Revell AG 1/144 B-2 Stealth Bomber

KIT #: 04070
PRICE: $18.95 MSRP
DECALS: One option
REVIEWER: John Anthony
NOTES: Good B-2 kit, and a good kit for a beginner.

HISTORY

A decade of research by the US Air Force culminated with the development of the prototype B-2
“stealth bomber,” an aircraft whose design incorporates significant advances in the understanding
of radar wave reflection and flying wing aerodynamics.

Some of the stealth technology of this aircraft includes: heat-absorbing materials that reduce the
infrared signature of the exhaust; radar-absorbent materials covering the entire airframe; engine
placement that buries the highly radar-reflective fan and turbine blades within the bomber’s
interior; and an airframe design that scatters radar waves away from their point of origin.

The B-2 was originally designed as a nuclear strike platform but is also equipped to carry a
substantial amount of conventional weaponry. It has been used extensively in its conventional
strike role during recent conflicts in Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq. There are twenty active-duty
aircraft at present and none have been lost in combat, although one B-2 (the Spirit of Kansas) was
destroyed during a takeoff accident on Guam in 2008. Thankfully, both pilots ejected safely.

THE KIT
Anyone who’s built the 1/144 Monogram SnapTite version of the B-2 will immediately recognize
that this is the same kit with a few upgrades. The old SnapTite kit is an in-flight version with
stickers for markings, whereas the Revell of Germany release includes an extra sprue of parts for
the landing gear in addition to water-slide decals.

All the parts are very crisply molded in sturdy, dark metallic-gray plastic with sharp details
and no flash. The gaps between the flaps and airframe are recessed, along with the detail around
the hatches, but the panel lines are raised. The cockpit detail is minimal - with lounge-chairs for
seats and a decal for the instrument panel - but I doubt any of that will be seen through the tinted
windscreen. One serious defect to the kit is a carry-over from the SnapTite version - part of the
bomb bay is open but the detail is perfunctory to say the least. An experienced modeler would
probably want to remove the exposed part of the bay altogether and scratch-build a new one.

A close inspection of the decals shows that they are well-printed overall but there is some
misalignment in the color overlays. That’s only apparent on the smallest markings however – most
of the other decals like lines, roundels, and identifiers are monochromatic and clearly-printed. The
sheet only includes markings for one scheme, that of the prototype aircraft.

The directions are printed in a short booklet and consist of fifteen simple steps along with a
painting/decaling guide.

There really isn’t much to this kit – it looks like a quick, easy build. All the photographs I’ve
seen of the B-2 however suggest that the surface of the aircraft is very smooth. That indicates to
me that the gaps between the intakes and fuselage would need to be filled and that the raised
panel lines would need to be sanded out.

I printed out a schematic of the bomber and found that the model’s airframe is a faithful
representation of the original, but I didn’t measure anything else. However, it certainly looks like a
Stealth Bomber in every respect and the model definitely won’t be mistaken for anything else.

I bought a couple of these kits because my 11-year-old son wanted to build one and I thought it
would be a fun learning project to do a side-by-side build. It appears to be a great model for a
young beginner, not only because it’s a “cool” plane, but because it really doesn’t demand any
great modeling skill or large time investment. (That’s relative of course. I’m looking at my kit and
considering combining it with a Stratotanker for an in-flight refueling display, especially since
Minicraft is soon releasing a new-tool KC-135E in 1/144, replete with refueling boom.)

My kit was ordered through an LHS for about $19 but you can get them cheaper online. (I just
like having a hobby store in the neighborhood and I try to support it as often as I can.) Happy
modeling!