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  1. With the Fokker in its later phase, it's time to look at a second build for this GB. After getting clearance from the group admin, I've opted for doing another float plane (as I have a few), a Savoia-Matchetti S.55 torpedo bomber of the RAI in 1/72 using the Dora Wings kit. In my view, this aircraft fitted nicely into the 'twins' GB nicely, it had twin hulls, twin booms and twin engines, the only question was whether it fitted into the 1935-1945 window but after looking at reference, it looks like these aircraft were in their endgame from 1935 and consigned to reserve by 1939. The stuff... The box Lots of plastic Glazing, decals, PE and resin engines. Glossy instruction booklet Never built anything from this manufacturer before so it will be interesting to see how this goes. I do have a civilian version of this also in the stash , so this'll be a pathfinder. I'll start this as soon as the Fokker is all but done, so shouldn't be too long. Stuart
  2. Hi All (Still waiting for decals) So just started to build the above kit and sorting out which paint scheme to use. There are two suggested: 1. Republic P-43B Lancer, A56-6, 1 Photoreconnaissance Unit, RAAF Coomalite Creek, Northern Territory - Fuselage and tops of wings look like green (could be olive drab) and either brown or red brown, underside a grey (probably neutral grey - used for Lancer P-43A-1); and 2. Republic P-43C Lancer, 40-2897, converted as specialized photographic reconnaissance aircraft,1942 - Fuselage and tops of wings probably olive drab, with the underside neutral grey as well, with white engine cowling. I'm looking to paint scheme 1, so it would help if someone could tell me what 'brown' (if it is brown) it is. The list of required paints does not give any 'brown', nor does it show what paint to use where on the final build, it just shows where to put the decals! I checked the instructions on Scalemates (instruction pdf) and that had the same manual as I have. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
  3. Dora Wings is working on new tool 1/48th Morane-Saulnier MS.405, 406 & 410 kits. - ref. DW48031 - Morane-Saulnier MS.406C-1 - ref. DW48038 - Morane-Saulnier MS.405C-1 Source: https://www.facebook.com/DoraWings-1929101897320378/ Update V.P.
  4. My first build of the new year will be the Dora Wings 1/48 Curtiss-Wright AT-9 Jeep. A bit of an intriguing aeroplane - it doesn't look quite right to me, it's a bit oddly proportioned, and maybe that's because it was apparently deliberately designed to be difficult to fly (an unusual attribute for a trainer!), so much so that it wasn't offered for sale to civilians at the end of WWII. Box and sprues: It's a nice-looking kit, crisply moulded with some nice detail, although it relies on PE for some smaller details. I'm going to get cracking tomorrow. cheers Julian
  5. After the 1/48th kit (link) here's the Dora Wings 1/72nd Vultee A-31/35 Vengeance kit - ref. DW72038 Source: https://www.facebook.com/dorawingsofficial/posts/3097956153768274 Final renders V.P.
  6. Dora Wings is to release 1/72nd Noorduyn C-64 Norseman kits - ref. Would maybe proposed later in the 1/48th scale. Fingers crossed. Source: https://www.facebook.com/dorawingsofficial/posts/2961098897454001 3D renders V.P.
  7. Next Dora Wings project is 1/48th (and later in 1/72nd) de Havilland Canada DHC-2/L-20A/U-6A Beaver kits. 👍 At last a post-WWII aircraft kit from Dora Wings ! Don't forget: https://www.caracalmodels.com/cd48107.html Source: https://www.facebook.com/dorawingsofficial/posts/pfbid01U3HoSAWtXQKgh5fMyoPn9HmSZVSBJwGSEjAKBJMSbiNbuhLGLQXD2mPA6BJTGkYl V.P.
  8. Vultee Vengeance Mk.I/Ia (DFW72038) 1:72 Dora Wings Distributed in the UK by Albion Alloys The A-31 Vultee Vengeance was designed and built for a French order that couldn’t be fulfilled due to Nazis overrunning the country before any deliveries could begin. The British government became interested in the design and placed an order for up to 300 airframes, by which time the aircraft had garnered the name Vengeance. It’s unusual wing design that looked like a diving bird had a 0° angle of incidence that made for an accurate dive with no lift from the wings to draw it off course. After America joined the war the type was investigated for their own use and given the number A-35 for their own and export use. Changes to the wing made it a little less accurate, but gave the pilots a better field of view, and an uprated engine from Mk.Ia onwards gave it a bit more power. By the time the Vengeance reached British service, the losses taken by the Stukas that it had been designed to emulate gave them pause for thought, and they weren’t allocated to the European Theatre of Operation (ETO), but were instead sent to India and Burma initially, although they were later phased out in favour of more capable machines before the war’s end. They eventually found their way to an anti-malarial spraying job, as mosquitos and the malarial plague they brought with them was taking a toll on troops and locals alike. Many of them finished their days as target tugs after being stripped of their weapons. Australia made a larger order and they found them to be much the same as the British did, seeing most of them out of service late in 1944, although a few lingered for a while. The Mk.II that followed was a slightly improved version of the original Mk.I, with just over 500 made. The Kit This is a new tool from Dora Wings of this peculiar beast that looks more like a creature than most. We received the awesome 1:48 kit of the Mk.II in early 2022, and now we’re getting a first look at the 1:72 kit of the Mk.I/Ia. It’s brand new and thoroughly modern, with a level of detail that gives the impression that a shrink-ray has been applied to its larger companion, except for a slight change in sprue layouts, and the fact that shrink rays don’t yet exist. The kit arrives in a small top-opening box, and inside are seven rectangular sprues in a greenish-grey styrene, a sprue of clear parts, a fret of Photo-Etch (PE), a sheet of pre-cut vinyl masks (not pictured), decal sheet, and the instruction booklet. It’s a comprehensive package, and there is plenty of PE at this scale to help you get some serious detail into your Vengeance. Examining the sprues, there has clearly been a lot of effort expended in creating this tooling, as detail is everywhere, and it’s good quality with engraved panel lines and some raised panels giving it a professional finish. Construction begins with the cockpit, which is of a larger size due to it having two crew members. The pilot’s instrument panel is a well-detailed part applying two dial decals, which has more styrene and PE parts plus an sloped wrap-around section, hanging a pair of styrene rudder pedals from the rear of the console. A compass with decal fits to the right diagonal section on a PE bracket, then the floor and bulkheads are made, which doubles as the roof of the bomb bay, as is common. Two seats are built from individual sections including PE diagonals and have PE four-point belts included for the pilot only. He also gets PE head armour and a styrene head rest on the bulkhead behind him, and a pair of side consoles that are built up in the same detailed manner as the instrument panel. The pilot’s seat is fixed to the floor on a ladder frame in front of the bulkhead and is hemmed in by the addition of the instrument panel and side console at that point. The gunner has a complex suspension mount for his seat that