DWood:
I recently bought the HB YF-23, and I can vouch for the quality and echo Dean30's comments. I saw the Caracal decals for both prototypes were coming out and I ordered them immediately, knowing that I'd buy the kit when I found it. I too started to freak out a couple of months ago when my favorite mail order outfits had it Out of Stock, as many times that means "Tough luck, we can't get em any more."
I stumbled across a kit at my LHS last month, a couple months after getting the decals in the mail. I knew there was no decision. The kit was one of their 'Trophys', displayed on the end cap of the aircraft aisle. I grabbed it, tucked it under my arm and shopped for the next 45 minutes, without setting it down in case somebody wanted it. I probably paid $10-12 more than I would have on the web (~$70), but I had one and I wasn't letting go.
The kit isn't perfect, and if you google "review HB YF-23", you will gain some insights into the concerns. In a weak moment, I pulled mine out a couple of weekends ago and started comparing the plastic to the comments and realized that some of the concerns are legit, and others are whacked. Honestly, I don't care if you can buy an F-111 with 4 times as many parts for the same dollar, it isn't a YF-23. I let the 1/72 Italiari/ Testors get away 10 years ago, and I want one in my collection. It is a beautiful aircraft.
Dean, I will probably do a WIP here, but I've got a couple of other projects in flight, (pun intended) and I really need to get back to them, as I committed to all as part of GB's.
Here are my measured criticisms and comments. Note, I'm not a rivet counter, so if you are, you will probably discount my comments as something less than serious modeling.
The lines are definitely funky on the dorsal areas around the air intake trunks. There are depressions that appear to my eyes and others as too deep, and the trunks stay too flat too far forward. As part of my "lemme check this out on my own," I decided then and there it was time to break out the filler and sand paper. I've now got a couple of coats of filler in there and have reshaped the trunks a bit, and all is looking a bit better.
There were distinct differences btw Prototype Air Vehicle 1 and PAV 2, and those who know more than I think HB molded something with traits of each. If you want to do PAV1, the engine troughs need to be modified.
A common gripe is that the weapons bay is molded closed. There were never any weapons tests, so if you are going to model a PAV, I don't know that a weapons bay is a must have.
Somebody somewhere that has already built one has concerns that the main gear aren't strong enough. The design is similar in nature to the gear on an F-18, with that 'elbow'. I'm noodling how I can up my scratch skills to scratch up some replacements out of brass rod for strength.
As to AM goodies, I just ordered up an F-15 C resin cockpit, as I'm going to use the coaming up front for a more detailed look,, along with the ACES seat, and a set of F-22 engines to get more details in the power plant. I haven't quite figured out what resin wheels to use, makes sense that those would be F-15 based as well, but I just saw some nice Eduard Viper wheels that looked sorta right, but I need to compare with shots of the PAVs. The IP was the same layout as the front panel in a Strike Eagle, so I'm going to purchase the Eduard set to get a nice PE panel.
Finally, my opinion is if you want one, get on a list somewhere. Nothing worse than not getting something and then never being able to find it again. You might be able to back order it through your LHS, or if Hanants has one, maybe have it shipped in.
Best, Marty
Good Modeling,