Mirage 1/48 Scale PZL P.24B ³Jastreb² (Goshawk)
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The third release in Mirage's stable of Poland's PZL P.24 export fighters,
the P.24B represents the type operated by Bulgaria from 1936 until 1944.
The Kit
The contents come in an end-opening box, with an attractive color illustration
on the front. The back of the box has a color four-view illustration of
one of the decal options.
The kit is a multimedia offering, sharing much in common with the previously
released P.24F and G Greek variants (see the full build review of the
P.24F in the September
2004 Internet Modeler). 70 parts in grey styrene are on three sprues,
one of which has the parts for the cowling that is unique to this type.
A fourth small sprue has two clear injected parts for the canopy. Six
resin parts include oil coolers, exhaust stacks and shell ejector chutes.
A small square of clear acetate contains the instrument dials, and a brass
fret with 34 parts completes the inventory. The decal sheet provides markings
for just about every aircraft flown by the Bulgarians. Instructions are
of the exploded assembly type on one side of a folded A3 size sheet (roughly
11 1/2² x 17²), with a brief history and two markings options on the reverse.
Comments
The styrene parts are generally well moulded, with some minor flash
on some of the small parts. Some minor sink holes are evident, specifically
on the rear faces of the propeller blades, the base of the vertical fin,
and on the wheel pants, but this can easily be fixed with some light filling
and sanding. The resin parts are very well cast, much better than in the
PZL P.24F kit mentioned above. The clear parts are a little odd in that
only the windscreen and the top of the canopy are included. Photos in
Kagero's excellent Monograph on the P.24 A to G by Andrzej Glass and elsewhere
show that the type often flew operationally without a canopy (and wheel
pants), but also occasionally shows the canopy in place, with one side
panel removed.
The brass fret is very well executed, with relief detail on most of
the parts. Some of the parts appear to be quite fragile, such as the round
engine brace assembly, so careful handling will be required. The instrument
panel is of the brass face and clear acetate dials variety, which always
looks convincing.
A highlight of the kit is the fine sheet of decals, especially the
very elegant pre-war Royal Bulgarian roundels, with a golden lion in a
red cross and gold swords on a white field. Two styles of fin flashes
are supplied, as well as white numerals and the more mundane wartime national
markings of a black X on a white square. Some data markings are also included,
among which are a pair of neat PZL company logos for the tail. The sheet
also has red trim decals for the fuselage and wheel pants (for which two
sets are provided), making for a color scheme that is more reminiscent
of sport and racing types of the period rather than a warplane!
Conclusion
This is a fine kit of a very unique and unusual subject. Some experience
in working with resin and photo etched parts would be desirable. Look
for a complete build review in a future edition of Internet Modeler.
Recommended.
Thanks to Squadron Mail Order
and Chris Banyai-Riepl for the review sample.
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