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Esoteric Models

Posted: November 17th, 2015, 10:36 pm
by JohnRatzenberger
These are working their way into "classic", with a production run for 1987 to 1994 and certainly by the quality of the kits. There are subjects in the Esoteric kit range you will not find elsewhere.
I cannot derive the dates of specific kits to know which have crossed over and which are still ageing in, but it will be moot in a few years.

Information and listings derived from John W Burns' Plastic Aircraft Kits of the 20th Century (aka "PAK-20").
And thanks to Mike('smackers') for a huge update in Sep 2019, now incorporated.

"This vacuum-formed company was started by James Wood in 1987. In 1989, resin-cast and vacuum-formed conversion kits were added to the line. The founder passed way in 1992 but his family continued kit production until late 1994 when all production ceased."

The kit packages (which may be bag or box) give an address of:
Esoteric Models, Hangar, 3a Main Road, East Hagbourne, Didcot, Oxon, OX11 9LJ, England

Naval Aviation Factory series: 1/72 scale with decals, metal parts, and generally vac-canopies and maybe strut material.
NAF-01 Martin T4M-1 Torpedo Truck
NAF-02 Curtiss F8C/O2C Helldiver
NAF-03 Curtiss F7C-1 Seahawk
NAF-04 Leoning OL-8/9 Flying Shoehorn
NAF-05 Vought O2U-1 Corsair
NAF-06 Vought SBU-1 Scout Bomber
NAF-07 Leoning OL-6 Inline Shoehorn // NAF-07A Leoning OA-1A Inline Shoehorn
NAF-08 Curtiss F6C-1/3 Navy Hawk
NAF-09 Berliner-Joyce OJ-2 Scout cruiser
NAF-10 Martin BM-1/2 Torpedo Bomber
NAF-11 Vought OSU-3 Corsair Two
NAF-12 Boeing F3B1 Flying Barrel
NAF-13 Grumman F2F-1
NAF-14 Curtiss F flying boat
NAF-15 Curtiss N9H Navy Jenny
NAF-16 Northrup BT-1
NAF-17 Vought SB2U-1 Vindicator
NAF-18 Curtiss F6C-4 Hawk USMC
NAF-19 NAF N3N-1/3
NAF-20 Blackburn Dart
NAF-21 Grumman F3F-1/3
NAF-22 Grumman FF.1
NAF-23 Fairey Flycatcher
NAF-24 Douglas PD-1
NAF-25 Sikorsky S.38 (RS-3)
NAF-26 Grumman AF-2/3 Guardian
NAF-27 Douglas RD.3 Dolphin
NAF-28 Fairey IIID
NAF-29 Martin P4M-1 Mercator
NAF-30 Boulton-Paul Overstrand/Sidestrand
NAF-31 Fiat CR.20 bis (3 versions)
NAF-32 Grumman XF-10F Jaguar
NAF-33 Martin AM-1 Mauler
NAF-34 Parnall Panther
NAF-35 Great Lakes BG-1/XB2G-1
NAF-36 Westland Walrus (yes, Westland not Supermarine)
NAF-37 Martin MS-1 / Cox-Klemin XS-1
NAF-38 Douglas BTD-1 Destroyer

X-72 series: 1/72 scale with decals only, no metal parts
Q-1 Hawker Nimrod I/II
Q-2 Macchi M.16

Mixed Material series: 1/72 scale with decals, metal & vac/resin parts
NAV-1 Bell Model 47
NAV-2 Curtiss BF2C-1
NAV-3 Hughes 500D Defender
NAV-4 Beech T-34C Mentor
NAV-5 Boeing F4B-4-1/2
NAV-6 Supermarine Spitfire VIII/IX
NAV-7 Nieuport Ni.29

Super Tech series: 1/48 scale
SLE-1 Focke-Wulf Fw-190 V-1
SLE-2 Focke-Wulf Fw-190 V-2
SLE-3 Focke-Wulf Fw-190 V-1 (modified)

One-off:
HTK-1 Bell Model 47, 1/48 kit
NB-4 BFC-2, 1/72 vacform conversion for Monogram F11C-2

