Azur Frrom CASA C-212-300 France (FR0040) - 1:72 Azur FRROM

[Julien]

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