fits on a recessed circular section of floor with some additional parts around the area. The fuselage halves have a large area of ribbing engraved into the interior that covers the cockpit and bomb bay, and is further detailed by the addition of various PE and styrene parts before it is put to one side while the cockpit/bomb bay are finished off. The rear section of bulkhead is built up with PE and styrene, creating the base for the mount of the twin machine guns that are made later. A radio box is also put together for later. The bomb bay can be modelled open or closed, but it would be a shame to close the doors on all that detail. The instructions allow you to do that though, as it’s your model after all. Steps 19-27 & 48 cover the bombs with PE fins, a cylindrical tank, the door mechanisms, plus adding constructional beams to detail up the bay to an excellent level. The tail wheel is also made now with yet more detail, and this level of effort also extends to the twin .50cals on their mount, with sighting and bullet-shield parts, plus the twin-spade grips for those defensive moments. With a laundry list of assemblies complete, you can close the fuselage halves on the cockpit and tail wheel assemblies, adding two more detail parts in the area behind the gunner. The top of the fuselage is open forward of the cockpit, which is rectified by adding an insert and convex bulkhead to the front, and an A-frame roll-over bar between the two crew. Attention then turns to the big radial engine up front. The Vengeance Mk.I was powered by a Wright Cyclone R-2600-A5B, the Mk.Ia using a R-2600-19, with twin banks of pistons that are both are present on this model. Work begins with the front bell-housing and ancillaries, which has a drive-shaft for the prop pushed through the front and is held in place by a washer at the rear. Each bank of cylinders is made from front and rear halves, with a star of push-rods and wiring harness added to the front, capped off with the bell-housing. Its exhaust stubs are each made of two halves for fitting to the model, one per side. The engine assembly is attached to the front of the fuselage ready for its cowling later. The oddest part of the Vengeance are the wings. Before they are closed, the main bay walls are added to the upper wing, which has the roof detail moulded-in, augmented by PE ribbing, plus some additional detail added to the front walls. As the two wing halves are brought together, an insert is fixed into the trailing edge that has a curved outer edge to accept the flying surfaces. Two of these are made up, and joined by three flying surfaces with an additional pivot point fixed into the wing as you go along. This gives you plenty of leeway for posing these parts to your whim. The forward sections of the main gear bays are built up with three additional parts that are applied to the sides and front of the detailed roof. If you’ve opted to open the bomb bay, the two bombs are attached to their Y-shaped yokes and laid flat in the bay, then the wings and the angular elevator fin are fixed in place along with the rear gun and radio box in the cockpit. It’s looking like an aircraft now, and the transformation continues as you make up the cowling from two main halves and lip parts, into which the lower intake trunking is installed along with two PE splitters. Care here will reduce any hiding of seams later, which is always nice. The cooling flaps are moulded into the cowling in this smaller kit, making use of PE parts to recreate the dive-spoilers, which can be posed deployed with PE supports, and should look very realistic once painted, especially if their fit is as good as those on the 1:48 kit. The elevators and rudder are all separate assemblies that can again be posed deflected if you wish. The canopy is a large greenhouse with plenty of frames to terrify the masking averse, but they needn’t worry, as Dora have included a set of vinyl masks in translucent grey, pre-cut for your convenience. There are five canopy parts, beginning with the windscreen and working back to the gunner’s windows, all of which are slender and clear within the limits of injection moulding. There is a short vertical aerial on the centre section, which should be rigged with a length of fine line to the forward tip of the rudder fin, which is visible on the box art to assist you in getting it right. The main gear is similar to many American dive bombers, consisting of a straight, thick leg with PE oleo-scissors and detail parts, and a captive “spat” at the bottom of the leg that is a lot less usual. Four small side bay doors are also included with PE openers that are easy to lose as I found out in its larger cousin, and throughout the various bays, detail is excellent. The legs are fixed into the bays with a retraction jack added behind, installing the lower dive-spoilers and the bomb bay doors in the next step. If you’re closing the bomb bay, there is a single part for you to use, but leaving them open you have four parts, two per side, as the doors fold-up into a sharp V-shape at each side of the bay. As an aside, I used the closed bomb bay part as a mask for the open bomb bay in my 1:48 build, cutting notches where the door actuators extend beyond the walls. The fit was so snug that it was held in position by friction alone. A small PE exhaust outlet is inserted into a slot in front of the bomb bay, and at the rear of the aircraft the PE tail bay door is rested against the leg. The propeller is made from a single set of moulded blades that have a combined boss and spinner added to the front. Pop the pitot probe under the right wing, and fit two circular landing lights into their recesses under both wings, and that’s it done. Markings There are a generous four decal options on the sheet, although they’re all wearing the same basic brown/green camouflage scheme, with sky blue undersides, differentiating by their codes and lettering styles. From the box you can build one of the following: Mk.Ia (EZ804), 110(H) Sqn., Burma, 1944 Mk.Ia (EZ977), 8 Sqn., IAF, India, 1944 Mk.I (AN590), 1 GBPi, Brazil, 1943 Mk.Ia (EZ957), 110(H), Sqn., Burma, 1944 <ul style="list-style-type:upper-alpha"> Decals are by DecoGraph, which is a guarantee of good registration, sharpness and colour density, with a thin matt carrier film cut close to the printed areas. The profiles contain thanks to both Steve Long and the director of the Camden Museum of Aviation for their assistance with this project. Conclusion This is a superbly-detailed model of this lesser-known combatant in the Pacific theatre during WWII, with its weird wings and massive engine cowling making it stand out on your model shelf. The 1:48 kit was a treat to build, and there’s nothing to suggest that this will be any different, with barely any difference in the level of detail supplied. Very highly recommended. Available soon from Dora Wings in the Ukraine, and in the UK from importers Albion Alloys. Review sample courtesy of Available soon in the UK in all good model shops. Distributed by
