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CASA C-212-300/400 (SH72489) Long-Nosed CASAs 1:72 Special Hobby The CASA C-212 Aviocar was developed in response to a need by the Spanish Air Force for a new cargo aircraft, putting its ageing fleet of Dakotas and Ju.52s out to pasture. It first flew in 1971, and its designers, CASA began receiving orders shortly thereafter. It started life as an eighteen seat un-pressurised transport that could carry out multiple roles for the military, but with a watchful eye on potential civilian customers too. The initial 100 series was used for transport, reconnaissance, VIP transport and civilian service, with some license built in Indonesia, who switched to the improved 200 Series as it was developed, with an extended fuselage and more powerful engines to improve its carrying capacity. In the late 80s the 300 Series was introduced with winglets to improve fuel efficiency and range, with new engines, although they output around the same power, but through a pair of four-bladed propellers. The 400 series came into service toward the end of the 90s, and improved further on the type’s load carrying capacity, with slightly more powerful engines, and new avionics that were moved into the nose from under the floor. During the noughties production was moved entirely to Indonesia, transporting the jigs and equipment there to continue production by Indonesian Aerospace, while the Spanish factories retooled for its replacement, the NC-212i that is powered by a pair of new turboprop engines with more power and revised four-bladed props. The Kit This is a new boxing of the kit we originally reviewed in 2018 on its initial release, with new parts added along the way, some of which appeared in an Azur Frrom boxing of the -300 a while back. This boxing gives the modeller the option of a -300 or -400 series, with lots of spare parts that will be left on the sprues after the build is complete. The kit arrives in a shallow top-opening box, and inside are five sprues of grey styrene, two small sprues of clear parts, a small base of 3D printed parts in a separate Ziploc bag, a decal sheet and the A5 instruction booklet printed in colour on satin paper, with profiles for the three decal options on the rear pages, accompanied by an advert for some of the aftermarket that Special Hobby produce for the C-212 under their CMK brand, and a few other kits from the Special Hobby stable. Detail is good, with crisp panel lines, sensible parts breakdown to assist with creation of the numerous variants that have been released. Construction begins with alteration of the fuselage, which must have the forward section removed by cutting, to be replaced by a new section that can be found on the same sprue, giving your CASA a longer nose. Both sides are cut and lengthened, adding a door insert on both sides forward of the wing, and a smaller door behind the main landing gear sponsons. The fuselages have either circular porthole-style windows inserted from within, or after cutting and sanding the thinned inners to a square with radiused corners, the corresponding alternative windows can be installed for one of the decal schemes. The paired cockpit side windows are also glued in from within at this stage, mounting the instrument panel and its three decals in the starboard side as you go, and inserting a couple of tail bumpers under the base of the sloped rear. The cockpit is built on a short floor section with the side and centre consoles moulded-in, adding two seats and control yokes, plus a rear bulkhead with quilted sound insulation and an access door behind the crew. This is trapped between the two fuselage halves during closure, along with the front windscreen panels that are moulded as one. Two aerials are cut from the top of the fuselage, while a few antennae and blisters are added underneath, fitting the nose-wheel on its two-part strut on an insert under the nose, with small lights on each side. The main gear sponsons are fixed to the portions that are moulded into the fuselage halves, including some of the internal structure, remembering to install the main gear struts with their moulded-in scissor-links as you do. The tail fin is moulded into the fuselage halves, and has a single-thickness rudder panel that is shortened before installation, plus the two elevators and their flying surfaces, the former from two halves each, the latter single thickness. More antennae of various styles are included depending on which decal option you have chosen, some of which must be shortened during fitting, others would benefit from holes being drilled out to mount them in. The main wheels are added to the struts, building them each from two halves. As this is a high-wing monoplane, it is the upper wing that is moulded full-span, gluing the lower halves to it, adding four triangular actuator fairings into slots in the underside, and removing the wingtip light blisters, drilling two holes further back in each tip to accept the new wingtip fins later. Two engine nacelles are made from identical pairs of parts, adding a cowling front to them along with the prop, which is moulded as one, and trapped between the back-plate and spinner. A styrene washer holds the axle in place before installing the front cowling if you wish to leave the props spinning, or you could leave it off and add the props later, making dealing with