Bücker Bü 131 Colours & Markings
By Chris Banyai-Riepl
Author: Michal Ovcácík and Karel Susa
Publisher: MARK I Ltd
ISBN: 978-8086637-11-2
Binding: Softcover
Pages: 28
One of the classic biplane trainers, the Bücker Bü 131 was a clean design of an aerobatic aircraft with lightly swept wings, twin cockpits, and a reliable engine. Its stability as a trainer led it to the air forces of many nations, and as a result the Bü 131 has worn a great variety of colors and markings. This latest title in the Mark I Dozen Set covers the Bü 131 in both 1/72 and 1/48, with a dozen options from nine countries presented in the book and accompanying decal sheet.
The book begins, logically, with some German options. The first one of these is a civil registered Bü 131, with Olympic rings on the nose to celebrate the 1936 Olympic Games. The second German example is a Luftwaffe training aircraft from FFS A/B 23. This aircraft has the unit emblem on the cowling.
With the German examples out of the way, the book turns to the foreign operators. First up is the Netherlands, with a colorful example carrying the national colors on the rudder. Next up is Hungary, with a Bü 131 from a reconnaissance squadron. This aircraft has the early tricolor chevron national markings, and a ladybug squadron emblem on the fuselage sides.
Czechoslovakia is next, with three options included. The first is a simple civil registered example, very plain, with just registrations and a small Tatra (the licensed manufacturer) emblem for the markings. The next Czech example makes up for the blandness of the earlier one, with a red cowl front stretching back into a fuselage lightning bolt and a red sunburst pattern on the upper wing. The third Czech Bü 131 is more simply marked, with just fuselage codes in addition to the national insignia.
Switzerland is next, with their typical red and white markings. The base color of this Bü 131 is green and gray, but not much of that can be seen with all the white and red bands on the wings and fuselage. Jumping across the world, the next two examples are from Asia, with the first from Manchukuo. Another aircraft with simple markings, this has a tail band in red with an emblem, and fuselage codes. Plain, but how many Manchukuo models do you have on your shelf? The other Asian example is a Japanese one, finished in orange with a rough green camouflage applied over the top.
The remaining two options return to Europe, with a Croatian example and a Spanish example. The Croatian example has the national markings on the wings and rudder, while the Spanish one is finished in a darker green, with fuselage numbers and postwar roundels.
Each aircraft is given its own two-page spread, with one page containing written information and photographs and the other containing a four-view color illustration, for decal placement purposes. The quality of the decals is excellent, leaving the only question being how many Bü 131 kits you will need to buy. For those who build 1/72 and are bemoaning the lack of a good kit in that scale, Czech Master Resin should have one out shortly, with even more marking options.
This is another excellent edition of the Dozen Set, and I look forward to seeing what they tackle next. My thanks to Mark I Ltd for the review copy.