A-35B Vengeance
“Armee de l'Air”
 

Special Hobby, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Glen Porter

 Special Hobby's 1/72 scale Vengeance is available online from Squadron.com
 

The French were the first to order the Vultee Vengeance but by the time they reached Europe, France had been over-run. The order was taken up by the British but because of the failure of the Stuka in response to modern fighters (BOB), they deemed it not suitable for ETO use. They were therefore shipped out to the Far East where they performed quite well. Similarly, the Royal Australian Air Force, desperate for aircraft of any type, received quite a few under Lend Lease which they used successfully against Japanese forces in the islands north of Australia.

This is not the first Vengeance that Special Hobby have released so I went looking in Hyperscale's Aircraft Kit Review section for a previous review and to my surprise, found none. There are, however, some update sets reviewed for this aircraft from Pete's Hanger, an Australian manufacturer, but they are aimed mostly at the older Frog kit.

Until Special Hobby brought their Vengeances out, the only kit to be had of this aircraft was the old Frog kit in all its guises. Basically accurate in shape, it lacked detail as you would expect from a kit of that age. No sooner had Pete released his update sets than out popped the Special Hobby offerings. Always the way, isn't it?

The first one, I believe, came with RAAF and RAF Far East markings. The second, with USAAF markings and this is the third.

This is basically the same as the earlier kits with only the decals being changed. The plastic is very well moulded with fine panel detail, very good resin mouldings and a small PE fret with just 7 parts, 5 cowl flaps and 2 engine side vents.

 

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

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Most of the interior is one piece with separate seats, armour, machine gun and other small bits. A resin engine is included with resin prop hub, under carriage fairings, exhaust and various scoops.

Decals, by Aviprint, are very nice with good colour density, register and minimum carrier film. Markings are supplied for two aircraft in US colours from 1943 when the French finally got the aircraft.

This kit is far superior to the old Frog kit and far cheaper than the Frog kit with Pete's Hanger updates. The only area I could find lacking detail was the wheel wells but I think the Pete's Hanger detail set for the wheel wells can be used on this kit.

Most of the Australian aircraft used twin 50. cals in the rear seat but they are not supplied in any of the Special Hobby kits. The twin gun does come in Pete's Up-Dated interior set but I don't know if you can buy them separately.

Recommended.

Thanks to MPM/Special Hobby for the review sample.

Review Text Copyright © 2006 by Glen Porter
Images Copyright © 2006 by Brett Green
Page Created 04 January, 2006
Last updated 04 January, 2006

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