Hi All:
One of the newer companies that have emerged from Eastern Europe in recent years is the Czech firm of Special Hobby. Their recent 1/32 scale Dewoitine 520 was a beaut and now they are back to 1/48 with a kit that should gladden the hearts of all fans of His Majesty's Royal Naval Air Service. It is a 1/48 scale kit for the Fairey Barracuda T.S.R. Mark II. Here to fore there were only a couple of 1/72 scale kits and a 1/48 Sierra vac-u-form for this rather significant Royal Navy aircraft. This kit looks to be a nice effort. It's one of those limited run plastic kits with resin for seats/interior/small airscoops and a set of foto etch for seat belts, radar antennas and small parts. The quality of the moldings looks first rate, the scribing is very restrained, I think the control surfaces will benefit from some accenting with an Olfa P Cutter, the rest will depend on the individual modeller's taste. The plastic is a little soft and you will benefit by taking care when separating parts from the sprues. There are decal markings for 829 Squadron on the Tirpitz strikes and one set of Pacific Fleet markings for, I believe, the air group commander's aircraft on an 814 Squadron bird off H.M.S. Vengeance. They make a point of the kit having an injection molded canopy, I personally believe that vac-u-form canopies are quite acceptable. No big thing I guess. What may be more of a downer for many is that this is a clean airframe, no external ordnance. If you are into the "christmas tree" look on your models you will have to go hunting for your things under wings. If you have a Tamiya Swordfish around, you can rob the torpedo or other ordnance from that. If not, maybe you can get some from Belcher's Bits to make a suitably warlike looking bird. They make a couple of sets of 1/48 scale RAF/RN ordnance in resin. Now if someone would just do a 1/48 scale Fairey Fulmar!
Bill Shuey