BarryW's 1/48 'multi-engine aircraft' Review Thread

[BarryW]

In-box Review no7 - Zvezda Petlyakov Pe-2

My first ever look at a Zvezda kit and I must say it looks better than I expected.

Parts: 435 - which seems quite a lot for a small aircraft compared to the Lancaster previously reviewed.
Length: 257mm
Wingspan: not specified

The box:

There is an end opening outer sleeve into which an inner box slides. Nice strong packing.


Inside the plastic is split between a few plastic bags.


Some examples of the instruction pages.




They seem fairly clear.

Three schemes are in the kit.


The transparencies don't seem very clear to me, not quite cloudy, with blemishes, but they are just about usable.


The grey plastic is on the soft side, more Airfix than Tamiya, but the mouldings are nicely detailed and clean. I would say they are better than Airfix.








If I was to be very picky I would say that the sprue gates could be smaller, at least on smaller parts, but I have seen a lot worse. No real issues spotted with the plastic to worry about.


Decals look OK but I will not get a chance to see how they perform as I have this:


I also have a Quinta Studios 3D decal interior set that includes seatbelts.


If you have not had a chance to try the 3D decal detailing sets yet, do give them a go. I really do expect pre-painted p.e. sets to become a thing of the past. The 3D sets are a lot easier to use and are much more effective.

I have to say that overall this seems a decent kit. Pity about the transparencies though.

Recommended

Next up: Trumpeter SM.79

[Guest]

My first ever look at a Zvezda kit and I must say it looks better than I expected.

I don’t know what Zvezda’s aircraft kits are like, but if they’re like their military vehicles, then old kits are probably best left alone, while new ones are very good.

[Tim Marlow]

Shame about the transparencies on the Zvezda PE 2. Doesn’t look like something that will polish out either. The rest looks pretty good though. Might be worth contacting the manufacturer?

[BarryW]

Shame about the transparencies on the Zvezda PE 2. Doesn’t look like something that will polish out either. The rest looks pretty good though. Might be worth contacting the manufacturer?

Others have found the same issue Tim. It is their manufacturing process. Yes it’s a pain but when painted up in this scale it will be satisfactory. If it was 1/32 now that really would be a downer.

[Tim Marlow]

Perhaps Russian Perspex was the same Barry :tongue-out3:

[Nicko]

Thanks for this one Barry. I have the Eduard boxing of the kit in the stash...

Nick

[BarryW]

In-box Review no8 Trumpeter Savoia-Marchetti SM.79-11 Sparviero

I remember getting the old Airfix SM.79 when I was a child back in the 60's and I loved that kit but I remember that the rear gunners position was an empty detailess void and it just did not look right. So I found half of a fuel tank in my spares box, cut it to shape and fitted it over that void. It may not have been 100% accurate but to my eyes looked better than that gaping hole. Funny thing is, perhaps it was not so inaccurate after all, seeing how this Trumpeter kit version is not unlike what I ended up with!

I hummed and erred about getting this kit having read some reviews. However, when I thought about it I don't think all the criticism is necessarily a killer blow and I really cannot see another SM79 being released in this scale or in 1/32. So when I managed to track one down via eBay for a decent price I snatched it up. So what exactly did I end up with and it is worth getting?

Wingspan 422mm
Length 337mm
Parts: 195

The box - rather nice box art.


Some pages from the instructions

These demonstrate one of the criticisms, a lack of internal detail.



There is no doubt that the detail is lacking but just how much can be seen. Looking at the amount of glazing and the limited view of the inside I have concluded that, in this small scale, that it is not a problem. I won't be opening up any panels anyway and if you want to do so then I am sure that you can have a great time detailing it up.


One colourful scheme is provided:


The transparencies seem fine. No blemishes that I have found that will mar the finish.


Wing surface detail is OK, perhaps slightly under detailed but I am not sure that its a problem once painted up under an interesting camo.


Sprues are clean with no big issues, typical Trumpeter.


The fuselage will need some sanding and toning down. This, for me is perhaps the biggest issue but, again, after some work and a coat of paint it should be OK.


The decals, well they are Trumpeter. They look OK but we all know how badly they tend to perform, I don't think I have ever found a set that is usable.


I, of course, will not rely on them. I have this Montex set with three great looking, very colourful, schemes.


I am planning to do the bottom scheme and will need to source the correct MRP shades from their Italian AF range. Having bought some of these colours I will just have to build more Italian aircraft..... I will have a lot of research to do on the paint schemes.

I have not yet found any more aftermarket sets worth getting but clearly I will be keeping a look out, particularly for seatbelts.

So what is the verdict? I have not commented on matters of accuracy, as I am not an expert, but it does look like a SM.79 to me. I also don't think the lack of detail or incorrect fuselage detail are killer blows. Yes, this is a simple kit, but there can be virtue in simplicity.

All in all I feel I can Recommend this kit but, if you are a 'rivet counter' perhaps you should stay clear.

Next up: Trumpeter FW-200 Condor.

[BarryW]

In-box Review No9 - Trumpeter FW200 C-4 Condor

I remember back in the late 60'se seeing picture of the old 1/72 Revell Condor and I really liked the look of it, but somehow, I never did get to build it. I was pleased to see that Trumpeter produced this kit so it just had to be part of my project.

Wingspan 684mm - significantly longer than the Lancaster and B17!
Length 488mm
Over 300 parts

The box


As usual a selection of pages from the instructions




It looks to be a fairly straightforward kit.

