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. |
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You
will have to perform a lot of test before gluing the parts. Despite my
advice, I fell several times in the trap. |
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Trailing
edge are really thick, about 3mm, and the upper and lower shapes are not
in front of each other. |
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Same
thing for the rear horizontal stabilizer, a 2mm gap will have to be
filled. |
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Resin
parts are really nice. |
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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. |
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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.
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
Next
Step : radio compartment, cargo zone detailing and engines ...........
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