T-34C-1 Turbo Mentor
Light Strike Aircraft

Czech Model

Czech Model's 1/48 scale T-34C Turbo Mentor Light Strike Aircraft 
is available online from Squadron.com

Reviewed by Brett Green

When I reviewed Czech Models' initial release of the T-34C Turbo Mentor in November last year, my closing comment was the hope that some decal company would come out with markings for Latin American camouflaged ground-attack Turbo Mentors.

Czech Models has gone one better by reissuing the kit with not only markings for two Light Strike aircraft, but also adding 15 new resin parts for rocket pods, mounting racks and a gunsight.

This second version of Czech Model's 1/48 scale T-34C Turbo Mentor is as welcome as the first.  The kit comprises 51 parts in grey styrene, 25 parts in cream-coloured resin, two vacform canopies (including a spare) and decals for two US Navy training aircraft.

Apart from an extra 15 resin parts and the new decal sheet, the kit is otherwise identical to the initial issue. This is a good thing, as the quality of the plastic parts is high and surface detail is crisply engraved. The texture of the control surfaces is very nicely depicted.

The plastic is quite itself is quite shiny which, for me, was a bit off-putting at first. However, there are no sink marks or ejector pins in visible locations anywhere on the model. The sprue attachment points are quite restrained too. The trailing edges of the wings and tail surfaces are fairly thin, but a little sanding will not hurt.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

Resin parts are supplied for the cockpit tub, seats, resin wheels, forward wheel well and intakes. These resin parts are very well done - detail is crisp and my sample displayed no casting imperfections. However, the cockpit tub and wheel well feature substantial casting blocks that will need to be carefully removed. Take your time with the seats too - it will be easy to cut through the bottom of the seat when these blocks are being removed.

A vacform canopy is supplied with a spare in case of disaster. The canopies are very clear and totally free of distortion.

The additional resin parts for the rockets, caps and wing racks are supplied in a separate bag. Two gunsights are provided, so you will have one for the spares box.

Engineering is typical of a limited run kit. The wings mount flat against the fuselage, but the surface area of the join will be quite large so reinforcement may not be necessary. On the other hand, the tail surfaces should be reinforced with wire or rod to supplement the locating dimples. Some small details will need to be supplied by the modeller, such as a wire axle for the front wheel. Also, typical of limited run kits, there are no locating pins so care should be taken to align the parts accurately.

Instructions are called out over ten construction steps on four letter-sized pages. These instructions seem to be quite adequate.

Markings for one Argentine Navy and one Royal Moroccan T-34C are supplied on the decal sheet.