Zoukei-Mura Inc. 1/72 & 1/144 Horten Ho 229 Kit First Look

By David L. Veres

First Look

Airfix put two 1/72-scale kits into “Dogfight Doubles”. Sweet plunked two identical 1/144-scale subjects into one package. And Monogram included 1:48 aircraft and tank models in “Combat Diorama” sets.

But no one, to my knowledge, bundled the same subject in two different scales in one box.

Until now.

Hard on the heels of their amazing 1/32 and 1/48 Ho 229 releases, Zoukei-Mura issued a combo kit of the Nazi German flying wing – with both 1/72 and 1/144 models of the “unfinished ‘Ho IX V3’ prototype” therein.

“Luftwaffe ’47” fans will go ga-ga over their first release in the manufacturer’s “Super Wings” range.

“[W]e created the 1/72 scale model utilizing the knowledge we gained from the 1/32 and 1/.48 kits,” instructions note, “to faithfully recreate the genius Horten brothers’ design philosophy in a level of detail that defies the limits of small-scale models.”

I’d say Zoukei-Mura succeeded. In spades.

The 1/72 effort features dozens of cleanly molded components on 10 trees in gray and clear styrene – engineTree E being provided twice. Uniformly crisp, indented scribing covers exterior surfaces. And the astonishing level of kit complexity lets you assemble the larger subject with just interior structure and engines – or construct it with full exterior details.

How about that incredibly intricate wing ribbing and landing gear? Or those remarkable 30mm MK 103 canon? Or those outstanding Jumo 004 B-2 engines?

The 1/144 kit assembly, instructions add, “was made to be very simple and short, so that anyone can enjoy learning while building the kit from the accurate form based on our thorough investigation of the actual aircraft and deep archival research.”

Translation: Zoukei-Mura’s extensively detailed 1/72-scale Ho 229 will definitely demand more time. So build the 1/144 option if you seek something fast.

Just carefully study – and follow – the 20-page assembly instructions!

The 1/72-scale assembly sequence sports 30-steps over 11 picture-packed pages. And 1/144-scale directions span an equally heavily illustrated spread across 6 panels. Instructions also include a capsule history, symbols key, parts maps, and paint matches to Vallejo colors.

Decals sport instrument panels to both scales – and a range of insignia, numbers, Reich-defense bands, and stencils. All feature crisp printing and superb color registration.

Zoukei-Mura’s mind-blowing combo will really let your “Luftwaffe ’47” fantasies take flight!

My sincere thanks to  Zoukei-Mura Inc. for this review sample!