Military Model Scene

F-Toys are a range on pre-painted kits which are supplied in an outer box of 10 models, in what they call their Model Kit Collection series.  You will usually buy them individually though not know just which one you will get.  In this WKC 6 release there are 10 different models but the boxes are all identical though you don't know which subject is in what box.  If you buy the complete 'outer' box, you will get one of each but until you open the individual box you don't know which one is in which box.  Also rather unusual for our UK market these days, each one also contains a small piece of chewing gum.  As I understand it these are sometimes sold in Japan in a vending machine, so aimed at youngsters, a little bit like those football card collections on sale here where you buy a pack but don't know if you already have the cards and can start swapping them with other collectors.  However, if like me you but a full box, you are sure of getting one of each.

The Spitfires include both standard canopy and bubbletop styles among them, all with the late Griffon engine and 5-bladed propeller.  The other one in this collection is the little Messerschmitt Me 163 rocket powered interceptor.  Each on of these is also accompanied by a Kubelwagen and a Ketterkrad which are also pre-painted and need assembly.  The back of the box illustrates the 5 different colour and marking schemes of the Spitfires along with 4 options of the Me 163.  That makes 9 while number 10 is meant to come as a surprise.  On the basis you can discover this when you buy one, the surprise item in another Me 163 example, but in ... markings (?!)

There is a cockpit tub to see inside the cockpit on both the Spitfire and the Komet and they assemble very neatly.  Once done you will need to touch up some of the colours where the parts have been removed from their sprues, particularly the black on the Spitfire propeller blades.  The Spits can be modelled with wheels down or wheels up if you want to fit it to the display stand that is provided.  One or two markings, such as the upper wing roundels are on the parts in the box, but a sheet of transfers are included for each model with the rest of the markings which need to be applied.  With the Me 163 there is a Kubelwagen is a body and chassis pan, steering wheel, instrument panel, folded tilt,  four wheels and the spare for the bonnet plus a clear plastic windscreen.  The even smaller Kettenkrad has the main body, lower panel, engine block and transmission, seat, front wheel and handlebars.  Small parts so it does need that little bit of care in assembly.

I have a couple of these built which are pictured below, though I have still to add their marking transfers.

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Tiger Hobbies here in the UK are now importing the F-Toys range.

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Robin