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Miniwing 1/144 FMA IA 58 Pucara

By Don Joy

Background:

The Pucara was developed as a light attack aircraft. Development began in 1966 with the first prototype flying in 1969 and deliveries starting in 1976. The Pucara fit the “COIN” class of aircraft, designed for simple operations and useful for the counter-insurgency role. They are best known for their role in the 1982 Falklands war.

The Pucara is currently operational with Argentina and Uruguay with proposals for upgrades on the table.  They were apreviously operated by Colombia and Sri Lanka. It is an aircraft with an interesting history. It is also unique in being one of the few indigenous aircraft built by smaller nations that have enjoyed a long and successful service life.

Instructions

Instructions provide a single page exploded drawing of the kit for construction. These are accompanied by a multi-view color drawing showing the paint scheme and decal locations. Only one paint scheme is shown. The color photo of the completed kit also helps clarify the colors and general painting.

 

 

Decals

Decals provide markings for two Argentine aircraft, both used during the Falklands war in 1982.

The small decal sheet is well done with no visible “dots” or flaws.

 

 

 

The Kit

The kit consists of 32 cast resin pieces. The fuselage and wing are separate pieces. There are two identical sprues with main gear, a seat, gear door, props, etc. Another sprue provides the nose gear, instrument panels and stabilizers.

Two pieces separated from their sprue in transit, but all parts are in a ziplock bags so the small parts did not go anywhere. I see no air bubbles in any of the pieces, and all parts look true. Everything is at the level of quality one expects from Miniwing.

Engines and spinners are molded into the wings. Each prop is molded separately (one of the props broke off the sprue in my example) so they need to be added and aligned on the wing instead of on a separate spinner. That might present some challenges in construction.

 

 

Seats and separate instrument panels are provided for the interior with decals for the instruments.  Two canopies are provided: one injection molded and one vacuform.  Both are nice and clear, though the injected canopy is thicker than the vac.

 

 

 

Conclusion

This is a nice kit and should only require a few hours to complete. Anyone with basic skills should be able to do this kit quickly with little fuss. I will probably have to pick up an A-4 and start a small Falklands collection.

My thanks to Miniwing for the review kit.