the RQ-4B and ABOUT THIS KIT: The RQ-4B UAV is in 1/72nd scale as a plastic model. Total length 201mm (8”) total span (22”). Wow…that’s long!
It realizes a unique UAV shape with no cockpit. Carefully designed to fit the long span wings firmly, as well as easy to build. Decals for 8 aircrafts which deployed to Yokota air bases, Japan since 2017. Said in English and Japanese.
Platz’s web address, telephone and FAX number are provided.
One side-panel of the kit begins with a small color repeat of the box art photo, followed by the history of the RQ-4B and ABOUT THIS KIT: The RQ-4B UAV is in 1/72nd scale as a plastic model. Total length 201mm (8”) total span (22”). Wow…that’s long!
It realizes a unique UAV shape with no cockpit. Carefully designed to fit the long span wings firmly, as well as easy to build. Decals for 8 aircrafts which deployed to Yokota air bases, Japan since 2017. Said in English and Japanese.
Platz’s web address, telephone and FAX number are provided.
The other side panel begins with 2 color photos of actual RQ-4B’S in U.S. Air Force markings. Followed by: This is a plastic unassembled model kit. Glue and paint not provided. Some parts are extremely sharp. Handle with care. Do not use paint and cement near a flame and be in a well ventilated room
Platz’s web address is repeated. In English and Japanese.
Platz’s web address is repeated. In English and Japanese.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit contains 5 medium-grey parts trees, a metal screw and 2 decal sheets in 2 cello bags. One of which is self-sealing. The other one is heat sealed.
Trees are alphabetized.
Medium-grey letter A tree holds a fuselage half etc. (12 parts)
This kit contains 5 medium-grey parts trees, a metal screw and 2 decal sheets in 2 cello bags. One of which is self-sealing. The other one is heat sealed.
Trees are alphabetized.
Medium-grey letter A tree holds a fuselage half etc. (12 parts)
Medium-grey letter B tree holds the other fuselage half etc. (10 parts) There is a small square part on this tree that the instructions show to put inside the air-intake and screw down with the metal screw provided.
Medium-grey letter C tree holds: wing halves, rudder/elevator combination etc. (5 parts)
Medium-grey letter D tree holds: the other wing halves, rudder/elevator combination etc. (5 parts)
Medium-grey letter E tree holds the fuselage top etc. (4 parts)
There are no clear parts.
There are no clear parts.
The instructions consists of a 4 page booklet in 7” x 10” page format, printed on slick-coated paper.
Page 1 gives the history of the RQ-4B in Japanese and English, over Platz’s telephone and FAX numbers and their e-mail address.
Page 2 to the top of page 3 gives a grand total of 4 assembly steps.
The bottom of page 3 has the parts trees illustrations.
Page 4 begins with a 4-view of a RQ-4B that is overall gunship-grey, with all white under the wings. It carries U.S. Air Force on the fuselage sides.
The star and bars insignia on its sides and atop the left wing and below the right one. USAF is the right wing and below the left one.
The bottom of the page shows 9 markings carried on the rudder/elevator combinations.
Page 1 gives the history of the RQ-4B in Japanese and English, over Platz’s telephone and FAX numbers and their e-mail address.
Page 2 to the top of page 3 gives a grand total of 4 assembly steps.
The bottom of page 3 has the parts trees illustrations.
Page 4 begins with a 4-view of a RQ-4B that is overall gunship-grey, with all white under the wings. It carries U.S. Air Force on the fuselage sides.
The star and bars insignia on its sides and atop the left wing and below the right one. USAF is the right wing and below the left one.
The bottom of the page shows 9 markings carried on the rudder/elevator combinations.
1. AF-42, no. 112049
2. AF-31. That has an orange tip with WWI style German crosses on it, over large black BB, over small AF-039.
3. AF-36. That also has an orange tip with the crosses on it, over a shield with an eagle on it, over large black BB, over small AF 10-043.
4. AF-39. That also has an orange tip with the crosses on it, over the eagle shield, large black BB, over small AF-11-048.
5. AF-39. That has a red and orange tip with white eagle wings across it, over large black GF, over AF-11-046.
6. AF-57. That also has a red and orange tip with the eagle shield, over large black GF, over small AF-11-044
7. AF-30. That has the orange tip with the crosses on it, over large black BB, over small AF-09-037.
8. AF-29. That has the red and orange tip with eagle wings, over large black GF, over small AF-08-036.
9. AF-27. That also has the red and orange tip with eagle wings, over large black GF, over small AF-08-034.
These 4 pages form a booklet for 2 other sheets inserted in it. One sheet 14” x 10” format, printed on one side.
It shows a 4-view of a RQ-4B in gunship-grey over white below the wings. Black U.S. Air Force on fuselage sides. Star and bars on fuselage sides and above the right wing and below the left. Black USAF above the left wing and below the right. Sheet is folded in half to fit the folder.
The other sheet is 7” x 10” format, printed on both sides.
Each side shows a RQ-4B in Japanese markings.
The neon the face side has Japanese lettering on the sides of the fuselage, followed by the Japanese rising sun insignia. On the rudder/elevator combination it has a logo of WOODY WOODPECKER’S head over black 04-6601. It has rising sun insignia above and below its wings. It is a Global Hawk at Yokota AB.
The reverse side there is another RQ-4B in Japanese markings. It is in the same color scheme as the other Japanese one. It has the WOODY WOODPECKER insignia on the rudder/elevator combinations over black 04-6601 again.
2. AF-31. That has an orange tip with WWI style German crosses on it, over large black BB, over small AF-039.
3. AF-36. That also has an orange tip with the crosses on it, over a shield with an eagle on it, over large black BB, over small AF 10-043.
4. AF-39. That also has an orange tip with the crosses on it, over the eagle shield, large black BB, over small AF-11-048.
5. AF-39. That has a red and orange tip with white eagle wings across it, over large black GF, over AF-11-046.
6. AF-57. That also has a red and orange tip with the eagle shield, over large black GF, over small AF-11-044
7. AF-30. That has the orange tip with the crosses on it, over large black BB, over small AF-09-037.
8. AF-29. That has the red and orange tip with eagle wings, over large black GF, over small AF-08-036.
9. AF-27. That also has the red and orange tip with eagle wings, over large black GF, over small AF-08-034.
These 4 pages form a booklet for 2 other sheets inserted in it. One sheet 14” x 10” format, printed on one side.
It shows a 4-view of a RQ-4B in gunship-grey over white below the wings. Black U.S. Air Force on fuselage sides. Star and bars on fuselage sides and above the right wing and below the left. Black USAF above the left wing and below the right. Sheet is folded in half to fit the folder.
The other sheet is 7” x 10” format, printed on both sides.
Each side shows a RQ-4B in Japanese markings.
The neon the face side has Japanese lettering on the sides of the fuselage, followed by the Japanese rising sun insignia. On the rudder/elevator combination it has a logo of WOODY WOODPECKER’S head over black 04-6601. It has rising sun insignia above and below its wings. It is a Global Hawk at Yokota AB.
The reverse side there is another RQ-4B in Japanese markings. It is in the same color scheme as the other Japanese one. It has the WOODY WOODPECKER insignia on the rudder/elevator combinations over black 04-6601 again.
This is one neat drone type aircraft. The length of the wings will surely draw stares on a modelers shelf. Being molded in grey, you could almost get away with not painting it too.
I want to sincerely thank the folks at Platz for this review sample.
All Platz products can be viewed on their web site at:
I want to sincerely thank the folks at Platz for this review sample.
All Platz products can be viewed on their web site at:
Highly recommended.