1/48 FM Lockheed PV1 Ventura

by Laurent “Angus” Beauvais

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Step 1: Kit Description and Cockpit

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Introduction

I must apologize (well, my english, first, but as you won't hear my French accent that should be fine) : before opening the box I was convinced that the Ventura was a transport aircraft. When we decided on the www.master194.com French forum to make a "French artisanal plastic model manufacturer" group built, I bought this box because the plane looked original, with a nice French markings, including a beautiful "croix de Lorraine", symbol of the Free French Forces (FAFL: French Free Air Force, a very small force in reality, but how important). You can imagine my surprise when, opening the box, I first discovered a lot of victory marks on the US markings (interesting 2 tone blue decoration) and  plenty of guns.

In the box

The complete description of the box containt is on line on the FM website: http://www.fonderie-miniature.fr/ventura.htm, I will only perform a critical analysis.

No surprise, Fonderie Miniature (FM) is an artisanal company. It allows us to built non usual aircraft (no spitfire or Me 109 is available in its catalog) but it has got a price: these are not kits for kids.

Plastic parts surface quality still looks like orange skin (but less than before) , but it 's easy to correct. The engraving is better than before, lines are straight.

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Wheels are furnished compressed, but you can notice on the air intake part a little lack of material.
You will have to perform a lot of test before gluing the parts. Despite my advice, I fell several times in the trap.
Trailing edge are really thick, about 3mm, and the upper and lower shapes are not in front of each other.
Same thing for the rear horizontal stabilizer, a 2mm gap will have to be filled.
Resin parts are really nice.
Notice is clear but is not precise enough for positioning the parts, and the instruction "to make" is not usual, it's not gonna' be easy to take this kind of dimension.

Now let's talk about the parts I really don't like: white metal parts. Why does FM, that produce real nice resin parts, continue to furnish us this kind of part ? price I guess.

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But the worst are clear parts, no one will be used as they are not transparent enough.

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Cockpit

WARNING: Interiors seams to vary a lot depending on the aircraft. This is an interpretation of the different documents I have.

Classically let's start with the inside. Seats look sufficient, here they are before weathering

 

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Instrument panel is furnished with a photo etched part, but no decal to put behind. So I decided to glue a white plastic tape (venillia tape), paint this in black, and then with a pin draw the instruments. A drop of clear varnish in every instrument will create the illusion of the glass.

Boxes have been added, cut in an eraser (easy to cut, and convenient to fix inside electric wire)

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I have not used the manets that are furnished in photo etched parts, as they are 6 instead of 10, and all flat. Instead, I drilled thin holes, glued inside  a small electric wire, and created the the top of each mant with a drop of white wood glue, this makes much more realistic than the flat photo etched parts.

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Now we have to assemble all this, and it does not fit. First photo etched parts of the instrument panel is too big and is not centered (yellow arrow), you will have to cut it and hollow in the flank.

The 4 traces on the floor do not allow to position correctly the seats, to be suppressed.

In the same way of idea, you will have to cut the attachment of the seat belts (red arrow) to be able to close the cockpit.

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Here is the cockpit before weathering. 

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Now we have to close the fuselage, and again pieces are to big:
  • The floor is to large and reduced of 2mm (light blue arrow)
  • Red arrow: I have cut the resin part so that the window fits correctly with the fuselage.
  • The 2 sides (yellow arrow) are cut so that the instrument panel can pass through, and erased to be able to fit in the closed fuselage.

 

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Last problem, the stick is to wide and when installed in the fuselage are not centered in regards to the seats (left photo). You will have to cut at least 1,5mm.

To finish, you can add a red box with 2 tubing going to 2 instruments (what are they ? no idea) in the front of the cockpit.

Laurent

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Next Step : radio compartment, cargo zone detailing and engines ...........

Photos and text © by Laurent “Angus” Beauvais