Academy reveals some details of their February release which is the T-50 two-seater in the eye-catching painting scheme of the ROKAF "Black Eagles" aerobatic team.



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Thanks!

Academy's standard 48th T-50 is already out. I received my sample back in December. The overall tooling quality is nice with crisp parts and surface detail, though the upper forward fuselage and vertical tail surface areas are grainy. The "open" speed brakes (there is the option for closed too) have some sink marks. Punch marks are on some of the parts like the gear, inside intake duct, and gear doors, but these are minimal/shallow.

Cockpit detail is a on the weak side, especially the Ejection seats. Instrument panels are done in clear; a detour from their typical approach to IPs. You get a pair of crew ladders as well. Canopies come with the proper "blown" cross section, which means there will be the slight raised seam to sand and polish out. Interior canopy frame details are also provided.

Academy also includes full wheel wells and well done landing gear. You get a choice of weighted (on ground) or extended (in flight) landing gear configurations; something new for aircraft models. The Exhaust is Complete with duct ribbing detail and as well done closed nozzle section. A full run intake is also provided, though it will be some work to clean up. Separate flaperons, stabs, and speed brakes round out the flight control options.

Being a trainer, there’s not much for stores other than a pair of wing tanks, smoke winders, and what looks like captive AIM-9s. Decals are done by Cartograf and are up to their usual high standards with tight clear registration. Markings are for the Basic ROKAF orange and white trainer Squadron.

Overall, this is a quality kit that is very close to the options and standards as Hasegawa’s T-4. Initial test fitting shows the major fuselage sections and sub assemblies fit well.

Mike V

Hi Mike, many thanks for your input. Would you like to publish here, on Aeroscale, your full review of this kit?

Sure- no problem. Let me do a little more editing and take some pics this weekend