English Electric Canberra

Classic Airframes, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

Classic Airframes' 1/48 scale Canberra B.Mk.2  will be available online from Squadron

The English Electric Canberra was a groundbreaking aircraft when it entered service in the early 1950s. The Canberra set and held many altitude, distance and speed records in its early years. In addition to widespread and long service with the Royal Air Force, the English Electric Canberra was exported to many countries including Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, France, West Germany, India, Pakistan, Rhodesia, Ethiopia, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela.

The Canberra's service record was remarkable in its longevity, spanning from the Suez crisis to Vietnam to the Persian Gulf. In fact, the final Canberra PR.9s in RAF service are only due to retire this year.

The Canberra has made several appearances in 1/48 scale before, but never as an injection moulded kit. Falcon of New Zealand released a basic but accurate vacform Canberra during the 1980s. War Eagle also offered a white metal update set to add some essential details to this kit. More recently, Aeroclub released a multi-media Canberra featuring vacform wings and fuselage, injection-moulded nose cone and detail parts, supplemented with nicely detailed resin and white metal. I have one of these excellent, but currently unavailable, kits as yet unbuilt in my stash.

I was delighted to hear that Classic Airframes would be adding a family of Canberras to their lineup. The very word "vacform" can strike fear into the heart of many modellers, so Classic Airframes' injection-moulded model would significantly broaden the opportunity to actually build one of these sleek Cold War bombers.

Classic Airframes' 1/48 scale Canberra B.Mk.2 kit comprises 42 parts in grey styrene; 21 parts in grey colored resin; 8 clear injection molded parts; instructions; plus a decal sheet and painting guide for four aircraft.

Plastic parts are presented to a very high standard. Moulding quality is excellent, and the highly polished finish does not reveal any moulding imperfections on the exterior surfaces. This shiny surface will be especially useful for modellers who plan a High Speed Silver finish to their Canberra. Panel lines are crisply recessed, consistent and very fine.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

The long fuselage is split into two halves for the main section and another two for the nose. This suggests that we will see the tandem cockpit versions of the Canberra at some later date. The slab-like wings are supplied in two halves (upper and lower) each.

Although there are no locating pins on the main parts, the wings are reinforced with two plastic spars spar. This will add rigidity and ensure the correct dihedral. There are a few tall ejector pins on the inside surfaces of the wings that should be sliced off prior to assembly, but the remaining scars will not be visible after assembly. The inner lip of the intakes also have ejector pin marks. These need a bit more time and care in cleaning up.

Resin parts are very nicely detailed. The bulk of these details are for the cockpit, including two gorgeous Martin-Baker ejection seats, but the undercarriage bays, wheels and intake fans / starter bullets are also supplied in resin.

The front wheels are cast with mudguards on top of the tyres. Not all Canberras were fitted with these mudguards, so check your references before assembly. If your subject was not equipped with mudguards it will be a simple matter to sand them off before painting.

The gear bays are immaculately detailed with structural features and wiring. It is just a shame that so little of this detail will be seen under the low-slung Canberra airframe.

The starter bullets are the short style usually seen on the B.2 Canberra, typical for Avon Mk.1 engines.

Some of the parts are cast onto stout blocks so a combination of a good razor saw and caution will be required when preparing these resin components.

Clear parts are well moulded and relatively distortion free - quite an accomplishment considering the fishbowl configuration of the canopy! A choice of nose-cone styles is offered. The clear parts do respond very well to a bath of Future floor polish.

The shape of the model looks accurate compared to published plans and contemporary photographs.

Markings

Three interesting marking options are offered on the instructions:

• Canberra B.2, 10 Squadron RAF Nicosia, Cyprus during the Suez Crisis, Autumn, 1956. This aircraft is finished in Medium Sea Grey and Light Slate Grey on the upper surfaces, with PRU underneath and Aluminium tip tanks. Large black and white theatre stripes on the wings and fuselage complete this striking scheme.

• Canberra B.2, 44 Squadron RAF Nicosia, Cyprus during the Suez Crisis, Autumn, 1956. This subject is finished in overall Aluminium paint (modellers note, this is not natural metal), with pale yellow and black theatre stripes.

• Canberra B.2, USAF Production Pattern Aircraft, March 1951. Moe variety here with Medium Sea Grey upper surfaces and black lowers. Stars and bars in four positions, plus large "USAF" lettering on top and bottom of wings.

Decals are printed in perfect register, and colours look good.

Classic Airframes' 1/48 scale Canberra is a big, impressively detailed, accurately shaped kit. With a recommended price of USD$60.00, it is a bargain too, especially considering the extensive resin included.

The relatively small parts count reflects the simple design of the airframe, but does not compromise detail. It certainly will speed construction though!

Granted, this model will need a little more cleanup and preparation of parts than a long-run release from Tamiya or Hasegawa. Also, the lack of locating pins will call for extra care and dry-fitting. In other words, modelling skills are required, but anyone who has already built a Classic Airframes kit should not have any trouble coming up with a great result straight from the box.

I have already built Classic Airframes' 1/48 scale Canberra and can confirm that fit is generally very good. You can follow this link to see construction comments and progress photos. With  a little extra time spent on preparation and alignment, it was a real pleasure to work on. 

Highly Recommended to experienced modellers.
 

Thanks to Classic Airframes for the review sample.

Classic Airframes kits are available worldwide through hobby retailers and from Squadron.com

Review and Images Copyright © 2006 by Brett Green
Page Created 28 April, 2006
Last updated 30 April, 2006

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