JayDee

SPRUE I More large pieces here as we find key control and flying surface parts. I had no idea that the ailerons and elevators of the Typhoon had raised riveting, but that's just what we have here. I've certainly no reason to doubt it after seeing the different riveting on the rest of the airframe. These parts are supplied as upper and lower halves, as are the short-chord, original Typhoon tail plane, also included here. I am so pleased that the fabric-covered rudder has been properly represented here. It could so easily have been either understated or overstated, as you see with many other kit releases. Well done, Airfix! The remainder of useable parts here include the constructional elements for the gun bays, access step, leading edge lamp fairings, and also the landing flaps. I have to admit to being a little disappointed with the representation of the latter. The detail seems very simplified. If you can wait, I would use a set from Eduard, which will inevitably appear before too long. The kit parts also suffer from ejector pin marks between the small ribs. Parts that aren't slated for use here are two sets of exhaust manifold shrouds. SPRUES J & K Here we find the upper, main wing panels, complete with the openings for the gun bays and location for separate ailerons. Detail is commensurate with that of the other external pieces we've seen, with gorgeous stressed metal finish, fine panel lines and rivet lines of varying pitches. The starboard side root has a small step indent, which can be posed, in either pressed or non-pressed position, but as this would probably have been spring-loaded, it would make more sense to just fair it over. SPRUE L We go back into the cockpit temporarily here, with a few parts here which are assigned to this already heavily detailed area. Aside from those, the alternative 'Tempest' style tail plane can be found here along with the vertical fin option that allows these to be fitted. The alternative elevators are found here too. I feel I also need to mention that the forward joint of this latter part actually lines up along the tail joint section as was on the real aircraft. One of my tail plane parts had broken free from the sprue; possibly because of the poor system of packing that is used, or my excess manhandling in the Indian moulding plant. It's pretty obvious from some unused parts in this kit that there will be future versions of this released. One of those key areas is how Airfix has chosen to represent the fuselage area around the cockpit. This is created as separate port/starboard halves, which leaves the option of a future car-door version as a firm possibility. There are some pesky ejector pin marks that do need removing before you can use these. Lastly, we have the actual rocket rails that plug into the holes you drilled into the wings. SPRUE M I imagine that for the modeller, this will be the first sprue they seek out. Yes, it's that mightily impressive fuselage sprue. My initial sample had a very bad short-shot which meant that part of the fuselage was actually missing. Thankfully, Airfix's Customer Service Dept. is absolutely first class, and despatched a new one to me as soon as I reported it. The same applies to the canopy that we'll come onto later. Well, what can I say? The parts are simply superb. They really are one of the highlights of this release. Surface detail is very varied in its appearance, just like that of the real aircraft, as well as the rivet lines of varying pitch, and that amazing stressed skin. You will also notice overlapping metal skin plates, excellent fastener representation and also a very fine recreation of the tail stiffening plates. Again, you can pose the foothold on the fuselage in either an open or shut position. That really is a very nice touch. From the photos, you can see that the fuselage underside it moulded separately. We'll look at that very soon. If you decide to display that amazing engine, you will need to remove the two strips that run over the top of the engine bay area. These are just used to support the cowl pieces, if you go the electric motor route. Within the fuse, there are a number of ejector pin marks. You'll have to check and see how and if these coincide with the viewable detail areas. A detailed interior wall is supplied for the tail wheel area, and the fuselage has a number of circumferential stiffening ribs in the rear section. SPRUE N Here you will see that fuselage underside part I just mentioned. Take care with this part as the wing root fairing extremities look very fragile. This sprue is very much to do with external surface parts, with the multipart engine and nose radiator cowl found here, as well as more gun bay panels with their superbly reproduced hinge detail. Engine panels are NOT detailed on the inside, which is a little disappointing. If you wish to pose these off-model, you'll either have to show them exterior side up, or thin them and add the detail within that Airfix missed. SPRUE O Airfix must've run out places to mould the remainder of the internal parts on the other sprues, as here, on the rocket sprue, we find the tubular framework for supporting the armoured back-plate in the cockpit. So apart from that, this sprue is pretty much taken up with eight rockets, split into halves. I'm not sure if these are the High Explosive type or the Armour Piercing type. Sorry, I can't help further there. These have been moulded with hollow tail pipes too. SPRUE P This last sprue is another elongated one, which is entirely tied over to external ordnance. Here you will find the other variety of rockets, and the correct rails on which to mount them, as well as the fins for the bombs we saw on an earlier sprue. A number of smaller bombs can also be found here too. Smaller parts include the bomb fusing propellers or solid tip option, as well as bomb sway racks and their external fairing. SPRUE Q This is otherwise known as 'Airfix's headache'. Yes, this is the canopy sprue that has proved to be a bone of contention since this kit was released. My sample has reasonable