A&A Model 1/144 An-22 Heavy Turboprop Transport Kit First Look

By David L. Veres

First Look

The world first glimpsed Antonov's mighty An-22 "Antaeus" during 1965's Paris Air Show. And in the half-century since, An-22s – NATO code named "Cock" – have prowled world skies as a reliable heavy-lift transport. Two-thirds of those produced remain in service.

Now it's the subject of an impressive, 1:144 kit from A&A Models – a brand of ModelSvit Balkans Ltd made in Ukraine.

Even to smaller scale, this is one big Cock.

At least 215 components span 18 crisply molded gray and transparent plastic trees. All parts come in A&A's standard-size box. So the massive fuselage, for instance, is creatively engineered in six parts:

• nose cone subassembly,
• left & right forward halves,
• canopy,
• left & right rear halves,
• left main gear sponson with cap, and
• right main gear sponson with cap.

Novices might find this – and the kit's wing/nacelles assembly – somewhat tricky. But for supposedly "limited edition" production, quality of plastic parts is excellent. Recessed scribing is uniformly outstanding. Delineation of control surfaces is superb. And flash is minimal.

A&A's large, 4-page, Ukrainian-English instructions feature a parts map, paint matches keyed to Humbrol products, and a 23-step assembly sequence. The 2-page color & markings guide with explanatory notes details the same civil Ukrainian subject in two colorful liveries:

• UR-09307, June 2006
• UR-09307, June 2017

A&A's colorful, precisely printed decal sheets – one for each scheme – offer utterly exquisite detail. Even smallest lettering is legible.

What an amazing effort. This kit further confirms A&A's strikingly high quality standards: packaging, presentation, moldings, instructions, and decals are totally terrific.

With thanks to ModelSvit Balkans Ltd. for this review sample!