  9. Fairey Delta 2 (DW72009) British Supersonic Research Aircraft 1:72 Dora Wings distributed in UK by Albion Alloys Following WWII, British aviation technology still lead the world, giving away first place to the speed of sound to the Americans by cancelling the Miles M.52 project and sharing the data. The delta wing had been considered as a new wing planform for early jets, and Fairey was tasked with looking into it along with a great many other new aspects that came alongside jet engines. The Type-R project was originally intended to be a VTOL undertaking, but pivoted to supersonic flight and renamed it the Delta 1 project. An initial contract for three airframes was curtailed once the initial prototype had flown, as it was a difficult aircraft to fly with many vices, although Fairey continued flying it as a test-bed until 1956 when they bent it in a rough landing, grounding it for good. The FD2 originated as a single-engined transonic interceptor, but morphed into something different due to Fairey’s inventiveness and dissatisfaction with doing just what was asked of them. The early data that was gathered during the FD1 project and the experience of the new chief engineer they imported from Hawker gave them a start, although the Gannet project took priority during this period, slowing down progress for a time. Rebels that they were, the FD2 was developed upon a specification that would outstrip requirements by a substantial margin that eventually led the aircraft to be the first in the world to reach 1,000mph. Two prototypes were built, and care was taken to ensure that military equipment could be added later if it reached service, taking to the sky toward the end of 1954. A flameout of the first prototype due to loss of fuel supply resulted in serious damage to the rear end after the main gear failed to deploy in time for the emergency landing. Once back in the sky, supersonic flight became commonplace for the aircraft in France after the Ministry refused permission over the UK because they mistakenly believed that sonic booms could be dangerous at low-level, although no claims for damages were ever lodged in France. Its proximity to and collaboration with French engineers gave Dassault plenty of data that helped in the design of the Mirage III, which shared many of the same characteristic of the FD2, save for the droop-snoot that was later incorporated by the Concorde engineers. The two airframes went on to perform a great deal of test flying, part of which included flying at supersonic speeds without the use of reheat in 1955, despite almost total lack of support from the Ministry, who were under the sway of Duncan Sandys, and only had eyes for missiles. The record had previously been held by a North American F-100 Super Sabre, and after many hurdles were crossed, including reticence from Rolls Royce and the Civil Service (some things never change), Fairey went ahead on the 10th March 1956, reaching 1,132 mph or Mach 1.73, which was 37% more than the previous record. Once the competition had got over the shock, they put their best efforts into taking the record back, which was finally done by the USAF flying an F-101A Voodoo at the end of 1957. Despite the success of the prototypes, Fairey could not manage to convert that success into a completed project, although some of their data and ground-breaking design-work went into the Concorde project in the 60s, including a heavily re-designed FD2 with new wings called the BAC 211. The Kit In true Dora Wings style, this kit is a little out of the ordinary and was unexpected but very, very welcome, especially by the 1:72 modellers on this here forum. I was happy that they are happy of course, and can’t wait for a similar announcement in 1:48. I can dream, can’t I? The kit arrives in a small top-opening box with a painting of the FD2 in-flight over broken cloud, and inside are five crisply-moulded sprues in grey styrene, a small sprue of clear parts, two decal sheets, a small fret of Photo-Etch (PE), a sheet of vinyl masks, and a portrait format A5 instruction booklet printed in full-colour on glossy paper. Detail is excellent, as we’ve come to expect from Dora Wings, who seem to improve with every kit. The exterior of the model is sleek like the real thing, with fine engraved panel lines, super detail inside the upper wing halves, moulded-in sidewall detail in the nose, cockpit, gear bays and legs that wouldn’t look out of place on a kit of a larger scale. Construction begins with the cockpit, starting with the narrow instrument panel with decal, covered by a coaming and set aside while the ejection seat is built from five parts plus decals representing four-point seatbelts. The shallow cockpit tub receives the seat on two tabs, plus the short control column with the instrument panel in front, and an oval bulkhead in front of that. The rear bulkhead finishes the cockpit, which is inserted between the nose halves, separated from the fuselage at the pivot-point for the droop-snoot. The canopy is furnished in two parts, which is good news for this scale, then the spine and underside are fitted with aerials and PE vanes on the pitot probe, which are probably left off until after painting. The fuselage has its intakes fleshed-out inside by two additional parts per side, and the exhaust tube is made from two halves plus a forward bulkhead that has the rear face of the engine moulded-in, then it and the nose gear bay are trapped between the two fuselage halves, adding a flat spar between to support the wings. These are built from upper and lower halves, adding aileron and flap to the trailing edges, and an actuator fairing to the ailerons, briefly stopping to admire the detail included in the gear bay mouldings before you slot them onto the spars, following up with the rudder, which can be posed deflected if you wish. The nose can be fitted drooped or straight for in-flight by using one of two bulkheads supplied, glued into the flat front of the fuselage, mating the nose once the glue is cured, and taking note of the two diagrams that show the correct angles from the side. A gaggle of auxiliary intakes are scattered over the upper fuselage, and PE strakes are fitted into shallow grooves in the upper wings, flipping the model over to fit the landing gear and bay doors. The main bay struts are braced by a V-strut, while the nose gear leg is an A-frame with extended central strut and a Y-brace near the top of the retraction jacks. Another retraction jack is fitted as the main legs are installed in their bays, fitting a single main wheel to the axle inboard, with a captive bay door on the outer face. The nose gear leg is installed as-is, slotting two wheels on a cross-axle near the front of the bay. Markings You might expect these prototypes to be bare metal only, but they also got to wear some colourful schemes, especially at shows. From the box you can build one of these four options: WG774, March 1956, World Air Speed Record – 1,132mph, pilot Lieutenant Commander Peter Twiss WG774, 2nd September 1955 WG777, RAF Musuem, Cosford, Shropshire, UK WG774, SBAC Show Farnborough, September 1958 Decals are by Dora’s usual partner, DecoGraph, which is a guarantee of good registration, sharpness and colour density, with a thin satin carrier film cut close to the printed areas. Conclusion The only thing that could make this a better FD2 if it was in 1:48. I know I’m harping on about that a little bit, but I figure if I mither Eugen often enough he might cave in. It’s a great kit with plenty of detail, including the droop-snoot if you feel the urge, just don’t be tempted to fill that join line. Very highly recommended. Available in the UK in all good model shops. Review sample courtesy of
  10. Dora Wings is to release a 1/48th Cessna AT-17/T-50 Bobcat kit - ref. DW48053 Would most probably later proposed in the 1/72nd scale as usual for this creative as productive ukrainian brand. Source: https://www.facebook.com/dorawingsofficial/posts/2960857227478168 3D renders V.P.