clarity, but with a bumpy surface on the hood, as well as the infamous dimple. The part had broken free from the sprue and a small crack was present in it. If that wasn't bad enough, the windscreen was optically poor due to a flow mark defect. Airfix did replace this for me, but the replacement wasn't much better. I think I'll wait for them to resolve this issue before I build the model. In the meantime, Alley Cat has released a very nice resin alternative. The paper towel that these parts are wrapped in isn't lint-free, and you'll need to wash these parts thoroughly to remove the fuzz. That is especially important if you like to dip the canopy parts in Klear. SPRUE R What is odd with this release is that you have an option for adding the leading edge lights. None of the finished models in the manual show them. I mean, did these specific aircraft have them fitted, or not? Were they perhaps painted over? If so, why not just paint over the clear parts instead of supplying grey parts? I can't answer any of these questions. Nevertheless, clear leading edge parts are supplied here, as well as the inner lamp itself. The navigation lights and identification lamp is also moulded here, as is the instrument panel rear plate and tubular bar which includes the compass. PLASTIC SUMMARY Generally very good. Yes, there is some flash, but it is minor. They are pin marks, and some will prove a little troublesome. Seams run from being negligible to needing more paring down. I had a sink mark on the undercarriage door, but that was extremely minor. Detail seems very sharp, and engineering is quite ingenious. The canopy is a big let down, but I'm sure that doesn't come as a surprise. DECALS There is ONE large sheet included with this release, covering FOUR schemes. Again, I had to request a replacement sheet from Airfix as mine was damaged at one side, cracking the decals. Cartograf is the printer, and their reputation generally precedes them. Printing is thin, and the colours are solid and authentic, but nothing being too vivid. Carrier film is also minimal and everything is in perfect register. Just about everything (apart from invasion stripes) is printed here, including the chequerboard design on one of the machines. This is supplied in parts for ease of application. The multipart method applies to the complex shark mouth on one scheme. I believe that the inner area could have possibly been red, so you will need to apply that yourself if you wish to go that route. A full suite of stencils is also provided, as well as bands etc. for the ordnance. Wing walk ways are also provided as decals, but I would be inclined to spray these. Decals are provided for the weapons bays too. The four schemes available here are: MN666, 'CG', flown by Wing Commander Charles Green, No.121 Wing, RAF Holmsley South, England, and B.5, Le Fresne-Camilly, Normandy, June 1944 DN252, 'ZY-N', No.247 Sqn, 2nd Tactical Air Force, France/Belgium, June – September 1944 MK197, 'MR-U', "Sharkmouth", No. 245 Sqn, 2nd Tactical Air Force, Germany and England, June – August 1945 RB389, I8-P', No.440 Sqn (RCAF), 2nd Tactical Air Force, Netherlands/Germany, February – May 1945 INSTRUCTIONS Some would say these are a work of art. Unfortunately, I require a manual to build, and not an art form. The 217 constructional steps are generally printed in grey scale, which can be difficult to follow if your eyes are slightly impaired. My eyesight, however, suffers no colour blindness etc, and I find he drawings overly complicated and 'muddy' to follow, with some images of wing spars etc having optical illusions which mean you could possibly be viewing them from either side. Quite confusing. I really do NOT like this style of instruction. It needs to be simplified. You can't look through them and search for a part very easily due to the busy appearance. This manual is printed on card, in an A4 format, covering 48 pages, but I have to say that it lets the kit down somewhat. Almost like 'hey, look what I can illustrate as CAD!'. Airfix asked me to be honest, and I like to think my reviews do reflect that approach. Sorry, for me, this manual does nothing. It's awkward and hard to work with. You will really need to study each assembly sequence as you go. If the part arrows were heavier and a different colour, things might be a tad easier to follow. Some red ink is used to highlight parts, but this is haphazard and rarely useful. Possible optical illusions abound! As a very nice touch though, the last pages are taken up with a double spread for each of the four schemes. One page shows the drawn scheme with decal placement, and the other page has images of a model finished in that scheme. The start of the manual does show the engine display options. Chose your option at the very outset. Conclusion Of course, stressed metal skin effects are only one element of this model. The sheer level of detail here seemed to have not only raised the bar significantly, but also put Airfix back into a newly realised and significant position as a premier injection moulded model manufacturer. Of course, one model release is rarely a game-changer in this industry, but is an extremely promising step onto a whole new standards platform. As for the kit, well, apart from the manual and the defective canopy, I have to say that overall, it really is a triumph, and most certainly one that's been worth waiting for. I would have to say to Airfix that they need to change their manual style and also sort out their QA when it comes to what's put in the box. If large scale is your thing, then I really do recommend you try your hand with this kit. The parts count is crazy and it will look brutal when sat on your shelf. In this part of the world, this kit retails for around the same price as the Tamiya über-kits, and is every bit as good. In some respects, when you look at the detail and that sexy, stressed skin, it's even better! Very highly recommended My sincere thanks to Airfix/Hornby for this review sample. To buy this model directly, hit their web-store via THIS link. James H

