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My second entry to the GB will be the relatively new Fairey Battle from Azur. Looks like a nice kit and gets good reviews. Might be awhile till i get started on this due to other GB commitments. I will be making the Air Gunnery School, RAAF version. Hopefully somebody will release a canopy mask before i get started ha ha. George

Bloch MB 210 Early (FR0055) 1:72 Azur Frrom Developed from the earlier high-winged monoplane MB.200, the 210 differed by having its wing moved to the lower edge of the fuselage, and was intended to have fully-retractable landing gear from outset, although the prototype first flew with the gear fixed down. It was powered by a pair of Gnome-Rhone radial engines that produced insufficient power when the airframe was fitted with military equipment. Some 250+ airframes were eventually ordered, replacing the radial engines with in-line motors for a period as the 211, although these too were prone to overheating and poor performance that consigned them to the cancelled pile. The 210 first flew in 1934, and entered service following some changes with the French Air Force in 1936 adding revised radial engines and retractable landing gear. The under-performing and over-heating 900hp engines that plagued it through its short career were replaced in 1937 with slightly more powerful Gnome-Rhone 14N units that themselves suffered from similar problems that were never satisfactorily resolved, although additional training equipped the crews with improved skills during the difficult take-off/landing phase of the flight envelope. Although twelve units were equipped with the bomber by the outbreak of WWII, they were earmarked for retirement almost from the moment they first went into service, but a lack of production capability meant that many remained in service while the crews waited for a more capable aircraft to carry them into battle. They were in the process of retiring the oldest airframes in 1940 when the Nazis streamed over their borders in what was to become the Battle of France, necessitating their movement to their North African colonies to preserve them before their airfields were over-run by the German forces that were advancing at break-neck pace across their country, chewing up any defences in their wake. A few airframes that were unable to escape in time were captured by the Germans, and those that weren’t pressed into service as trainers were sent to Bulgaria for their use. The Kit This is a new tool from Azur Frrom that was release in late 2024, and the kit arrives in their usual blue-themed top-opening box. Inside are five sprues of bluish-grey styrene in a resealable bag, a large clear sprue in its own bag, a Ziploc bag with two 3D printed exhausts, a small fret of Photo-Etch (PE)in the same bag as the decal sheet, and an A5 instruction booklet that is printed on glossy white paper in colour, with colour profiles for the decal options on the rear pages. Detail on the parts is good, as this is new plastic that is based upon Frrom’s 3D extensive CAD designs that has been tooled for them by Special Hobby in their usual collaborative manner. An extensive interior, gun stations and a bomb load are included on the sprues, as are a pair of well-detailed Gnome-Rhone radial engines, plus a ladder to allow the crew access to the glazed hatch under the nose. Construction begins with the interior, starting with a corridor that travels between the cockpit and the main compartment between the wings. It is built from a raised floor and two sides between a pair of bulkheads, and is placed on the main floor section along with another bulkhead and two steps, followed by a half-surround for the lower turret, plus a curved and straight bulkhead that supports a stepped section of floor over the top of the location. The flight crew are raised above the floor on sections of deck that are supported by F-shaped frames, then the seats, rudder pedals and control column with bow-tie wheels at the top are put in position. The nose compartment has a side-console on the port, adding two seats that are made from two-part cushions and two or three tubular frames for later installation after the fuselage sides have been prepared. Both sides have several rectangular windows with radiused corners installed from inside, adding more equipment in the nose, and on the cockpit sides, which have ribbing moulded into their sides. After gluing the starboard fuselage side in place, the seats are fixed in the nose, trapping the nose turret ring in place by the addition of the port fuselage side, closing in the nose compartment with two sections of curved vertical glazing, and a choice of open or closed lower glazing, adding two inward-folding panes to the open option. A clear insert is fitted behind the turret ring in the nose, closing the forward fuselage by gluing an insert between the turret and cockpit cut-out, which has the instrument panel fitted to the rear, with a decal found on the accompanying sheet to give it dials and other details. Two engine nacelles are made from vertically separated halves, trapping four landing gear parts in place between them, using a scrap diagram to confirm their location before the glue has cured. The wings are separate, and are both made from upper and lower surfaces, painting the interior where it will be seen through a gap later, then mounting them both on the fuselage with the assistance of a long spar, establishing the dihedral before the glue cures. The engine nacelles are slipped into position using the cut-outs as guidance, followed by building two turrets with machine guns that have large plate mags, the lower turret also having a circular ring within its dish, fixing that in place with the assistance of a half-ring that is shown along with the turret in a ghost view picked out in orange, all of which can be carried out from above, as the fuselage has no roof at this point. The roof is prepared with two windows, fitting the upper turret and its ring before installing on the fuselage, then letting the glue cure before mounting the two-part tail fin at the rear, which has slots for the elevators moulded into its root, so is best done after the glue holding the fin in place is thoroughly cured. A pair of engine cowlings are made from the tubular body and a tapered lip that is a single part, using intake-less parts for one decal option, and mounting an intake trunk as a separate part to the bottom of the other choices. These are set to one side while the engines are made, which are again split into two styles to match the cowlings. All options include both rows of cylinders with the bell-housing moulded into the forward bank, mounting to different back-plates, and having alternative exhaust systems installed behind them. Two options have separate outward-curved pipes, while the other has a horseshoe collector-ring that is tipped by one of the delicate 3D printed exhausts, facing rearwards. The completed engines fit on pegs at the front of the nacelles, utilising the correct cowling for your choice, the individual exhausts using the assembly with multiple cut-outs, the collector-ring variant having a single-groove in the rear of the cowling. The nose turret is made of two clear parts that close around the same gun with plate mag as the other turrets, fixing it to the ring above the nose, closing in the cockpit with a three-part greenhouse, and inserting landing lights in the leading edges of both wings. Turning the model over, the tail-wheel with integral yoke is glued into a hole under the fin, and the two-part main wheels are flex-fitted between the yokes under the nacelles, adding a mudguard behind them on the struts. PE actuators are fitted to tiny slots on the ailerons and elevators, which is best done after main painting to ease masking and avoid crushing them. While the model is inverted, the twin main bomb load can be built from two halves plus a PE surround to the fins, attaching them to centreline of the belly on shallow pylons that have sway-braces glued-in. A set of small bombs are moulded onto their rails, and two are fitted into holes outboard of each of the nacelles after painting in the same scheme as the larger weapons, finishing the underside with a twin-prong PE pitot on a styrene support under the nose, and a drain under the cockpit on the starboard side. There is also a crew ladder that can be fitted under the nose if you have elected to open the nose glazing. The final act involves attaching spinners to the three-bladed propellers, and inserting them in holes in the front of the engines. Markings There are three decal options included on the sheet, all wearing the same basic dark green scheme, but with subtle variations. From the box you can build one of the following: No.124, Code White IV, GB I/19 2nd Sqn., July 1938, Found by Germans at La Rochelle, June 1940 No.258, White 14 and B, GB II/23 4th Sqn. (BR 129), Toulouse, 1939 No.22, GB II/19, 4th Sqn. (SPA 79), Bordeaux, 1937 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 Well colour me jealous! It’s an excellent kit with good detail of this slightly ungainly but interesting French bomber that made little impact either in its given role, or at the beginning of WWII. It’s also a fairly large model, even in 1:72. The fuselage parts measuring 24cm long. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