  11. The new Dora Wings project is a 1/32nd Dewoitine D.520 kit - ref. 32?? Source: https://www.facebook.com/dorawingsofficial/posts/pfbid02nVTphb3r5nrS5zz1s6716ivuM5zAkarsdDdaXmrf8AF8CKERA4Nv5L8y7YFxa8K7l First renders V.P.
  12. Dora Wings is to release a 1/72nd Fairey Delta FD.2 kit - ref. 72009 Source: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=2106721216225111&id=1929101897320378 V.P.
  13. Dora Wings new project is a 1/48th Vultee P-66 Vanguard Source: https://www.facebook.com/1929101897320378/photos/a.2872448652985693/2872448836319008/ V.P.
  14. Some days ago Dora Wings released a new tool 1/72nd Fairey Delta FD.2 kit (thread). And herebelow the Dora Wings season's greetings postcard... With a Fairey Delta FD.1 ! Looks like a subliminal message to me. So just a rumour. To be followed. Source: https://www.facebook.com/dorawingsofficial/posts/pfbid0uhJWDn4bVpujKU7ZTbtwCbmcofG2Dxm7DoSgJyiVMo7aSBkivB3xUEndG874RQTyl V.P.
  15. Hi all. Novelty from Dora Wings. Dedicated to those who still remember the Frog models...... 😉
  16. Republic P-47C Thunderbolt with Ferry Tank (DW48054) 1:48 Dora Wings imported in the UK by Albion Alloys The Thunderbolt was developed from a series of less-than-successful earlier designs that saw Seversky aviation change to Republic, and the project designation from P-35, to P-43 and P-44, each with its own aggressive sounding name. After a realisation that their work so far wasn't going to cut it in the skies over war-torn Europe, they went back to the drawing board and produced the P-47A that was larger, heavier and sported the new Pratt & Whitney R-2800 18-cylinder radial that would also power the B-26 Marauder, P-61 Black Widow and F4U Corsair. With it they added eight .50cal Browning machine guns aligned along the axis of flight in the wing leading edge. The P-47A was still a smaller aircraft, and was initially ordered without military equipment to allow faster completion, but it was considered inferior to the competition then available, so an extensive re-design was ordered that resulted in the much large P-47B, firing up to 100 rounds per second from the eight .50cal wing guns, and with a maximum speed of over 400mph, leaving just the fuel load slightly short of requirements. It first flew mid-1941, and despite being a heavy-weight, its performance was still excellent, and the crash of the prototype didn’t affect the order for over 700 airframes, which were fitted with a more powerful version of the R-2800 and a sliding canopy that made ingress and egress more streamlined, particularly when bailing out of a doomed aircraft. Minor re-designs to early production airframes resulted in a change to the P-47C, which meant that fewer than 200 Bs were made, the C benefitting from improved radio, oxygen systems, and a metal rudder to prevent flutter that had been affecting control at certain points in the performance envelope. A quick way to spot a C is the vertical radio mast behind the canopy, which was changed from forward raked on the C and later variants. The production from a new factory that had been opened to keep up with demand led to the use of the D suffix, and they were initially identical to the C, but the cowling flaps were amended later, making it easier to differentiate. Of course, the later bubble-canopy P-47s were far easier to tell apart from earlier marks, and constant improvement in reliability, performance and fuel load was added along the way. Its weight, firepower and seemingly unstoppable character led to the nickname ‘Juggernaut’, which was inevitably shortened to ‘Jug’ and led to many, many off-colour jokes during and after the war. Jokes that are still soldiering on to this day, despite being older than many of us. The Kit This is a minor variant on a brand-new P-47B tooling from Dora Wings, following on from their P-43 Lancer that we reviewed earlier, which bears more than a passing family resemblance. The kit arrives in a petite top-opening box, with an attractive painting of the subject on the front that has a gloss varnished finish over the aircraft itself and the Dora logo, adding an air of class to the package that is replicated within. Opening the box reveals a clear re-sealable bag that contains eight sprues in grey styrene, a clear sprue, a fret of Photo-Etch (PE) brass, a set of resin wheels in a Ziploc bag, and the instruction booklet in portrait A5 with colour throughout that has two decal sheets and vinyl canopy masks slipped inside. We have been reviewing Dora’s output for several years now, and every kit they release is an improvement over the last, with this one no exception, which is particularly impressive given the ongoing situation in Ukraine. The surface detail is excellent, with fine engraved panel lines, raised and engraved features, a full rendition of the massive power-plant, detailed cockpit and gear bays, and posable flying surfaces. Construction begins with the instrument panel, which has three decals applied to the front, and a pair of rudder pedals with separate actuators attached behind it. The seat has a PE diagonal in the rear of the pan, and has PE four-point belts added to it, plus a mounting frame at the back, also creating a throttle quadrant with PE gate and levers ready for installation in the cockpit later. The cockpit floor is a flat part that is covered in ribbing and other details, adding PE and styrene levers before putting in the rear bulkhead on a keyed tab, then fitting the seat assembly and control column into the centre of the floor. The two sidewalls are detailed with styrene radio and document box, plus the throttle box and PE levers, with a detailed painting guide that continues throughout the build. The sidewalls trap the instrument panel and rudders near the front of the cockpit, with a semi-circular bulkhead closing off the view forward. Attention then shifts to the engine, starting with the reduction bell-housing, which has a horse-shoe wiring harness added to the rear, magnetos and other equipment added to the top of the housing, then fitting a ring of push-rods behind it before fixing the two banks of cylinders behind, both with fine cooling vane detail engraved around the sides, and in order to reduce the thickness of the styrene the rear faces are hollow where they won’t be seen, which is eminently preferable to sink marks in the fine details. This is a trick they have been using for a while, including the Vultee Vengeance I built last year. The cowling is supplied in two halves, with a multi-part insert making up the ducting in the lower portion, locked in place by the one-part cowling lip with its distinctive horse-collar frontal profile. The newly-tooled fuselage is closed around the cockpit, adding a spar through the wing root mouldings, intake backing surfaces in the sides of the fuselage, and the detailed turbosupercharger insert under the tail. A tiny rib is also added to the front of the nose gear bay during closure. The rudder is made from two parts, adding thickness to the lower section, then the elevator fins are each assembled from two parts in preparation for installation in the tail. Before this, the wings are made, starting with the upper skin, which has the main gear bay roof detail moulded-in that is augmented by fitting the bay walls around the edges, and several ribs running aft, plus a retraction jack in the outer section. Before closing the wings, the four .50cal machine gun barrels are inserted into the leading edge on a carrier that sits inside the wing on a groove to ensure they project the correct distance and at the right angle to the wing. The completed wings are slid over the spars and glued in place, adding a smooth central insert in the belly, the ailerons, posing them deflected if you wish, fitting leading-edge inserts around the guns, and