1:24 Hawker Typhoon Mk.1B Airfix Catalogue # A19002 Available from Airfix for £99.99 If anything could be classed as a 'main event' at a model show, then the test shot sprues for the 1:24 Airfix Hawker Typhoon which were on show atScale Model World 2013, Telford, in November last year, certainly is the epitome of that statement. You would have had serious difficulty in getting anywhere near the plastic, such was the continual throng of modellers crowding out the Airfix stall. Some perseverance and the occasional rigid elbow eventually got our website team in to get the all-important photos. This looked to be a model like no other. Yes, Airfix are the original stalwarts of 1:24 model aircraft, with their last release, the Mosquito, being released in late 2009. However, something was very different with this new kit. In fact, something that I'm pretty sure hasn't been seen on an injection-moulded kit before. That difference was the stressed metal surface that this model sported. Yes, something that we see on practically all metal skinned aircraft, now reproduced with amazing authenticity on a plastic model kit. The Typhoon was a large and heavy fighter plane, and in 1:24, it really is no shrinking violet. It also has a very large box in order to accommodate the rakes of plastic within. I quite like the design of Airfix's packaging. It's got great artwork that harkens back to the time when this was a big selling point for us when we were young. It's extremely bold and almost shouts 'buy me' at you as soon as you see it, and the glossy gorgeousness also carries the four varied schemes on one edge. The back of the box not only carries those 4 scheme profiles again, but also superbly realistic digital renders, in heavy weathering. You also get a potted history of the Typhoon and a map of operational Typhoon bases in June/July 1944. There are also some impressive CAD renders of the model too. Lifting that substantial lid does immediately blow away any idea about this being a sturdy looking box. It simply isn't. In fact, it's quite flimsy and twists easily. There are no separators in there either, as you get in some Trumpeter releases, so the sprues are free to bang around a little. Several parts had come adrift from my sprues, but were thankfully undamaged. Sprues aren't all individually packaged, with many sharing their tough polythene bags. These are sealed up using heat. I'm not a fan of sprues being bagged in multiples, but the packers have had the good sense in ensuring that those external surfaces are facing away from each other. I don't know if that's by accident or design, but it pleases me. Of course, the clear sprues are separate. Inside their bags, these are wrapped in foam, and within that, what looks like kitchen/toilet tissue paper. As well as the two clear sprues, there are SIXTEEN others, all moulded in light grey styrene, and these are generally packed in bags containing two each. There was never any doubt that this was going to be a complex kit to look at, so we'll do our sprue-by-sprue and see what this kit offers the builder, who no doubt will want to see all those details that they either saw at Telford SMW2013, and those little touches which do so promise to set this kit above all others in its class. Many sprues in this release are quite narrow, but also long. That's a little quirky, and I suppose makes them a little easier to package into this behemoth of a box. It makes the photos a little awkward, so we'll have to compensate with many close-up shots. SPRUE A Airfix has apparently designed this model so that it more or less constructs in the same manner as did the real aircraft. I'm not going to approve or disprove that statement, but the construction sequences are quite unusual and may seem to back that up. We'll look at the sequence at the end of the sprues evaluation. That construction does start with the cockpit and wing spar joint assembly, and this sprue contains more than a few of those key, initial components. The most obvious parts here are the tubular sidewalls for the cockpit. These sure give a sense of scale to proceedings. Airfix have properly captured the impression of the various tubes being riveted, plated and bolted together. Definition of that detail is generally excellent, but like many parts on this sprue, there is a little flash here and there, and more annoyingly, there are a few seam lines that will need paring before you start. Another thing I notice on this model generally are the number of very visible ejector pin marks. The side frames do suffer from these, but they have been placed on the exterior side of them, so won't be seen when the model is assembled. I am reliably informed that the majority of these marks are designed not be seen when the model is built, despite the beautiful levels of detail existing around these anomalies. Another example of this are the marks on the forward bulkhead/firewall. There are no marks to be seen on the engine bay side of this superbly detailed part (resplendent in wiring, connector points, raised rivets etc), but the reverse does have pin marks. The upper two will be hidden by the two-part fuel tank, and the lower will be in the shadows of the foot well. There are two short, sub wing spars on this sprue, and pin marks exist on one face of them. These are mated to the larger main spar, so I can say that Airfix do seem to have thought this out with the modeller in mind. That oil tank assembly is a little odd, with it being literally sliced in half. Having said that, the seam will be easy to remove due to no other detail causing you a headache here. Other parts on this sprue include the oval bulkhead to the rear of the cockpit (with integral tubular braces and excellent connection point detail). Other parts on this sprue are the footboards, rudder pedal bar, and various other cockpit parts; both major and minor. This kit also supplies a pilot, and the forward and back parts of