1/32 Roden O-2 Oh no!!!!!
Well I was really looking forward to this kit. There is a fair bit of flash but that is not really a concern. I am a reasonably competent modeller but I have to say aligning and bonding the upper fuselage will challenge the best of us. It is bent in multiple ways around the upper observation windows area and has very little in the way of contact points. This is not helped by the feel of the plastic, it is very soft and thin. Not good given the warp and twist that exists in the fuselage. The clear parts are not clear on my example. The windscreen has a crack on one side and stress cracks on the other side. The decal sheet will be needing replaced as mostly its out of register and some decals ie rescue are printed as resque. It is the only game in town but lets just say I am glad I didnt pay full price for this. It is possibly the worst kit ive seen in a very long time and ive seen a few over the years. Never mind the frying pan I am thinking fling it on the fire and forget it. Maybe mine is just a bad one. You have been forewarned.
11 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Craig Abrahamson said on December 6, 2017
This isn't the first time I'd heard bad things about this kit. Why not send it back to Roden and let 'em see for themselves the issues with which one has to contend. They just might "make it right" in some way (replacement, refund, credit...sumthin') - who knows? Ya got nuthin' to lose, right?
Anthony Conway said on December 6, 2017
Yeah I am thinking about it. Its a bit of a shocker to say the least.
Marc Barris said on December 6, 2017
In this day and age this is RUBBISH...good luck with this one Anthony, I would much rather scratch build one, at least I could get it to fit better. I was looking forward to the release of this kit, I don't want one any more.
Anthony Conway said on December 6, 2017
Yeah. I feel much the same. A real let down. And on further inspection the whole fuselage has twist and warp evident.
neil foster said on December 6, 2017
Give it up buddy, life's too short to waste on rubbish like this, I'd do like Craig said and send it back to them, they should be ashamed that this kind of thing is leaving there site.
Good luck with it N.
Anthony Conway said on December 6, 2017
To be honest the fact it passed quality control tells me all I need to know. I doudt they care. Keep your money in your wallets folks.
Greg Kittinger said on December 6, 2017
Youch! I feel for you, and would totally understand moving on to another project and considering this one a writing exercise!
Anthony Conway said on December 6, 2017
Theres a bit of me that wants to beat it into submission. And theres a bit that just wants to beat it to a pulp.
Stellan Schroeder Englund said on December 6, 2017
There is a reason why one doesn´t buy Roden. To even hope for a reasonable kit is to punish oneself. There are too many good kits to build, ignore this one.
Jeff Bailey said on December 6, 2017
Good luck, Anthony - IF you decide to finish it. I'm not familiar with Roden and from what I see here the company should rename themselves Rotten.
Shame - shame - shame on you, Rotten Models!
Anthony Conway said on December 6, 2017
Yeah your not wrong Jeffry. Cheers.
George Williams said on December 6, 2017
Thanks for the warning, are you reading this by any chance messrs Roden? If so a reply would be appreciated.
Anthony Conway said on December 7, 2017
Cheers George.
Erich Goldbach said on December 6, 2017
Anthony, if you continue down this build road, you are a Very Brave sole. My attempt at that mess was one of the few projects to hit the drywll at Mach 2!
Anthony Conway said on December 7, 2017
Cheers Erich. No wonder. Now maybe Airfix could show these jokers how its done and give us a good 02.
Michel Verschuere said on December 7, 2017
Great plane, got the 1:48 Testor's I'll never shoot at it 🙂
Anthony Conway said on December 7, 2017
Testors are way better than this ive built a few.
IT Lahtinen said on December 7, 2017
Thank you for this warning, I was about to buy this interesting kit. Very sad to read this. Maybe it is a bad (Monday) sample? Looks a bit unpredictable molding cooling problem. Hurry and urgency to push products out now before the end of the year might be the reason for this? I have got very good service from Roden directly so hopefully you will get your O2 sprues replaced.
Anthony Conway said on December 7, 2017
Sadly its not just the sprues JT. There are too many faults to list the so called clear parts are a very poor fit on mine. Its a right off.
Anthony Conway said on December 7, 2017
Sorry IT. Miss hit.
Lawrence C. Reid said on December 10, 2017
Thanks for the warning! I was really looking forward to this as an addition to my 1/32nd Vietnam FAC collection. I will take a pass on this kit. There is absolutely no excuse for an injected plastic kit these days to have these kinds of defects. The word will get out on all the modeling websites and Roden will pay the price. .
Anthony Conway said on December 10, 2017
It gives me no pleasure to give this review. But Roden charge a hefty price for this and my kit and the only good thing about it is the box art. Very disappointing.
Lee Fogel said on December 13, 2017
Wow this is very bad quality control, to say the least. And totally unacceptable! That is going to take some patience and deftness to get it all lined up. The decals being messed up is simply absurd. A serious misfire from Roden for sure.