Here's a look at Dragon's latest quarterscale kit - the Ta 152C.

Link to Item

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

Looks like a good kit. Some nice Luftwaffe '46 potential here too. That would look cool with some ordnance hanging from the wings... Now does any manufacturer make X-4 air-to-air missiles?

Funny how the Trimaster moulds are from the mid/late 80's / early 90's and still holding up nicely. I bet they would still pass as new tooling kits if introduced.
But I can't help feeling quite puzzled about the omission of the engine. Why on earth couldn't it be included on this one as it was on the recent Ta-152 H-0 release? Or even come up with a suitably detailed assembly to plug the void and give an impression of the rear of the engine and it's associated components? Is this intended as some sort of a bugdet release or what?
Now wasn't the engine the same, or at least very similar to the one on the long-winged version?

Hi Eetu

The Ta152C has a total different engine!! so what do you want with the old one ( BTW the Italeri box also had no engine) .. of course I agree that something in there would have been nice ....

If I got that right, this is (at least partly) new tool .. Jerry Crandall was somehow involved and is also publishing a decal set for it (Eagle Editions) ..

all th ebest

Steffen

Of course, sorry. Thanks for clearing out the engine question. I looked at the wikipedia article but somehow managed to miss the engine info...
Well, at least the engine parts from the H-0 could have been useful for cobbling together some sort of a doohickey to plug the void and resemble the engine rear. I don't know...

With the all CAD, slidemolds, bells & whistles they're boasting, I was just thinking Dragon would have at least made an engine rear plug. But nothing.

Yep, it's partially new tooling. It appears that the sprues containing the wings and the nose components are new ones.
Btw, judging fromt their color and the material used in Trimaster's original kits, I presume the PE is steel? (get those lighters ready!)

Hi Eetu

Yes, the new parts are confined to the wings and nose. The etched frets are indeed steel (or nickel - to be honest, I never know), but certainly not brass.

All the best

Rowan

This looks promising for sure.I felt a little cheated when i got the Italeri re box of the Tri master/Dragon H model and it didnt include the engine, a little sad this one doesnt have it either.

Hi Mike

As Steffen pointed out to Eetu, the Ta 152C was powered by a different engine to the 'H, so the old parts would be no use. The new cowls aren't designed to open, so a full DB 603 would be wasted, but it is a shame that Dragon didn't include some representation of the rear of the engine.

All the best

Rowan

Sorry should have read that first post I still wish the Italeri re box of the H had come with the engine found in the Trimaster kit. Im still going to buy this kit though it looks great

Rowan;

A couple questions:

The front cowling looks a different shape-wise compared to the fusion conversion and the cooling gills do not look as "open" compared to the Dragon H and fusion conversions...correct? The radiator front also appears different than the fusion conversion/photos of the real thing. Not big issues and easily modified but would like to know your thoughts. Thanks in advance and for the great review. Can't wait for the kit to hit the market and just in time as I finish my fusion conversion!

Kevin - Newburgh, Indiana

H Kevin

I agree - the cowl flaps aren't very "open" (the difference is actually a little clearer with the parts in your hand). What I'd really like to do, once I'm settled in my new base on the Isle of Wight, is a side-by-side build of the Dragon/Fusion interpretions, so people can judge for themselves from the overall result.

I should make position clear: In the early days of this kit, Dragon consulted me for advice, and I pointed them towards the Fusion set and recommended they contact Jerry Crandall/Eagle Editions. I'm hoping Eagle will someday publish the ex-Monogram (or should that be "was-to-be-Monogram") book on the Ta 152 - in its updated form, that's likely to be the ultimate reference.

There are pros and cons to both Dragon and Fusion (cost, for one thing...) My biggest concern with the Dragon kit is the top-surface line of the ailerons. I'm wondering if they've taken the chord from the 'H and transferred it to the shorter wing. I missed it on first glance and then it was a "Ohh, hold on a minute!" issue. Not the end of the world, but it does look very narrow...

All the best

Rowan

Thanks Rowan...I appreciate the quick response.

Yes, I suppose there are many factors to consider (especially price), and given that we now have the Dragon option I am defininitely not complaining:-). Regarding the new Dragon kit, I see your point about the ailerons and my only nit would be the cowl (of course I have not seen the actuall kit). With that said, one could slightly modify the H cowl included in the kit as it appears very similar to the fusion cowl, and fabricate portions of the radiator which appears more open in the front (based on pictures/fusion's conversion) compared to the Dragon kit. Overall, I am really looking forward to the kit as I want to sling a big old torpedo under one as a torpedoflugzeug (why were the Germans even considering these subtypes towards the end of the war???---Hitler was all about the offensive I guess???).

By the way, thanks for the great and timely review. Jerry kept mentioning that he was going to post a review on Hyperscale but I have yet to see it (I realize that folks are busy). I was surprised to see yours so soon! Fantastic job!

Cheers,

Kevin