his torso/legs are moulded here. The arms and head are separate. Airfix have designed their pilot so he properly interacts with the control column etc, and his feet do indeed reach the pedals! Seatbelts are spread between this sprue and sprue L, and look very reasonable. I would still opt for an HGW set though. SPRUE B I think the reason for long, narrow sprues is clearly defined here when we see the two key wing spars for the Typhoon. They are long! In fact, each measures approximately 330mm (over 13 inches), and these aren't even the full span of this model kit. There are clear connection points on here that tie in with the addition of the cockpit module, and even though I keep harkening to the detail levels, I really need to. Those spars are a combination of strut, plate, tube and rivet, and they look incredibly realistic. Under a coat of Alclad, and with an oil wash, they will no doubt look indiscernible from the real thing. If you like to see a well-moulded and highly detailed instrument panel, then the one Airfix provide will not disappoint you. Despite being almost a 'triptych', this areas is moulded as a single piece, with nicely raised bevel detail, and switches/selectors etc. Those instrument faces are moulded as holes, so the glazed section can fit to this from the rear. There has been some criticism of the depth of those clear lenses, so if you wish to use the Airfix approach, you could actually grind them down a fraction and re-polish them. This is where I really do begin to question why they included a clear part at all. Individual decals are supplied for this kit, and unlike the Tamiya approach where they are printed face side down, these are standard in approach, meaning they sit ON TOP of the glass, and not below it. Unless I'm missing something, that part didn't need to be clear. I'd apply the decals to the instrument faces, once that rear plate has been installed. A drop of Micro Crystal Clear will then replicate the lens. Perhaps at this juncture, it's a good time to mention the excellent Airscale set of instrument decals that are available, including Typhoon-specific cockpit placards. This set is designed specifically for this release. This sprue is another myriad of internal cockpit parts, including sidewall panels and integral cabling, control consoles, quadrants, seat parts and numerous other tubular framing parts. Again, a little flash will need to be removed here and there, and some seam lines paring down too. SPRUE C Onto a nice, large sprue now. Apart from a set of neatly moulded, weighted wheels with a little simplified hub detail, this sprue more or less contains the parts for the massively powerful 24-cylinder Napier Sabre engine. If you so choose, you can build this with an optional miniature electric motor tucked away within (bought separately), and there are various options available to the modeller when it comes to displaying the engine itself. These are highlighted in the first pages of the manual. For me, I feel it sacrilege to not show the engine when complete. The kit allows you to model the engine with the electric motor completely hidden within, and not affecting the finished result, or you can opt to just cowl the area over and not show the engine at all. As you'll imagine, the engine itself isn't a quick build in itself, and this highly detailed area of construction contains around 60 to 70 parts, but my very quick estimation. The Napier was quite unusual in appearance, and those ignition distribution conduits and their associated leads are neatly moulded too. A little flash again, and some seams will most definitely need to be removed too. There is some very neat slide-moulding trickery on the separate exhaust stubs too, with each one having a neatly hollow end, as well as weld seams. As well as the engine and ancillary parts, you will find some very fragile-looking plumbing here too. . Needless to say, flash is present, and those infernal seams, but the latter aren't really too bad here. Just take your time when it comes to shaving them away. Dual packing of sprues didn't pay off here as one connector hose has broken away from the sprue. SPRUE D A real mish-mash of parts here. Undercarriage doors are provided as an external plate, with a separate interior section that has tabs that locate into the slots on the undercarriage legs. A very small sink mark can be seen on the exterior of one door, and that will need to be filled and sanded back. Of course, one of the most characteristic parts of the Typhoon design was the enormous chin intake. This is broken down into several parts, as is the actual exterior cowl (on another sprue). There are also a couple of optional intake parts for the forward section of the intake. One is a simple framework that sits in front of the filter, and the other is a plate grille. There are actually two types of the latter on the sprue, but I can't see any use mentioned of the plainer part. The rest of the sprue is taken up with yet more sections of plumbing, and also parts for the main undercarriage/tail wheel, including various actuators and tanks that reside in the main gear bays. Looking at the sprues and the instructions, I really would be hard-pressed to see what else you'd need to add, maybe apart from the odd section of lead wire. Remarkable. SPRUE E Only one part here, but it is, er, pretty important! For the first time, we see something containing that rather impressive stressed metal skin; the lower bottom wing panel. Depending on how you intend to display your model will then depend on which holes you need to open up from within this part. Stage 90 (yes, 90!!!) graphically shows which holes are intended for the various tanks and ordnance. If you fit the electric motor, then you will need to open up another hole. This is also true if you decide to mount on a stand. I can't understand why Airfix didn't include the stand as standard. It used to be in the other 1:24 releases. For