[Saeta]

I collect 1:48 WWII models, and I had been after a Wildcat for a while, and could not make up my mind whether to go for the C1 or the A/FM one ( this is a rare occasion where we collectors actually have a choice… ).

I have to confess that I once thought I would never be buying A/FM again, since HM, EI and C1 promised to supply us with a steady flow of high quality products in this market niche. However, my local shop received some A/FM Wildcats, while the C1 brand is not on sale here in Europe and I would have had to order it from the US. I went to check the A/FM Wildcat and it looked reasonable, so I decided to put an end to my indecision and I bought it, more to fill in a gap in my collection than because of any expectation that it would be a great model.

I was hence very positively surprised when I got back home and unpacked it properly to find a rather nice model !!. I got the one in the white / grey Atlantic scheme, and the finishing looks better than that of many other A/FM models. Also, the riveting all over, which I dislike a lot when it is overdone, does not look too bad in this model. I am happy with it, even if it retains some of the traditional A/FM “lazy bum” flaws.

While in the shop I got to look at some of the latest A/FM P-47Ds too, and they also look somehow better than the previous ones. Painting looks sharper, decals appear to be all pad-printed, etc. Ah, I forgot… and A/FM also seem to have discarded their political correctness and now finally give us models in IAF colours too. About time !!

Is A/FM trying to “come back” ?? I surely hope so !!. They have been massively criticised by many in this forum for their lack of quality, effort, etc ( I know well, I was one of them ). However, with C1 apparently having gone dry ( a great pity, since they were getting better and better with every new release and their last model, the Fw-190D, was superb ) and EI having gone fu#@%ing nuts with the ridiculously overdone riveting in their Texan ( I hope they discontinue the practice ), we could really do with A/FM stepping up their efforts and through quality claiming back some of the lost ground.