DB-7 in French Service (FR0052) 1:72 Azur Frrom The Douglas DB-7, otherwise known in US service as the A-20 Havoc, and better known to those with an interest in the Royal Air Force as the Boston, was a light bomber developed by the Douglas Aircraft Company of Long Beach, California to a US Air Force specification issued in 1937. The aircraft’s initial customer was the French Air Force, who had been impressed by its performance whilst visiting the USA as part of a pre-war purchasing commission. The order was not able to be delivered in its entirety to the French however, as by that time they were overrun and the armistice with Germany had been signed in 1940, so the remainder of the contract was taken up by the RAF instead, who needed every aircraft they could lay their hands on. In RAF service it was known by the name Boston, and by the service code DB-7, with no fewer than 24 British and Commonwealth squadrons operating the Boston, either as a light bomber or night fighter such as the Havoc I Turbinlite, which was fitted with a powerful searchlight in the nose. The French DB-7s were amended to their own needs by the fitment of metric instruments, French machine guns, radio gear and other equipment, the initial shipment handed over to French crews for delivery to France where a few squadrons began working up to combat capability. Due to the parlous state of the war in France, they decided to send their more modern aircraft to their North African colonies, with the DB-7s amongst them, fighting against the Axis forces until the Allies landed in 1942, at which point the remaining airframes joined the Allied forces, with at least one still in existence in 1944. The rest of the contract taken over by the British were renamed as Boston or Havoc I and IIs to confuse everyone, playing their part in the war as a capable light bomber. The Kit This is a new tool from Azur-Frrom in collaboration with Special Hobby of this niche early variant of the Boston/Havoc. The kit arrives in a blue themed top-opening box, and inside are five sprues of grey styrene in a resealable clear plastic bag, plus a clear sprue in its own bag within, a decal sheet that is also separately bagged with a sheet of paper to keep moisture at bay. The instruction booklet is printed on glossy paper in colour with a portrait A5 format, and colour profiles in the rear to assist with painting and decaling. Detail is good, extending to all the usual places, and including fine engraved panel lines, internal details inside the fuselage and gear bays, as well as the rendering of the individual cylinders of the twin Pratt & Whitney engines. Construction begins with the cockpit, starting with a stepped floor that comprises two parts, onto which the front bulkhead, instrument panel with decal, nose gear bay underneath, pilot seat, control column and rudder pedals are fitted. The upper gun position is an oval opening that is glued to a pair of lightened rails, gluing it into the starboard fuselage half, then adding the compartment floor, ammo storage and pedestal seat, plus a stepped three-part bulkhead at the front. This permits closure of the fuselage halves, fitting detail inserts each side of the cockpit after detail painting the relevant sections of the fuselage interior. The wings are built next, comprising top and bottom halves, making the lower engine nacelles from halves, that have bulkheads at each end of the gear bay opening, all of which is painted in green primer before they are set aside while the engines and main gear are built. Each gear leg is made from a lower strut with twin uppers, a cross-brace and complex retraction mechanism, plus separate scissor-links near the bottom. They are positioned on the underside of the wing after priming it green, then the lower nacelles can be lowered over them and joined by the engines in their cowlings. The engines have both banks depicted with good detail throughout, sliding them inside the cowlings and adding an intake on the top, closing it from behind with the firewall that is keyed to ensure correct alignment. An exhaust is fitted along with the cowlings to the front of the nacelles, building the nose gear from a two-part strut with separate scissor-link and Y-shaped retraction jack leading aft. The wheel is flex-fitted between the two arms of the yoke, and installed in the bay, which you will have hopefully already painted. The main gear are finished by installing two-part wheels and bay doors on each side of the opening, fitting two to the sides of the nose gear bay. Additional intakes are added under the engine nacelles, then the model can be set on its wheels to complete the build. The nose is entirely clear out of the box, and should be weighted with 10g of nose weight inside, bearing in mind that this aircraft was an early adopter of tricycle landing gear, the bane of forgetful modellers everywhere! There’s should be enough room, but the bomb aimer’s station, sight and cushion need space within the nose, so take care when installing it. The upper gun station has a machine gun with large drum mag fixed to the short pedestal mount, fitting its canopy around it in the open or closed position. The cockpit canopy is in two parts, comprising the windscreen with moulded-in side windows, plus a top section that hinges to the side, with lightening holes moulded into the rear portion. That too can be posed open or closed as you wish, finishing the model by inserting the two three-bladed props into the fronts of the engine nacelles. Markings There are three decal options on the sheet, all wearing variations on the typical three-colour scheme of grey/green/earth over a light bluish grey underside. From the box you can build one of the following: No. 83, 3rd Sqn. of GB II/32, Casablanca, Morocco, June 1940. Sgt Duhamel No. 45, GB I/32, North Africa (Aircraft Group Commander) Coded Red 0 No. 2, 4th Sqn. GB II/32, Laghouat, Algeria, 19 March 1941, Adj-Chef Picard. Coded 5, with BR 219 Crest. 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 This kit is a slightly more left-field variant of the usual Havoc/Boston kits in 1:72, so should appeal to Francophile modellers, but it could be re-purposed as an RAF airframe that was part of the remainder of the French order, simply by picking up additional decals and camouflage profiles. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Fairey Battle Mk.I Poles in the UK (FR0047) 1:72 Azur Frrom The Fairey Battle was a light bomber that was designed in the early-to-mid 30s as a replacement for the biplane Hawker Hart, and as such it was a substantial improvement on the Hart by the time it entered prototype testing in 1936. The aircraft was powered by the then-new Rolls-Royce Merlin I engine, which output over 1,000hp, but with the additional weight of the larger metal monoplane airframe, the three crew, and the bomb load it was a much slower aircraft than the Spitfires and Hurricanes that were also using the Merlin for motive power. Production continued regardless, its 260mph top speed not seeming to bother the higher echelons until much later, when the clouds of war were beginning to gather over Europe in ‘38. When the war began there were over 2,000 Battles in service, and it was amongst the first aircraft to encounter the enemy, carrying out the first shoot-down of an enemy aircraft, despite its measly pair of .303 machine guns and relatively low speed. This luck didn’t continue however, and casualties began to accrue, the Ministry having now realised that the type was effectively obsolete in its intended role, remaining in-service mainly because there was no viable replacement ready at the time. Production continued into 1940 because of this situation, although many of the airframes were being re-tasked as trainers or target tugs where possible, while those in front-line service still suffered high casualties, which extended to service in Greece, France and East Africa, the last combat flight occurring in 1941 in Greece, comprising a few remaining RAF and Hellenic Air Force Battles that hadn’t yet been destroyed on the ground by Luftwaffe forces. The Battle as a trainer received a new cockpit arrangement, which consisted of two separate canopies one behind the other, instead of the extensive single glazed cockpit of the bomber, with a gunnery training option having a turret installed instead of the extra cockpit. The trainer was designated as Battle T, and the target tug was outfitted with a winch and bright paint scheme, known as the Battle TT. An alternative power-plant was considered for the Target Tug in case the Merlin became scarce, but only one airframe was converted with a lower-powered Wright Cyclone R-1820, but nothing came of it as Merlin production wasn’t compromised at any point. Tugs and Trainers were used extensively by the RAF and other operators in smaller numbers, the last Battle leaving service in 1949, far later than seemed likely during the early days of WWII. The Kit This is a brand-new tooling from Azur Frrom, and there has been a great deal of excitement for the three boxings that have been released initially. The kit arrives in a top-opening blue-themed box with a painting of an RAF Battle with a Polish symbol near the tail, and inside are three sprues of bluish-grey styrene in a resealable bag, plus a clear sprue in its own bag, decal sheet in another bag, and a set of A5 instructions printed on glossy paper in colour. The kit has been designed in a collaborative effort with Special Hobby, who have moulded the sprues, which are well-detailed, with fine panel engraved lines, Dzuz fasteners, and plenty of detail inside the cockpit and wheel bays. Construction begins with the front cockpit, based upon a slightly curved floor onto which a rear bulkhead, seat, controls, control column and rudder pedals are applied. The rear cockpit is built on a centre section of the wing, plus an extension to the rear, which receives a pedestal seat in two halves, making the cockpit surround from two sills and an angled bulkhead, then detailing the interior of the fuselage with additional equipment that includes a jump-seat, extra plate-mags for the rear gun, levers and throttle quadrant, adding the instrument panel to the front after painting, and applying a dial decal over the raised dials moulded into the part. The cockpit sill insert is extended with a deck that has a series of instruments added underneath, choosing whether to fit the gun’s ‘sheath’ in open or stowed options, each made from three parts. A pendular frame is inserted at the rear of the cockpit along with the sill assembly, mounting the front cockpit and another bulkhead into the forward section of the cockpit, closing the fuselage around the tail-wheel with separate yoke, and the rudder panel. At the front are a pair of exhaust inserts that receive one of two styles of exhaust stubs, leaving another on the sprues for another time, painting them a suitably smutty shade or two. The main gear legs are both single chunky struts that fit into bays that are moulded as a box with a slot in each side for the leg to sit, supported by a panel-like retraction strut behind it. These are painted and left to one side until the clear landing lights have been inserted in their three-part bays and fitted one into each wing leading-edge, inserting a clear-view window under the pilot’s feet that was overpainted for one decal option. The two bays are dropped into the openings in the lower wing part, and the aft cockpit with lower wing-root section is installed in the centre, supported at the front end by a length of zig-zagging struts that are moulded as one. The upper wing halves can be glued over the finished underside, covering the landing lights with a clear insert that also extends over the single .303 machine gun in the starboard wing, slipping a barrel stub through the hole before it is secured. The fuselage and wings are then mated, taking care not to dislodge the rear seat during the process, then dealing with any seams that need attention. Turning the model over, additional jacks are inserted into the bay at a counter-intuitive angle, joined to the main leg via a T-shaped strut, as evidenced by two large scrap diagrams that are extremely helpful. While the model is inverted, the space under the chin is covered with an insert that has an air-path added inside, and a two-part auxiliary intake under the front, painting the interior before installing it. The elevators are separate from their flying surfaces, and can be deflected if you wish, each half a single part that plugs into slots in the sides of the aft fuselage. There are twin captive bay doors to the front of each gear leg, plus a mudguard that is shown installed on a pair of scrap diagrams in isolation for clarity, mounting the four-part wheels on the stub-axles at the end of each strut. The model is then flipped back over to install the extensive canopy, gluing the windscreen and central section, plus the sliding pilot’s canopy at the front, and the flip-up gunner’s canopy at the rear, which hinges around grooves moulded into the main canopy part. The wingtip lights are moulded-in, and should be painted green or red as appropriate, finishing the model by inserting a circular plug in the front of the nose, with a short shaft pin behind it, and the three-bladed prop slipped over the shaft, gluing it carefully if you wish it to remain mobile. Markings There are three decal choices on the large sheet, two RAF airframes, one flown by Polish crew, the other a Canadian airframe with a vivid yellow colour scheme overload on standard camouflage, which they all share. From the box you can build one of the following: Battle Mk.I of Polish Air Force in UK, L5048, 301 Sqn., August 1940 Battle Mk.I, K7602, 52*B, 52 Sqn. RAF, United Kingdom, late 1937 Battle Mk.I 1837 (L1837) Coded 59, Royal Canadian Air Force, Canada, before 1943 as a Target Tug 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 A new tooling of the much-maligned but well-beloved Battle, with good detail, finely engraved panel lines and choices that include three decal options, plus two other boxings that broaden the choice still further. Buy one or lots, it’s your choice! Highly recommended. In Belgium (FR0046) Poles in UK (FR0047) Australian, South African, British (FR0048) Review sample courtesy of

Hi, Within the "To the few...." currently running GB I have just finished two Belgian machines. 1. Fairey Firefly II M - not the Firefly one have as a first choice recall! This is a early 1930 British biplane, fighter driven by early RR Kestrel. In 1940 it was already obsolete but still in use as advanced trainer. It moment of short fights against Germans they were put back to first line duties,,, More on this type here: https://www.belgian-wings.be/fairey-firefly-iim-home The model is done from Kora kit in 1/72 (I am very grateful to Kora for designing and releasing so many kits recently of rare mostly interwar stuff...! ) . This is a machine "Y -27" from 4/II/2 Aé (Cocottes Blanches). After fights it was evacuated to France ( Chartres, Caen, Montpelier ), Abandoned at the Parque du Bataillon de l’Air no.108 at Fréjorgues, and scraped. 2. Renard R 31 was a tactical recce machine of Belgian design. It was also driven by a RR Kestrel. It came to replace Breguet XIX in Royal Belgian AF. More one can read here https://www.belgian-wings.be/renard-r-31 The model is made from the Azur -FRROM kit (many thanks Azur-FRROM @Gilles_53 for design - I hope Fairey Fox and Breguet XIX are on your list "to do" ) It presents machine "N-12" from 9/V/1Aé (decals and scheme from the box) With my Avro 504 N they form my small Royal Belgian AF representation on my shelves... Actually I had also Matchbox Gladiator in "Comet" squadron livery (ESCI decals) done some 50 years ago but today looked at it very critically and removed him from the shelf... Following this decision I put it into NaOH solution to wash it our of any paint and restore in close future I hope. I have to add that I have found the another set of ESCI decals with comet in my big drawer of decals! However, now I know that this particular machine to which decals are provided ("G-30") was written off in 1938 after a crash... So numbering will be different! Here is plenty of photos to do a choice... https://www.belgian-wings.be/gloster-gladiator Comments welcome Regards Jerzy-Wojtek P.S. They are my Nos 8 & 9 (or even 9 & 10 if I will count restored Devastator and new build). So I am approaching to the minimal target value of 12 per year... Not too much time left though...