a choice of deflectors over the outlets on the fuselage sides. Two small triangular PE webs are glued to the rear of the bays that should be done before painting the bays, a landing light is inserted into a hole in the lower wing, and twin cowling flaps are fixed into position in front of the exhausts. The fairing over the turbosupercharger is then fitted, the detail remaining visible thanks to the outlet at the rear, which you could thin a little more for additional realism. More sub-assemblies are created next, starting with the four-bladed Curtiss Electric prop, which is cleverly made from two almost identical parts with half the boss moulded into each blade pair. The two-part spinner and prop-shaft are slipped through the hole in the centre, and a PE spacer ring is glued to the rear before it is put aside, although it might be as well to paint it and apply the stencil decals to the blades at this stage. The cockpit coaming is vaguely triangular and has the gunsight with reflecting glass fixed to the slot in the rear along with a backup PE ring sight, then the wheels are built using resin tyres that have no central seams, plus styrene hubs each side, while the resin tail wheel is fitted later in the build. The ferry tank is moulded as a two-part dome that conforms to the underside of the new fuselage. The main gear legs are each single parts to which the two-part scissor-links are fitted, adding the lower captive bay door first, then the narrow upper section that has PE links, and a long strut joining the top. The tail wheel strut is in two halves with a separate yoke and two-part actuator that extends deep into the bay for insertion later. The engine is mated to the front of the fuselage via the bulkhead that has a raised centre portion to achieve the correct position so that it will be properly visible through the cowling that is placed over it. The elevator panels and cowling are installed, fitting the wingtip lights and a PE trim-tab to the rear of the starboard aileron, then installing the prop, the rudder that traps the single part elevators in position, the vertical mast behind the cockpit and the pitot in the port wingtip. The canopy is supplied in two parts, the windscreen forming a separate part that has a rear-view mirror fitted to the top, then is joined by the main canopy, which sadly can’t be posed open because it is moulded integrally to the fixed rear sections. Underneath, the main gear is added with its resin wheels and inner bay doors plus actuators, the tail wheel strut is inserted into its bay and has the resin wheel slipped over the axle, gluing bay doors to the sides with PE actuators. Markings There are four decal options on the sheet, all wearing the same olive drab over grey schemes with wavy demarcations, but with decals and bright nose art that help to individualise them. From the box you can build one of the following: P-47C-5-RE (41-6347) 56FG 62FS, Cpt. Eugene W O’Neil, May 1943 P-47C-5-RE (41-6539) 4FG 336FS, Cpt. Kenneth D ‘Black Snake Pete’ Peterson, April 1943 P-47C-5-RE (41-6330) 56FG 62FS, Col. Hubert Zemke, April 1943 P-47C-2-RE (41-6192) 4FG 336FS, Woodrow W Sooman Debden, May 1943 Decals are by Decograph, which is a guarantee of good registration, sharpness and colour density, with a thin satin carrier film cut close to the printed areas. There is a full painting table on the rear page that gives the colour names, plus Mr Hobby, Tamiya, AMMO, Hataka and LifeColor paint codes to assist you with painting your model. Conclusion Dora Wings make interesting and detailed models that are a little out of the ordinary, and while the P-47 is hardly unusual, this and the -B variant were very short-lived, so have their own rarity value and appeal. Very highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of Distributed in the UK and Available in all good model shops by
  17. Percival Vega Gull (72002 & 72004) Civil & Military Service 1:72 Dora Wings The Vega Gull was a development by Percival of their earlier D-Series Gull. The main advantages over the earlier design was the addition of a 4th seat, dual flight controls, and flaps were fitted. The airframe was made wider, the wings longer and the airframe made more streamlined. A feature of the aircraft was the ability to fold the wings for storage. The work was attributed to Arthur Bage's arrival at Percival. The resulting Vega Gull had extended range and payload without sacrificing performance. The aircraft was powered by a de Havilland Gipsy Six engine. As well as civilian operators the Air Ministry ordered 15 Aircraft. 11 were used by 24 Sqn RAF, 2 by the FAA, and 3 by British Air Attaches. At the outbreak of WWII many civilian aircraft were impressed into service in Britain and the Commonwealth. The Kit Dora Wings is a new company to us, and have kindly agreed to send samples for review. As it is this reviewers opinion that Percival Aircraft made some of the best looking Civil Aircraft in the UK, these new kits are more than welcome. Initially Dora Wings have given us two boxings depicting both the Civilian & Military users of the aircraft. Like the Proctor Information and help was gratefully received in the production of this kit from John Adams formally of Aeroclub models which can only be a good thing. Construction is fairly simple just like the real aircraft. The wheels and their spats are the first parts to be made up and then put to one side. We then move to the cockpit. The instrument panel is made form a plastic part with the film and PE making the front of the panel. This is then added into the coaming. Just to go off on a tangent the wings then put together, these are of convention left/right & upper/lower construction. Separate flaps are included as are landing lights for both wings. Now that the wings are done we can move back to the main cabin, the rear bulkhead is installed. Then the controls and seats are put in place, followed by the front firewall and instrument panel we put to one side earlier. The fuselage can then be closed up, and the canopy added. At the rear the rudder is added along with the tailplanes, and at the front the engine front and propeller. The wings can then be added along with the main landing gear. Markings Decals are printed in house For the Military boxing 4 options are provided; L7272 ex G-AFWG Allocated to British Air Attache Buenos Aires, Argentina 1939. ex L7272 Sold to Argentine Government in 1946 P10 Requisitioned by the Belgian Government 1939 N7571 Requisitioned by the Royal New Zealand Air Force 1944 For the Civilian boxing again 4 options are provided; G-AFBC 1952 Kings Cup Air Race, Joan Lady Sherborne. G-AFBW Alex Henshaw, Nicosia, Cyprus 1938. VP-KCC Beryl Markham trans Atlantic flight 1936. G-AEKE Winner of "Schlesinger Race" 1936. Conclusion It is high time that we had some modern toolings of British Civil aircraft from this period Very Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of
