Lockheed PV-1 Ventura

Fonderie Miniature 1/48

Reviewed by Mick Evans

Fonderie Miniature's 1/48 PV-1 Ventura is available online from Squadron.com

Fonderie Miniatures has followed on its French flown aircraft theme with the Lockheed PV-1 Ventura. The kit contains 48 moulded plastic styrene parts in a medium grey colour soft styrene plastic. The detail on these parts is not bad but the panel lines require a light re-scribe to obtain a consistent level of detail as some lines are not as clearly defined due to the moulding process.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

---

10 clear parts are provided for the windows, bomb aimers panel and formation lights. The canopy, turret, and lower observers canopy are moulded in the typical vacu-formed style and as usual are not crystal clear but a quick dip in Future floor polish should fix the clarity to a good standard.

The resin parts are nicely moulded and add a high level of detail to the kit. There are 12 resin parts in all, with no imperfections or air bubbles evident. The cockpit bulkheads, sidewalls, instrument panel, main wheel wells, gun turret and engine crank cases are all cast and have a very realistic level of detail in them.
An etched metal fret is provided with 19 parts covering the instrument panel, seat belts and various other parts. These seem to be soft enough to easily bend but a quick anneal process over a lit candle flame will make sure.

All up there are 81 cast metal parts. Most of these need a bit of clean up of the flash attached and some need some gentle straightening. The level of detail is good and under a coat of paint will look great. The main undercarriage, tail wheel, guns, antenna’s, seats, control columns, and rocket rails are all provided. As with the Maryland kit individual engine cylinders are provided but once again no instructions on how to assemble the engines and detail them.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

---

Quite a few options are provided in the kit with gun configurations, and underwing stores but no detail is provided as to which version these alternatives apply.

Once again the instructions are poor and lack in clarity and detail. Mating surfaces need to be heavily sanded, in particular the trailing edges of all control surfaces to achieve a realistic thickness.

The decals are clearly printed with the carrier film being thin. All decals are in register with good colour definition.

Markings are supplied for two aircraft:

• A French Navy aircraft in white with dark grey upper surfaces and

• A US version in the tri colour, non specular sea blue/intermediate blue/white scheme.

Recommended for experienced Modellers.

 

Thanks to Squadron.com for the review sample.

Model, Review and Images Copyright © 2004 by Mick Evans
Page Created 18 August, 2004
Last updated 17 August, 2004

Back to HyperScale Main Page

Back to Reviews Page