CMR 1/72 Hawker Nimrod Mk.II
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Background
My review of CMR’s Kit No. 117 of the Nimrod
Mk.I in Internet Modeler of April 2001 provides the main history of
the Nimrods Mks. I and II and the Danerod.
Total Nimrod production amounted to only 100 units:
1 prototype; the “Norn” – 1930
55 Mk.Is for the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) – 1931
1 Mk.I for the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Force (IJNAF) – 1932
31 Mk.IIs for the FAA – 1932/1935
12 Mk.IIs for the Royal Danish Navy. Hawker built two as patterns
for the license production of 10 by the Royal Danish Dockyard in Copenhagen
in 1934. The “Danerod” Mk.IIs were de-navalized Nimrod IIs
as they were shore based by the Danes.
Some sources aver that the IJNAF and Portuguese Air Force each received
one Mk.II in 1933. My research did not confirm this.
The Kit
This is another of CMR’s “next generation” kits, which
come in a box. (!) And a suitably stout box it is too. Inside the box
encased in CMR’s customary multi-compartment, heat-sealed plastic
bags, we find the 58 cream colored resin parts that are the principal
components of this kit and two vac formed windscreens. We also get a decal
sheet and 11 pages of instructional material in the box.
The instructional material comprises three pages of assembly details,
one of configuration drawings, three of color schemes and four of photos
of Danerods. There are no photos of Nimrod IIs included.
 CMR
include two complete fuselages; one each for the Nimrod Mk. II and the
Danerod. The difference between the two is so subtle it took me awhile
to find it. The FAA fuselage has the fairings for the yoke style tail
hook – the Danerod fuselage does not. But the Danerod fuselage does
also have the FAA catapult “spools”, which must be removed.
Peculiar. Other options include early – short and late – long
tailplanes (consult your references), the chin oil cooler for the Nimrod,
three pairs of wheels and skis.
Beware! Some of the detail parts in this kit are quite small and are
easily lost, or accidentally thrown away with the flash – be careful.
Guess how I know this.
 Both
the Nimrod II and the Danerod had a large signal light in the belly. This
is shown in CMR’s drawings and is indicated by a raised circle in
the fuselage castings. I’d suggest installing a clear MV brand lens
here. MV products are available at shops that sell model railroad supplies.
The instructions and the decal sheet provide markings for two FAA planes
– 801 Sqd. Aboard HMS Furious and 802 Sqd. aboard HMS Glorious and
for four Danerod schemes; two in overall silver and two in wartime camouflage.
There is no rigging diagram so you’re on your own for figuring
out the rigging from your references.
Conclusion
This is another fine, fun kit from CMR of an obscure, attractive type
not kitted before (other than in vac) in any scale. The Nimrod Mk.II/Danerod
is an exemplar of the British contribution to the “Golden Age”
of aviation.
Thank you to Czech Master Resin for providing the review sample.
References
In addition to those cited in the April 2001 review of CMR’s Nimrod
Mk.I, I would now add:
· Mushroom Model Magazine, Vol. 15, No. 2, article “The
Other Nimrod” by Paul Fontenoy.
· Scale Aviation Modelling, unknown issue, article by Alan W.
hall with two pages of drawings and color schemes.
· Hawker Aircraft since 1920: Francis K. Mason, Putnam, UK (Naval
Institute Press, USA, 1991 3rd rev. ed.) ISBN 1557503516.
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