Hispano-Nieuport NiD-52
1930s Spanish Fighter

Azur, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Glen Porter

 Azur's 1/72 scale Hispano-Nieuport NiD-52 is available online from Squadron.com
 

Azur is part of the MPM organisation but the design and conception is from France with the tooling and moulding done in the Czech Republic. Consequently, most, although not all, subjects are French in nature. This one is part French and part Spanish.

The Spanish Civil War has been pretty much ignored by the modelling world but over the last couple of years we've seen more subjects, both armour and aircraft, that either first appeared in that conflict or only served in it.

The Hispano-Nieuport NiD-52 was adopted by the Spanish Military Air Force in 1932 and when the civil war broke out in 1936 it served on both sides. In fact, it was responsible for the first aerial combat successes on both sides. However, as faster foreign types came into service, it was relegated to training units.

So, what do you get for your filthy lucre? Well, as is normal with MPM produced kits, the plastic is very cleanly moulded for a short-run kit with finely engraved panel lines and no flash but also no locating pins so care needs to be taken in assembly.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

The 20 resin parts are mostly for the cockpit with just a few external bits and are nicely moulded and detailed. Similarly, the PE bits are also mostly for the cockpit, seat belts, instrument panel and the like and for those who can't handle PE, it could be left off with-out much detriment to the model.

The decals, by Aviprint, are well printed with good register and minimum film and are quite colourful with Red, yellow and black roundel all round.

I've never been able to work out who were the Republicans and who were the Nationalists in this conflict but as there's not a black spot with a white diagonal in sight, I guess they're not Franco's lot.

This is a very interesting looking kit and the way it's put together even us ham fisted types shouldn't have much trouble. It's only the multi-media nature of the kit which stops me from recommending it to all.

Recommended.

Thanks to MPM/Azur for the review sample.

Review Text Copyright © 2005 by Glen Porter
Images Copyright © 2005 by Brett Green
Page Created 23 November, 2005
Last updated 23 November, 2005

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