Potez 25 with Salmson 18CMB Engine (FR0054) 1:72 Azur Frrom The Potez 25 was an interwar two-seat fighter bomber that was designed by Henry Potez of the eponymous Potez company in the 1920s, based upon their earlier 15, but with substantial changes that included modifying the wings to make it a sesquiplane. The upper wing was supported above the fuselage, and the significantly shorter lower wing was attached to the sides of the fuselage, with a choice of two styles of landing gear. One made by Potez, the other by Messier. There were also a variety of engines used to power it, including Renault, Hispano-Suiza, and a Salmson 18CMB. First flying in 1925, it soon entered production and service, using popular air races of the day to distinguish it from the mountains of WWI era biplanes that were available following the armistice. It was bought by several European and Mediterranean customers, and was considered at the time to be one of France’s most successful projects, with around 2,500 built by the French and more under license elsewhere. The Polish license-built aircraft differed from the original by having leading edge slots, plus other changes specific to their needs with around 300 made in total before production ended there in 1932. The production variant that ran the Salmson 18CMB engine, which output a substantial 520hp, had an advantage when competing in racing, as well as in its military roles, but the other motors that were employed were similarly powerful, usually within 50hp or so. There were over 270 airframes running the 18CMB engine, and it was used predominantly as a fighter or fighter-bomber in military service, although there were some airframes used for reconnaissance, and in civilian service it was typically employed where its powerful engine would confer an advantage, such as a postal carrier aircraft. As it neared the end of its working life and began to be outclassed by newer designs, a 25M variant was developed that converted it into a parasol monoplane, but it was never put into production, as technology had moved on by that time. The Kit This boxing originates from a 2019 tooling by Azur Frrom, although some of the plastic has been seen in Special Hobby boxes in the interim, as they partner with them to produce this and many other kits. This boxing depicts the Salmson 18CMB-engined variant in French service. The kit arrives in a small blue-and-yellow themed top-opening box, and inside is a resealable clear foil bag that holds five sprues in bluish grey styrene, a Ziploc bagged small clear sprue, a fret of Photo-Etch (PE) with a decal sheet in their own resealable envelope, and the instruction booklet printed in colour on portrait A5 glossy paper. Detail is good with engraved panel lines and louvres, raised and recessed features, and a new close-fitting cowling that covers the V12 engine in this boxing. Construction begins with the cockpit floor, which has two longitudinal ribs added to the top surface, a rudder bar near the front, and the seat toward the rear. A bulkhead and aft rudder bar are slotted behind the seat, adding two control columns into holes in the floor’s centreline. The aft cockpit an insert that is initially inverted so that the two-part camera can be fixed to the underside, the pilot’s instrument panel with decal is placed on a cross-rail to be fixed to the starboard side of the fuselage along with the cockpit floor and the camera assembly, with another short L-shaped section with a U-bar projecting rearwards is fitted into the port fuselage side along with a small seat and two canisters. Once all the detail painting is completed, the two halves can be joined, closing the underside with an insert that contains a downward facing window and a gluing a downward firing Lewis gun fitted with a plate mag on the U-bar fitted earlier. The separate nose that allows the new engine option to be portrayed is built from two halves, plus a bulkhead with the front of the engine moulded into it, a final cowling insert underneath, and seven ‘power bulge’ fairings spaced around the front cowling, and further back a linked pair of cabane struts is pushed through from inside, adding a top cowling over it to lock it in place. Two small pits are drilled on the deck in front of the pilot for later use. The lower wing has a spar moulded into it, joining them to full span, and several small holes need filling on the leading edges before they are slotted into the groove in the front of the lower fuselage, after which the nose assembly can be glued in place, trapping the wing in position, then a windscreen with a small hole is glued in, through which a tubular gun sight is installed, and a machine gun with ammo feed is installed on the deck for one decal option. The upper wings are full-span, and join with the lowers on two angled interplane struts, plus another two cabane struts that plug into the upper fuselage just forward of the cockpit. The elevators are moulded as a single part, and must be marked with a drill according to the given locations on a separate drawing, then the part is laid on the rear of the fuselage into the recess at the tail. The marks made before are the locations for the V-struts that brace them, fitting the revised square-topped rudder into a slot over the elevators and marking the sides with a drill before placement. The undercarriage is Messier manufactured, and the axle is supported beneath the fuselage by a three-part assembly of struts that forms a W, adding the tyres with two hubs at each end of the axle after drilling out and fitting two 0.5mm brass axle stubs into the ends, creating the wire rims from PE parts that are pressed to shape using the supplied jig, then applied to the wheels with additional PE rims inside and out, offsetting the spokes by 10° on one side for both wheels, symmetrically. A simple tail skid fits beneath the fuselage to support the rear. There are several PE parts applied to the upper wing, including aileron actuators and small aerofoils on short pins that sit in the hinge-point of the ailerons. More actuators are added underneath, then several rigging diagrams show how to lace up the wings, using a gaggle of PE turnbuckles that are marked in green, while the lines are marked in red to assist the process, although they are flipped in some diagrams. It’s good to see this forming part of a biplane kit, as they make the rigging task much simpler. Flipping the model on its back allows fitment of a choice of two styles of radiator installation under the nose, the crew step under the fuselage, and twin wind-powered generators under the wing leading edges. After righting the model again, the rear gunner’s position is fitted with a Scarff ring and U-mount with a pair of V-braces at the sides, adding a twin installation of Lewis guns and a choice of windscreen for one decal option. The prop is the final step, and its peg at the rear inserts into the front of the engine, adding a pair of exhaust stubs to the sides of the cowling. Markings There are three decal options on the sheet, all in French service, and all wearing a green scheme, with polished engine cowling, and the distinctive tricolour tail that French aircraft wore at the time. From the box you can build one of the following: No.207, 2 ème Escadrille, GB I/38, Mourmelon, June 1929 (Gaul’s Head Badge 1st Version) No.211, coded 5, 2 ème Escadrille, GB I/38, Thionville Basse-Yutz, March 1933 (Gaul’s Head Badge 2nd Version) No.2042 coded 3, 1 ème Escadrille, GO I/33, Nancy, October 1932 to March 1937 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 An interesting reboxing of this interwar biplane with a shiny power-bulge-studded forward fuselage giving it a different look, with plenty of detail into the bargain. The addition of PE to assist with rigging the model is a great feature to see on a biplane. Highly recommended. Azur Frrom kits are available via many online and real-world retailers, but they are created in conjunction with Special Hobby, who also sell the kits on their behalf. Review sample courtesy of

