Trumpeter

1/144 Shenyang F8-II/J8-II "Finback"

Kit Number: 1328

Reviewed by  Jim Pearsall, IPMS# 2209

MSRP: unknown - I bought this kit at a swap meet for $5. Stevens International doesn't list this kit, but it's on the Trumpeter web site. The Aircraft: I've been fascinated by the exotic and unusual in aircraft, and this one fits both categories. When I saw this little box on a table at a swap meet, I had to have one. Since I was going to build it, and it's a new kit, I volunteered, and John Noack accepted this review. The Finback apparently is a development by the Chinese on their J-8, which uses the MiG-21 as its' starting point. The wing and tail of the J-8II still have MiG-21 family resemblance, but the intakes have been moved back from the nose to the fuselage sides, and there are 2 engines. The fuselage is bigger - both to hold 2 engines, and to carry more fuel. This gives more room for avionics in the nose, and probably overcomes the MiG-21's short range problems. Finding out anything about a current PLAAF aircraft is like getting information on Warsaw Pact equipment in the 1960s. There's some information out there, but it's pretty slim. Mostly a few photos and some speculation about performance. But the lack of information just adds to the mystery and makes it more interesting to me. The Kit 3 sprues, in light grey, a clear canopies, plus decals for one PLAAF aircraft. 40 parts plus the canopy. Thanks to Inspector 7, all the parts were there.

The kit has recessed panel lines, but they are a little on the heavy side. Think Matchbox, only the lines are 1/2 as wide and deep. There is a nice little seat in the cockpit, but no stick, panel or consoles. But then, putting them in might be revealing some State Secret. I did add strips of Tamiya tape for seat belts. The aircraft is armed with four "Atoll/Sidewinder" type missiles and two multiple rocket pods, plus a centerline tank. There are locating pins and holes for the pylons in the wing and fuselage. There's also a twin 23mm gun pod on the underside of the fuselage. I wouldn't recommend firing the guns before the nose gear has fully retracted. Construction This is a very straightforward kit. No options. But everything fit together tightly. In fact sometimes a little too tightly. The wings and fuselage top are one part. The fuselage bottom is a tight fit into the wings, and in order to get the fuselage front and rear to hold together while the glue set, I had to clamp it. It also took a little putty to get the upper and lower halves to line up. The only other issues with the kit itself were 1) the ejection seat is about 1/2 mm too wide for the canopy to fit over it. Scrape a little off the edges of the seat, it's fine. And 2) the "huge" sink mark in the exhaust. Since it's 1/144, it took a dab of putty about half the size of a BB to fill it. Sand it, paint it, it's fine. If you're building the kit "gear down", you also have to cut the ventral fin, as it folds for ground clearance. Probably when the gear comes down, it folds up. The fold line is indicated on the finishing drawing. Finishing: The painting and decal instructions are a little sparse. There is no color callout for the overall aircraft color. I guessed that the color the kit was molded in was correct. Since I'd already applied red and green putty, there was going to have to be some color painted on. Testors Model Master ® Flat Gull Grey, 36440 is almost a dead match for the plastic, so that's what I used. The other color numbers in the instruction apparently are for Humbrol colors. I used Testors enamels, silver for the fuselage rear, 34079 for the antennas and nose cone, Black for the tires, and Burnt Metal for the exhaust. Putting the decals on was not a huge chore. I did leave the underwing stores and landing gear off until I finished the decals, and I'm glad I did. I think I also found a mistake on the instructions for the decals. "Inverted Star Phenomenon" strikes the PLAAF!! The wing markings in all 4 positions are shown with 2 points of the star pointing forward, and one aft. All the photos I can find of PLAAF aircraft show the single point forward, just like the US and Russian stars.

Overall: I have a friend who always looks for the simple and uncomplicated paint scheme for his kits. Three color camouflage is way too complex! Two colors? Not for him. This is his kind of paint job. One color overall, with some details added. And that's the kind of kit this is. No problems building, all the parts are there, nicely molded, except for the exhaust, and it all fits with only a little work. Oh, yes…The ventral fin folds to the pilot's right. Verified from photo evidence and they don't tell you that in the instructions.

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