|
Koolhoven
FK-51
“Dutch Version”
Special Hobby, 1/72 scale
S u m m a r y
|
|
Catalogue Number: |
Special Hobby kit no.
SH 72048 - Koolhoven FK-51 “Dutch Version” |
|
Scale: |
1/72 |
| Contents and
Media: |
49
light grey plastic parts on two sprues, 2 resin parts, 6
vac-formed clear parts, 29 PE parts on one fret, decals for
three aircraft and 8 page, A5 sized instruction booklet with
history, parts plan, 7 build diagrams including one for
rigging and 3 pages of paint/decal drawings. |
| Price: |
USD$28.96 from Squadron.com
|
| Review Type: |
FirstLook |
| Advantages: |
Interesting subject,
finely engraved panel lines and excellent decals. |
| Disadvantages: |
Multi-media, not for
the beginner. |
|
Recommendation: |
Recommended
|
Reviewed by Glen Porter
Special
Hobby's 1/72 scale Koolhoven FK-51 “Dutch Version”
is available online from
Squadron.com
Designed in 1935, the Koolhoven FK-51 was
built as an advanced trainer for the Dutch Army Air Force but was also
used as a light reconnaissance aircraft. In this role it was deemed too
slow and did not see combat. A total of 142 were built and some (about
22) were sold secretly to Spanish Republican Government and were used
post civil war by Franco's Government.
A medium sized biplane, bigger than a Tiger Moth but not as big as a One
and a Half Strutter, it can be built as either the trainer (one scheme)
or the light reconnaissance (two schemes) with optional cowlings,
seating and gun. There are also some parts not for use (wing tips) on
the sprues. One of the cowlings comes in resin and that and the engine
are the only resin parts in the kit.
Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:
A small PE set comes with the kit with seat-belts and a side instrument
panel face for the interior, a wire harness for the plastic engine
option. The rest of the metal parts are for the exterior, such as
control surface hinges, pitot rod and elevator control wire links.
Decals, by Aviprint, are beautifully printed with perfect register and
come with markings for three aircraft. A. is a trainer in Haamstede, May
1940, while B. and C. are light recon aircraft at De Kooy and
Noordwijkerhout respectively, both also in 1940. The problem with these
marking charts, is they give you the Gunze colour numbers but the colour
names/descriptions are in Dutch (I think), so I have no idea what
colours they actually are. A minor challenge only.
The plastic, as is usual from Special Hobby, is finely engraved but will
need a small amount of clean-up because of it's short run nature.
Consequently, I would not recommend this kit to a beginner but to the
rest of you, have fun.
Recommended.
Thanks to MPM/Special Hobby for the review sample.
Review Text Copyright © 2005 by Glen Porter
Images Copyright © 2005 by Brett Green
Page Created 07 November, 2005
Last updated 06 November, 2005
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