  18. Fairchild AU-23 Peacemaker (DW72033) 1:72 Dora Wings via Albion Alloys Toward the end of the Vietnam War the US instigated a project to provide the South Vietnamese Air Force with a cheap, light combat aircraft that could provide fire support for troops in engagement as well as take on missions on its own, whilst being able to operate from short, poorly prepared runways in the middle of nowhere. At the time Fairchild were license-producing the Pilatus Porter, and it was one of the contenders, along with another very similar-looking aircraft, the Helio Stallion. Both types were utilised after conversion to include external stores mounting points, including four wing pylons and a sideways firing 3-barrelled version of the 20mm Vulcan cannon. They were converted in small numbers as the AU-23 Peacemaker, powered by a 625hp turbo prop engine, and went into service to prove their worth in combat evaluation, flown by US and Vietnamese personnel in roughly equal measure. They were found to be lacking in power, leaving them vulnerable to ground fire for longer, even once the heavy ordnance had been unloaded on the enemy, a tactic that is known as a zoom climb. The fact the aircraft had no armour to protect the crew or vital systems was also a problem, and anything larger than rifle-fire could cause serious damage or take down the aircraft. The evaluation also exposed weakness in the aircraft’s structure that was possibly due to its new equipment or the more aggressive flying that comes with combat, and that caused groundings and the eventual decision to withdraw them from service, as they were not suitable for combat without extensive upgrades to all the systems and airframe strengthening. They were consigned to storage in Arizona for a period, after which they were sold to the Thai Air Force for border patrol and counter-insurgency operations where the likelihood of large calibre incoming fire and evasive manoeuvring was very slight. Some Pilatus built aircraft were assigned to Air America in the 1960s, the covert airline run and funded by the CIA, and they proved very useful getting into and out of short, poorly prepared and remote airstrips that were common in Vietnam and the surrounding countries at the time. One aircraft was later repainted in the blue and white livery of Air America to star in the film of the same name. The Kit Originally release under the BPK (Big Plane Kits) brand in 2017, the model had new parts added shortly after, then has appeared in a few boxings under BPK and Dora Wings badges with different decals. This new boxing marks the third outing as the Peacemaker, and arrives in a small top-opening box that contains four sprues of grey styrene, a clear sprue, a small bag of resin parts, a sheet of Photo-Etch (PE), decal sheet and the A4 portrait form instruction booklet that is printed in colour, and has decal profiles on the rear pages. Detail is good, although a little flash is to be found on a few parts, but it’s nothing that won’t scrape off in a few seconds. One or two short lengths of the panel lines have also degraded over time, most noticeably on the wings, and will need to be rescribed if it concerns you. Construction begins with the interior, starting with the flat floor section that has three single rows of seats on each side, supported by two sets of PE frames on each side of the walkway. The six passenger seats are made up from the cushion and backrest parts, and the two pilots’ seats are different, having raised sides and a high back that implies the presence of protective armour. They are also made from a square base and the winged back part. The pilots have rudders and control columns inserted into holes in the floor, and a two-part instrument panel with decal depicting the dials is built and mounted on a tubular support with two arms that locate under each end of the flat portion of the panel and fix into the floor on two pins. To close the fuselage, the two halves are prepared by adding a grill into the cockpit sidewall area, side windows and portholes behind the side doorways. A bulkhead is inserted behind the floor, and a pair of pillars are placed inside the halves behind the cockpit but in front of the side doors, then the halves are joined together, adding the tail-wheel, two PE fairings and a PE mudguard with stirrup around the wheel. You may have noticed that the fuselage halves stop short of the nose, which is a separate assembly that is itself made from two halves, utilising the resin parts to create the intake and frontal cowling, plus the exhaust shroud and the pipe itself that slots into the rear of the groove down the port side of the assembly. This variant has a three-blade prop that has the tip of the spinner moulded-in, and is completed by adding the back-plate and mating that to the nose, although it’s probably best left until final assembly after painting. The completed nose is fitted in place later. The upper wing is full-span and incorporates a short section of the roof, adding wingtip fairings and the lower wing halves, which also have separate control surfaces with ribbing moulded-in. The elevators are also single span top and bottom, fitting oversized tips and the flying surface to the rear, then detailing it with PE actuator, two trim-tab actuators, and straps on the wingtips. The wing is installed over the cockpit area, adding a pair of PE rails to the inner end of the flaps, and a pair of PE strakes on each leading edge near the root. The clear double-doors are inserted into their cut-outs in the side of the fuselage, fitting the windscreen, which extends into the roof in a manner that’s called panoramic in the motoring world. Small PE parts are added to the doors, and a hatch is glued over the port side window of the cockpit, which is best done after painting, using Klear/Future to adhere it to the window after the masking is removed. The elevator isn’t shown being joined to the flat section of the rear fuselage, but is simply shown in place, having a pair of small appliqué parts added on either side of the fin, which is made of two halves, plus the rudder panel, plugging into the fuselage by the usual slot and tab method. It also has a PE actuator, and all the flying surfaces can be posed deflected if you wish, adding extra interest to your model. A C-shaped PE towel-rail antenna, plus four more styrene parts and a clear light are added to the roof, while the wings are covered in PE access panels near the spar line, most of which are circular, plus rings near the tips. Under the wings several more PE hinges and other small parts are fitted, adding a PE deflector and antenna in front of the tail-wheel at the same stage. The main wheels are made from two halves plus an outer hub, and a PE brake assembly on the rear, through which the axle will pass. The main struts have two tiny PE parts fitted, and are linked together by a shallow V-shaped support, which attaches to the underside of the fuselage on pegs, the struts locating on the sides. The wings are supported by a pair of diagonal struts that link the bottom of the fuselage to the bracket that is moulded into the lower wing, adding PE tie-down loops further outboard. While the model is inverted, a pair of foot steps are attached under the side doors, with another L-shaped part under the starboard double-door and a blade antenna to the rear of the engine cowling. There are weapons included on the sprues that are appropriate for some of the decal options, which includes the choice of a pair of two-part fuel tanks that fit on pylons under the wings, or rocket pods that are made from two halves plus end caps with details moulded-in, and a separate pylon adapter. A set of two flat pods are left on the sprues for use in other boxings. Markings There are four decal options on the small sheet, two in different camouflage schemes, two as Air America airframes, one of which was a film star. From the box you can build one of the following: (B/n 42093) Royal Thai Air Force, Bangkok, January 2018 (S/n N360F) of Air America at Bangkok Airport, late 1960s (B/n 238) Air America Livery, from the film of the same name (S/n 72-1307) at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida USA during 1972 Decals are by Dora Wings’ usual partner, DecoGraph, which is a guarantee of good registration, sharpness and colour density, with a thin matt carrier film cut close to the printed areas. Conclusion This kit should build up into a creditable replica of the Peacemaker, with a variety of operators depicted on the decal sheet. The inclusion of a movie star also appeals. Highly recommended. Available in the UK in all good model shops. Review sample courtesy of