Potez 25 with Renault 12kg Engine (FR0053) 1:72 Azur Frrom The Potez 25 was an interwar two-seat fighter bomber that was designed by Henry Potez of the eponymous Potez company in the 1920s, based upon their earlier 15, but with substantial changes that included modifying the wings to make it a sesquiplane. The upper wing was supported above the fuselage, and the significantly shorter lower wing was attached to the sides of the fuselage, with a choice of two styles of landing gear. One made by Potez, the other by Messier. There were also a variety of engines used to power it, including a Renault 12KG, which was its designation, not a reference to its weight! First flying in 1925, it soon entered production and service, using popular air races of the day to distinguish it from the mountains of WWI era biplanes that were available following the armistice. It was bought by several European and mediterranean customers, and was considered at the time to be one of France’s most successful projects, with around 2,500 built by the French and more under license elsewhere. The Polish license-built aircraft differed from the original by having leading edge slots, plus other changes specific to their needs with around 300 made in total before production ended there in 1932. The production variant that ran the Renault engine, which output a substantial 550hp, had an advantage when competing in racing, as well as in its military roles, but the other motors that were employed were similarly powerful, usually within 50hp. There were over 300 airframes running the 12KG engine, which was longer than the 12JB variant, and was also known as the Direct Drive engine. It was used predominantly as a fighter or fighter-bomber in military service, although there were some airframes used for reconnaissance, and in civilian service it was typically employed where its powerful engine would confer an advantage, such as a postal carrier aircraft. As it neared the end of its working life and began to be outclassed by newer designs, a 25M variant was developed that converted it into a parasol monoplane, but it was never put into production, as technology had moved on by that time. The Kit This boxing originates from a 2019 tooling by Azur Frrom, although some of the plastic has been seen in Special Hobby boxes in the interim, as they partnered with them to produce this and many other kits. This boxing depicts the Renault 12KG engined variant in French service. The kit arrives in a small blue-and-yellow themed top-opening box, and inside is a resealable clear foil bag that holds five sprues in bluish grey styrene, a Ziploc bagged small clear sprue, another bag containing a 3D printed propeller in orange resin, a fret of Photo-Etch (PE) with a decal sheet in their own resealable envelope, and the instruction booklet printed in colour on portrait A5 glossy paper. Detail is good with engraved panel lines and louvres, raised and recessed features, and a new close-fitting cowling that covers the V12 engine in this boxing. Construction begins with the cockpit floor, which has two longitudinal ribs added to the top surface, a rudder bar near the front, and the seat toward the rear. A bulkhead and aft rudder bar are slotted behind the seat, adding two control columns into holes in the floor’s centreline. The aft cockpit an insert that is initially inverted so that the two-part camera can be fixed to the underside, the pilot’s instrument panel with decal is placed on a cross-rail to be fixed to the starboard side of the fuselage along with the cockpit floor and the camera assembly, with another short L-shaped section with a U-bar projecting rearwards is fitted into the port fuselage side along with a small seat and two canisters. Once all the detail painting is completed, the two halves can be joined, closing the underside with an insert that contains a downward facing window. The separate nose that allows the new engine option to be portrayed is built from three sectors plus a linked pair of cabane struts that is pushed through from inside, adding a nose cone with a conical insert behind it. Two small pits are drilled on the top of the fuselage in front of the pilot for later use. The lower wing has a spar moulded into it, joining them to full span, and several small holes need filling on the leading edges before they are slotted into the groove in the front of the lower fuselage, after which the nose assembly can be glued in place, trapping the wing in position, then a windscreen with a small hole is glued in, through which a tubular gun sight is installed. The upper wings are full-span, and join with the lowers on two angled interplane struts, plus another two cabane struts that plug into the upper fuselage just forward of the cockpit. The elevators are moulded as a single part, and must be marked with a drill according to the given locations on a separate drawing, then the part is laid on the rear of the fuselage into the recess at the tail. The marks made before are the locations for the V-struts that brace them, fitting the rudder into a slot over the elevators and marking the sides with a drill before placement. The undercarriage axle is supported beneath the fuselage by a three-part assembly of struts that forms a W, adding the tyres with two hubs at each end of the axle. There is however a choice of two styles of gear parts, and an erratum sheet shows that two of the decal options should be fitted with alternative parts to depict the Messier gear, which are parts C57 & C58. A simple tail skid fits beneath the fuselage to support the rear. There are several PE parts applied to the upper wing, including aileron actuators and small aerofoils on short pins that sit in the hinge-point of the ailerons. More actuators are added underneath, then several rigging diagrams show how to lace up the wings, using a gaggle of PE turnbuckles that are marked in green, while the lines are marked in red to assist the process, although they are flipped in some diagrams. It’s good to see this forming part of a biplane kit, as they make the rigging task much simpler. Flipping the model on its back allows fitment of a radiator installation under the nose, the crew step under the fuselage, and after righting the model again, the rear gunner’s position is fitted with a Scarff ring and U-mount with a pair of V-braces at the sides, although no weapons are mounted. The prop is the final step, and the 3D printed part has excellent detail moulded-in, with a peg at the rear that inserts into the front of the engine. Markings There are three decal options on the sheet, all in French service, and all wearing a green scheme, with polished engine cowling, and the distinctive tricolour tail that French aircraft wore at the time. From the box you can build one of the following: No.1381, Cercle Aérien Régional de Clermont-Ferrand, from October 1933-December 1936 No.2285, coded Black 44 on White Tail, probably Versailles, 6 ème Escadrille, École de l’Air, 1937 No.851, coded White 8, Training Unit, Bourget-Dugny 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 An interesting reboxing of this interwar biplane with a sleek forward fuselage giving it a different look, with plenty of detail into the bargain. The addition of PE to assist with rigging the model is a great feature to see on a biplane. Apologies for Gilles for not returning his emails, but we appear to be blocked from replying at the moment. I’ll figure out a way round that soon. Highly recommended. Azur Frrom kits are available via many online and real-world retailers, but they are created in conjunction with Special Hobby, who also sell the kits on their behalf. Review sample courtesy of

Super Mystère B2 Early (FR7001) 1:48 Azur Frrom The Super Mystere was a successor to the earlier Mystere series of jet fighters, and was the first European production aircraft to be capable of supersonic speeds in level flight, thanks to its slender swept wings, and the addition of an afterburner ring to its Atar 101 engine. The prototype of the Avon-engined B1 first flew in 1956, with the French engined B2 flying a little later, and going into production for a run of 180 airframes. A further upgraded B4 was cancelled before it reached production due to the superior capabilities of the Mirage III that was coming into service at that time. The Super Mystère bears a passing resemblance to the North American F-100 Super Sabre of a similar vintage, which owes more to the direction of aviation and aerodynamic research at the time, rather than any sneaking about in balaclavas. The B2s entered service with three Escadres de Chasse in mid ’57, each of which adopted a colour and name for their subordinate escadres, and went on to serve in these roles until 1977 when they were withdrawn, a few going on to serve at a French technical school. The Israelis also bought two dozen airframes, and considered them a good match for the MiG-19s that they often encountered, particularly during the Yom Kippur and Six-Day wars when some were lost to enemy action. Another dozen aircraft were purchased by the Honduran Air Force, who later bought a few more, which went on to serve well into the 90s, performing ground support operations for their nation. The Kit This is Azur Frrom’s first 1:48 scale kit, and one of very few kits in this scale of the Super Mystère, the only other injection moulded styrene being from a company that has a reputation for being difficult to build. This is good news for “quarter scale” modellers such as myself, as it should be more widely available and much easier to build. The kit arrives in a top-opening box in their usual pale blue theme, with an attractive painting of the subject matter on the front. Inside are five large sprues in grey styrene in a resealable clear bag, a clear sprue in its own bag, decal sheet in another bag, and the instruction booklet. It is printed in colour on glossy paper with colour profiles on the rear pages, followed by a few more pages illustrating Azur Frrom’s range of products in 1:72 scale. Detail is good, including finely engraved panel lines, raised and recessed details in the cockpit, gear bays and air-brakes, and crisp clear parts to show off your work on the cockpit details. The kit is a cooperation with Special Hobby, as can be seen from the sprues, and that should give many modellers an idea of what to expect. Construction begins with detailing of the fuselage halves with exhaust cowling, air-brake bays and other inserts that are particular to this variant. The exhaust trunking is built up alongside, starting with the main tube with the afterburner ring suspended between the two halves, then top-and-tailing it with a split exhaust and a crisp rendition of the engine’s rear face. The cockpit is assembled on the floor part, which has the side consoles and front bulkhead moulded-in, adding the instrument panel with decal, rudders with supports, control column, and rear bulkhead that has the ejector seat ramp moulded-in, turned into a tub by the application of the cockpit sidewall inserts. The long intake trunking is made from top and bottom halves, with the front compressor face of the Atar engine blanking it off at the rear. This and the exhaust are inserted into the starboard fuselage half on a set of pegs, but the fuselage isn’t closed yet, as there is more work to do. The main gear bay is built from roof, two curved bulkheads front and rear, plus a divider down the centre, which is then inserted into the lower fuselage along with the nose gear bay, all of which is painted in a buff primer. The cockpit is glued into the starboard fuselage on a flat spot moulded into the intake trunking, the rudder is placed in slots in the fin, and the port fuselage half is brought in, trapping the rudder and a small insert behind the cockpit, and being joined by the lower fuselage to form the full profile. There is a choice of inserts under the fuselage depending on when the aircraft was built, fitting the intake lip to the nose to tidy the area up, with a small clear light inserted into a depression under the nose. Although the Super Mystère was a low-wing monoplane, the lower wings are separate, plugging into slots in the wing roots that are moulded into the fuselage sides. My example had a small short-shot in one wingtip, but it’s nothing a little styrene sheet and some filler can’t fix during the build, but you may wish to check your example to be sure. An insert with ribbing is placed inside to form the outer portion of the gear bay, then the upper wing is glued over it, with more of the primer used throughout. They are slotted into the fuselage, whilst adding clear tip lights and small round lights in the upper trailing edges, and the low T-tail is created by inserting the two elevators into their fairings near the bottom of the fin. The landing gear comprises three straight struts, the nose gear inserting into the bay by twisting is through 90°, then fixing the retraction jack into the rear of the bay. The main gear legs are inserted into their sockets with the retraction jacks inboard, and each gear leg is tipped by a wheel, using two halves for the main gear and a single moulding for the nose. The gear bay doors are attached to the sides of the bays, adding retraction jacks to them along the way. Numerous small parts are attached under the fuselage, including a pair of probes under the intake, giving it a catfish appearance. Turning the model over, the ejection seat is made from eight parts, slotting into the cockpit with a piece of head armour behind it, the instrument coaming and gun sight at the front, including two tiny clear panes on the sight. The canopy can then be fitted over the cockpit, starting with the fixed windscreen, and a choice of open or closed canopy, which opens in a non-standard manner, raising at both ends. If posing the canopy closed, there are small pips on the bottom rail of the clear part that need removing, but if posing it open, the rectangular section behind it raises up, and the front is supported by a pair of rods, giving the canopy the impression of hovering over the pilot. It is quite easy to imagine a pilot banging their head if they were incautious when leaving their aircraft. A pair of rear-view mirrors are supplied for the front of the canopy, and the rear support is detailed with its own jack that is visible when completed. Markings Depending on your point of view, there are either two or three decal options on the sheet, as the first option was seen with differing tail decoration during its career. From the box you can build one of the following: SM B2 No.110, 10-SB from 24/04/59 to 20/11/64 EC 01/10 ‘Valois’, Creil SM B2 No.110, 10-SB engaged in SEATO Cruise top Bangkok in March 1961 Sm B2 No.60, 5-NJ from 03/05/61 to 06/04/64, EC 01/05 ‘Vendée’, Orange-Caritat 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 the 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 A great many Francophile 1:48 modellers will be very happy with this new release from Azur Frrom, as it fills a gap in early French jet aviation, and fills it with a well-detailed model of this important mark. Highly recommended. Available from collaborators, Special Hobby Review sample courtesy of