those of you that saw the test sprues at SMW2013, you were no doubt awestruck by that stressed metal rendition. Some of you will have seen photos on other forums etc., and I imagine you felt that same way. To have the parts here in hand, and experience it again has certainly not dulled those first impressions. This is a seriously nice piece of design work, impressively carried off at the tooling and moulding stage. The surface is resplendent in various bumps and bulges, subtly accommodated between various riveted lines. The whole effect is extremely authentic, and hopefully will set a bench mark, not just for Airfix, but also their competitors. Other surface detail is no less nice. The rivets, which divots, are very small and just right to my eye. Panel lines are superbly neat and narrow, and not at all too deep, and numerous screwed and riveted plates are perfectly executed. Cartridge ejection chutes are also moulded 'open', and the Hispano cannon fairings are separate entities. There is a little flash present again, around the internal opening of the gear bays, and also in the landing flap areas. Nothing at all to worry about, and I imagine you could remove it in less than a minute. SPRUE F This sprue mostly concerns itself with the wing interior detail, including the gun bay areas. Airfix has designed this model so that the lower wing panel (Sprue E) is attached to the completed cockpit and engine section. On top of this, you now add the various internal wing spars and ribs, forming the wheel bays and gun bays. Detail across these is astounding, with riveted plates, wiring, and even the leather grommet in the spar, through which the Hispano pass. You have a real sense that the designer was extremely passionate about his work here, because if a lot of this was missing, you'd still be impressed with the result. Other detail on the spars includes strut sections with domed rivets, and even a pouch/wallet item in the wheel bay area. When the spars and ribs are added, a ground plate is then added to the gun bays, consisting of structural elements and mounts for the cannon. Those cannon are very impressive in their sheer size, but unusually, the muzzles aren't hollow moulded! I can't understand why at all, and certainly not in a release of this importance. You can of course drill them out yourself, or wait until Master Model release a set of replacement barrels with recoil springs. The latter are moulded in situ here and look as good as you can expect to get them. After all, they will mostly be enclosed with the fairings anyway. Those cannon fairings are moulded as halves. That in itself doesn't sound like an issue, but Airfix have moulded the shape within so that it fits the recoil spring. That would normally means that you would have to attach them to the model and then remove the seams. On a big model, it can be awkward. I suggest opening the interior up a little and building them off the model. You can then slide them into position when the seams are history. Other parts on this sprue include the ammunition boxes and separate belt feeds and rear spars which form the face onto which you will add the flaps etc. SPRUE G There are THREE spinner options available here, including those for both three and four blade propellers. Two back-plates are separately moulded to cater to these, with internal face detail. You'll be hard-pressed to see it when assembled though! Hubs for both types of prop are supplied as front and back parts too, but this is nothing unusual for a large-scale model. A third of this sprue is taken over with various fuel tanks, including the wing leading edge tanks. All tanks are two part affairs, and seams will be easy to remove. Of course, filler cap detail is there the rib-capping strip that fits over the main wing tank. The real drying shame is that you won't see any of this detail except through the odd chink in detail within the gun and wheel bays. Still, you will know it's there, and that's what counts in my book. The remainder of sprue parts are taken over with the bomb bodies, external fuel tanks and the rocket mounting rails. Bombs and tanks are moulded as halves, and you will need to take care when removing the seams on the tanks, due to raised detail that gets in the way of a clean joint. SPRUE H This model comes with two types of tail-plane. Firstly, the standard chord tail-plane is of course present, but also the later, wider chord type that is commonly referred to as the 'Tempest tail-plane'. Normally, this sort of inclusion would have been very difficult to implement in kit form due to the difference required for the fuselage slot. The difference here is that Airfix has designed the vertical fin and lower section to be separate parts. On this sprue, you will find the parts of the fin that will allow you to attach the original, short-chord tail-plane. I am reliably informed that the fin section fits effortlessly to the fuselage. That lower wing section, as I mentioned, wasn't full span. Here we have the lower, outboard sections of the wings, which appear to attach along a panel line. These are tabbed to aid alignment, and of course, that delicious stressed skin is very evident. A wing spar which extends past the centre section of the wing also gives the tip addition some rigidity. As the upper wing is pretty skeletal, Airfix have chosen to adopt a better system of representing the roof of the main gear bays instead of simply moulding it to the inside of the upper wing panels. This gives a far better representation for the modeller, allowing perhaps a little extra wire etc. to be added before the wing is closed up. There are wiring boxes and wiring itself on these parts, accompanying the wing structure detail. As well as the multipart gun bay covers which also exhibit that stressed skin relief, a second set of main gear bay doors are provided, as single parts, allowing the modeller to pose his model 'wheels up' with no problem.

