Special Hobby CAC CA-19 Boomerang 'Jungle Scouts' 1:72 Special Hobby (72426)

[Julien]

 

CAC CA-19 Boomerang 'Jungle Scouts'

1:72  Special Hobby (72426)

 

 

The Boomerang was a WWII fighter designed and made in Australia by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC). The design stemmed from the CAC Wirraway, this was a licence built North American NA-16 (more commonly known as the Harvard). Australia had realised in the 1930s that Japan had expansionist ideas and would need its own aircraft industry. this is one reason North American were approached to licence build the Wirraway. After WWII broke out and with the traditional supply of aircraft from the UK in short supply CAC looked at producing their own domestic fighter. Key to this was the recruitment of Fred David a Jewish refugee from Austria who was actually interned at the time. He had worked for Heinkel, and Mitsubishi on aircraft design. CAC had also negotiated that the licence for the NA-16 allowed for them to modify the design. The Boomerang would utilise the wing, tail, centre section and undercarriage of the Wirraway. A new forward fuselage was developed which was wider to accommodate the larger Twin Wasp engine along with a single cockpit. The armament for the new aircraft was to be two 20mm cannon and 4 .303 machine guns. Production was authorised almost immediately as it would provide insurance against a delay to an order of P-40 aircraft and it would keep the production lines open at CAC. The availability of Wirraway components would also speed up production. From design to first production was a staggering 3 months. The aircraft was tested initially against a Brewster Buffalo which was slightly modified to resemble a zero in performance, in addition to testing against a P-40. It was found to be faster though less manoeuvrable than the other aircraft, but it had far better armament, and Armor for protection of the pilot. Performance though rapidly dropped off over 15000 feet. However the maximum speed was only 265 knots well below that of Zero and Oscar. Deployment of American fighters to Australia lowered the need for the Boomerang, however due to the cancellation of the Woomera bomber the Government extend production of the Boomerang.

 

 

In total 250 aircraft were built and operated by 7 Squadrons of the Royal Australian Air Force. The Boomerang would see combat initially in the air defence role. There are no records of any Boomerang air-2-air kills. Later in the war the aircraft was used in the ground attack role. Properties such as the manoeuvrability, low speed, and toughness made it suitable to this role. Extensive armour plating was fitted to the airframe to protect it in this role. In what we would now recognise as the FAC role Boomerangs would often mark targets low down with smoke bombs in order that larger aircraft could attack from a safer distance. After the war some aircraft operated in the Air Sea Rescue role. Three aircraft survive today in flying condition with others in museums and one on exhibition at the Australian War Memorial.

 

 

The Kit

The kit is a re-issue from Special Hobby and dates back to 2011, with a re-issue on 2012. The kit is on a single sprue of grey plastic, a clear sprue, a set resin wheels, an a resin exhaust. The parts are typical of the shorter run ejection kits. Construction starts where else but in the cockpit. First up the cockpit can then be assembled. This is a steel framed affair. There are two side frames which attach to the floor, a forward bulkhead is attached along with the rear one containing the armour. The instrument panel is then added. The seat is next along with the rudder pedals. The last item to be added in is the control column and linkages. The engine is nest with the rear bank of cylinders being moulded to the bulkhead and the front set going on. The complete cockpit/engine section is then placed into the fuselage and it can be closed up.

 

Next up the wings are assembled with the rear well bulkhead going in before they are closed up. The main wing and tailplanes are added, the landing with it's resin wheels can then go in. The gear doors are added along with the belly tank and tail wheel. To finish off the canopy and aerial are added along with the gun barrels, exhaust and pitot tube. The last item to be assembled and added is the propeller. 

 

 

 

Decals
Decals are from Eduard and include an amendment with correct colour codes.  and should pose no issues, markings are provided for 3 examples;

 

• A46-217 / QE-G “Hep Cat” Flt Lt Burghard, RAAF No.4 Sqn Cape Hoskins 1945
• A46-222 / BF-K “Glamour Flt Lt Curtis  Girl” RAAF No.5 Sqn, Bougainville 1945
• A46-209 / QE-J “Bachelor's Son” RAAF No.4 Sqn Labuan, 1945

 

 

Conclusion
This is a welcome re-release from Special Hobby of an important aircraft for the RAAF. It is not a shake and bake kit however I would recommend it.

 

 

 

Review sample courtesy of

[Ed Russell]

Some discussion here, not all of it correct

http://www.aussiemodeller.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=16350