SPAD 510 7eme Escadre & At War (FR0049 & FR0050) 1:72 Azur Frrom The SPAD 510 was an interwar biplane fighter that was half-way between the stringbags of old, and the modern monoplane fighters, insofar as it was primarily constructed from metal alloys, with only the wing and flying surfaces covered by fabric. It was a development from an earlier SPAD design that was made in response to a requirement from the French Air Force in 1930, and was the only biplane offering due to the encroachment of the monoplane into fighter design. It had an unusually long gestation for the period, entering service six years after the initial design, with many of its earlier problems resolved, and powered by a Hispano-Suiza 12Xbrs V12 engine that drove a two bladed prop and propelled the fighter to a maximum speed of 230mph, which was respectable at the time, and met with Armée de l'Air requirements. It was intended to fly with either two cannons or four machine guns, or a combination of the two, but practically only four machine guns were fitted, while the last two off the production line were equipped with a single 20mm cannon between the cylinder banks to fire in a synchronised manner through the prop. Fewer than 70 were made, and by the time WWII was on the horizon they were already being phased out in favour of more advanced monoplanes, often the capable Morane Saulnier MS.406, although other types were used. With a comparable performance envelope to the British Gladiator, it was clearly outclassed by the enemy Bf.109Es that it would encounter early in the war, although a skilled pilot could possibly achieve a kill despite the disparity. Although many were withdrawn from the frontline to training units, some were initially lined up against the Axis forces as coastal defence before they were ousted and had to move to another more suitable locations. A few were taken on charge by the Germans after the armistice, although they were of little practical use as a fighter. The Kit This is a brand-new tooling from Azur Frrom, with two boxings released initially, one depicting the first squadron to take the 510 on, 7éme Escadre who also provided the pilots for the Weiser Circus aerobatic team, which was named after their squadron leader. The other boxing is an ‘At War’ issue that includes the aircraft that were charged with protecting the coastal areas at the beginning of WWII. The kits arrive in identical-sized end-opening boxes in their usual blue theme, but with different box art on the front and the decal options on the rear. Inside the boxes are two identical sprues of grey styrene, a small clear sprue, the same multi-purpose decal sheet, and an instruction booklet that looks very similar, but is in fact different depending on which boxing you are looking at. This is what I sometimes refer to as “medium run”, as although it does have some aspects of a short-run kit, it is quite accomplished, but not quite up to mainstream in terms of finish to the sprues etc. Don’t be put off one iota by that fact though, as it’s a nice kit and has some good detail moulded-in. Construction begins identically, and doesn’t diverge until right at the end when differences in the exhausts are pointed out in a scrap diagram in the At War boxing, which the modeller would have to scratch build. The cockpit is a flat floor with some details moulded-in, which is added to by fixing a control stick, seat, rear bulkhead, front bulkhead and the instrument panel frame with foot well added, the latter also receiving a decal to depict the instruments. The fuselage halves are closed up around the cockpit once painting is completed, and here you will notice that the halves have engraved panel lines throughout. The lower wings and elevators are all single parts, as is the engine cowling, which has some nice perforated grille detail moulded into it. A scrap diagram shows that the wings and elevators are all intended to be fitted as 90° to the rudder, so get your EBMA wing jig out if you can’t trust yourself to get everything aligned correctly. The small wrap-around windscreen and clear gunsight are added on pegs to the forward section of the cockpit, then it’s time to double the number of wings. The interplane struts are substantial and low in number, resembling an italic capital I, with N-shaped cabane struts mounted on the top cowling in front of the cockpit. These are best aligned with the upper wings during setting of the glue in order to avoid fit issues, and although the rigging is ignored for now, there are full rigging diagrams toward the rear of the instructions to help you make a more accurate model. Everyone has their own technique, so we’ll leave that up to the individual and move on. The main wheels are moulded into their spats and are fitted on long tapering struts, fixing on pegs to the underside of the fuselage, then braced by a pair of wires that attach to the lower section of the legs and a raised area of the underside. The lower wings have blisters on the top surface that have hollows on the underside, which are filled by the gondolas that have the guns moulded into the front, the barrels of which you can drill out for a bit more realism if you wish. At the tail is a skid, and further forward is a stirrup for the pilot’s access, a pair of shackles for stores under the centreline, with a rectangular radiator fairing just beneath the pilot’s feet. After a page and a half of rigging diagrams, the two-bladed prop and a pair of aerial masts are the last parts to be glued in place. As previously noted, the At War boxing has a different exhaust layout depending on which decal option you choose, so be prepared to undertake some DIY to achieve the proposed layout. Markings Each boxing has three decal options printed in colour at the rear of the booklet, all with the same basic scheme that has green upper surfaces with a high demarcation on the fuselage, over a silver underside. The option with the red rudder fin will need to be painted to accept the white 1 in a circle, which is the only variation in painting that I could see. From each box you can build one of the following: 7éme Escadre (FR0049) Nr.26, Red 1, 1ére Escadrille GCI/7 (Spa 15 Bayard’s Helmet), Lt Ozanne, esc. Leader, June 1938 Nr.14, White 5, 3éme Escadrille GC II/7 (Spa 73 Japanese Stork), Dijon, Spring 1939 Nr.25, 4éme Escadrille GC II/& (Spa 78 Black Panther) Dunkirk show, 1937 At War (FR0050) Nr.9, White 8, DIAP (Dépot d’Instruction de L’Aviation Polonaise), Lyon-Corbas, May 1940 Nr.44, White 14, 3éme Escadrille GARC II/561, Le Havre-Octeville, November 1939 Nr.56, Red 6, CIC Montpellier (Fighter Training Centre), June 1940 The decals are identical for the two boxings, so if you change your mind and can find the schemes, you can build any of the above options. You’ll need two boxes if you want to build one from each boxing though. The decals are well-printed, in good register with dense colour and sharpness, including a number of stencils and the instrument panel decal, which is printed in white and hides particularly well in the middle of the sheet. Conclusion It’s a charming little aircraft from the Blériot-Spad stable that was caught between the transition from biplane to metal monoplanes. It’s an unusual aircraft that we don’t get to hear of often, but it is an appealing kit. Highly recommended. Both kits are available from Special Hobby’s webshop, and it’s Special Hobby that moulded the kits in conjunction with Azur Frrom. 7éme Escadre (FR0049) At War (FR0050) Review sample courtesy of

Hello Here is my finished 1/72 FRROM Meteor T. Mk 7 in Israeli defense Force guise in 1956. This particular aircraft was one of the few which were fitted with a camera under the fuselage to become a recce bird. I reproduced that from a picture of a museum aircraft which could have been farther modified for preservation. I have followed advices for the upper part of the canopy as this is not the same as the NF Meteor canopy. I sanded the second and fourth frames above and reproduced them inside by means of decal stripes. I could not do the same for the side windows of the windscreen as this is too tiny around. Here is the WIP : https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235098944-azur-frrom-meteor-t-mk-7/ And then the pictures. Patrick

Hello Even if I have already started some WIP kits in the French GB I have simultaneously startde this 1/72 Meteor T Mk. 7 AZUR FRROM. This kit was already produced by MPM/Special Hobby under the label Xtrakit in 2008 and I have both boxes to compare. You will see the details are not up to the level of the more recent Meteor NF from the same manufacturer but if like me you do not cut the one piece canopy it is detailed enough. First here are the grey sprues I started this build with the wings and for each main undercarriage well there are four separate walls The instrument panel and the starboard console are put OK there are few details on the floor... Here are the front faces ot the engines I made aluminium harnesses for both crews The main colour was RLM66 to create a small scale black The whel wells are aluminum and the front faces of the engines are ready to be glued To be continued... Patrick