That's looking seriously good, but you forgot the ailerons. I knew you would. I sensed it when I sent you the kit.

What Alclad shades did you use, and what did you use to create the shading? Much better photos Now get those wings done

You did better on those metal shades than I thought you would. For a quick build, you're doing this one proud.

Beautiful metal, great shading and soft skin. The whole package.

Loving the multiple alclad panel shades. Real odd with that camo tail!

Just superb. I wish you were doing the Me 410, as that's what I have to build next. I love your scratch work.

Their internal structures like wing ribs are only representative anyway. They aren't scale in any way, shape or form. Detail like that can easily be discounted, but unfortunately, you pay your money for it. The 3D printed Do 335 is another example of this, as with all their releases. I think I'll happily stick to sensible detail. The HKM Dornier 335 will be a triumph of substance over style in that respect...

Ok, I'll call this one closed. The Me 410 it is!! Thanks to all who voted. I should always work like this

Simple answer to that one; I'm not an armour modeller

TWO sets for me!

Desert Hurricanes?

Thanks for sharing this. I'll follow your lead here. Mine will be here in 2 days.

1:32 DFW C.V Mid Production Wingnut Wings Catalogue # 32040 Available from Wingnut Wings for $99.00USD, with FREE Worldwide shipping If you know anything about World War 1 aviation, it's that the DFW C.V was one of the most numerous types built, and also that it had an key bearing on how both war in the air, and war against ground forces, was conducted. For Germany, this was undoubtedly one of their most important aircraft, if not the single most important. It's true to say that, for such an important aircraft, not a lot is known about the development of it, except for that it was designed by Heinrich Oelerich and first flew around May 1916. The premise of the aircraft was simple. It was a two-seat reconnaissance machine, able to direct deadly ground-to-ground fire into the heart of enemy emplacements, with ferocious ease. DFW's C.V machine was, like the C.IV and C.VI that followed, of regular biplane format, with fabric covered wings and plywood sheathed fuselage. This exceptionally strong design had a fully enclosed 230hp Benz Bz.IV engine, hidden behind shaped aluminium cowls. Control surfaces were built from welded tubes, whilst regular wood was used for the main flying surfaces; an approach that Fokker used on numerous types. Like many reconnaissance types, the DFW C.V could also carry a small bomb load internally, totalling around 50kg. It was armed with n internal, forward facing Spandau IMG 08, or alternatively an LMG 08/15. For defence, the observer had an LMG 14 Parabellum, mounted on a moveable gun ring. The DFW C.V was built by Aviatik, Halberstadt, and LVG, as well as DFW, and around 4000 had been built at the time of the Armistice. They say lightning never strikes the same place twice. Well, that's obviously wrong anyway, and is most certainly wrong when it comes to Wingnut Wings. Not only have they released this 'Mid Production' DFW C.V, but they have also released in in 'Late Production' form too. I do know that this is one kit that many had perhaps hoped for, but also that no one saw coming! In that light, it is most certainly a privilege to crack open these boxes and let you see what's inside. Today we'll look at the Mid, whilst Martin will follow shortly with the Late kit. When we were kids, our imagination was always let loose with the superb, action-packed artworks on the kit packets or boxes. WNW continues this tradition with superb Steve Anderson artworks on their releases. This release has a painting of on LVG-built C.V banking away from the background action, featuring an Albatros D.V and a Sopwith Camel. Edged in silver, WNW artwork is always something to look forward to. The box edge contains the customary Ronny Bar scheme profiles. We'll come to these later. Again, a warning. Removing these sprues could mean that you can't fit them all back again afterwards! Yes, this is a box that is crammed with a significant amount of plastic. In fact, there are no less than FIFTEEN sprues. Some of these are minor sprues, and are moulded with a connection to another small sprue. Nevertheless, this is a kit that you're not going to finish in a rush. There is some serious value for money here with regard to parts count and the resultant time to complete. All sprues are packed individually, or in moulded groups, with one exception. Sprue L is packed doubly with co-joined sprues M and N. In the botton of the box lies a sumptuous instruction manual, and a single, large decal sheet which is also enclosed in cellophane. Within this, a small PE fret is included, in its own sleeve. SPRUE A This sprue is common to all DFW C.V releases, and Is marked as such. Detail freaks; here is where the lions share of the DFW C.V's cockpit and observer station are found, centred within a bulkhead and framework module. Construction for this area is very typical of WNW releases, meaning you will need to decide which serious of optional parts and detail you will wish to display, from the very outset. Two floor parts (moulded on sprues L and M) will determine whether your model will have a hatch over the camera port or not. There are other small internal details that we'll look at on the fuselage interior parts later, so now we'll focus on this specific sprue. The largest and most obvious parts here are the interior cockpit side wall frames, complete with integral levers, plumbing, brackets and quadrants. All ejector pins points are moulded externally to the framework, and will just need snipping away. This also applies to minor sprue tracks too. I very much like this method of kit design, as it allows us to do what we enjoy doing, without bothering about annoying, remedial donkeywork. Instrument panels/boards are one of my favourite parts of a build, and this one is comprised of many parts. The forward face contains the instruments and some pipework runs, as well as the openings for the rudder pedal foot wells. Instruments themselves are supplied as decals. Detail is then attached to this panel, including the empty belt container, magazine parts and synchroniser gear from this sprue. The rear of the panel is faced with another bulkhead with the moulded foot well recess and also instrument gauge rear faces, with plumbing. A rear bulkhead is provided, containing the internal cable rigging holes. Four out of six require opening up, meaning there must be subtle internal differences from version to version. I don't know if you can consider your seat also being a fuel tank, but that's what the pilot of this machine had to sit on. This is very akin to the Junkers J.1. The DFW also comes with a reserve tank that forms the pilot's backrest. Lucky guy! Thankfully, this is tempered with an attached cushion, and separate leather, studded cushion for the seat. You have the option of posing the observer's seat in a deployed or folded position also. Detail is excellent throughout. Other parts on this sprue include