Subject: Re: Skunk Model Workshop 1/48 RQ-4B Global Hawk
From: "Submissions for ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: "Dave Johnson" <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 12 Dec 2010 17:45:19 -0800

Hi,
I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC today.  Thanks again for sending it in.

Steve Bamford
ARC Air - Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.arcair.com

Live like there is no tomorrow;
Love like you've never been hurt.
Work like you don't need the money.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Dave Johnson 
  To: [email-masked] 
  Sent: Monday, November 29, 2010 12:27 AM
  Subject: Fwd: Skunk Model Workshop 1/48 RQ-4B Global Hawk

  Skunk Model Workshop

  1/48 RQ-4B Global Hawk

  Product #48009  (http://www.luckymodel.com/scale.aspx?item_no=SW-48009) from Lucky Model (www.luckymodel.com)

  Product Article by Dave Johnson on the November 2010

  History - 

  The Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk is an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) used by the United States Air Force and Navy as a surveillance aircraft. In role and operational design, the Global Hawk is similar to the Lockheed U-2, the 1950s spy plane. The Global Hawk is able to provide high resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) which can penetrate cloud cover and sandstorms and  Electro-Optical/Infra-red (EO/IR) imagery provides long range with long loiter times over target areas. It can survey as much as 40,000 square miles (100,000 square kilometres) of terrain a day. The big difference from the U-2 is, that the commander and others on his operational net now have a real-time connection to view the data that is gathered. Users no longer have to wait for the plane to return to the ground for the data to be analysed. Missions for the Global Hawk cover the spectrum of intelligence collection capability to support forces in worldwide peace, crisis, and wartime operations. 

  The Kit -

  The Global Hawk is the first large scale release from Skunk Model Workshop. Skunk Models have concentrated in the past on carrier deck equipment and weapon sets. Hopefully this is a sign for us to expect some more releases in the future. The first thing that came to my mind when I removed the sprues from the box, was damn this thing is HUGE!!! The wing span of the kit is 83 cm (32 inches) In 1:1 scale it's the same wingspan as a C-130! The kit is moulded in light grey plastic and contains 60 parts on 4 sprues. With the lower part count this should be quick build for most modellers, as there are no interior components that need to be assembled.

  The wing assembly comes in as a 3 parts per side, with the most of the wing being two half's as per what most manufactures do these days and the third piece being the wing tip. It appears to me, that the tip of the wing has been designed separate piece to keep the kit in a certain size boxing. Also included on the sprues for the wings is the V shaped tail. Intake and exhaust nozzles are nicely detailed and fit nicely between the fuselage half's. The fuselage half's have been molded as one piece with a separate underside/belly part, which feature nice crisp engraved panel lines and rivet detail. The Landing gear make most of the left over parts, which are nicely detailed also. The tyres are separate from the hubs, which will ease the painting stage. The landing gear bays are a little bare, but that is understandable as there is not a lot of reference or information out there on the Global Hawk. Gear doors are separate parts and have retraction jacks on the necessary areas.

  Instructions are printed in black and white on a A5 booklet, which covers the 10 build steps. The decals are nicely printed, with excellent register. The sheet includes stencilling and primary markings for schemes. 

  Markings are provided for two aircraft:

  RQ-4B, 052024, Beale AFB, CA

  RQ-4B, 99+99, Luftwaffe

  Overall is an unusual subject to kit, but the build will surely stand out with its huge wingspan. This is excellent kit for a begininger to start out on with its low part count. 

  I would like to thank Lucky Model (www.luckymodel.com) for the review sample.