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HMA R33/R34 Transatlantic Flyer - 1:720


Paul A H

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HMA R33/R34 Transatlantic Flyer

1:720 Mark I Models

 

r33_34_01.jpg

 

In 1916, While the R33 class of airships was still on the drawing board, the German airship L33 was downed by anti-aircraft fire over Essex. Despite the crew's attempts to destroy the stricken craft, it was captured largely intact and thus yielded the secrets of German airship construction to the British authorities. With the design now based heavily on the German airship, the R33 was constructed b Armstrong-Whitworth in North Yorkshire, while the sister ship R34 was built by William Beardmore and Co. in Renfrewshire. Neither airship was completed before the cessation of hostilities in 1918. The R33 enjoyed a surprisingly long career, much of which was spent resting the launch and recovery of aircraft from airships. In April 1925, she was torn from her mooring mast at Pulham during a gale, Despite suffering a partially collapsed nose section, the crew were finally able to regain control over the Dutch coast and eventually bought her back to Pulham 28 hours later. The first officer, coxswain (the fabulously named 'Sky' Hunt) and four other crew were recognised with medals. The forward section of the R33's control car is preserved at the RAF Museum at Hendon. The R34's career was no less eventful. A few weeks after John Alcock and Arthur Brown made the first non-stop transatlantic flight, the R34, commanded by Major George Scott, made the first return flight over the Atlantic. She was written off after an (non-fatal) accident in 1921. 


r33_34_02.jpg

 

Mark I announced their intention to produce a series of 1:720 scale airships some time ago. They have covered the WWI era P/Q and R class airships via several different boxings, as well as the interwar LZ127 'Graf Zeppelin', making this the fourth kit in the range and the first British airship. Inside the box is a single frame of grey plastic which holds both the parts for the airship and the display stand. The kit is limited run in nature, with the moulds manufactured from hardened resin. The plastic parts are nicely moulded, however, with crisp detail throughout. There is no flash present and the sprue attachment points are reassuringly fine. As you might expect, construction is fairly straightforward. The main structure of the airship is split vertically down the middle, as are the fore and aft gondolas. The midship gondolas are moulded as solid parts. All of the gondolas have separately moulded propellers and struts to join them to the body of the airship. I spy another set of gondolas on the sprue, at least one of which is shaped to fit directly onto the hull, so presumably an R36 is on the way, presumably with a plug to lengthen the fuselage. The only other construction work involved is assembling the flying surfaces. A stand is included to display the finished model, along with a decal to identify the finished model.

 

r33_34_03.jpg

 

Mark I have included decals for three different schemes worn by the R33 and one for the R34:

  • HMA R33, Pulham Airship Experimental Station, March-October 1919;
  • HMA R33 G-FAAG, Croydon Airport, Summer 1921. Ths is essentially the same scheme as the first one, but with additional civil registration codes;
  • HMA R33 G-FAAG, National Physical Laboratory, Cardington Airship Station, Bedfordshire and Pulham Experimental Station, Norfolk, April 1925 to November 1926. This is a plain design without the Roundels; and
  • HMA R34, Royal Navy, East Fortune Airship Station, Scotland. This is the scheme worn for the first return crossing of the Atlantic in July 1919.

Decals are provided for the markings and the windows and other features of the gondolas. 

 

Conclusion

 

Just like their other airships, the R33/34 is a really appealing kit. It should look great on its display stand and will make an ideal companion for the other kits released by Mark 1 Models in the same scale. Construction is simple and detail is as good as it needs to be. Recommended.

 

Review sample courtesy of


mark1_logo.jpg


 
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