forward cockpit floor, rudder pedal bar, wireless aerial tube and aerial winder, internal bomb racks, engine bay bulkheads, engine bearers, IMG 08 mounting bar, lever detail, hand pump, ammunition drum shelf, minor engine detail and undercarriage spreader bar, to name but a few. All parts on this sprue are slated for use with this release. SPRUE B The familiar outlines of the DFW C.V's fuselage are recreated here, with total authenticity. Understandably, the exterior of the fuselage is very sparse due to its plywood finish. Small plates for lifting positions are sharply moulded and a slot extending from the rear tail post indicates that a large, single piece stabiliser is to slide into here, as opposed to individual port/starboard parts. Whilst the fuselage has the area below the observer as a separate part due to kit options, the whole upper rear deck is integral, stopping at the coaming for the pilot position. Engine panel access panels are separate due to parts options. The lower engine cowl is separate, sitting on the top of plastic structure underneath. If you build scheme A, then you'll need to open out a port here. Depending on which machine you build, there is a very small amount of detail which needs removing, related to whether you use the IMG 08 or LMG 08/15 guns. There is very little detail within the fuselage too, as the cockpit module almost exclusively supplies this. Again, there is a little raised detail within the cockpit area which must be rubbed away, depending on whether you build an LVG/Halberstadt or an Aviatic machine. Holes will need to be drilled for both types, irrespective, but this is all clearly shown on the instructions. A couple of amazingly minor ejection pin marks can be seen in the engine bay area and will easily be removed in a matter of seconds. This is the first time that I've seen raised nail detail on a WNW, presumably because it's specific to this type. Nail detail can be seen around the edges of the pilot's coaming. The leather trim and cut out is also asymmetrical, allowing for the forward facing gun. As the engine is also fully enclosed, you will find the majority of the various cowl panels here too. Some modification will be required, dependent on your scheme/machine choice. Cowls are moulded with delicate open louvers, while other external plates are detailed with some of the sharpest and finest minor detail I've seen. Other parts on this sprue include the undercarriage V struts, with superbly moulded bungee detail, spinner and separate back-plate with hole detail, two MG options (standard, and high detail to incorporate the PE cooling jacket), two versions of gun mounting ring, tail control cable access plate, and rear cabane strut 'V'. This sprue is also a common sprue for all versions of this kit. SPRUE C As is customary, this is the clear sprue. Three parts are included here, moulded with exceptional clarity. These are the camera lens, forward windscreen, and a windshield for scheme E. Frame lines are nice and sharp, so masking should be easy. SPRUE D (x2) Wingnut Wings tend to mould the parts which are supplied as multiples, across two identical sprues. Another common sprue, this one contains wheels with separate outer hubs (2 choices), wing struts with their delicate attachment plates, various louvered plates, control horns, radiator housing options, and also bombs for the internal carrier. Detail is exceptional throughout, including the fine meshes for the radiators. Another common sprue. SPRUE E This sprue is supplied co-joined to sprue G, and of course, packages together. The powerful Benz Bz. IV engine is supplied here, in amazing detail. Although the instructions show that only two cylinder head parts are to be used, you can indeed use the ones that are shown not for use. These are the same as the intended ones, except that they don't contain moulded pushrods. This will allow the detailer to add his/her own rods for more 3D realism. A small number of other parts are not for use with this kit. Rocker heads are supplied as separate parts, and you MUSTN'T use the carburettor intakes supplied on this sprue. Alternative parts are supplied on a different sprue. SPRUE F Only four parts on this common sprue, but they are the very substantial wing panels. One of the things I like about WNW kits are the fine trailing edges of the wings. This is no different. These edges are scalloped, to represent the tautening of the fabric against the wire that formed the wing trailing edge. Ailerons are only specific to the upper panels, and are separately moulded. Hinge plate detail is very fine too. Again, wing detail is excellent, with a very realistic drum-skin tight fabric between the ribs, and the ribs being finished with capping strips. Shorter length ribs can be seen between the main ribs, disrupting the tight finish between them. Most excellent! Biplanes can seem daunting with those struts, but WNE have ensured you can't locate these into the wrong positions, simply by adding different connecting shapes within the strut location point. Upper wing panels are jointed together with an insert which fits into the underside of the wings, and also provides the single rib bay which sits between the dihedral panels. The cabane strut location will also click into this joint. This has all been so designed with maximum joint surface area so that the wings won't sag. Detail also includes some access ports and walkways, as well as wing – fuselage locating plates. A compass is moulded into the lower port wing, and it is so good, you would swear it was a separate part! SPRUE G1 A very small sprue, this deals with the Parabellum, and includes parts for the standard gun, and also the High Detail version which uses the PE cooling jacket. Here you will also find a mounting bracket and the various ammunition drums and a direct gun feed for the one which you'll display clipped to the gun. I have seen this sprue in other kits, and it's not common to just the DFW. It comes moulded to the engine sprue (another non-specific aircraft sprue), and packaged within the same sleeve. If you're looking for other parts labelled as being on sprue 'G', then there is a secondary Accessory Sprue that we'll look at later, carrying almost the same nomenclature. SPRUE H You will find this small sprue attached to sprues J, K and O, and it contains two engine cowls, and a couple of access ports. A two-part exhaust is to be found here too, with a delicate, open-ended aperture. Depending on whether you pose the cowl panels closed, you may need to remove a little plastic and form a slot. SPRUE I Yes, this exists, but no, you won't use it for this kit, despite the parts being for the Halberstadt-built machine. The parts plan shows this missing entirely from the kit, but it isn't. Don't get confused. Remove it and toss it in your spares box immediately. A part on my sprue was sprained and bent, but that doesn't matter here! SPRUES J & K These are quite similar to Sprue H, in that they carry some engine cowl parts. They also both carry the forward cowl ring too, as well as extra engine enclosure cowls and some louvered port detail. Not to highlight the finesse of detail on