Potez 25 A2/B2 'Hispano' and 'Lorraine' Decals (FR0X04) 1:72 Azur Frrom The Potez 25 was a French single engined, two-seater biplane designed in the interwar period and used widely by air forces around the world. A flexible design, the Potez 25 was used in a variety of roles, including as a fighter, bomber escort, light bomber and reconnaissance platform. The A2 variant was primarily a reconnaissance aircraft, powered by either a 520hp Salmson 18Cmb radial engine, a Lorraine 12Eb inline engine or a Hispano Suiza 12Jb engine. The Potez 25 had a range of 373 miles and a maximum speed of 132 mph. Armed with 7.7mm machine guns, it was also capable of carrying 200kg of bombs. Curiously, the aircraft could quite easily be converted from biplane to parasol-winged monoplane and served with the Romanian Air Force in this configuration. In total, over 4,000 examples were built, including many under licence. The Potez 25 haf not been brilliantly represented by kit manufacturers over the years. until Azur Ffrom stepped in with their new kits in 2019 which we reviewed here. These new decal sheets are for this kit (and the special Hobby boxing of the kit) and come with detailed instructions. FR0X04 This sheet is for the export versions of the Potez 25 which were sold around the world as well as French Aircraft serving overseas. The options on the sheet are; Aeropostale & Air France No.1520 F-AJDX Buenos Aires 1929 - Lorraine powered aircraft using kit FR0037 No.1521 F-AJDY (before Air France - no other details given but in South America) - Lorraine powered aircraft using kit FR0037 No.1522 F-AJDZ June 1930 South America - Using kit SH72407 No.2036 F-AJZS - No details given) - Using kit SH72407 No.1521 F-AJDJ in 1934 (no other details given) - Using kit SH72407 Uruguay B1-2 L182 1930's No other details given - Lorraine powered aircraft using kit FR0037 B1-5 1936 - No other details given - Lorraine powered aircraft using kit FR0037 White 8 TOE - No other details given - Lorraine powered aircraft using kit FR0037 White 1 First Potez 25 In Uruguay - Seen 1934 - Hispano Engine but with a Lorraine type cowling - Build from FR0037 There has been some debate about the blue used here but with no conclusion I have seen, some details can be seen here on markings of the period. Paraguay White 3 - Puerto Sastre 1933 - Lorraine powered aircraft using kit FR0037 Greece Sigma 14 - Captured in Eleusis 1941 - Hispano Powered aircraft using FR0038 (Sigma 4 can be built but the modeller will have to rearrange the decals) - Aircraft camouflaged. Sigma 14 - Larissa mid 1930s - Hispano Powered aircraft using FR0038 Poland 42-68 White 4, 34th Sqn, 3rd Aviation Regiment, Poznan - Lorraine powered aircraft using kit FR0037 42-295 White 3, 55th Sqn, 5th Regiment, Lida 1934 - Lorraine powered aircraft using kit FR0037 42-310 White 7, 55th Sqn, 5th Regiment, Lida 1934 - Lorraine powered aircraft using kit FR0037 Croisiere Noire No.2221 Code V489 Adj Chef Mayadox, Cne Pennes - Using kit SH72407 The decal are Printed in the UK By Fantasy Printshop so there should be no issues with them at all. The printing looks first rate with minimal carrier film. The instructions are 12 pages long with detailed histories (where available) and they quote references for the aircraft. There are also detailed notes about the individual aircraft about how to build them from the kit specified as some had minor differences. Conclusion Three cheers for Azur Frrom for taking the initiative and producing additional decals for their great kits. Highly Recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Potez 25 A2/B2 'Hispano' and 'Lorraine' Decals (FR0X03) 1:72 Azur Frrom The Potez 25 was a French single engined, two-seater biplane designed in the interwar period and used widely by air forces around the world. A flexible design, the Potez 25 was used in a variety of roles, including as a fighter, bomber escort, light bomber and reconnaissance platform. The A2 variant was primarily a reconnaissance aircraft, powered by either a 520hp Salmson 18Cmb radial engine, a Lorraine 12Eb inline engine or a Hispano Suiza 12Jb engine. The Potez 25 had a range of 373 miles and a maximum speed of 132 mph. Armed with 7.7mm machine guns, it was also capable of carrying 200kg of bombs. Curiously, the aircraft could quite easily be converted from biplane to parasol-winged monoplane and served with the Romanian Air Force in this configuration. In total, over 4,000 examples were built, including many under licence. The Potez 25 has not been brilliantly represented by kit manufacturers over the years. until Azur Frrom stepped in with their new kits in 2019 which we reviewed here. These new decal sheets are for this kit (and the special Hobby boxing of the kit) and come with detailed instructions. FR0X03 This sheet is for the export versions of the Potez 25 which were sold around the world as well as French Aircraft serving overseas. The options on the sheet are; Ethiopia / Abyssina, 1. White 1 "Nessre Tafari" - Addis Ababa August 1929 - Lorraine powered aircraft using kit FR0037 2. White 2 "Nessre Asfawossen" - Addis Ababa September 1929 - Lorraine powered aircraft using kit FR0037 3. White 3 "nessre Makonnen" - Addis Ababa September 1929 - Lorraine powered aircraft using kit FR0037 4. Hispano No.2 - Jan Meda 1930 - Hispano powered aircraft using kit FR0038 French West Africa (AOF) White 12 No.822 Dakar 1934 - Lorraine powered aircraft using kit FR0038 White 5, No.1303 Seen at Atar (Date not specified) - - Lorraine powered aircraft using kit FR0037 White 1, No1299 (no details given) - Lorraine powered aircraft using kit FR0037 Manchria White P.2 - Mukden September 1931 - Lorraine powered aircraft using kit FR0037 White P.15 - Mukden September 1931 - Lorraine powered aircraft using kit FR0037 White P.9 - No details given - Lorraine powered aircraft using kit FR0037 (Aircraft later used by the Japanese as were most Manchurian Aircraft- you can use the decals in FR0037 for a Japanese aircraft)) Indochina Yellow 3, No.1981 from 1933 - Using kit SH72407 Yellow 9, No.201 Bien Hoa 1933 - Lorraine powered aircraft using kit FR0037 Yellow 5, No.1451 Bien Hoa 1935 - Using kit SH72407 No.201 No details circa 1930 - Lorraine powered aircraft using kit FR0037 Levant (French mandate in Syria & Lebanon) White 5, No.737 In service from 1924 - Using kit SH72407 Nationalist Spanish No.2353 Spanish Morocco Aug 1936 (Possibly) This was an aircraft which absconded to Spanish Morocco as the pilot wanted to join Franco's Forces) The decal are Printed in the UK By Fantasy Printshop so there should be no issues with them at all. The printing looks first rate with minimal carrier film. The instructions are 12 pages long with detailed histories (where available) and they quote references for the aircraft. There are also detailed notes about the individual aircraft about how to build them from the kit specified as some had minor differences. Conclusion Three cheers for Azur Frrom for taking the initiative and producing additional decals for their great kits. Highly Recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Hello After nearly 10 months I have finished these couple of 1/72 Azur FRROM export Martin 139. These are not difficult to build but I built other kits in between and here they are. First the Martin 139 WH-2 #515 of ML-KNIL (Netherlands East Indies) at the end of 1939. The date is important as I chose to paint the orange rudder which was discarded later. Next the Martin 139 WAN of the Argentinian Navy Escuadrilla de Bombardeo #2B3 in 1940s. Here is the build : https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235078053-172-azur-frrom-b-10-export/ Patrick

Hello Last week I received directly from the factory a couple of 1/72 AZUR FRROM B-10 Export. Actually these are the first two boxes from this manufacturer with FR0043 B-10 Export WC/WAN > China Air Force and Argentine Navy FR0042 B-10 Export WH-2/WAA > Dutch East Indies and Argentine Army I am starting cutting the first sprues next weekend but here are the instruction sheets and the transfers. Patrick

Hello Here is my recently finished 1/72 SNCASE SE 535 Mistral. After SNCASE built DH 100 Vampire under license they developped another version SE 532/535 with a Rolls Royce Nene engine. The air intakes were modified and the fuselage was deepened. The SE 535 were equipped with ejection seats but the SE 532 were later retroffited. My kit is a Mistral from 7ème Escadre de Chasse in Algeria in 1958. I cut and dropped the flaps as they always were in that position on the ground. The upper fuselage and the new air intakes are specific pieces added from the Special Hobby Vampire kit. Patrick

Potez 25 A2/B2 'Hispano' and 'Lorraine' (FR0037 and FR0038) 1:72 Azur Frrom The Potez 25 was a French single engined, two-seater biplane designed in the interwar period and used widely by air forces around the world. A flexible design, the Potez 25 was used in a variety of roles, including as a fighter, bomber escort, light bomber and reconnaissance platform. The A2 variant was primarily a reconnaissance aircraft, powered by either a 520hp Salmson 18Cmb radial engine, a Lorraine 12Eb inline engine or a Hispano Suiza 12Jb engine. The Potez 25 had a range of 373 miles and a maximum speed of 132 mph. Armed with 7.7mm machine guns, it was also capable of carrying 200kg of bombs. Curiously, the aircraft could quite easily be converted from biplane to parasol-winged monoplane and served with the Romanian Air Force in this configuration. In total, over 4,000 examples were built, including many under licence. The Potez 25 has not been brilliantly represented by kit manufacturers over the years. The last time I remember reviewing one was a fancy mixed media kit released by Grand Models around three or so years ago. Now Azur Frrom have stepped up to the plate with a modern, injection moulded kit of the type that offers both Hispano and Lorraine engined versions. Inside the box are five frames of grey plastic and a single clear frame, as well as photo etched parts and decals. The plastic parts are all nicely moulded and have plenty of fine detail. We'll take a look at the Hispano version first, before covering the differences with the Lorraine version. Construction starts with the well-detailed cockpit. This sub-assembly is made up of the floor detail, seats, instrument panels, control columns, rudder pedals and the podium and machine gun for the observer/gunner. The cockpit sidewalls are packed with detail too. Once complete, the cockpit detail is sandwiched between the fuselage halves and the underside of the fuselage, which is separately moulded. The engine cowling is next. The inner struts fit inside this structure and tiny holes must also be drilled in pre-marked points in order to accommodate the rigging. Once complete, the cowling/forward fuselage can be joined to the main section of the fuselage which, in turn, can be joined to the lower wing (or blanking piece if building one of the Romanian parasol-winged monoplane versions). The upper wing joins to the fuselage and lower wing via a system of struts. There are different struts for the monoplane version. No jig is provided to help with alignment, so this model may be better suited to experienced biplane builders. The landing gear uses a similar system of individual struts. The instructions recommend making pins from brass rod to strengthen these parts and you will need to source this yourself as none is supplied. The main wheels benefit from some photo etched detail to represent the spoked wheels. More photo etched parts are used to represent the elevator control parts and the locating points for the rigging. Finishing touches include auxiliary fuel tanks and four small bombs. A choice of three different propellers is included, with helpful notes to explain which belongs to which of the different aircraft represented on the decal sheet. Four decal options are provided, which is pretty generous for a kit of this size: Potez 25 B2, Royal Hellenic Air Force, coded Sigma 3, Athenes-Tatoï airfield, end of April or May 1941; Potez 25 A2, Royal Romanian Air Force, Little Entente and Poland Air Race (placed 6th if you're wondering), Prague, August 1928; Potez 25 A2, Royal Romanian Air Force (monoplane configuration), Little Entente and Poland Air Race (placed 4th), Prague, August 1928; and Potez 25, Yugoslav Army, Little Entente and Poland Air Race (not placed), Prague, August 1928. The decals are nicely printed and the colours look nice and bold. Potez 25 A2/B2 'Lorraine' This version of the kit is virtually identical to the Hispano-powered version, but obviously has different parts for the engine cowling and radiator, which is at the front of the cowling rather than underneath. There is also no parasol-winged version in this boxing. The decal options provided with this version are: Potez 25 A2 Nr 2054, White RF 22, Aéronautique militaire, Rochefort training unit, France, 1937; Potez 25 B2 Nr 42.216, White 6, 34 th Squadron, 3 nd Regiment, Polish Air Force. Aircaft built by P&L. Poznan, Poland, 1932; IAR-Potez 25 B2 Nr 211, Romanian Air Force. Aircraft built by IAR in Brasov probably in May 1934; and Potez 25 A2 in French Indochina, captured by the Japanese in March 1945, sent to Thailand when the Japanese forces surrendered. Don Muang (Thailand), Autumn 1945 Conclusion Three cheers for Azur Frrom for taking the initiative and producing an injection moulded model of this attractive and important interwar type. The kit is very nicely detailed indeed, although I have to say it probably isn't ideally suited to biplane virgins. That said, if you take your time and pay attention to the instructions, you should be rewarded with a really appealing model to which a huge variety of marking schemes can be applied. Recommended. Review sample courtesy of