the delicate seams a little easier in the process. The two nacelles are added carefully to the underside of the wing, fitting the 3D printed exhaust guides for one of the schemes, and inserting the wingtips at each end. There are some alterations needed to make the flying surfaces more accurate, removing a protruding trim-tab and filling the remainder on one side, and filling the panel line underneath, plus removing the actuator strut at the inner edge. The completed wings are dropped over the fuselage, taking care to align them well, fixing two probes on the nose in front of the windscreen, plus a crew step under their hatch. Finally, a pair of rail-type antennae are fitted on the tail fin, one each side, locating on a pair of recesses near the top. Markings There are three decal options on the sheet, each with very different schemes and operators that should maximise their appeal. From the box you can build one of the following: CASA C-212-300M, 8021, No.44 Sqn., SAAF, Waterkloof, South Africa, 2008 CASA C-212-400, ARBV-0217, Escuadrón Aeronaval de Patrullaje Maritimo, Armada Bolivariana de Venezuela, 2008 CASA C-212-300, PA-61, Escuadrilla de Alas Fijas, Prefectura Naval Argentina, 1990s The decals are printed using a digital process and have good registration, sharpness, and colour density, with a thin gloss carrier film cut loosely around the printed areas. This means that the carrier film on their decals can be coaxed away from the printed part of the decal after they have been applied, effectively rendering them carrier film free, making the completed decals much thinner and more realistic, and obviating the need to apply successive coats of clear varnish to hide the edges of the carrier film. It’s a great step further in realism from my point of view, and saves a good quantity of precious modelling time into the bargain. Conclusion The C-212 was in production for over 40 years, with almost 500 airframes built during that time, and many countries operating it in either civil or military guises. This kit gives the modeller a modern tooling of the type, plus some interesting decal options. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Scratchaeronautics is to release in 2017 a 1/48th CASA C-212-200 Aviocar resin kit. Source: https://www.facebook.com/Scratchaeronautics/posts/1452126034820449 Pre-order: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252772014599?ssPageName=STRK%3AMESELX%3AIT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649 V.P.

CASA C-212-300 France (FR0040) 1:72 Azur FRROM The CASA C-212 Aviocar is a medium cargo aircraft with a short field capability designed by Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA or CASA of Spain. The aircraft is a boxy fuselage with a high mounted wing and twin turbo prop engines. The cabin is not pressurised. In the 1960's the Spanish Air Force was looking to modernise as at the time it was still relying on a mix of C-47s and Ju-52s for its transport requirements. The SASA 212 was a proposed 18 seat transport aircraft which could fill a few different roles. The aircraft first flew in 1971 and the Spanish Air Force would acquire them from there. 477 Aircraft were built over 42 years, with the last -400 with a glass cockpit by then being built in 2012 when Airbus Military decided to discontinue production. Production continues though under license in Indonesia. The aircraft has been used by many military and civil users all over the world. For the 300 version the propellers were changed from Hartzell composite blade propellers to Dowty-Rotol all-metal propellers. In addition a larger stabiliser and winglets were added. The most noticeable difference though was the addition of a nose baggage compartment which extended the nose. The Kit This is a new toolkit from Special Hobby with Azur FRROM offering a "French" issue of the kit which is the C-212-300. The kit arrives on six sprues of plastic, a clear spure, and a small sheet of PE. From the look of the unused parts on the sprue a maritime/patrol version is planned at some point. Construction starts with deciding to do a 100 or 300 model. If doing the 300 then the kit nose needs removing and the extended 300 nose adding. Once done you move onto adding the instrument panel in at the front. Instruments are supplied as decals. The windows are put into the main fuselage halves from the inside at this point, as well as the side cockpit glazing. The main fuselage doors and inserts at the front are then added. The rest of the cockpit is then built up, this can then be added and thee main fuselage closed up. Its worth noting there in no interior for the main cargo cabin and the ramp is moulded closed. Next up the undercarriage is made up and the main sponsons added. The nose is added along with the main cockpit glazing. The tail planes are made up with separate control surfaces. The instructions advise to add nose weight but omit how much is needed. The tailplanes ad rudder are now added to the main fuselage, along with the tail plane fairings. The wings are made up next. There is a single part upper and left/right lowers. 4 flap actuator fairings are added to each side. The two engine nacelles are made up and added along with the fronts and propeller assemblies. These can then be added to the wings. Two trim tabs on the wing need to be removed. The wing is now fitted to the fuselage along with various antennas and sundry parts. As these differ in the varietals attention will be needed to select the correct ones. The wings are made up next. There is a single part upper and left/right lowers. 