the various cowl pieces would be to do WNW a disservice. Some of the most beautifully fine louvered ports and hinge detail can be seen. SPRUE L This sprue is packed in a sleeve with two other-co-joined sprues. A little stressing of the plastic can be seen were the cabane strut meets the sprue. There is no damage though, as it is right at the point of junction. This is another stress mark where it really isn't important, as all these cabane parts aren't for use in this release. In fact, very few parts are to be used here. Those that are, are the rear observers floor with shuttered camera port, and also the lower external fuselage. Depending on your scheme option, you may need to drill a hole here for the camera port. Unusually, you'll find a solitary cockpit component here too; the control stick, and this will need modification for this release. Another odd circumstance of development means that this sprue is also labelled as one for use with the LATE version of the DFW C.V SPRUE M Aha! This is a MID-specific sprue! Here you will find the cabane struts you actually will use for this model, as well as alternative observer position floor and exterior fuselage underside panel. Other parts include radiator water pipes and header tank, radiator interior parts, and flywheel/radiator water pipe part for the engine assembly stage. SPRUE N Back to another common sprue now, and one that includes the stabiliser, rudder, ailerons and fin. Look at the forward edges of the stabiliser. You'll notice small protrusions along the length. These are actually nails. You will need to remove these for Scheme A, but it's optional for the other machines. I'd be inclined to leave them in situ for other machines, if for nothing else than the unusual factor. All surface detail superbly represents the rib and fabric structures of the real thing. SPRUE O There are a good number of exhaust options presented here, but only ONE is to be used, in conjunction with the option available on Sprue H. The carburettor intake can be found here, as well as Astra, Wolff and Wotan prop options. All are slated for use with this release. SPRUE G3 (German Accessories) We've seen this sprue in other two-seat German aircraft kits before, and it contains a good number of diorama parts, as well as a few which need to be fitted to the model, such as wireless wind-driven aerial generator, anemometer and radio gear. Other than that and a few extras, you'll find cameras, ladders, pistols, flare racks, and even a teddy bear mascot! A number of parts aren't to be used here though, and those include the four propeller options. PLASTIC SUMMARY Nothing to fault at all. Ejector pin marks were never going to be an issue. Flash is non-existent, and perfect moulding means no sink marks. Seams are negligible too. Detail is as meticulous as ever, and the kit is intelligently designed from start to finish. A real builder's kit. PHOTO ETCH A single fret is included. Cooling jackets are provided for the Parabellum, and both Spandau variants, as well as gun sight reticules, and two sets of lap belts. A couple of parts are not to be used with this release. Production quality is first rate. Remember to anneal the belts and MG jackets before you use them. INSTRUCTION MANUAL WNW produces the very best assembly manuals in existence. Seriously, they do. Nothing can touch them. The various constructional sequences are look almost hand-drawn and are illustrated in grey, with newly attached parts being highlighted in blue. Sub-assemblies are shown in full colour to illustrate the overall appearance. Colour call-outs are given throughout assembly, giving Tamiya, Humbrol and FS paint codes. Rigging drawings are also included, and the manual is punctuated with many very useful period images. The rear of the manual is taken over with Ronny Bar's exquisite scheme profiles, which also come with some colour and historical notation, as well as specific machine images. There are five schemes supplied here, with one of these having a sub-scheme The schemes are: DFW C.V (LVG) 5203/16, Habsheim, April to May 1917 DFW C.V (Av) 5920/16 "Red 6", Kurt Wesser?, FA (A) 275?, September 1917 DFW C.V (Av) 5927/16, Hans Huppertz & Friedrich Neumüller, FA 18, April 1917. Photos are also supplied which show this machine under captured colours, as a possible scheme. DFW C.V "Grenade", FA 48b, 1917 to early 1918 DFW C.V "Stripes", FA (A) 282?, 1917 to early 1918 DECALS A single, large decal sheet is supplied, printed by Cartograf. Printing is superbly thin, and carrier film is minimal. Registration is perfect. Wing crosses are printed so that they contain cut-outs for aileron hinges etc. The aileron portions are also separate. 'Red 6's' number is printed in both red AND black, in case you disagree with the fact that it may not have been red at all. Trim lines are also supplied for the wing and tail-plane edges for the last machine. Other white and black stripes are included for this machine too. Numerous stencils are also supplied, as is a whole section for propeller decals, and many interior/cockpit/engine decals. Notice the decal sheet gives its date as 2013 too........ Conclusion Yes, and YES! This one, whilst not immediately anticipated, is most definitely a very welcome release. WNW have released both this and the Late Production kits, meaning there will undoubtedly be the squarer-nosed Early Production kit out in the not too distant future. This release has everything; amazing internal and external detail, and five very good scheme choices which provide something subtly different for an aircraft whose schemes were not generally very varied. As usual, there are a number of interesting parts options too. This model is a very reasonable size too, and contains 320 parts, so is no weekend project. Yes, there's rigging, but it's not too complicated. Again, WNW are releasing this kit for a very reasonable $99.00, including their famous FREE Worldwide shipping. Go on, you know you want to! VERY highly recommended Our sincere thanks to Wingnut Wings for this review sample. To purchase direct, click THIS link. James H

F 4 U 2!!!!

The IAR doesn't float my boat Matt. I was tempted to extend the list further, but that would have diluted things more.

Hello ladies, I'm now deeply committed to finishing the Do 335, and the D.VII will have to be done as a follow up, BUT, just what do I do next? I long gave up the schedule, so it's up to you! I'll let the poll run until 15th August.

Eagle Editions do a set. Ben Summerfield should be reviewing before too long.

Cees, I'd go with a Mk.I. I love those early machines and the yellow edged wing roundels they sometimes carried. @stehlingsg: welcome to LSM!

I have a Tamiya Corsair coming, if that counts?

I plan rolling the 410 alongside the D.VII as soon as the Do 335 is complete.

ZM is a brand of Volks Inc. They do sell other brands too. They have many hobby outlets in Japan. It's only like LuckyModel selling Kinetic kits. That's their brand, yet of course they sell many other non-LM brands too.

ZM is Volks.... No further info to give here

Not me unfortunately. I refuse to do anything for further for the ungrateful a$$w1ipe$