The A-12 Avenger II was a proposed attack plane initiated by the Navy in 1983. The goal was to replace the A-6 using advance stealth technologies. McDonnell Douglas, teamed with General Dynamics, was selected at prime contractor in 1988, with a first flight expected by 1990. Even at this early stage, the Navy and Marines projected a need of over 550 aircraft. The Air Force became interested as an F-111 replacement and projected a need of 400 aircraft.

The design that emerged was a flying wing shaped like an isosceles triangle. It earned the nickname of “Flying Dorito” after the triangled-shaped corn chip. The plane was to be powered by two GE F412 engines and would be manned by a crew of two housed under a clear tandem canopy. There would be two weapon bays, just inboard of the main landing gear that would house all weapons. There were no external hard points.

The project almost immediately ran into significant technical challenges causing delay after delay. Finally in January, 1991, the entire program was cancelled by the DoD after spending over $5 billion and only having a mock-up to show for it. The government wanted $2 billion back which the company disputed. This led to a twenty-year court case and the ultimate failure of both companies -- McDonnell being absorbed by Boeing and General Dynamics selling their aircraft division to Lockheed.

ModelCollect is a Chinese company started in 2012. Its current catalog lists mostly 1/35 armor and some 1/72 large bomber aircraft. The A-12 is the first in 1/48 and is part of a series called “First of War”. This series consists of proposed or fantasy designs, both armor and aircraft, mostly WWII German and Japanese. The A-12 is the first modern design in the series.

The model comes in a large sturdy, top-opening box with very nice artwork. The model consists of 163 pieces in gray plastic including a single clear canopy and a sprue of weapons, mostly common modern types. The main body of the plane is two large top and bottom pieces. The outer wings are separate and are able to be posed as folded or extended. The directions are a multi-page booklet with detail line drawings and a color page showing the markings placement. There are relatively few decals on the single sheet.

This is a big model with a 17.5 inch (45 cm) wing span. The detail is finely done, but simplified. This is not unexpected since the plane only got as far as a mockup with no actual hardware ever made.

This is the type of “what if” design that lets the modelers imagination go wild. Out of the box, it will make a unique subject on the display shelf, but for the modeler who wants to do more, think about what shapes have actually come out of Northrop in the form of the B-2 and B-21 since the A-12 was cancelled in 1991.

Chuck Horner

September 2025