4 flap actuator fairings are added to each side. The two engine nacelles are made up and added along with the fronts and propellor assemblies. These can then be added to the wings. Two trim tabs on the wing need to be removed.The wing is now fitted to the fuselage along with various antennas and sundary parts. Markings There are printed by Cartograf for the main sheet, and Aviprint for the grey markings; both should pose no problems, four options are provided; French Air Force Flight Test Centre Jan 2015 Civilian Aircraft, operated by Boogie Performance, France 2009 Civilian Aircraft, operated by CAE Aviation, France 2009/14 French Air Force Flight Test Centre Jan 2009/11 Conclusion It is great to see this over looked small transport aircraft now being injection moulded in 1/72. All the better we now have the 300 as well. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

CASA C-212-100 (72344) 1:72 Special Hobby The CASA C-212 Aviocar is a medium cargo aircraft with a short field capability designed by Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA or CASA of Spain. The aircraft is a boxy fuselage with a high mounted wing and twin turbo prop engines. The cabin is not pressurised. In the 1960's the Spanish Air Force was looking to modernise as at the time it was still relying on a mix of C-47s and Ju-52s for its transport requirements. The SASA 212 was a proposed 18 seat transport aircraft which could fill a few different roles. The aircraft first flew in 1971 and the Spanish Air Force would acquire them from there. 477 Aircraft were built over 42 years, with the last -400 with a glass cockpit by then being built in 2012 when Airbus Military decided to discontinue production. Production continues though under license in Indonesia. The aircraft has been used by many military and civil users all over the world The Kit This is a new toolkit from Special Hobby. The kit arrives on five sprues of plastic and a clear spure. From the look of the unused parts on the sprue a maritime/patrol version is planned at some point. Construction starts with adding the instrument panel in at the front. Instruments are supplied as decals. The windows are put into the main fuselage halves from the inside at this point, as well as the side cockpit glazing. The main fuselage doors and inserts at the front are then added. The rest of the cockpit is then built up, this can then be added and thee main fuselage closed up. Its worth noting there in no interior for the main cargo cabin and the ramp is moulded closed. Next up the undercarriage is made up and the main sponsons added. The nose is added along with the main cockpit glazing. The tail planes are made up with separate control surfaces. The instructions advise to add nose weight but omit how much is needed. The tailplanes ad rudder are now added to the main fuselage, along with the tail plane fairings. The wings are made up next. There is a single part upper and left/right lowers. 4 flap actuator fairings are added to each side. The two engine nacelles are made up and added along with the fronts and propeller assemblies. These can then be added to the wings. Two trim tabs on the wing need to be removed. The wing is now fitted to the fuselage along with various antennas and sundry parts. As these differ in the varietals attention will be needed to select the correct ones. The wings are made up next. There is a single part upper and left/right lowers. 4 flap actuator fairings are added to each side. The two engine nacelles are made up and added along with the fronts and propellor assemblies. These can then be added to the wings. Two trim tabs on the wing need to be removed.The wing is now fitted to the fuselage along with various antennas and sundary parts. Markings There are printed by Eduard and should pose no problems, three options are provided; Spanish Air Force. Paracute school Murcia Alcantarilla AB, 2009 - Overall Grey. Chilean Army, Santiago de Chile International, 2009. Two Greens/tan over grey. Colombian Navy 2005. Two tone grey. Conclusion It is great to see this over looked small transport aircraft now being injection moulded in 1/72. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

After its 1/72nd Aviocar (http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234949571-172nd-casa-c-212-aviocar-resin-kit-by-aircraft-in-miniature-limited-aim/?hl=aviocar), Aircraft in Miniature Ltd. (http://www.aim72.co.uk/index.html) has announced for 2014 a 1/48th CASA C-212 Aviocar resin kit. Source: http://www.aim72.co.uk/page5.html V.P.

Interesting: 1/72nd CASA C-101 Aviojet, C-212 Aviocar, CN-235 & C-295 resin kits by Scratchaeronautics Source: http://scratchaeronautics.es.tl/Home.htm or http://scratchaviation.webs.com/ Available at Scratchaeronautics Ebayshop: http://www.ebay.fr/sch/jbegines11/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from= C-101 C-212 more pics: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.785709411462118.1073741844.412836322082764&type=1 C-235 C-295 CASA C-101 Aviojet/A-36 Halcón also in 1/48th: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234963138-148-casa-c-101-aviojet-a-36-halcon-resin-kits-by-scratchaeronautics-released/ V.P.