About that French Holiday...

[Tweener]

After a bit of an unintended break from BM and a lull in modeling in general, I'm back this evening with the AZUR 1/72 GAL ST-25 Monospar. I picked this kit up last summer for a very nice price ($15) thinking I would try to finish it as one of the airframes impressed by the RAE or RAF during the war. When the Model Minutes discord started a GB about export vehicles, I decide instead to build the included option of an ST-25 flown by Eloy Fernández Navamuel during the Spanish civil war. Eloy obtained the aircraft while on holiday in France, just days into the Spanish Civil War, and flew the machine as a courier in support of the Republican cause for a number of months. On a few occasions, he reportedly even used the machine to drop grenades on unsuspecting Nationalist forces! At some point Eloy got the sense the Republican cause was headed for defeat, and unable to maintain the aircraft, he reportedly abandoned it before fleeing to France, and later worked as an engineer in Venezuela. 

The kit builds quite well, though the choice of a full resin interior seemed a slight bit odd to me. In any case, the real challenge was the Vac canopy - this was the first time I used one, and while the result is alright, the fit is not precise and painting it proved frustrating. In the end, the only parts I'm truly unhappy with are the facts I placed the fuselage silver stripes slightly too low and the silver spots near the tail slightly too high. Either way, I would happily build another of these. With a bit of luck I'll be able to track down another soon.

 

Right then - the pics.

 

 

 

Should the sun decide to make a rare appearance any time soon, I'll replace the pics.

As a final note, I have to say - I rather like the shape of the wing, especially viewed from above. 

Many thanks,
Tweener

[luxskater]

That's a very interesting subject and I don't think I have ever seen a build of it before. It reminds me of a DH Dragon Rapide with only the lower wing.

Vac cockpits are indeed quite a challenge but you did well, great job!

[TEXANTOMCAT]

Lovely build! I didn’t know they did one! 
 

TT