  19. Placeholder for 1/72 Dora Wings P-43 Lancer. To be built as a RAAF Lancer.
  20. Dora Wings is to release Republic P-47B/C & D (early) Thunderbolt kits in 1/48th and later in 1/72nd. Source: https://www.facebook.com/dorawingsofficial/posts/3084255388471684 3D renders - 1/48th Republic P-47B Thunderbolt V.P.
  21. My LMS ordered in a Dora Wings 1/48 Seversky J9 for me, which I was able to collect yesterday. So far, so good! Got it home, opened the box, admired the plastic - it really is a lovely kit. But unfortunately, closer inspection revealed that Sprue A (fuselage and cowling) is mis-packed - it's actually the one for the P-35 kit, not the J9/P-35A kit. The cowl guns are in troughs, not blisters. A bit annoying as I wanted to do the J9, but it's perfectly buildable and I'm really not bleating. In considering my options, I thought about getting some AM decals for a USAAC P-35. But then I came across the S-2 owned and raced by Frank Fuller. So my question is: what are the differences between the P-35 and the S-2? As far as I know, apart from military equipment obviously, the differences between the P-35 and the S-2 are primarily no dihedral in the outer wings and a lower canopy. I read somewhere that the IP is entirely different as well. Are there any other differences that I should be aware of before I embark on sprue-cutting? I would be looking to model the aircraft in its #77 guise, painted (metallic?) green, i.e. 1938-39 Bendix Trophy races. I know there have been a few builds here on BM, notably the late-lamented Moa with a superb 1/72 Rareplanes vac, and a couple of Williams Bros 1/32 builds (Chris @bigbadbadge - did you build yours?). There are a few photos on t'interweb, but I've not yet found any definitive information. Any thoughts or suggestions are welcomed! All the best, Mark
  22. Republic P-47B Thunderbolt (DW48051) 1:48 Dora Wings The Thunderbolt developed from a series of less-than-successful earlier designs that saw Seversky aviation change to Republic, and the project designation from P-35, to P-43 and P-44, each with its own aggressive sounding name. After a realisation that their work so far wasn't going to cut it in the skies over war-torn Europe, they went back to the drawing board and produced the P-47A that was larger, heavier and sported the new Pratt & Whitney R-2800 18-cylinder radial that would also power the B-26 Marauder, P-61 Black Widow and F4U Corsair. With it they added eight .50cal Browning machine guns aligned along the axis of flight in the wing leading edge. The P-47A was still a smaller aircraft, and was initially ordered without military equipment to allow faster completion, but it was considered inferior to the competition then available, so an extensive re-design was ordered that resulted in the much large P-47B, firing up to 100 rounds per second from the eight .50cal wing guns, and with a maximum speed of over 400mph, leaving just the fuel load slightly short of requirements. It first flew mid-1941, and despite being a heavy-weight, its performance was still excellent, and the crash of the prototype didn’t affect the order for over 700 airframes, which were fitted with a more powerful version of the R-2800 and a sliding canopy that made ingress and egress more streamlined, particularly when bailing out of a doomed aircraft. Minor re-designs to early production airframes resulted in a change to the P-47C, which meant that fewer than 200 Bs were made, the C benefitting from improved radio, oxygen systems, and a metal rudder to prevent flutter that had been affecting control at certain points in the performance envelope. A quick way to spot a B is the forward raked aerial mast behind the cockpit, as this was changed to vertical on the C and beyond. The production from a new factory that had been opened to keep up with demand led to the use of the D suffix, although they were initially identical to the C, but the cowling flaps were amended later, making it easier to differentiate. Of course, the later bubble-canopy P-47s were far easier to tell apart from earlier marks, and constant improvement in reliability, performance and fuel load was added along the way. Its weight, firepower and seemingly unstoppable character led to the nickname ‘Juggernaut’, which was inevitably shortened to ‘Jug’ and led to many, many off-colour jokes during and after the war. Jokes that are still soldiering on to this day, despite being eligible for a pensioner’s bus pass. The Kit This is a brand-new tooling from Dora Wings, following on from their P-43 Lancer that we reviewed here in 1:48, which bears more than a passing family resemblance. The kit arrives in a petite top-opening box, with an attractive painting of the subject on the front that has a gloss varnished finish over the aircraft itself and the Dora logo, adding an air of class to the package that is replicated within. Opening the box reveals a clear re-sealable bag that contains eight sprues in grey styrene, a clear sprue, a fret of Photo-Etch (PE) brass, decal sheet and vinyl canopy masks in a Ziploc bag, and the instruction booklet in portrait A5 with colour throughout. We have been reviewing Dora’s output for several years now, and every kit they release is an improvement over the last, with this one no exception, which is particularly impressive given the ongoing situation in Ukraine. The surface detail is excellent, with fine engraved panel lines, raised and engraved features, a full rendition of the massive power-plant, detailed cockpit and gear bays, and posable flying surfaces. Construction begins with the instrument panel, which has three decals applied to the front, and a pair of rudder pedals with separate actuators attached underneath it. The seat has a PE diagonal in the rear of the pan, and has PE four-point belts added to it, plus a mounting frame at the back, also creating a throttle quadrant with PE gate and levers ready for installation in the cockpit later. The cockpit floor is a flat part that is covered in ribbing and other details, adding PE and styrene levers before putting in the rear bulkhead on a keyed tab, then fitting the seat assembly and control column into the centre of the floor. The two sidewalls are detailed with styrene radio and document box, plus the throttle box and PE levers, with a detailed painting guide that continues throughout the build. The sidewalls trap the instrument panel and rudders near the front of the cockpit, with a semi-circular bulkhead closing off the view forward. Attention