As fine of a debut model kit as any manufacturer could hope to produce, Fine Molds #SW-1 X-Wing Fighter simply established new levels of expectation in mainstream Sci-Fi modeling. Appearing deceptively simple, Fine Molds cut a complicated and highly detailed subject in 72nd scale - setting Star Wars modeling fans a buzz at the prospect of not only having high-quality models to build - but models in scale with each other. I can't explain why this wasn't done prior, I'm just happy to have it now. There is little use in comparing the earlier MPC and AMT efforts to this model - as they are light-years apart.

For building my miniature, I used the book Star Wars: The Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels, the book Star Wars: Incredible Cross Sections, and the nice internet website Star Wars Technical Commentaries.

The Incom T-65 is easily one of the most recognizable of all Sci-Fi spacecraft. The Fine Molds model kit captures the look and feel of this rugged spaceship very well. Dubbed "X-Wing" because of its split-wing combat configuration, this single-man, four ion-engined fighter first christened movie screens in SW-IV: ANH. Originally, the T-65 was a top-secret Incom Corporation project, busted by Imperial Agents suspecting Rebel sympathizers within the company. The Empire seized Incom Corporation but the designers, plans, and prototypes of the T-65 escaped into Rebel Alliance hands before capture. The T-65 was constructed out of complex subsystems and rare alloys, making it a truly formidable combat spacecraft, able to effectively deal with anything then present in the skies - but also made it difficult to procure in significant numbers for many lean years at the beginning of the Rebel Alliance.

The T-65 came armed with four long laser cannons that operate at the very edge of safety limits to deliver maximum destructive power - and at longer ranges than enemy weaponry - allowing the X-Wing to hit first, farther away, and harder. The spaceship is equipped with defensive shield projectors and a hyperdrive unit, though too small for a hyperdrive computer in this configuration. An Astromech Droid is carried, which can store up to ten jump coordinates. The T-65 carries enough provisions to operate independently in deep space, capable of supporting its pilot for one week, and has a cargo bay in which survival gear can be carried for hostile planetary environments.

Lastly, the T-65's fusial ion engines have a unique feature. Electromagnetic Gyros in each engine give the fighter differential thrust capabilities - single, pairs, or all four can vary their thrust output to create enhanced turn rates and effects of pivoting the nose of the spacecraft away from the direction of thrust. What appears to be air intakes for atmospheric flight are actually Retro-Thrust nozzles. The T-65 Pilot can fire precise bursts of retro-thrust fire forward through any of the nozzles to give an even greater maneuver edge in combat for the X-Wing Fighter. The X-Wing Fighter has been the principal starfighter of the Rebel Alliance for so long because no single snub fighter can match its overall performance and capabilities.

As the mainstay of the Rebel Alliance, X-Wings were intended to provide "top cover" for attacking Y-Wing Fighter / Bombers hoping to stop the approaching Death Star in the Battle of Yavin (SW-IV: ANH). When Grand Moff Tarkin refused to launch the overwhelming defensive might of the Death Star in his overconfidence in the invincibility of his Station, Lord Darth Vader personally led his squadron of TIE Fighters and turned the course of the Battle of Yavin. The X-Wings quickly found themselves pushed into the bombing role as the slower Y-Wings were picked off quickly by Vader's crack squadron. Soon, the small number of X-Wings were having difficulty halting the Imperial defenders too.

Piloting Red Five, Luke Skywalker unleashed the most powerful weapon the X-Wing carried in effort to knock out the Death Star. The T-65 carried expensive Proton Torpedos (focused nuclear explosives) during this battle (of which Luke only had two) - which caused the chain reaction in the reactor core of the Death Star.

The X-Wing Fighter appeared in SW Episodes IV, V, and VI - as well as in nearly every continuation novel or comic since the Battle of Yavin in form or mention. It is indeed as popular an icon of the Star Wars universe as are the main characters themselves. This model lends itself to a great many variations for prospective modelers. Though Fine Molds provides you markings for spacecraft that fought in the Battle of Yavin (Red Leader - "Dave", Red Two - Wedge Antilles, Red Three - Biggs Darklighter, and Red Five - Luke Skywalker) you can just as easily model other squadrons - like Rogue Squadron.

Cast in soft, light grey, plastic, the finely detailed parts have little flash and no ejector pin marks marring visible surfaces. You will have some seams to clean up, and delicate parts to work with. If you're accustomed to 72nd scale Hasegawa or Tamiya aircraft models, then you're right at home with this one.

The model kit is a pretty accurate rendition of the X-Wing Fighter at the time of the Battle of Yavin. There are minor differences between the studio models - and Fine Molds make great efforts to present those differences to modelers. There are also differences between the full-sized X-Wing used in filming too - and Fine Molds even gives a detail option here too to cover all the bases. Here's what I noted when I built my model:

Red Leader ("Dave"): Interestingly, JM Chladek pointed out in a review of this model kit on Starship Modeler that no studio model X-Wing Fighter had an R5 Droid fitted to it, where Fine Molds give you a red and white R5 for Red Leader. However, R5 units can be seen on the full-sized X-Wings used in filming. I agree with JM Chladek's assertions, and it's nice that Fine Molds covered both bases in their model kit.

