This kit is a reboxing of what is still the largest injection-molded aircraft kit yet produced, of the largest combat aircraft ever to enter service. Except for new box art, new instructions, and new decals, the kit remains unchanged from its original release in 1980. Molded in flat silver plastic, the kit features lots of fine raised surface detail. For molds of this vintage, there is very little flash. The instructions, incidentally, are very clear and well-written, a vast improvement over the previous issues of this kit.

Revell-Monogram's decision to rebox the kit as an RB-36H is a wise one, since that is the version which is easiest to build out of the box. Anybody planning to build a straight bomber version will have some work to do, particularly with regards to rescribing the outlines of the bomb bay doors. If you intend to model a different version of the B-36, then the Detail & Scale volume (see below) on the B-36 is essential.

Considering the size and age of this kit, the fit is very good, particularly the wing-fuselage joint (which uses a massive wing spar) and the fuselage-horizontal stabilizer matings. The only exceptions to this are the sighting blisters, which are rather small for their openings. Mounting the blisters on 40 thou plastic sheet and vacuforming new ones using those as masters will solve this problem, though.

For ordnance, the kit includes a huge number of 100 lb. flash bombs, appropriate for the RB-36's strategic reconnaissance mission. Although politically incorrect, it would have been really nice for Revell-Monogram to have included some thermonuclear weapons; in particular, one of the mammoth Mk 17s would have been welcome.

The decal sheet includes two marking options, one for an RB-36H of the 28th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing and one for a straight B-36H of the 7th Bomb Wing. Both aircraft are from the 1954-1955 period, and the painting guide does a good job of showing the different metallic shades used on this finish. The sheet is well-printed, the colours are in register, and they adhere very well. The only major omissions are the black walkway lines which criss-cross the wings and horizontal stabilizers.

By far the best modeling reference available on the B-36 is the Detail & Scale (Vol. 47), although the Squadron/Signal In Action (No. 42) is also good, particularly for colours and markings. Finally, anybody who wants to be inspired to build this kit should watch Strategic Air Command, the 1955 movie starring Jimmy Stewart. As well as excellent exterior and interior views (including a guided tour!), this film features absolutely stunning aerial photography of a B-36D from the 7th Bomb Wing, based at Carswell AFB. This kit is highly recommended, although anybody that wants a B-36 knows that this will almost certainly remain the only 1/72 injection-molded kit of this plane.

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