then shifts to the engine, starting with the reduction bell-housing, which has a horse-shoe wiring harness added to the rear, magnetos and other equipment added to the housing, then fitting a ring of push-rods behind it before fixing the two banks of cylinders behind, both with fine cooling vane detail engraved around the sides, and in order to reduce the thickness of the styrene the rear faces are hollow where they won’t be seen, which is eminently preferable to sink marks in the fine details. This is a trick they have been using for a while, including the Vultee Vengeance I built last year. The cowling is supplied in two halves, with amulti-part insert making up the ducting in the lower portion, locked in place by the one-part cowling lip with its distinctive horse-collar frontal profile. The fuselage is closed around the cockpit, adding a spar through the wing root mouldings, intake backing surfaces in the sides of the fuselage, and the detailed turbosupercharger insert under the tail. A tiny rib is also added to the front of the nose gear bay during closure. The rudder is made from two parts, adding thickness to the lower section, then the elevator fins are each assembled from two parts in preparation for installation in the tail. Before this, the wings are made, starting with the upper skin, which has the main gear bay roof detail moulded-in that is augmented by fitting the bay walls around the edges, and several ribs running aft, plus a retraction jack in the outer section. Before closing the wings, the four gun barrels are inserted into the leading edge as a single part on a backing plate that sits inside the wing on a groove to ensure they project the correct distance. The completed wings are slid over the spars and glued in place, adding the ailerons, posing them deflected if you wish, fitting the inserts around the guns, and a choice of deflectors over the outlets on the fuselage sides. Two small triangular PE webs are glued to the rear of the bays, a landing light is inserted into a hole in the lower wing, and two cowling flaps are fixed into position in front of the exhausts. The fairing over the turbosupercharger is then fitted, the detail remaining visible thanks to the outlet at the rear. More sub-assemblies are created next, starting with the four-bladed Curtiss Electric prop, which is cleverly made from two almost identical parts with half the boss moulded into each half. The two-part spinner and prop-shaft are slipped through the hole in the centre, and a PE spacer ring is glued to the rear before it is put aside, although it might be as well to paint it and apply the stencil decals to the blades at this stage. The cockpit coaming is vaguely triangular and has the gunsight with reflecting glass fixed to the slot in the rear along with a backup PE ring sight, then the wheels are built from tyres in two halves, plus two hubs, while the tail wheel is moulded in two halves with integral hub. The main gear legs are each single parts to which the two-part scissor-links are fitted, adding the lower captive bay door first, then the narrow upper section that has PE connectors, and a long strut joining the top. The tail wheel strut is in two halves with a separate yoke and two-part actuator that extends deep into the bay for insertion later. The engine is mated to the front of the fuselage via the blanking plate that has a raised centre portion to achieve the correct position so that it will be properly visible with the cowling that is placed over it. The elevator panels and cowling are installed, fitting the wingtip lights and a PE trim-tab to the rear of the starboard aileron, then installing the prop, the rudder that traps the single part elevators in position, the forward-raked mast behind the cockpit and the pitot in the port wingtip. The canopy is supplied in two parts, the windscreen a separate part that has a rear-view mirror fitted to the top, then is joined by the main canopy, which sadly can’t be posed open because it is moulded integrally to the fixed rear sections. Underneath, the main gear is added with its wheels and inner bay doors plus actuators, the tail wheel strut is inserted into its bay and has the wheel slipped over the axle, gluing bay doors to the sides with PE actuators. Markings There are four decal options on the sheet, all wearing the same olive drab over grey schemes with wavy demarcations, but with decals that help to individualise them. The first option also has darker green camouflage splotches around the leading and trailing edges of the flying surfaces to break up the outline a little. From the box you can build one of the following: P-47B-RE (41-6002), Colonel Hubert Zemke, 56th FG, Bridgeport, September 1942 P-47B-RE (41-5905), Wright Field, Ohio P-47B-RE (41-5901), ‘Lucky Seven!’, the Seventh Serial P-47 P-47B-RE (41-6037), 1st Mixed Instruction Group, Brazil, October 1944 Decals are by Decograph, which is a guarantee of good registration, sharpness and colour density, with a thin satin carrier film cut close to the printed areas. There is a full painting table on the rear page that gives the colour names, plus Mr Hobby, Tamiya, AMMO, Hataka and LifeColor paint codes to assist you with painting your model. Conclusion Dora Wings make interesting and detailed models that are a little out of the ordinary, and while the P-47 is hardly unusual, this variant was very short-lived, so has its own rarity value. Very highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of Available in the UK in all good model shops via their importers:
  23. After the 1/48th models (link), Dora Wings is to release 1/72nd Republic P-43/A/B Lancer kits. - ref. DW72027 - Republic P-43 Lancer - ref. DW72029 - Republic P-43A-1 Lancer - ref. DW72031 - Republic P-43B/C Lancer Source: https://www.facebook.com/pg/dorawingsofficial/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2895357487361476&ref=page_internal 3D renders V.P.
  24. Dora Wings is to release a 1/32nd Dewoitine D.500/501/510 family of kits Source: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=2489320171298545&id=1929101897320378 V.P.
  25. New Dora Wings project: a family of 1/48th Caudron Simoun kits. - ref. DW48028 - Caudron C.630 Simoun https://dorawings.com/1-48/caudron-c-630-simoun - ref. DW48030 - Caudron C635 Simoun - ref. DW48040 - Caudron C.631/633 Simoun Source: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=2496429487254280&id=1929101897320378 V.P.
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