Body Job: Resin bodies to mate with wings & such from another kit as a conversion.
BJ-1 SBC-3, converted from Matchbox SBC-4 Helldiver
BJ-2 DH-4B, moved pilot/gunner ala DH9, for Airfix DH-4
BJ-3 Northrop Delta, vacform body for Williams Northrop Gamma
BJ-4 F9F-8T, 2-seat trainer, for Hasegawa F9F Cougar
BJ-5 T-2A Buckeye (single engine) for Matchbox T-2C/E Buckeye
BJ-6 Fw-190 A-3/A-4 for Italeri Fw-190 A-8/F-8
BJ-7 Fw-190 S-5/S-8 for Italeri Fw-190 A-8/F-8
BJ-8 Fw-190 B, V13/V-15/V-16 for Italeri Fw-190 A-8/F-8

Nose Job: Conversions
NJ-1 F-8A Crusader, for Hasegawa F8E Crusader
NJ-2 F-11F1 Tiger, for Hasegawa F-11F Tiger
NJ-3 F9F-2P Panther, for Matchbox F9F Panther
NJ-4 F9F-4P Panther, for Matchbox F9F Panther
NJ-6 F-111B Aardvark, generic
NJ-? A-4A/B Skyhawk, for Esci/Testor A-4E/F Skyhawk
NJ-? A-4C Skyhawk, for Esci/Testor A-4E/F Skyhawk

Decals:
Esoteric also marketed decals under the name "Esoterical". They were all 1/72, and it appears they had several ranges.
NAFDEC-1: 3 3x6 sheets containing Nat'l insignia, squadron badges, squadron codes and serials - US 'tween.
NAFDEC-2: 2 instrument panels & seatbelts for about a dozen aircraft - US 'tween.
NAFDEC-3: appears to be a Phantom with the post war Nat'l insignia with red bar.

Accessories:1/72 beaching gear/trollies made of whitemetal
BD-001: Floatplane beaching gear; suitable for single and twin float seaplanes with parts included for either
BD-002: Flying boat beaching gear; suitable for Esoterics Douglas PD-1 & presumably Aeroclub's Felixstowe F.2

There is another range that appears to be kit decal sheets separately sold from the kits. They are coded D-n, but the "n" does not appear to match the NAF kit #.

Re: Esoteric Models

Posted: November 18th, 2015, 12:11 am
by JamesPerrin
It's definitely worth listing their output. The plastic has always look very attractive and they produced many interesting subjects. The had started about the time I got into the hobby and was starting to read modelling mags in which they featured quite heavily. IIRC I might have sent a SAE for a full listing at one time.

Re: Esoteric Models

Posted: November 21st, 2015, 2:30 pm
by ShaunW
I've never built anything from the Esoteric stable either but I would agree this listing is certainly worth the effort and many thanks for taking the time John.

Re: Esoteric Models

Posted: February 2nd, 2016, 1:47 am
by fearless frankie
Are not the SLE Special Limited Edition 1/72 scale? and was not the MS-1 Naf 37 ever released or just proposed, if so does anyone want to part with it? Stupid money paid!
There was a small range of parts for Crusaders and Skyhawks i,e different nose cones and intakes as well as beaching trolleys for the flying boats Plus a range of decals mainly for F4s

Re: Esoteric Models

Posted: March 21st, 2017, 1:19 am
by JohnRatzenberger
An update/correction. Having acquired NAF-07 I find it to be the OL-6 (Navy version) not the OA-1A (Army version) although one would assume they are very similar except for decals. In the kit description it says the OA-1A was issued as NAF-07A. I have corrected the main listing above, but now wonder how many other variants might exist.

Re: Esoteric Models

Posted: May 11th, 2017, 12:39 am
by fearless frankie
Must admit, I now own them all apart from the 1/48 helicopter, suppose I should get it really even though its not my chosen scale. By the way stupid monies not paid only stupid postage from the US of A

Re: Esoteric Models

Posted: May 11th, 2017, 2:32 am
by JohnRatzenberger
fearless frankie wrote:.... stupid postage from the US of A
Fully agree ....

