Kinetic 1/48 Israeli Air Force Kfir C2/C7 Kit No. K48046
Kinetic 1/48 Israeli Air Force Kfir C2/C7
Kit No. K48046
Kinetic 1/48 Israeli Air Force Kfir C2/C7
The Israel Aircraft Industries Kfir (“Lion Cub”) was developed from the Mirage 5/Nesher airframe and powered by the American General Electric J79 turbojet engine. The aircraft became one of the most recognizable Israeli fighters of the late Cold War era and served in interceptor, strike, and ground-attack roles throughout the 1970s and 1980s. The upgraded C2 and C7 variants introduced larger canards, improved avionics, upgraded weapons capability, and significantly improved maneuverability.
Kinetic’s 1/48 Kfir series was released in 2013 and finally replaced the aging ESCI tooling that had dominated the subject for decades. The kit immediately gained attention for its accurate shape, fine recessed surface detail, and comprehensive parts breakdown allowing multiple Kfir variants.
Builder & Reviewer Feedback
Builders consistently praise the kit for:
Fine recessed panel lines
Excellent overall shape accuracy
Very good surface detail
Good intake and exhaust detail
Detailed landing gear
Strong Israeli camouflage options
Excellent value for the subject
Cybermodeler highlighted:
“Nicely detailed cockpit” and “positionable canopy.”
The same review also praised:
Separate wheel hubs and tires
Positionable speed brakes
Multiple nose options
Choice of Martin-Baker seats
Extensive weapons selection
Fly Past Rush described the kit as having:
“very good surface detail” with “finely molded panel lines.”
Hyperscale called the original tooling:
“a superb kit of the Kfir.”
IPMS/USA praised:
Good fuselage fit
Effective cockpit detail
Strong engineering
Well-detailed exhaust section
Aeroscale summarized the release as:
“a pretty well detailed and accurate kit.”
Modelers frequently mention:
Excellent Israeli camouflage opportunities
Good compatibility with aftermarket decals
Strong basis for weathering
Excellent shelf presence
Impressive ordnance options
Builders also commonly warn about:
Some vague instructions
Occasional fit issues around intakes
Parts needing careful dry fitting
Minor filler required in some seams
Instruction inaccuracies
Large Scale Planes forum users noted:
“minor fit problems” requiring careful dry fitting.
Aeroscale specifically mentioned:
“a few inaccuracies in the instructions.”
Despite those issues, most modern jet modelers strongly recommend the kit because:
The overall shape is excellent
Surface detail is modern and crisp
It builds into a very impressive Kfir
Few competitors exist for the subject
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
Features
1/48 scale Israeli Air Force Kfir
Builds C2 or C7 variants
Fine recessed panel lines
Detailed cockpit
Positionable canopy
Positionable speed brakes
Detailed landing gear
Multiple weapons and fuel tanks
Israeli Air Force markings included
Paint Suggestions
FS30219 Tan
FS34227 Light Green
FS33531 Sand
FS35622 Light Blue
Heavy exhaust staining
Satin operational finish recommended
Builders frequently recommend:
Sun-faded desert camouflage
Heavy exhaust weathering
Hydraulic staining
Dust accumulation around landing gear
Subtle panel fading
Weathered walkways
Store Recommendation
One of the definitive Kfir kits in 1/48 scale and an excellent choice for Israeli Air Force collections. The Kinetic tooling combines modern surface detail, strong overall accuracy, and colorful camouflage options into a very attractive modern jet project.