S.N.C.A.S.E. S.E. 535 Mistral 1:72 Azur Frrom The distinctive De Havilland DH.100 Vampire was built to fulfil a wartime requirement for a small, lightweight jet fighter for the Royal Air Force. Although the prototype aircraft flew almost two years before the end of the War, the production aircraft arrived too late to see service in the conflict. Despite this, well over 3,000 examples were produced and the aircraft enjoyed a relatively long service life by the standards of the day. Powered by a single De Havilland Goblin turbojet, the diminutive Vampire was capable of 548 mph and had a service ceiling of over 40,000 ft. In common with many other fighters of the day, it was armed with four 20mm cannon. The S.E. 35 Mistral was a licence built Vampire, manufactured by Société nationale des constructions aéronautiques du Sud-Est (S.N.C.A.S.E.) and based on the Nene-powered Mk.53 that was also used in Armée de l'Air service. The Vampire has enjoyed something of a modelling renaissance recently. For a long while, the old FROG and Heller kits were pretty much it as far as 1:72 Vampires were concerned. Czech Master released a range of well-regarded but pricey resin kits some time ago, but it is not until fairly recently that we have had some new plastic kits of the type courtesy of A Model, Airfix, Cyberhobby and Special Hobby. This particular kit by Azur Frrom is based on the Special Hobby kit, which has already been released across a range of labels, including Xtrakit, Special Hobby and Azur. It includes a new resin seat and an extra frame of parts which includes a new upper fuselage, intakes and nose. Inside the top opening box are over 70 parts moulded in grey and clear styrene, as well as a sheet of decals, a resin seat and a full-colour instruction booklet. The kit looks excellent on the sprue, with lots of crisp, moulded detail and surface structures made up of fine, recessed lines and fasteners. The overall impression is closer to a modern, high pressure injection moulded kit than the older MPM/Special Hobby kits in my collection. Construction starts with the well-detailed cockpit. This area is made up of the floor, rear bulkhead, pilot's seat, control column and the instrument panel. The instrument panel features recessed detail and a decal is provided for the instrument dials themselves. The gun sight is moulded from clear plastic. The inside of the fuselage halves benefit from some separately moulded sidewall details. Taken together, the overall impression is of a well detailed and suitably busy cockpit. The resin seat really serves to lift the detail up a notch. Other internal detail includes the front and rear faces of the turbojet engine. Azur Frrom (Special Hobby) have elected for a bit of a smoke and mirrors effect here, splitting the front face of the engine into two parts so each can be seen through the intake trunking (part of which is cleverly moulded to the lower half of the fuselage pod. There is no separate tail pipe for the jet exhaust, with the pipe and protruding lip being moulded as part of the upper and lower fuselage halves. The nose cone is moulded separately to the rest of the fuselage, and it follows a panel line which should reduce the need to clean up the joint when finished. It will also enable you to fit the nose weight after the main structure of the model has been completed - a definite plus for a natural tail-sitter like the Vampire/Mistral. Once the two halves of the fuselage pod have been joined together, attention turns to the wings and the horizontal stabiliser. The wings are simply moulded in upper and lower halves, with control surfaces moulded in place. Surface details are very nicely represented, although the trailing edges are a little on the thick side (nothing that can't be sorted relatively easily though). The shallow main landing gear bays are moulded as part of the lower wing but are pretty well detailed. The engine air intakes are separately moulded on the extra frame of parts. Happily, this addresses one of the shortcomings of the original kit (titchy intakes). The tail booms look pretty good and, as with the wings and horizontal stabiliser, the control surfaces are moulded in place. With the airframe complete, attention turns to the undercarriage. The undercarriage itself is quite nicely moulded without being overly complex. Ordnance is catered for by the inclusion of a pair of drop tanks and a pair of rockets. The canopy is nicely moulded and is split into two parts, so it can be finished in the open position if desired. Three decal options are provided, which is more than reasonable for a kit of this size: SNCASE SE-535 Mistral No. 82, 8-PB, EC 1/8 "Maghreb", Rabat-Salé, Morocco, 1957; SNCASE SE-535 Mistral No. 195, 7-BC, 7 éme EC, Telergma, Algeria, crashed on 19 August, 1958; SNCASE SE-535 Mistral No. 64, 20-LF, EC 1/20, "Ouarsenis", Boufarik, Algeria, 1959; The decals are nicely printed and the colours look accurate to my eye. Conclusion I liked the original version of this kit a lot, and this version from Azur Frrom is no less appealing. The level of detail is very good indeed, and provided there are no surprises in terms of fit and finish, it should build up into a nice model. Overall, this is a nice kit which I am looking forward to building. Recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Renard R-31 (FR0039) 1:72 Azur FRROM The Renard R-31 was developed to a Belgian Air Force requirement for a reconnaissance & Army co-operation aircraft in the early 1930s. The design by Alfred Renard of Constructions Aéronautiques G. Renard featured a high parasol wing to allow for an unobstructed view. The construction was welded steel tube with metal sheet covering at the front, with fabric elsewhere. 34 aircraft were built with the R-32 being an unsuccessful attempt at a closed cockpit version. The R-31 was not a well liked aircraft due to poor handling and being vulnerable to flat spins. In fact the Belgian Air Force banned it from any type of aerobatics. The R-31 was still in use at the time of the German invasion. Some were destroyed on the ground but they did manage fifty-four reconnaissance missions in support of allied operations to defend Belgium. In the air the aircraft were hopelessly out classed by the Luftwaffe and most were destroyed in combat. The few survivors were later destroyed by the Germans as they had no interest in keeping any. There is now a project underway to construct a replica using the original drawings. The Kit This is a new toolkit from Azur FRROM brings us this mainly forgotten aircraft of the Belgian Air Force. The kit arrives on two spures of grey plastic, a small clear sprue, and a small PE fret. A point of note for the sprue shots is that the fuselage halves are on the wing spure but had vome adrift in the bag so I photographed them next to the smaller sprue. Construction starts in starts in the cockpit area. Inside the fuselage is a good representation of the steel tubular structure. The seats are made up with the addition of PE seatbelts and added to the cockpit floor, rudder pedals are added. The complete floor and instrument panels are added in and the fuselage halves are brought together. The spates are added for the main gear along with the wheels. The large underside radiator is then built up and added. The observers machine gun is then completed, this has many small PE parts. Next up the wing is made up ad added along with the main struts either side. PE control rods are added on top of the wing. PE boarding steps are added along with an airspeed indicator. At the rear the tail planes, rudder and tail braces are added. To finish off the observers gun is added, and at the front the propeller. Markings The decals look to be in house and should present no problems. They look to be crisp, in register and colour dense. Markings are provided for three aircraft. All are Khaki Green over Aluminium dope, the third aircraft having a higher demarcation line than the other 2. N12, No.9 Sqn Belgian Air Force, January to May 1940 N9, No.11 Sqn Belgian Air Force. Personal aircraft of the Sqn Commander Paul Henry, de la Lindi. January to May 1940 N18, Wewelghem Flying School 1936. Conclusion It is great to see this kit of a relatively unknown type from between the wars which unfortunately was outclassed at the beginning of WWII. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

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

Hello As promised here is my second Northrop Delta. This time this is the Delta 1A of the TWA when used as a mail delivery aircraft. For that reason I did not put either the passenger seats or the window curtains. It could have been a weight saving measure. The main difference with my previous Delta is the engine. The Delta 1C was powered by a 9 cylinder radial Wright Cyclone SR1820 F3 engine. For the Delta 1C it was a 9 cylinder radial Pratt & Whitney Hornet engine. Patrick And now both Deltas compared

Hello Here is the first of my couple of Northrop Delta. This one is the Delta 1C, c/n 7, EC-AGC from the Spanish Postal Airline (LAPE - Líneas Aéreas Postales Españolas ) in 1938. The work in progress is here : The TWA Delta 1A will follow soon. Patrick

Hello Here is my next project with the build of a couple of Northrop Delta 1. These are brand new kits made by Azur FRROM in 1/72. So far there are two boxes with civilian versions to build either : Delta 1A TWA, Delta 1B Aerovias Centrales, Delta 1C A. B. Aerotransport. And the Over Spain box to build the delta 1C under Republican colours or after the civil war. Here are the runners. Here is the instruction sheet to engrave the right shape of the Delta 1C passenger door. I am going to build first the Delta 1A when TWA flew her as a fast mail delivery transport aircraft. For that reason I suppose the passenger seats were discarded to save weight. The second kit is the Delta 1C EC-AGC in 1938/39 when flown by Republican Spannish AF as a VIP transport plane. To be continued... Patrick

