Azur Frrom Renard R-31 (FR0039) - 1:72 Azur FRROM

[Julien]

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

[JWM]

I've bough one. It is surprisingly big machine, I expected something like Hawker Demon size but she is much bigger. Anyway - looks great in box!

Cheers

J-W