Hasegawa 1/200 McDonnell/Douglas MD-11 preview

KIT:	Hasegawa 1/200 McDonnell Douglas MD-11
KIT #	10108
PRICE:	$23.95
DECALS:	Three JAL aircraft
REVIEW & PHOTOS :	Scott Van Aken
NOTES:	'J-Bird'

HISTORY

The Douglas DC-10 has had a long and sometimes rocky history. Initially plagued with structural problems that nearly cancelled the program, much of it due to suspect construction by the California plant, the DC-10 became a modest success and was eventually purchased by the USAF as its next generation tanker, the KC-10. After Douglas was purchased by McDonnell, a 'new' aircraft, the MD-11 was revealed to the world. Basically, it was still a DC-10, however improvements in avionics, engines, and aerodynamics resulted in a much improved aircraft. Fitted with state of the art equipment and improved interior design, the MD-11 has become a successful aircraft and sells well to those who need an aircraft that holds a lot of people, yet don't need a 747 sized airplane.

THE KIT

Here is another very nice Hasegawa 1/200 airliner kit. At first glance, you might think that this is just another boxing of their older DC-10 kit, however close examination of the parts shows a completely new airframe. Panel lines are engraved as is expected in today's kits, and are very well done. Not to say that all the DC-10 bits are gone as there are a couple of sprues of landing gear, engine pods and other common bits that are direct carry-overs from the older kit. Like all the Hasegawa airliners there are windows punched out on the fuselage. Frankly, I would rather they not be there. Most airliner modelers will fill these and sand them smooth. In addition, the kit instructions tell you to fill a number of them, and the decals include a full set of windows anyway. Hopefully, Hasegawa will eventually see the light as has Minicraft and Academy and provide these kits with windowless fuselages.

Anyway, as befits a Japanese company, this kit comes with JAL markings. Apparently JAL names all their MD-11s after Japanese birds and this kit offers three examples. There are also two other 'J-bird' kits that offer other examples. The decals appear to be quite well done and provide all the decals necessary to complete the bird of your choice. This is, I believe, the most recent paint scheme for JAL as the kit is marked as a 1995 release. As such, it is mostly white fuselage with grey lower portions and grey wings with dark grey corroguard sections. A pretty simple scheme that can be done by even a beginning airline modeler. If this kit goes together as well as their DC/KC-10 kits, the average modeler should have it up and running in less than 2 weeks.

The instruction sheet is also typical of Hasegawa a very well done. Color callouts are from the Gunze range. The instructions suggest decaling the fuselage and then adding the wings. I see no problem with that as these kits usually fit very well. As with the other airliners in this range there is a display stand that you may use should you choose. Building the kit wheels up may require a bit of work as the main gear doors are one piece and will not fully cover the wheel wells. The nose gear door, like the older DC-10 kit, is molded in the open position so some extra work will be required there as well if doing an in-flight presentation.

Overall it looks like another winner. Not sure of availability of aftermarket sheets, but would be surprised if none were on the market.

Review copy courtesy of me and my wallet! If you would like your product reviewed fairly and quickly by a site that has over 800 visits a day, please contact me or see other details in the Note to Contributors.