Re: Esoteric Models

Posted: August 16th, 2017, 10:50 am
by Crashpilot
I saw one NAV-2 Curtiss BF2C Goshawk II on a listing, I´ve still not decided to buy it, cause now there´s Special Hobby´s
Goshawk II-
though I don´t know if it´s "old" Special Hobby, or one of the newer moulds....
The "old" Special Hobby´s make a lot of work to clean up, still got one SH Allison Mustang to finish, it´s quite a hassle.
Comments about the quality of Esoteric´s BF2C most welcome! ;-)

Re: Esoteric Models

Posted: August 16th, 2017, 3:25 pm
by Crashpilot
This is the only Esoteric one I got:

Image

How does this 2-seater resin fuselage mate to Hase´s wings?
Never tried a resin kit before, bought this out of curiosity, and liking for colourful birds.

Re: Esoteric Models

Posted: December 17th, 2017, 7:58 pm
by JohnRatzenberger
I have found an oddity.
NAF-3 Curtiss F7C-1 Seahawk and NAF-4 Leoning OL-8/9 Flying Shoehorn
were evidently also issued as
NAF-4 Curtiss F7C-1 Seahawk and NAF-3 Leoning OL-8/9 Flying Shoehorn

I will have photo evidence of the Flying Shoehorn shortly.

I have, IIRC, seen another mismatch between NAF-# and kit-name, but I cannot recall it.

Re: Esoteric Models

Posted: February 23rd, 2018, 8:57 pm
by fearless frankie
Not forgetting the white metal 1/72 beaching gear for the floatplanes

Re: Esoteric Models

Posted: February 25th, 2018, 1:40 pm
by Crashpilot
fearless frankie wrote:Not forgetting the white metal 1/72 beaching gear for the floatplanes
Just yesterday I saw it going on Brit eekbay, if anyone´s interested? (I don´t remember the price, though.)

Re: Esoteric Models

Posted: March 22nd, 2018, 7:13 pm
by JohnRatzenberger
Main list has been updated to add Body Jobs and Decals.

I just snagged this, usable on any 1/72 US 'tweener kit, not just Esoteric:
ImageImage

For any items not on the list -- parts, beaching gear, etc -- please post specifics (much as you have) so I can go looking for them -- Thanks.

Re: Esoteric Models

Posted: August 27th, 2019, 12:09 am
by smackers
I can confirm there were a couple of 1/72 flying boat/seaplane beaching gear/trollies made in whitemetal.

BD-001 Floatplane beaching gear
BD-002 Flying boat beaching gear

The BD-001 is suitable for single and twin float seaplanes with parts included for either. There is also a couple of optional wheels included for the front end.
The BD-002 is suitable for Esoterics kit of the Douglas PD-1 & presumably Aeroclub's Felixstowe F.2

Also these not on list

Nosejob
NJ-1 F-8A Crusader Conversion for Hasegawa F8E Crusader
NJ-2 F-11F1 Tiger Conversion for Hasegawa F-11F Tiger
NJ-3 F9F-2P Panther Conversion for Matchbox F9F Panther
NJ-4 F9F-4P Panther Conversion for Matchbox F9F Panther
NJ-6 F-111B Aardvark Conversion (Generic)
NJ-?? A-4A/B Skyhawk Conversion for Esci/Testor A-4E/F Skyhawk
NJ-?? A-4C Skyhawk Conversion for Esci/Testor A-4E/F Skyhawk

Bodyjob
BJ-3 Northrop Delta vacform body Conversion for Williams Northrop Gamma
BJ-5 North American T-2A Buckeye (single engine) resin body Conversion for Matchbox T-2C/E Buckeye
BJ-6 Fw-190 A-3/A-4 resin body Conversion for Italeri Fw-190 A-8/F-8
BJ-7 Fw-190 S-5/S-8 resin body Conversion for Italeri Fw-190 A-8/F-8
BJ-8 Fw-190 B, V13/V-15/V-16 resin body Conversion for Italeri Fw-190 A-8/F-8

NB-4 BFC-2 vacform Conversion for Monogram F11C-2

I've personally bought a few new old stock Esoteric Floatplane Beaching Gears and Fw-190 Bodyjobs on ebay within the last year from someone funnily enough living in East Hagbourne. They belonged to her husband so whether he was actually the manufacturer or just an ardent collector i don't know.

I added the beaching gears to scalemates as they never had them listed.

Re: Esoteric Models

Posted: August 27th, 2019, 2:08 pm
by JohnRatzenberger
Thanks for that, I'll update the main list today or tomorrow.