This is a limited release by Azur in 1/72 scale
of the Fairchild 91 with decals to mark it as either an RAF or a Spanish
Nationalist aircraft. The plastic components of this kit have been seen before
and are from the same molds as the Sword model of this aircraft. This release by
Azur includes some very delicate and nicely detailed resin parts. You receive
complete crew and passenger seating, instrument panel, control columns and
yokes, two bulkheads, cockpit floor and the forward portion of the radial
engine. So there's replacements there for chunky or very simplified plastic
parts and some nice additions. Of course all of this interior detail is lost
once buttoned up but never mind that. Amongst the plastic parts you will be
using are fuselage halves with fine engraved panel lines plus wings and control
surfaces with a restrained rib effect. The vac-formed canopy is quite
clear and robust with reasonably well defined framework. Casting quality and
thicknesses of remaining parts is par for course for limited run plastic. Some
of the parts show a little more flash and general wear than others but nothing
extreme and nothing that can't be cleaned up with ease.
Click on
images below to see larger images
The instruction sheet contains specifications and an
interesting history of these aircraft covering their diverse use while
backgrounding the two markings options provided with the kit. Decals are printed
by Cartograf and look to be of good quality with some nice crisp noseart for the
Spanish version.
While
the overall form of this aircraft is somewhat unusual it is not exactly
encrusted with detail so it is crying out for an immaculate build and paint job
to really make it shine. All up this seems to be a good honest effort with some
added value resin to fill out the interior. It should build into something of an
interesting curiosity that will set it apart from the crowd. Recommended.
Some further information on the F-91 can be found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairchild_91
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYyfddMmuSY
This
kit can be purchased here: http://www.hlj.com/product/AZUA019
I
would like to thank HobbyLink Japan ( www.hlj.com
) for providing this review sample.
Nick Moore
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