"Areo 72 in Review" got a nice response, but the Felixstowe review only got
one comment.
HMM. . .
Somebody wanted an in the bag review of the 1/48 Sierra Vac Roland C.II but
that will have to wait till next week, 'cause it's:
"Wa's New!" Eduard & Blue Max
NOTE: I have not yet built these yet, so this is simply a commentary on
accuracy and contents & features. . .
******************
Blue Max(imum$$) 1/48 Injected Nieuport 28:
This is one fine 1/48 WW1 kit! Production is limited to only 1500 (I'm #
336), so no whining about the 20 pound price - it's worth it!
The kit's contents include 4 "sprues" of injected bits, decals, struts,
metal bits, and instructions. The plastic parts include the fuselage,
upper and lower wings (lower is one piece, upper is left and right halves),
tail parts, airscrew, wheels, cabane and landing gear struts, and fuselage
"chin"; metal parts include Engine (as in N.11 the cylinders are all
individual parts), Vickers guns, interplane and other assorted struts,
cowling, windscreen frame, venturi thingy, and a complete cockpit (a first
for Blue Max!); decals for 2 different aircraft (D. Campbells 94th Aero
etc. . and a Swiss aircraft); there is also 1 piece of contrail strut.
Details are very finely done with lightly raised rib tapes. The fuselage is
molded in left and right halves with extrememly fine detail, the stringers
on the after parts are nicely done too! Interior detail (all in metal)
includes fuesalage side framing, seat, stick, instrument panel, rudder
pedals, and for lack of the technical word: "floor."
Note that the assembly diagram for cockpit appears to have been reversed:
or perhaps the left and right fuselage frames were reversed - hard to say
since one of mine was missing.
The instructions are exploded diagrams for cockpit & whole plane assembly,
there are also complete color notes & B&W photos on the back of the
instructions of kits built with both markings.
The kit scales out virtually spot on with 3-views in the Datafile.
HITS: fine detail, complete cockpit.
MISS: price (if you don't consider the limited nature.)
1/48 Nieuport 28: kit # BM 106
(UK pounds) 19.99
Note that they have added more 1/72 decal sheets.
PEGASUS now produce 4&5 color lozenge and early and late German crosses.
******************
Eduard 1/48 MS Type L:
The kit's contents include 1 "sprue" of injected bits & a loose wing,
decals, vast assortment of photo etch, metal bits, clear foil, and
instructions. The plastic parts include the fuselage, wing is one piece,
tail parts (including alternate rudders), airscrew, wheels (covered and
tire halves for wire), cowling, some struts, and other odds and ends; metal
parts include: two engine castings (Gnome & Le Rhone), pins, and tubing;
Etched parts include: fuselage framing (replace - fuselage was metal
tubing), engine details - valve gear (Le R. parts also include "flat"
exhausts??), seat, bomb rack & sight, hotchkiss gun, wire wheels, struts,
etc. . . .need I go on?; decals for 3 different aircraft ( French No.356
(Gnome), "Le Pilou Pilou" (LR), Warneford's aircraft (LR)); the foil
includes the windscreen & instruments.
Details are reasonable with lightly raised ribs on the wings. There is a
rather large amount of flash, but it is easily removed. The fuselage is
molded in left and right halves with no molded in detail. Most details are
on the etch sheet. Wheels come as both covered and wire. For the wire
wheels etched halves and tire halves are provided. Interior detail (all in
metal) is very complete. As mentioned previously the framing of the MS was
metal tubing, so the etched sides should be replaced or enhanced.
Note that the plastic engine halves are not to be used for some reason.
The instructions are step by step with zoom views for some stages, there
are also complete color notes including color plates for all three
aircraft.
The kit scale?? Seems good, unfortunately all I have are 1/72 3-views at
this time.
HITS: very complete!
MISS: flat cockpit sides and LR exhausts.
1/48 Moraine Saulnier Type L: kit # 8007
($Can) roughly 41.99
******************
Eduard 1/48 Albatros C.III:
The kit's contents include 2 "sprues" of injected bits, decals, vast
assortment of photo etch, metal bits, resin chunck, clear foil, and
instructions. The plastic parts include the fuselage, wings (upper is one
piece, lower is in left and right halves), wing jig, tail parts, airscrew,
wheels (covered and tire halves for wire), cowling, some struts, and other
odds and ends; metal parts include: engine casting & details, gun ring,
pins, and tubing; Etched parts include: fuselage framing, seats, radiator
faces, engine mounts, guns, other struts, etc. and so forth. . .; decals
for 2 different aircraft (Bohme & Kademacher's 766/16 - dragon, & 736/16);
The resin lump is the fuel tank; the foil includes the windscreen &
instruments.
Details are reasonable with lightly raised ribs on the wings. There is a
rather large amount of flash, but it is easily removed. The fuselage is
molded in left and right halves some raised detail (to be replaced with
etched if desired.) Interior detail (all in metal except for tank) is very
complete and goes together in similar all in one fashion to the Marco's
Miniatures kits. The horizantal surfaces have tabs but there is no
corresponding opening in the fuselage. Similarly the vertical tail is to be
sandwiched between the fuselage halves, but the notching must be done
manually.
Note the kit comes with rim-less (extras) tires but no wire rims.
The instructions are step by step with zoom views for some stages, there
are also complete color notes including color plates for both aircraft.
The kit scale?? Seems good, unfortunately all I have are 1/72 3-views at
this time.
HITS: very complete!
MISS: tail mounting design.
1/48 Albatros C.III: kit # 8009
($Can) 54.99
_____________________________________________________________________
Mark (From Kites & Other Delights in West Edmonton Mall)
------------------------
mnelson@compusmart.ab.ca