Antares Models

1/48 General Atomics RQ-1 Predator UAV

Kit Number: OP4801

Reviewed By Rick Geithmann, #33305

MSRP: $40.00 USD (from IPMS/Toledo Plastic Modelers)

PARTS: 24 Resin, 14 Photo-Etched, 3 Cast Metal

DECALS: Water Slide, Multiple Options

MANUFACTURER: Antares Models, IPMS/Fremont Kit Bashers, IPMS/Toledo Plastic Modelers 

This kit was conceived to help make our Region IV Contest and Convention a much more special event.  This was a joint venture between the Toledo Plastic Modelers and the Fremont Kit Bashers with Antares Models doing the kit.  Since we were having a one day Regional it was decided to do what ever we could to have a unique show!  We already had some very unique awards for the contestants, but we wanted to do something much more different than our previous Regional when we had a special decal sheet made.  And what would be more unexpected than having a Show Kit produced!  This is something the National Conventions do not even attempt to do!

The kit consists of 24 resin parts which make up the fuselage, wings, stabilizers, prop, wheels, sensor turret and various antennas.  The photo-etched parts are for the wheel hubs, turret lens surrounds, disc brake rotors, and antennas.  The cast metal parts are for the three landing gear legs.  There are also decals provided for various aircraft in both hi and low visibility markings.

All parts are flash free with only the molding blocks to remove, the photo-etched parts are a nice soft brass and are easy to remove and clean up.  The gear legs needed only minor clean up with a file along the mold lines.

Assembly was pretty straight forward with a nice clean butt joint for all wings which should be at a 90 degree angle from the fuselage and control surfaces with super glue being needed for all construction due to the resin and metal parts of the kit.  Epoxy can be used if desired, however I found Zap-A-Gap used with an accelerator to be more than enough.  With the main wings attached you will be able to set the proper angle for the rear stabilizers.  There is however a slight problem with the stabilizers!  They are a tad bit to long and will touch the ground if not cut off a bit, this is due I think to the kit being made totally from photographs and from this being a very unusual subject for the manufacturer, as they normally do only Luftwaffe 1946 items.  However even with this and one other problem (more later) this is a very well engineered and finely molded kit.  (Better than some of the big boys.)

If you are planning to have your kit in flight mode you will not have to make any alterations to the kit, however if you prefer to use the landing gear you must make the following cuts:

1.) Remove 1/8 of an inch from one end of each of the stabilizers.  Then to set the proper angles install the landing gear to the fuselage without the wheels.  Set the model on a level surface and attach the stabilizers to the rear fuselage and let the free end rest down on the table surface.  For me this set up a perfect angle, and when I installed the wheels I had the proper ground clearance.

2.) The beautifully done prop blades will need the same treatment.  As the prop on the real aircraft is not very large you must remove 1/4 inch from each blade and reshape the blade tip.

These are both very simple and easy modifications to make with just a razor saw and some sanding needed.

For the resin wheels you have photo-etched wheel hubs and three part disc brake rotors for the main wheels.  These went together well with no extra trimming or modifications.  Some thin formula super glue would be best for the brake rotors.  Also some scratch built brake calipers would enhance the wheels quite a bit.  Since I was building this kit out of the box for the show I only used what came with the kit.  Also if you would prefer to model the armed MQ-1 version all you need is to build up a couple of wing pylons from some plastic stock or modify a small kit pylon and raid an AH-64 Apache kit for a couple of Hellfire missiles.

Another recently seen option would be to mount a Hellfire on one wing and a couple of Stinger launchers on the other.  One Predator is rumored to have taken on a Mig-31 using it's Stingers?  It lost!

After the wheels, prop, and wings are attached all you have left is the sensor turret on the nose and your choice of different air scoops (both top and bottom) and antenna on top of the fuselage.  Please consult your photo collection and books as there seems to be no two aircraft that are alike!  The turret has a photo-etched lens ring that fit perfectly on the front of the turret with just a small drop of glue.  The antenna's on top are a dome type or a two blade configuration.

Once you have the kit all assembled to the configuration you want you just have to paint it up!  Most Predators are or were done in a plain overall gloss white with yellow prop tips and semi gloss black gear legs.  I painted my kit up in a more current gray scheme that I have been seeing in aviation publications.  You could also do your kit up in the markings of another country?  Italy and Japan are recent users, though only U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy markings are supplied.

The decals were printed by Condor Decals are very well done and are of the water slide type.  They are very glossy and have a bit more carrier film than normal, but they went down very well with no problem and did not fall apart.

This was a very quick and enjoyable kit to build, and I would recommend it to anyone who has wanted to try a resin or multi media kit.  It is cleanly molded, has no complicated parts or assembly and is very easy to paint.

If you would like to purchase one of these kits, there are still a small number left.  There were only 75 kits produced, and once they are gone that will be it!  Orders in the U.S. are $40.00 + $3.85 for Priority Mail shipping for one kit.  Multiple kits or overseas orders please contact me and I will give you your choice of shipping options.

You may contact the Toledo Plastic Modelers for information, or you may contact me directly me at:

Rick Geithmann

P.O. Box 717

Toledo Ohio 43697-0717

Or by email at pzkw-6@worldnet.att.net

Information, images, and all other items placed electronically on this site are the intellectual property of IPMS/USA ®.