Esoteric Models
Posted: November 17th, 2015, 10:36 pm
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 #.
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 #.