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CAC-13 Boomerang 1:48 Special Hobby The Boomerang was a WWII fighter designed and made in Australia by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC). The design stemmed from the CAC Wirraway, this was a licence built North American NA-16 (more commonly known as the Harvard). Australia had realised in the 1930s that Japan had expansionist ideas and would need its own aircraft industry. this is one reason North American were approached to licence build the Wirraway. After WWII broke out and with the traditional supply of aircraft from the UK in short supply CAC looked at producing their own domestic fighter. Key to this was the recruitment of Fred David a Jewish refugee from Austria who was actually interned at the time. He had worked for Heinkel, and Mitsubishi on aircraft design. CAC had also negotiated that the licence for the NA-16 allowed for them to modify the design. The Boomerang would utilise the wing, tail, centre section and undercarriage of the Wirraway. A new forward fuselage was developed which was wider to accommodate the larger Twin Wasp engine along with a single cockpit. The armament for the new aircraft was to be two 20mm cannon and 4 .303 machine guns. Production was authorised almost immediately as it would provide insurance against a delay to an order of P-40 aircraft and it would keep the production lines open at CAC. The availability of Wirraway components would also speed up production. From design to first production was a staggering 3 months. The aircraft was tested initially against a Brewster Buffalo which was slightly modified to resemble a zero in performance, in addition to testing against a P-40. It was found to be faster though less manoeuvrable than the other aircraft, but it had far better armament, and Armor for protection of the pilot. Performance though rapidly dropped off over 15000 feet. However the maximum speed was only 265 knots well below that of Zero and Oscar. Deployment of American fighters to Australia lowered the need for the Boomerang, however due to the cancellation of the Woomera bomber the Government extend production of the Boomerang. The Kit In total 250 aircraft were built and operated by 7 Squadrons of the Royal Australian Air Force. The Boomerang would see combat initially in the air defence role. There are no records of any Boomerang air-2-air kills. Later in the war the aircraft was used in the ground attack role. Properties such as the manoeuvrability, low speed, and toughness made it suitable to this role. Extensive armour plating was fitted to the airframe to protect it in this role. In what we would now recognise as the FAC role Boomerangs would often mark targets low down with smoke bombs in order that larger aircraft could attack from a safer distance. After the war some aircraft operated in the Air Sea Rescue role. Three aircraft survive today in flying condition with others in museums and one on exhibition at the Australian War Memorial. The kit is a re-issue from Special Hobby and dates back to 2008, with a re-issue on 2012. The kit is on 4 sprues of grey plastic, a clear sprue, a bag of resin parts and a small photo etched fret. The parts are typical of the shorter run ejection kits. Construction starts where else but in the cockpit. The first item to be constructed is the left hand panel which contains the undercarriage lever, trim wheel and other controls. Once this is made up it is fitted into the left fuselage half. The rudder pedal assembly and instrument panel are then built up and set aside, as is the head armour assembly for the pilot. The cockpit can then be assembled. This is a steel framed affair. There are two side frames which attach to the floor, a forward bulkhead is attached along with the rear one containing the armour. The instrument panel is then added. The seat is next along with a full set of PE belts. The last item to be added in is the control column and linkages. Next up the main landing gear is assembled and put to one side. The main legs are a single part to which the scissor links are added. The wheels are single part resin castings. Construction then moves onto the radial engine. This is a well moulded example being built up from resin and plastic parts. To the central resin hub are added the double bank of cylinders one at a time. Be sure to get them in the right order as the front and rear ones are different. Once complete the engine is attached to its mounts and then to the cockpit section. The complete cockpit/engine section is then placed into the fuselage and it can be closed up. Attention now moves to the main wing. This is of a conventional one part lower, with left/right upper wings. The interior of the main undercarriage bay is built up, and the landing lights added to both wings. The rudder and tailplanes are also built up at this time. The main wing, rudder, and tailplanes are then added to the main fuselage. To finish up the undercarriage is added along with its doors. An optional ventral fuel tank can be added at this stage if needed. Aerials, pitot tunes, exhausts and cowl flaps are added along with canon barrels. The spinner is added to the propeller, which is then added to the engine. Lastly the canopy, windscreen and aft glazing panels are added. Decals Decals are from Aviprint and should pose no issues, markings are provided for 4 examples; A46-199 / QE-Y “Home James” Flt Lt Jack Archer, RAAF No.4 Sqn New Guinea July 1944. A46-154 / MH-J “Wanda Lust” RAAF No.83 Sqn, Grove, Northern Teritory, July 1944. A46-193 / QE-H “Struthl” RAF No.4 Sqn Labuan, Sept 1944. A46-194 / QE-K “The Grim Reaper” Sqn Sqd Ldr Wallken RAAF No.4, Labuan Sept 1944. Conclusion This is a welcome re-release from Special Hobby of an important aircraft for the RAAF. It is not a shake and bake kit however I would recommend it. Review sample courtesy of