AZ Model German Luftwaffe Weapons Set and Accessories (AZ7860) 1:72

[Mike]

German Luftwaffe Weapons Set and Accessories (AZ7860)

1:72 AZ Model by Kovozávody Prostějov

 

 

During WWII, aircraft on all sides were loaded down with additional weapons as the war rolled on, including rocket pods, bombs of different weights, and the equipment needed to load them in addition to the run-of-the-mill repairs and maintenance of the ground-crew’s charges, refilling and topping off the life-giving fluids that made the aircraft move during the process.

 

 

The Kit

This brand-new set includes numerous pieces of equipment found on, under and around Luftwaffe aircraft during WWII in one handy place.  Not all the assemblies go bang when you drop them, and there is a smattering of tools, equipment and other items mixed in for good measure.  The kit arrives in a small end-opening box with a selection of the supplied parts laid out in colour in front of a greyed-out 109, with a little text above making it totally clear that the aircraft isn’t included, as some folks need extra information before it sinks in.  Inside the box is a single sprue of grey styrene and a sheet of instructions on both sides of a sheet of A5 paper, printed in black and red.  As it is a new tooling that was designed using CAD-CAM software, the finesse and detail is crisp and modern-looking, so should work well with a Bf.109 kit of any brand to add some interest and ground-handling equipment that increases the individuality further.

 

 

The back of the box gives a full visual indication of what’s included in the box, which is as follows:

 

2 x Watering cans

2 x Buckets

2 x Chocks

2 x Tool Boxes

1 x Fuel Tank (Late War, we think)

2 x W.Gr.21 Rocket Pods with rockets inside

2 x Fuel Drum

1 x Manual Fuel Pump

1 x 500KG Bomb on Centreline Mount

4 x 50KG Bombs on Large Centreline Mount

1 x Fire Extinguisher on two-wheeled Cart

1 x Bomb Carrier Cart with Lifting Arm

 

 

The watering cans are made from two halves plus the handle, the bucket a single part with handle, while each of the chocks have a T-shaped struts inserted.  The toolbox is another three-part accessory, and the fuel tank is a simple two-parter.  The pair of W.Gr.21 rocket pods are built from a two-part launch tube that has two pairs of supports that insert on a C-shaped portion of the tubes, adding the rocket in the rear.  To top-up the fuel, there are two fuel drums, and one hand-cranked pump that inserts in the drum’s filler along with the crank, and a choice of two types of nozzles that will need some wire from your stock to represent the hose.

 

 

 

The big bomb body is in two halves, and has two pairs of fins inserted into the rear at right angles to one another, adding four ‘screamer’ whistles to the fins, then mounting it on a curved base via two sway-braces.  The smaller bombs are each two parts including the fins, each one fitting into the large base in recesses.  The bomb carrier cart is the most complex assembly, consisting of sixteen parts, including three small wheels and the crutch that carries the bomb, raising it by moving the handle above the pivot to pump it up into position.  The last assembly is a large fire extinguisher with a flared nozzle on the hose, mounted on a tubular frame that is raised to an angle, using the top of the tubular frame as a pull-handle and rolling along on two cart-style wheels, totalling ten parts overall.

 

 

Markings

There are no decals, and no painting guide to speak of, but there are colour cues on the front of the box that should help you choose the correct shades for these accessories.

 

 

Conclusion

Whilst many recently tooled Luftwaffe models do include some weapons, these are extremely well-detailed compared to the usual kit parts, and the accessories won’t be in any kit that I’ve seen, and certainly not as detailed.  It’s all in there, and certainly won’t break the bank.

 

Highly recommended.

 

 

Review sample courtesy of