Czech Master Resin 1/72 Westland Wyvern S.4 |  | Overview The Wyvern is a fascinating aircraft which has an interesting history. I have covered some of this history in my review of the 4+ book found elsewhere in this issue. I recommend picking this book up as a great reference for building this kit. The Kit  This latest release from Czech Master Resin shows that they just keep getting better and better. This kit features exquisite recessed panel lines, thoughtful engineering, and excellent castings. The level of detail present easily exceeds that of any other 1/72 Wyvern. On top of this, the decal sheet offers quite a bit of stenciling in addition to the three options. In addition to which, the instructions include several photos and detail drawings of real Wyverns as an added bonus.
 Walking through the instructions, the first stop is the interior. This is simple, but not basic. The one-piece cockpit tub has sidewall detail in addition to detail for the section underneath the canopy. A one-piece ejection seat fits into the tub, and the seat is also nicely done, capturing the look of the Martin Baker seat quite well. A separate control stick, instrument panel, and rudder pedals finish off the cockpit, but not the interior of the plane. That is done with the exhaust pipes that fit into the sides of the fuselage. These are incredibly thin pipes and will look very nice when painted up.
 The wing is one piece, but with all sorts of drooped stuff to stick on it. The flaps and air brakes are separate, allowing you to display your Wyvern with stuff hanging down, a very nice touch. The wing fits snugly against the fuselage with lots of positive tabs to ensure proper alignment. The stabilizers also have tabs to help fix them at the proper dihedral. In addition to the separate flaps, a set of RATOGs are included for under the wing. For armament, there is plenty to choose from as well. You get drop tanks, 1000lb bombs, rockets, and a torpedo to choose from. Finally, there is the propeller, made up from separate blades, and the landing gear, which is quite detailed, including the insides of the wheel doors.
 The decal choices all feature standard Wyvern camouflages, that being extra dark sea gray over sky.
The first option is the one seen on the header card, #378, of No 830 Squadron off of the HMS Eagle during the Suez Crisis in 1956. Easily the most colorful option, this plane has black and yellow stripes around the wings and fuselage. The second option is #270 of No 813 Squadron, again off of the HMS Eagle. This plane has a small caricature on the starboard fuselage side. Finally, there is #690 of No 764 Squadron based at NAS Ford. The decals are nicely printed and feel quite thin, but with good opacity. There should be no problems using these at all. Conclusion If FAA aircraft is your bailiwick, this is a model you do not want to pass up. The high level of detailing and fairly simple assembly will make it a great addition to any collection.
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