Nieuport NiD 29 / Nakajima KO-4 1:72 Azur FRROM The Nieuport NiD-29 C1 is a fighter designed br by Gustave Delage in 1918. WWI ended before it was produced. In 1920 it was selected as new fighter by the French Aéronautique Militaire and the delivery to the units started in 1922. 700 of this aircraft were produced. In 1925 the French Aéronautique Militaire had 25 NiD-29-equipped squadrons. Several aircraft fitted with bomb-racks took part in low-level assault tasks in North Morocco at the end of 1925. The Nieuports remained in service with France till the end of the 20s. Aircraft were also produced under license in Belgium, Japan, Italy and Siam. They were used by the air forces of other countries as Spain, Sweden, Argentina, Kwansi, China and Manchuria. In 1922 the Belgian Aéronautique Militaire ordered 108 aircraft. Twenty aircraft were delivered direct by Nieuport from 1922 (Ni.1 to Ni.20) and eighty eight were built under license by SABCA (Ni.21 to Ni.108) these were delivered between January 1924 and October 1926. During 1931 they were replaced by Fairey Firefly IIM fighters. Sweden ordered ten Nieuport NiD-29 C1 in 1925. In the new Flygvapnet (created on first July 1926) they were named J2 (Jaktflygplan 2, for fighter aircraft 2) and wore the numbers 63, 65, 67, 69, 611, 613, 615, 617, 619 and 621. In 1929 seven machines were still in service. In 1922 the Italian Army selected the Nieuport NiD-29 C1 for the new Regia Aeronautica. Macchi and Caproni built these under license. It was named Macchi M.29 by Italians. The first Italian built machines were delivered to fighter units in October 1924, all together 175 aircraft were built by both Italian firms. They remained in service till 1931. In 1923 the Spanish Aviacion Militar ordered 30 aircraft. Deliveries started from the end of 1923. They equipped the fighter group of Getafe (Madrid). In September 1924 some were sent to North Morocco, they were based at Nador (Melilla). They took part in the Morocco war. Spanish aircraft were withdrawn in 1931 and replaced by Nieuports 52. The Nieuport NiD-29 C1 was selected by the Japanese Army to replace the Spad XIII and Ni.24. In 1923, one machine was bought in France. The NiD-29 was built under license by Nakajima which produced 608 machines. The type was called Ko-4 by Japanese. The Hiko Rentai (Air regiments) 1, 3, 4, 7 and 8 were equipped with Ko-4. Fighter units with Ko-4 took part in the invasion of Manchuria in 1931 and 1932. A lot of fighter schools were equipped with Ko-4 in 1937 (according to some sources, they were still in service in 1941). In China, the Kwansi government bought ten Nakajima Ko-4s in 1935 for advanced training. The following year the Kwansi joined the central Nanking government. All the aircraft were then integrated into the Chinese Air Force. At the end of 1937 seven Ko-4s were still in service for training. Manchuria bought four Ko-4s. After the Japanese invasion, these aircraft were put into service by the Japanese Army. In 1937 one Ko-4 was used by the new Manchukuo military aviation. In 1923 the Siam Aeronautical Service chose the Nieuport NiD-29 for its fighter units. Twelve machines were ordered from France as well as forty Hispano 8Fb engines. Licensed construction was also negotiated. The NiD-29 C1 was named Bin Khpa Laï 4 (it means fighter model 4). Forty aircraft were built by local factory. The 52 aircraft equipped four fighter squadrons. In 1937 they were replaced by Curtiss Hawks II & III (some sources claim several machines remained in service for training until 1941).(Information from Azur FFROM) The Kit On opening what seems to be Azur FFROMs standard open end box you are presented with a model which can only be described as one of few parts. There is one sprue of shorter run injection plastic, two small bags of resin parts, one sheet of clear acetate for the canopy, and a small PE fret. The parts feature some nice if restrained detail, appear to be well moulded with no problems. The fabric effect on the wings is very good for this scale, some of the smaller parts have a little bit of flash, but its nothing serious. Construction like most aircraft starts with the cockpit. This is made up from a combination of plastic and PE parts for the finer items. Once this is made and installed the fuselage and be closed up. Once this is done the lower wing and the tail planes are attached. Next step is to attach the wheels and their bracing struts. All of these are plastic. Also at this stage what appear to be oil coolers? In resin are attached to the wheel bracing struts. The guns can then be added to the top of the area behind the engine cowling. The kit includes open guns, and ones covered by a shroud without any real explanation in the instructions of which ones to use. I guess the modeller will have to consult references. The engine cylinder heads and exhaust are attached next. These are supplied in resin, and are very small / delicate. Once finished with the engine its on to the upper wing. There are a total of 10 individual struts to line up here so this will not be a quick job. Once finished there is the small matter of the windscreen, and small it is! This is printed on a flat sheet of thin acetate and will have to be cut out the folded by the modeller. Given the bad vac canopies I have seen on other 1:72 bi planes this might be a better idea? Finally with this kit Azur FFROM have actually provided a rigging diagram! Decals - France & Belgium Boxing The France & Belgium Boxing of the kit gives three choices of markings. ND-29 C1 of SPA 124 "Fayette" Soiux Indian Head Emblem (France) - Overall Dark Green ND-29 C1 of SPA 81, German occupation Force 1924 (France) - Overall Dark Green ND-29 C1 of no85 of 9th Escadrille de Chasse Of belgium 1922 - Dark Green over Aluminium Dope Decals - Export Boxing The Export Boxing of the kit gives three choices of markings. ND-29 C1 of the Flygvapnet J2 (Sweeden) - 1926 - overall Aluminium Dope ND-29 C1 of M29 of the Regina Aeronatica, 70th Sqn (Italy) - 1927 overall Aluminium Dope ND-29 C1 of the First Fighter Group Spanish Military Aviation, Getafe in 1926 - Overall Dark Green Decals - Nakajima Ko-4 Boxing The Nakajima Ko-4 Boxing of the kit gives four choices of markings. Nakajima Ko-4 No.83 Imperial Japanese Army - overall Grey / Green Nakajima Ko-4 No.695 Imperial Japanese Army - overall Grey / Green Nakajima Ko-4 No.220 Imperial Japanese Army - overall Grey / Green (Red Rudder) ND-29 C1 of Bin KhpaLai 4 of the Royal Aeronautical Serive of Siam in 1936 - Overall Dark Green All decals are by Aviprint and look to have good colour density and be in register. Conclusion This kit from Azur FFROM does fill a gap in the "tween wars" fighter era. I cant find any evidence of anyone else doing this kit outside of short run resin. The kit is not an easy one by any means, but should build up to a nice model with some time and care. Overall recomended to those with some bi-plane building under their belts. Review sample courtesy of

Focke Wulf Fw-58B "Export" and "South American" kits Azur 1:72 Kit FR009 - Fw 58B "Export" Kit FR010 - Fw 58B "South American" Before doing this review I hadn’t heard of the Focke Wulf Fw-58. After doing some research, I can honestly say that I don’t know much more than before I started! What I do know is that there were over 1300 produced with many being exported to no less than 8 nations. Wikipedia states that 17 nations in total operated the aircraft, so I find it quite surprising that there is so little information about this attractive little aeroplane. First flying in 1935, it set out to provide a light training, transport and communications aircraft for the Luftwaffe. It was powered by two Argus AS 10 inverted V8’s of 240hp and constructed of welded steel tube and semi-cantilevered wing. The surfaces were a mix of fabric and metal. The two main variants were the Fw-58B as modelled here and the more widely used Fw-58C that was fitted out to carry passengers. The armed version was fitted with guns in the nose and ventral position. The B model also has provision to carry small bombs, although more for training than any combat requirement. Only one aircraft survives today in Brazil but another one is being restored in Norway. The kit The B & C models were released by Special Hobby a few years ago. This is a re-release under the Azur brand of the B model. Both kits have the same plastic offerings but with different decal options. OK, let’s start with first impressions. The kits are presented in the new style top opening boxes with inspiring art work of what I believe to be a nicely formed aircraft. Three medium grey sprues are supplemented by several resin components and an etch sheet that are separately bagged. Moulding quality on the plastic looks to be very good although limited run, missing the location pins that were are used to on more mainstream kits. The fabric effect on the fuselage and wings is very well reproduced in a subtle way that gives good scale accuracy and finely recessed panel lines give a good presentation of the metal surface areas. There is minimal flash and no sink marks that I can see. The A5 instruction booklet provides clear diagrams for assembly. Before I go on, I’ve come across a good pdf document that would be useful for building this kit. Please find it HERE. It has good drawings of the structure and undercarriage assembly if you wish to add some scratch built detail. You will have to register with the site to access it if you've not already. Construction starts with the interior. There is more than enough detail to leave you satisfied straight from the box. The plastic parts are boosted by etch details that include panel, seatbelts, rudder pedals and throttles. The etch panel also has a film that is to be fitted behind it with the instrument details on. Referring to the link I mentioned above, there is a diagram showing a dual control option. The kit only provides for single control options and one seat, so if you want to add further detail, adding the second pilot position could be your chance! The interior steel framework is represented by formed detail on the inside of the fuselage halves. A great addition often over looked on kits is side walls to cover the wing root area inside the fuselage. These wing chord shaped parts simply locate on the side walls. The ventral gun location needs to be cut out from the upper fuselage. As there are no marks on the fuselage as where to apply your cuts, you will have to mark them by lining up the ventral fairing that fits into the cut-out. As there are no locating pins, the usual care will be necessary to get the fuselage halves accurately joined. I find using Liquid Poly or similar very useful for this as it gives a good initial bit but allows manipulation until you’re happy with your positioning. Holding it together with strips of masking tape is suffice until the glue (or weld) has dried. I’d recommend dry fitting the clear nose and cockpit before going ahead with the gluing just in case there are any alignment issues which might necessitate a thin fillet or plastic removal for a flush fit. The lower wing root houses the rear nacelles. Blanks are provided for these so that you’re not left looking into a big void inside the wheel bays. There’s no detail in these blanks, so you might want to add a bit of detailing yourself. The wing root locates to the underside of the assembled fuselage with the outer lower wings and uppers wings fitting around them. Again, short run kits can have a tendency to be challenging during this phase, so be prepared for any surprises that you might face. The tail plane has an unusual forward location of the tail. Again the fabric is well represented on this part without being over done. The nacelles are supplied in two halves with a front part locating the prop hub face and radiator intakes. The undercarriage is quite a complicated affair using a mixture of etch, resin and plastic. Etch wheel hubs give a good lick of detail in a place where it really gets noticed. The clear parts are beautifully formed. The transparent nose is moulded as a complete circumference so there are no fears about hiding glued seems. The nose blister is a separate part and houses a resin gun with additional ammunition magazine. I'd recommend dry fitting the smaller windows as some fettling may be required to seat them correctly. Note that some of them aren't required in this kit. With the bulk of the kit assembled, focus turns to the detail. Several struts, aerials and masts are provided in resin, plastic and etch to finish the kit off. I’d be tempted to leave the struts off until after painting to make masking easier if doing the camouflaged scheme. The resin parts are a little vague and will requite care cleaning them up. Decals The sheets in the kits are produced by Aviprint. Register is spot on with very sharp and precise detail. Schemes provided are: Kit FR009 “Export” – note the box top is labelled “Expert”! Hungarian G2+58 - operating from Poltava, Russia 1943 – light grey scheme Hungarian G2+47 – military mail runs on Hungarian front lines 1944 – camouflage scheme Romanian – Popesti –Leordeni Training School, Romania 1942 – camouflage scheme Romanian – Popesti –Leordeni Training School, Romania 1944 – camouflage scheme This last aircraft was shot down by a US P-38 on the 10th June 1944 Kit FR010 “South America” Argentinean “171” – Grupo 1 de Observacion, BAM Parana 1938-48 – aluminium scheme Brazilian “2-V-6” – Aviacao Naval, Brazil 1938-41 – aluminium scheme Brazilian “AT-Fw-1530” – Forca Aerea do Brasil, 1948-50 – Light grey scheme This last aircraft has been restored and is on show in Rio de Janeiro Conclusion This is a very nicely detailed if unusual kit. I doubt it will fall together given the limited run sprue design, but for a modeller used to doing such builds, I’m confident great results are possible straight from the box. How accurate the kit is, I couldn't accurately comment. It certainly picks up the character of the aircraft. Whilst some manufacturers offer main stream aircraft choices, I’m really grateful that Azur (amongst others) are prepared to invest in these rarer aircraft, especially when they are as attractive as the FW-58! Review sample courtesy of