Control Stick: I really don't know what that looked like in the studio miniatures. Fine Molds gives you a central control stick akin to what appears in the book Star Wars: Incredible Cross Sections, but some references make mention of a two-handed yoke similar to what's given in the TIE/Ln Fighter model kit (#SW-2). Again, with Pilot in place, this detail will probably not be highly visible.

Engines: Fine Molds gives you a shortened engine nozzle meant to be fitted to the upper starboard engine of Red Three - Biggs' fighter. Nice touch there. Mark Fergel has photos of the Red Three studio model at PC Modeler - you can decide if you need to add that detail to your model miniature. I did because it appeared that way to me, and I decided to build my model kit as Red Three.

Starting out, you're presented the choice of fitting either an R2 or R5 Droid head to the upper fuselage "greeblie" panel (Part #B26). Actually, this is a nicely engraved representation of the Droid Socket, Deflector Shield Generator, and top of the Hyperdrive Unit at the rear of the part. Either way you go, it's easier to leave the Droid head off for painting and decaling separately. You can put the Droid head on in the end assembly and pose it looking in any direction. Everything is little - but fine and delicate - in this model kit.

Though building the Fine Molds kit can get a little complicated for painting, I didn't deviate very much from their suggested assembly instructions. Considering its small size, the Cockpit is pretty well detailed and appointed. Naturally there's room to add more detail if you like, but what's presented is plenty. Fine Molds even gives you an extended Targeting Computer, for those modelers desiring to model an X-Wing bearing down on a target. There are crisp decals provided to increase the visual interest in this area too.

I opted to attach the front and rear Cockpit Bulkheads (Parts #B11 and #B12) to their positions on the inside of the upper fuselage half, instead of to the Cockpit Tub as suggested in the instructions. This kept any glue joints and seams down deep inside the model and not readily visible. I used the Cockpit Tub (Part #B13) to properly align the Bulkheads while they set. The "L-shaped" piece near the bottom of the photo is the Targeting Computer display head, and beneath it is the Control Stick.

Rather rapidly, you put the fuselage halves together in the third assembly step. I found myself wishing that Fine Molds had modeled a Cargo Compartment - even a rudimentary one - in with this kit. A Dagobah scene would have been nice with this kit - but I'm sure an enterprising modeler with come up with one themselves. There's a lot of parts to pre-paint and finish as the assembly goes forward. Looking at pictures of the Red Three studio model, it appears the cockpit is the same color as the exterior of the spacecraft - albeit cleaner. I selected Tamiya acrylic XF-19 Sky Grey as my overall base color based on the photos of the studio models and the amount of weathering I'd eventually apply to my miniature.

Assembling the Laser Cannons took a little more time than I anticipated. There are delicate mold seams to cleanup and care is called for in not warping the parts. When done, they're wonderful - and big. Did you know that a single laser cannon assembly from the X-Wing Fighter is as long as the TIE Fighter's solar panels are tall? That's one big cannon! There's some play in attaching the Laser Cannons to the Generators, and I used this to my advantage by not gluing them together. This will allow you to adjust for proper alignment in the end assembly, and let you handle the Laser Cannons separately for decaling.

The only extra detail I added to the Laser Cannons was drilling out the laser tip with a #80 drill bit in a pin vise. Yes, they were drilled out.

Engine intakes, housing, and exhausts came next, and cleanup was as tedious as for the Laser Cannons. This model even comes with the retro-thrust splitter vanes (Parts #C17) found inside the intakes.

The S-Foils can be assembled and weathered separately - mating to the fuselage later. They can be positioned opened or closed, and main landing gear up or down. There was nothing left for me to want in detail there. Cleanup is called for in this subassembly, as there are mold seams to remove. Everything fits precisely, so care is called for in removing parts from the sprue trees. I left a little nub to sand down smooth, to prevent gouges in the soft plastic and over-sanding the delicate parts.

The S-Foils also called for clamping the wing panels in place with clothes pins. I took my time here, and let each part of the S-Foils sit for a few hours to bond properly. It doesn't pay to rush construction here, and I discovered my X-Wing Fighter took about three times as long to finish as my TIE/Ln Fighter. No problem though because in the end nothing was warped due to careful attention during construction.

Since the construction pace slowed at the assembly of the S-Foils, I moved on down the Instruction Sheet. A neat touch, the landing gear presented in the Fine Molds model kit is modular - polycaps allow the gear to be fitted for a landing display, and then removed for an in-flight pose. I'm thinking it doesn't get much better than this. Be sure to sand the sides and alignment channels of the completed Forward Landing Gear Bay so that the subassembly slides easily into the slot on the fuselage after the model is constructed. The photo in below center is of the complete Landing Gear assemblies. Bottom most photo is of the two Main Landing Gear Bays - these plug into polycap-secured holes under the S-Foils.

The completed S-Foils intermesh and then are trapped between tubular connectors in a bulkhead behind the Cockpit and on the backside of the Hyperdrive / S-Foil Servo Actuator (Part #B19) at the rear. Part #B18 is a little plate, like a lock washer, that's trapped between the S-Foils and Part #B19. Four little nubs on Part #B18 serve to keep the S-Foils in place when deployed in combat configuration - don't get carried away and sand them off during cleanup!