Two schemes but they look pretty much the same...


So, to the plastic.

Transparencies looking good.

Nicely packed and nice surface detail.



The plastic is cleanly moulded. No burring or flash apparent.


There is a film for the i.p.


The decals. They always take care to pack them carefully, pity they are worthless....


The only a.m. that I have are Montex masks.


I will need to sort out seatbelts and, maybe, a better i.p. if there is one available.

Overall I do like this kit. I see no issues at all for the build and it will look great alongside the Lanc and B17. Recommended

Next up: Trumpeter Wellington.

[Gern]

In-box Review No9 - Trumpeter FW200 C-4 Condor

I remember back in the late 60'se seeing picture of the old 1/72 Revell Condor and I really liked the look of it, but somehow, I never did get to build it. I was pleased to see that Trumpeter produced this kit so it just had to be part of my project.

Wingspan 684mm - significantly longer than the Lancaster and B17!
Length 488mm
Over 300 parts

The box
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1154735[/ATTACH]

As usual a selection of pages from the instructions
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1154740[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1154741[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1154742[/ATTACH]

It looks to be a fairly straightforward kit.

Two schemes but they look pretty much the same...
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1154743[/ATTACH]

So, to the plastic.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1154737[/ATTACH]
Transparencies looking good.

Nicely packed and nice surface detail.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1154736[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1154738[/ATTACH]

The plastic is cleanly moulded. No burring or flash apparent.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1154739[/ATTACH]

There is a film for the i.p.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1154745[/ATTACH]

The decals. They always take care to pack them carefully, pity they are worthless....
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1154744[/ATTACH]

The only a.m. that I have are Montex masks.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1154746[/ATTACH]

I will need to sort out seatbelts and, maybe, a better i.p. if there is one available.

Overall I do like this kit. I see no issues at all for the build and it will look great alongside the Lanc and B17. Recommended

Next up: Trumpeter Wellington.

I read some reviews of this some years ago and quite a few mentioned problems with the wings. Apparently the plastic is very thin, so the joint between them and the fuselage is weak and had a tendency to split. So much so that someone (can't remember who I'm afraid) manufactured an aluminium reinforcing beam that runs through the fuselage into both wings as an AM accessory. Might be worth looking into.

[Tim Marlow]

Going to need a big shelf for that one Barry.

[BarryW]

I read some reviews of this some years ago and quite a few mentioned problems with the wings. Apparently the plastic is very thin, so the joint between them and the fuselage is weak and had a tendency to split. So much so that someone (can't remember who I'm afraid) manufactured an aluminium reinforcing beam that runs through the fuselage into both wings as an AM accessory. Might be worth looking into.

Thanks for that, looking at the wing it makes sense. I will certainly work out a way to reinforce it.

[BarryW]

Going to need a big shelf for that one Barry.

True, but as I am used to 1/32 models and I am planning 18inch deep display shelves in my man-cave that's not an issue.....

[Dave Ward]

Barry,
On the Zvezda Pe-2, and on all their 1/48 models, I believe, crew are supplied, and very nicely moulded as well. Not many modern makers do this, it's a pity. They may be left out, but it's good to have a choice. In my Pe-2
I used them - no need to mess around with seat belts!
Dave

[BarryW]

Barry,
On the Zvezda Pe-2, and on all their 1/48 models, I believe, crew are supplied, and very nicely moulded as well. Not many modern makers do this, it's a pity. They may be left out, but it's good to have a choice. In my Pe-2
I used them - no need to mess around with seat belts!
Dave

Thanks Dave but I never include crew in my builds. I am no good at figure painting which is an art all of itself and I prefer to have as much cockpit detail visible as possible. The seatbelts are included in the 3D decals interior pack and very nice they are too as are the other details.

[BarryW]

In-box Review no10 Trumpeter Vickers Wellington MkIII.

One of the great iconic British early war bombers designed by the great Barnes Wallis.

Back in 1983 I was elected to my local Council and there was a wiry lively little chap called Fred Cosham who, with his wife, worked hard on my campaign team, great days. Old Fred had a picture of a Wellington on his wall and a photo of him, in an RAF uniform with some other blokes, I asked about this and his wife told me that Fred was a rear gunner on a Wellington and the picture was him and the rest of his crew. The rear gunner position is said to be the most dangerous on an bomber of course. Fred never spoke of his war experiences, sadly, as I would have loved to hear about them. Fred and his lovely wife died quite a few years ago now and I am proud to say that they became friends over the 12 years I served on the Council. But I never did find out anything more about his war service. I plan to do some research and if I can establish any details of any of the aircraft he flew I will build that aircraft in his honour.

The kit:
630+ parts
Wingspan 547mm
Length 387.3mm

The box art


Some example pages from the instructions:



There are a lot of bomb load-out options.


Optional props.

There are two schemes in the box.


Some sprues
Surface detail looks good.

Mouldings look clean and nicely done


The transparencies and a few other parts are packed in a separate box to keep them safe.

Some etch.

Soft 'rubber' wheels.

A film for the i.p.

The transparencies are nice and clear.


Then nice looking but utterly useless decals.


I have some Montex Masks.

and Eduard seatbelts,


I am really looking forward to this one. I wonder whether I will be able to track down Fred's Wellington, I would love such a model to take pride of place in my display shelves in the flat. We shall see.......

Overall this looks to be a really nice kit and looks to be the best of the 1/48 Trumpeters I am reviewing.

Highly Recommended.

Next up: ICM Douglas Invader.